How the SA clubs may line up next year..

[GWW]

I thought it might be an interesting exercise to predict how my side Port, and their rivals, Adelaide, may line up next season:

PORT:

The structure of this side could be dependent upon how well Tredrea's knee holds up after his operation. If hes back to somewhere near his full fitness I'd have no hesitation in putting him back to CHF (maybe alternating at FF as well). Pettigrew is my preferred full forward, hes shown a lot in that position when played there in the last 2 years. Chad Cornes should go back to CHB now that there are many young players putting their hand up to play in the midfield. With Willits likely to further emerge as a key positon player, both White and Thurstans are likely to be on the outer unless they can push for a spot in defence.

F: Lade, Pettigrew, Motlop

HF: Salopek, Tredrea, Ebert

C: Pearce, S Burgoyne, Thomas

HB: Symes, C Cornes, Cassisi

B: Chaplin, Wakelin, Surjan


R: Brogan, K Cornes, P Burgoyne

INT: Thomson, Bentley, Willits, Wilson

EMERG: from White, Thurstans, Logan, Deluca, Lower, Carlile


ADELAIDE:

Given full fitness i would predict that Ken McGregor will take over a key position either in defence or attack. The other player who i think will be played down the spine is Nathan Bock who i personally dont rate highly as a player, but is held in high esteem by the Crows. Stevens, Perrie and Welsh may need to be at full fitness in order to compete for positions in defence and attack. With Douglas and Knights likely to be given more time on the ground as a result of the AFC's "youth policy", flankers such as Doughty, Torney and Massie may need to rely on injuries to get a position in the starting 18. With the injury to Hentschel, and the need to give game time to the emerging Knights and Douglas, the Crows may decide to gamble on the athletic Burton at the goalfront. Ricciuto may play as the second leading forward from deep in attack, whilst spending some time on the ball changing with Johncock, who with a big pre season the Crows hierarchy will be hoping to start games in the centre square.

F: Bode, Burton, Ricciuto

HF: Thompson, Bock, Reilly

C: Porplyzia, Goodwin, Douglas

HB: Mattner, McGregor, McLeod

B: Van Berlo, Rutten, Bassett


R: Hudson, Johncock, Edwards

INT: Welsh, Maric, Doughty, Knights

EMERG: from Stevens, Massie, Torney, Perrie, Vince


**The 2 drafts (plus rookie draft) are yet to take place, but the only players who, if drafted by either side, would start the year in either 22, are likely to be Gill and Davey.

[Rik E Boy]

Adelaide - Forward line looks a bit shaky and the ruck looks weak. 5-8.
Port - Wakelin at fullback? That defence looks ripe for the taking. 8-12.

regards,

REB

[JK]

Port - I think Matty Thomas will get himself a few games this year.

Adelaide - Think Craigy likes a bit more height on the wings than would be offered with Porplyzia and Douglas, who would both spend more time on the ball and up forward I think.

[PortAdelaideProud]

Put Chaplin at Full back, Wakelin in a pocket. Swap Cassisi and Matt Thomas. After that, you've got a pretty good side.

[sydney-dog]

GWW

Some of my thoughts for what they are worth

I can't see Burton lining up at FF, Burton's biggest weapon is his aerobic fitness, so I would continue to see him play across HF where he will work up and down the ground, due to his work rate, and given that he is so tough to match up on because he plays tall and small, he is very much capable of kicking 40 goals from HF

Proplyzia, I can't see him playing on the wing, I see him as a Utility type of player, he can play numerous roles, from a small forward, a small defender and of course he will get some opportunity on the ball

Reilly, he has not played much footy across HF, first couple of years he played across HB then moved to a wing, while Van Berlo, I think he may be Craig's first choice defensive midfielder next year

McGregor and Bock, this is the interesting selection choice. Kenny's lack of leg speed worries me and given he can take a contested mark, my choice would be to start Kenny in the forward 50 next to Roo, but he needs to improve his kicking, but saying that Bock's form up forward during the finals was pretty good, but I think Bock is the first choice CHB at the club

Saying all that, I better put my nuts on the table and pick my side

F Bode, McGregor, Roo

HF: Thompson, Perrie, Burton

C: Rielley, Goodwin, Edwards

HB: Mattner, Bock, McLeod

B: Jericho, Rutten, Bassett

R: Hudson, Van Berlo, Johncock

INT: Maric, Shirley, Knights, Douglas

EMERG: from the rest of the squad

My biggest wild card selection is Jeriicho in the back lines (I'm sure most people will laugh at me)

My reasoning, the crows will definitely try and free Johncock to play in the midfield, I'm pretty confident the crows will want to replace Johncock with a young developing player, in my view Jericho, Hinge and Pfeiffer maybe competing for this vacant spot down back. The only reason I have Luke in front at this stage, is 1. I think the crows are keen to have another look at him, 2. He brings flexibility to the side, he can move to a wing or play up forward, 3. his athletism and speed are also a huge plus

The other Smokey, all early reports indicate Meesen is smoking up the track and has presented himself in outstanding condition, the crows do believe that he is capable of playing forward, so given a strong pre-season he will definitely be in the mix

If the crows are to improve, it needs to come from Rielley, Maric, Meesen, Douglas, Proplyzia and Knights, all have the ability, all need to take their game to the next level

Considering, I could not find a spot for Welsh, Torney, Massie, Meesen or Doughty, one thing is for sure, as with most clubs their will be plenty of competition for spots

[GWW]

I dont support the Crows, SD, but do keep an interest in the club, being an SA team. You've made some interesting placements there, especially with Van Berlo as the starting ruck rover, i'd be surprised if he was up to that task just yet. Jericho in a BP, would he have enough defensive nous to go with the resting rover? Porplyzia not listed in your side, presumably an oversight. I actually left Shirley out of my side, i'd probably have him on the bench.

[heater31]

My biggest wild card selection is Jeriicho in the back lines (I'm sure most people will laugh at me)

Well the bloke has to try something or he's out on his behind back to Westies

[sydney-dog]

GWW

Correct not selecting Porplyzia was an over-sight and I would definitely fit him in to my side, Jericho playing in the back lines, I do understand that people will question his nous, but I say it is the best spot tolearn your footy, he will have experience around him to support him and he has the athletic ability to pick up a small forward or a russell robertson type of marking forward

In regards to Van Berlo, he actually started a lot of games this year on the wing or in the mid field and with his third pre-season behind him, he should be just about right to challenge for the clubs #1 defensive midfielder role

GWW, you bring back fond memories refering to on ballers as rovers and ruck rovers, these days they are just 6ft tall midfielders, gone are the days of the 170cm rover :

[PhilG]

..

[Blue Boy]

All being fit and well for the AFC - this is predictable in some way !!!

F Bode, Roo, Mcgregor

HF: Thompson, Perrie, Burton

C: Reilly, Edwards, Mattner

HB: Torney, Bock, McLeod

B: Johncock, Rutten, Bassett

R: Hudson, Goodwin, Shirley

INT: Maric, Van Berlo, Porplyzia, Massie

Emergencies : Meesen, Knights, Welsh

[Blue Boy]

I will explain a couple of my choices !!!

Mattner on the wing - as that is where I see him play his best footy. He has a defensive game and an explosive game as well - Both these styles are traits of a good wing man !!!

VanBerlo on the bench - obviously the coaches pet and will get a game every week unless injured. I still think he has a little way to go and has to be able to play out full games if is going to be used as a run with player !!!

Johncock back pocket or half back - Should of been All Aussie in front of Mcleod !!! Leave him down back and watch for another very good year !!!

Bock CHB - In front of Stevens for me - Can change with Mcgregor if needed !!!

Last but not least with Jericho - Syd you might be on to something there as the AFC must see something in him to keep him on the list in front of Hart !!!

[Rik E Boy]

Lsat but not least with Jericho - Syd you might be on to something there as the AFC must see something in him to keep him on the list in front of Hart !!!

Well, he's not 900 years old for a start.

regards,

REB

[Blue Boy]

Last but not least with Jericho - Syd you might be on to something there as the AFC must see something in him to keep him on the list in front of Hart !!!

Well, he's not 900 years old for a start.

regards,

REB

I still cant get over the whole Hart thing - will see a doctor if it persists !!!

[sydney-dog]

Blue Boy

I would hope Van Berlo would be able to run out a game, with Birdman he is the fittest at the club

[Blue Boy]

Blue Boy

I would hope Van Berlo would be able to run out a game, with Birdman he is the fittest at the club

Yeah always does well in the running area's. I still have the jury out on him !!!

[sydney-dog]

my Van Berlo view

he probably will never win a Brownlow medal and may not ever win a Club B&F but he will be a very good afl player over the journey and will play 200 games,

he has the same desire of a young tyson stenglien and they are not too dis-similar if you compare them at the same early stages of hteir careers

[Blue Boy]

my Van Berlo view

he probably will never win a Brownlow medal and may not ever win a Club B&F but he will be a very good afl player over the journey and will play 200 games,

he has the same desire of a young tyson stenglien and they are not too dis-similar if you compare them at the same early stages of hteir careers

He will play 200 games cause the coach will pick him every week regardless of form I feel - so you are correct there.

You can not compare him to Stenglein as he played a good 3 years in the SANFL before gettin a regular gig - Van Berlo has a got a game every week bar injury in his second year !!!

One good sign though with training is that Meesen was only about 20 metres behind Van Berlo in the Goodwin Run !!!

[JK]

Johnny Meeson is a great young lad, so I really hope for his sake his AFL career takes off this year ... However, I think he's got a fair bit of work to do to fit in at that level unfortunately, still, there's not too many ruckmen manage to make it in their early 20's these days.