B: Morris Grimes Rance
I truly believe Morris has the chance to be a premier lock down defensive player on opposition smalls if he isn't already. Grimes and Rance really will float between holding down full back/ third tall option depending on the team. I truly believe that Troy Chaplin will allow both to play more flexible and enable them both to attack more.
HB: Batchelor Chaplin Houli
Chaplin obvisouly will take the monster CHF types. Batchleor has long been recognized as one of the best readers of the ball in flight, being a floating 4th tall who can also counter punch and play off the wing with good footskills gives him the nod for me. Houli/ Newman for mine off the back line for that running break the lines sort of back flanker.
C: Newman Deledio Grigg
Griggs ability to find space we all know about. Deledio was an All Australian last year so obviously he needs to be in there. The difficulty I think is whether you play Newman or Conca here. Of the few times that Newman played on the wing last year and wasn't tagged, he looked very damaging. It also gives the backline the floating 7th defender which was played quite well by Conca I thought at the beginning of last year.
HF. Martin Vickery Knights
Entry inside forward 50 is a big weakness of last season. Having Martin and Knights with booming kicks who can hit a target is a massive requirement going forward. I thought that Nahas and King were asked to many times last year to be leading marking targets 60-80 meters out last year. Knights and Martin give solid marking targets as well as play makers to enter the ball into the forward 50. Vickery is more of a classic CHF at the moment than a third tall. Go back two seasons when Jack and Ty were the two highest combined goal kicking partnership for all teams and it reminds of how important Ty is to the team.
F. A Edwards Riewoldt S Edwards
Riewoldt for obvious reasons. I picked Shane Edwards ahead of King and Nahas because I think he's better in the air, and a little more opportunistic on the ground. I personally think the forward pocket/s are the two most competitive positions on the ground with whom you can slot in there. I went with Aaron Edwards over Astbury or Griffiths because I think he is a better leading mark. One thing I think that RFC can improve on going forward is not creating congestion in the air. Vickery is handy on the lead, and A Edwards is very good, creating space in the forward 50 and allow firstly Jack more room at the footy, but also more opportunities in front of goal.
R. Maric Tuck Cotchin
Pretty self explanatory one would think.
Int. Ellis Foley Conca SUB: King
Really where it gets interesting. Foley at 100% is a must as most people would probably agree with. I think that Ellis may be groomed as a tagging option to replace Jackson because of his tank as well as being a big body. Conca being an inside/ outside mid who did quite well I thought being a floating 7th defender at the end of last season. Most people have said over multiple boards, he is primed for a breakout year is Conca. King I just cannot leave out. Barometer for the team sort of guy, hard at the footy, competitive, guy people can rally around. I doubt he will be the sub at any stage of the 2013 season but cannot leave him out.
Depth: Jackson, Astbury, Griffiths, Vlaustin, Nahas, Helbig, Dea, Arnot
This is what I am most excited about, our depth. Its starting to get a compination of potentially gun players (Elton, Vlaustin, Griffiths etc.) with a good spread of midfielders, and key position players. Guys like Nahas, Jackson and White add experience whilst not being potentially gun players. Depth creates competition. Compeitition initiates improvement. Griffiths and Astbury battling for title of 3rd tall or 3rd back should an injury strike. Arnot, Jackson, Vlaustin (who will probably find his way into the best 22 at some stage if not already) and Arnot competiting for a role in the guts going forward as well.
Thats my hap-hazard thoughts on the best 22. It's extremely hard to pick, which is never a bad thing.
