Port Best 22 2014?

[KoopKicka]

Well, its certainly different than last years hey? :o

Personally,

B: Tom Jonas, Alipate Carlile, Jack Hombsch
HB: Cam O'Shea, Jackson Trengove, Matthew Broadbent
C: Hamish Hartlett, Kane Cornes, Jared Polec
HF: Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
FF: Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Robbie Gray
F: Matthew Lobbe, Brad Ebert, Travis Boak
I: Domenic Cassisi, Jasper Pittard, Ollie Wines
S: Matt White

Guys I cant find spots for

Sam Colq
John Butcher
Aaron Young
Jarrad Redden (will be given equal opportunity to get that R1 spot alongside Lobbe in pre-season.)
Lewis Stevenson
Campbell Heath
Paul Stewart :'(

One things for sure, best 22 competition will be absolutely fierce next year :o

Thoughts? Your own opinions?

[PowerBug]

Port Adelaide were looking for another key forward to help out Schulz and free up Westhoff. You haven't added in another KPF in that 22, and for that reason I can see Redden and Lobbe playing in the same team. I would say drop Jake Neade for him.

You are also missing Kane Mitchell from the list of unlucky players, and you don't have Andrew Moore anywhere, and he is surely in our best 22. I don't think White will play much tbh, and even Polec, I can see them being given an opportunity of two early, much like Stevenson and Heath were, however they'll get pushed out and find it tough to make it back into the side. Cassisi might also play more of a coaching role this season, might not see him play as many games when fit, we'd probably want to develop another tagger for 2015. (Maybe two, Cornes might not play past 2015 imo)

Overall we haven't made too many big changes, which is good, because there was no need to, and we picked up two valuable players that expand on the depth because next year, we might not be so lucky with the injury list. This year that's what got us into the finals, the amount of times our BEST 22 was playing our opponents 27th, 28th players.

Carn the Power! :)

[Noz]

Its time for Benny Newton to start playing regular games and he will next year.

Shaw is still a little raw and won't play much next year while Butcher is still struggling to find his feet so a ready made forward is what we will be looking at come draft day.

[Nige]

Just a quick question which I guess is kinda on topic - Where do you lads see John Butcher as far as development and a future long term prospect go? He's been around for a little while now and it doesn't seem like he's quite caught on just yet... will he ever, or is it a case of slow and steady wins the race?

[TeeJay]

John butcher is a spastic. One of those guys you just can't believe made the AFL.

Noz, are you going to actually pay up on your bet? P1ss weak effort  ::)

[Mr.Craig]

Cassisi certainly wouldn't be in my best 22. I'm not writing Neade off but he wouldn't be in my Round 1 team either. I'd like to see a month of solid SANFL performances before letting him loose again. Not sure I could make a judgement on the new guys until the pre season is dusted. Also, I'd take Moore over Hombsch.

Personal opinion only.

Just a quick question which I guess is kinda on topic - Where do you lads see John Butcher as far as development and a future long term prospect go? He's been around for a little while now and it doesn't seem like he's quite caught on just yet... will he ever, or is it a case of slow and steady wins the race?

This is a make or break year for him. I can't see Port taking Butcher into a sixth season without signs he will actually deliver a return. I really hope this is his season but if it's not then they should cut their losses and invest their energy and resources in someone new (or recycled).

[Nige]

Cheers Craig, I thought that might be the case. He seems to be a player that could have been a star, but it's almost taken him way too long to get going and if he doesn't do it in 2014, has completely missed out.

[CrowsFan]

Its time for Benny Newton to start playing regular games and he will next year.

You think he will finally make his debut then? Do you know where he was playing in the SANFL? Half foward, forward pocket or in the midfield? Looking at his stats he averaged 18 touches, 4 marks, and 4 I50's a game, but only kicked 8 goals...

[Noz]

Its time for Benny Newton to start playing regular games and he will next year.

You think he will finally make his debut then? Do you know where he was playing in the SANFL? Half foward, forward pocket or in the midfield? Looking at his stats he averaged 18 touches, 4 marks, and 4 I50's a game, but only kicked 8 goals...

Will surely get DPP next year MID/FWD spent a fair chunk of his time in the SANFL in the middle. Will play more as a half forward flanker in AFL though with Robbie Gray turning into a 70% midfielder

[Bill Manspeaker]

Matty White will be spewin if he leaves Richmond (the club he supports btw) because he was sick of being the sub, only to go to Padelaide just to be sub again

[Nige]

Matty White will be spewin if he leaves Richmond (the club he supports btw) because he was sick of being the sub, only to go to Padelaide just to be sub again

[KoopKicka]

Matty White will be spewin if he leaves Richmond (the club he supports btw) because he was sick of being the sub, only to go to Padelaide just to be sub again

I see nowhere for him to fit into though. :/

[TeeJay]

Matty White will be spewin if he leaves Richmond (the club he supports btw) because he was sick of being the sub, only to go to Padelaide just to be sub again

I see nowhere for him to fit into though. :/

Port obviously have a position for him or he wouldn't have left

[Mat0369]

I see nowhere for him to fit into though. :/

Polec will need to earn his spot in the team so White would be ahead of him for now. I would also think that Neade starts as a sub before White. Another year of development would really help Neade out to build on the really solid season he just had

[Noz]

I don't think neither White or Polec is in our best 22 right now. We needed depth players and thats exactly what we got.

Aaron Young's excellent end of 2013 will earn himself a spot in round 1 next year.

Since our first game is against Carlton, Hombsch won't play. Cassisi will be used as a lock down defender on one of the blues small forwards. Cassis won't spend a lot of time in the midfield in the early parts of 2014 and may even loose his spot in our best 22.

John Butcher will be given as many chances at AFL level to make an impact and earn himself a contract for 2015 and beyond so he will be in our round 1 lineup.