Just out of interest - those that were missing you can make a fairly strong team with...
FB: Farmer Gourdis ???
HB: Newman McGuane Deledio
C: Martin Jackson Grigg
Foll: Graham Cotchin Foley
HF: Houli Post ???
FF: Griffiths Riewoldt ???
Int: ??? ??? ??? Hislop
I'm sure I've left some out too!
Just goes to show it really was a seconds team we fielded on Saturday Night. I would suggest the only guaranteed inclusions from the NAB squad would be Astbury, Morton, Tuck, King and perhaps Moore and Thursfield (Gourdis hasn't come on apparently from the coaches
). I will go out on a limb and say Derickx may take the second ruck spot over Post.
So the team would then look like this -
FB: Farmer/Thursfield McGuane Moore
HB: Newman Astbury Deledio
C: Martin Jackson Grigg
Foll: Graham Cotchin Foley
HF: Houli Derickx/Post Morton
FF: Griffiths Riewoldt King
Int: ??? ??? Sub: Tuck
The last two interchange positions may go to White
, Taylor, Conca, Contin, McDonald, Webberley or Nason. My preference would be Conca, Contin and/or Taylor but we're still a bit light on there imho. Thursfields inclusion over Farmer may occur due to the increased probability that the majority of teams will play an extra ruck/tall in attack this year though Batchelor may claim that spot going on his form from the game.
Stripes