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« Last post by Stripes on Yesterday at 12:07:19 PM »
I'm very torn between in the team that will win us the most games in 2026 and the team that I want to develop/build for the future. If its a team to win games in 2026, then here is mine -
FB: Broad Miller Trainor
HB: Banks Balta Vlastuin
C: Retschko Prestia Short
HF: Campbell Lynch Lalor
FF: Mansell, Faull Fawcett
Fol: Nankervis Taranto Hopper
INT:Brown Hotton Ross Rioli, Cumming
But....if I have an eye on the future then -
FB: Gibcus Miller Trainor
HB: Banks Balta Brown
C: Retschko Smilie Grlj
HF: Campbell Fawcett Hopper
FF: Cumming Faull Armstrong
Fol: Nankervis Lalor Taranto
INT: Broad Vlaustin Hotton Rioli
Full Back - My developing team has Gibcus and Trainor on the Half Back line along with Miller. This is a balance of developing youth and rock solid defense. Both have a massive upside if they can get games into their legs. They have height, poise, intercept ability and skill. They just need the strength and experience.
Half Back - Brown becomes our number one intercept defender and Balta our number one shutdown defender. I sense Balta is going to have a massive year this year and Banks will give us good run off the half back plus be eager to keep Grlj out of his spot.
Center - The addition of Retschko will give is a specialist wingman who can run all day. I like the idea of moving Grlj to the other wing where he can use his run, elusiveness and kicking. Short could play this role but he doesn't have the defensive side to his game or run Grlj provides. If he can ever get on the park, Smilie in the middle just makes sense because he can use his ball winning ability and also act as a link man, given his height.
Half Forward - Campbell was a surprize packet last season and has the elusive speed we need running up and back into our forwardline. Fawcett has the size the other two key forwards lack atm to break packs and provide a physical presence in the absence of Lynch.
Lalor is our utility. I wish we had ten of him. He gives us another forward threat, sets up others and can rotate through the middle. Everything he touches turns to gold and with another preseason, I am super excited about what he'll do this year.
Full Forward - I want to see Cumming up forward so Mansell had to make way. I can see Mansell going back to the VFL to learn how to be a defender. Cumming will be a threat forward, setting up play, being an aerial threat and locking the ball in. He's going to a super player for us.
Alternatively, have Rioli in this role will give us greater defensive pressure. I am excited by what the two twin towers can offer us in the future. I love Faulls smarts; bringing ball to ground by crashing the packs, tapping it out to teammates, getting his knees dirty at the bottom of packs. He's an 'ugly' forward but one that does everything right. He honestly reminds me of Jack with his footy smarts.
Armstrong is your more leadup, conventional tall forward. Big mark, accurate kicks, loves to tackle. The two of them need to learn how to work together to better create space and opportunities for each other. With Bruest on hand to develop them, I feel we'll see that this year.
Following - I'd rather see a midfield of Lalor, Smilie, Campbell, Hotton, Cummings and Gryll but at the moment, our best option remains the old guard in Taranto and Hopper. I moved Hopper to the forwardline to rotate with Lalor. I pray we have the courage to begin to rotate both Taranto and Hopper forward with Lalor, Hotton, Campbell and Cummings early in the season, to give us more run and versitility.
Anyway, just my take
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