Who is our best sub option?

[one-eyed]

YOUR CLUB’S BEST TACTICAL SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS FOR THE 2023 AFL SEASON

Andrew Slevison
SEN
1 February 2023



Hugo Ralphsmith appears the prime tactical sub candidate for the Tigers.

Ralphsmith, who has shown versatility in his fledgling career to date, hasn’t quite locked down a spot in the best 22 and could be beneficial for the team coming on as a burst player.

The 21-year-old sits behind the likes of Daniel Rioli, Liam Baker and even Jayden Short - who spent more time as a midfielder in 2022 - as a smaller defender with rebounding capabilities.

Ralphsmith can also play on the wing but is yet to wrestle a starting spot away from Kamdyn McIntosh or Marlion Pickett.

He has also pushed forward on the odd occasion but is certainly not ahead of Shai Bolton nor Noah Cumberland or Maurice Rioli from a small forward viewpoint.

While Ralphsmith has plenty of talent, there isn’t an obvious position there so using him as a high-impact, powerful runner late in games might be a clever ploy.

Jack Ross has often been used as a sub in the past and may find himself around that mark again following the additions of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper.

Thomson Dow is another option given his inside midfield ability, Rhyan Mansell somewhat fits the bill as a rebounding small defender and Judson Clarke could be used as a classy forward to provide a spark late in games.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/02/01/your-clubs-best-tactical-substitute-options-for-the-2023-afl-season/

[Andyy]

Ralph is the obvious choice.

KMac can go back to defence if required like in 2020 GF.
Pickett could go midfield IMO of we had to re-shuffle the field, free up more Dusty/Bolton time in the forward line.

[the claw]

Clearly of the talls Miller would be ideal can play kpd, Tall fwd and ruck. That flexability should mean he starts in the 22 but they do find ways to not pick players who have more structural value to allow favorites to play.

Of the other players i would have thought Short or Baker. Short like Miller is flexable can play midfield not great but okay imo but hey, or defence or even fwd  not that we need him to play either fwd  back or mid with the players we have.

Similar scenario for Baker A better mid than Short and supporters rave about him in defence why well im not sure with the other options we have.
Of course they say he can play fwd as well but like short we dont need him to play fwd or back with the players we have who are better options..
I think he would be a great depth midfielder. I say depth because i have  6 or 7 in front of him starting as mids.

[Broadsword]

Bring back Matty White

[WilliamPowell]

Well everyone keeps saying that Graham is no in our best 22

Then surely he's the best sub option?

Can play mid, forward, wing (great 2 way runner) and with his disposal could be used as an attacking HB

 

[Tiger Khosh]

Well everyone keeps saying that Graham is no in our best 22

Then surely he's the best sub option?

Can play mid, forward, wing (great 2 way runner) and with his disposal could be used as an attacking HB

 

Yup - hes my 23rd man.

[Damo]

Well everyone keeps saying that Graham is no in our best 22

Then surely he's the best sub option?

Can play mid, forward, wing (great 2 way runner) and with his disposal could be used as an attacking HB

 

It’s more in commenting that he isn’t the walk up best 22 certainty that Machine said he is

He’s in the 21,22,23,24,25,26 range depending on which side you sit with him

He will play plenty of games this year , plenty

And is a good footballer , no doubt , and tough

But not anywhere near the level some carry on about

[WilliamPowell]

It’s more in commenting that he isn’t the walk up best 22 certainty that Machine said he is

He’s in the 21,22,23,24,25,26 range depending on which side you sit with him

He will play plenty of games this year , plenty

And is a good footballer , no doubt , and tough

But not anywhere near the level some carry on about

Damo, personally I'm with The Machine on this. Simply going by the regard he is held by the playing group and coaches he's a walk up start for me, best 22 easily. Still think he is our next Captain in waiting.

We will all have to agree to disagree

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Absolutely embarrassing.

If some of you lot were coaching you'd knife poor old Cumberland to get Jack Graham into the side. Because you certainly can't pick him ahead of Cotch, Bolton, Dusty, Hopper or Tarranto. Kmac and Pickett have the wings covered and Sonsie was significantly better than Graham last season

[Damo]

Absolutely embarrassing.

If some of you lot were coaching you'd knife poor old Cumberland to get Jack Graham into the side. Because you certainly can't pick him ahead of Cotch, Bolton, Dusty, Hopper or Tarranto. Kmac and Pickett have the wings covered and Sonsie was significantly better than Graham last season

Truth

[the claw]

Absolutely embarrassing.

If some of you lot were coaching you'd knife poor old Cumberland to get Jack Graham into the side. Because you certainly can't pick him ahead of Cotch, Bolton, Dusty, Hopper or Tarranto. Kmac and Pickett have the wings covered and Sonsie was significantly better than Graham last season

How true, have put up mids and fwds who are in front of him not just him but Short Baker and Ross as well and the topic is avoided like the plague.

You mentioned the mids, the fwds starting with the forward  midfield rotations in Martin, Taranto, Sonsie, and not least Bolton and then the pure fwds in Rioli, Cumberland, and Clarke.
People want to play the first mentioned in a role that is not their best role and they are not the best fit and it has to be at the expense of younger players who are more suited to the role either as a fwd or midfielder.

How much have the club talked up the likes of Clarke!!! Dimma's own words he reminds me a bit of Nathan Brown and yet people would prefer to see Short or Graham play as a fwd denying talented kids a game.
Tom Brown is another highly rated by the club as a hb yet people are not looking to find a way to get games into him but are finding ways to save a favorites arse. The club is also guilty of it.

The seven mids you mentioned in most peoples language are in front of  and should  get picked in front of Ross Baker Short and Graham as mids  so people are taking spots of kids in other areas to fit em in. They arent asking themselves are they actually the best option.

People need to be honest here and admit Clarke Cumberland and Rioli are much better natural fwds and options than the likes of Graham and co  fitting them into the fwd line at the expense of those kids. Just play the better fwd options and midfield options for that matter.

[WilliamPowell]

Absolutely embarrassing.

If some of you lot were coaching you'd knife poor old Cumberland to get Jack Graham into the side. Because you certainly can't pick him ahead of Cotch, Bolton, Dusty, Hopper or Tarranto. Kmac and Pickett have the wings covered and Sonsie was significantly better than Graham last season

Hmmm didn't mention dropping Cumberland (I wouldn't) and I'd expect the other 4 you mention to all play if fit. Though I do expect Cotchin to get managed a bit in 2023. Ditto KMac and Marlion. Also didn't suggest dropping Sonsie.

So what's embarrassing exactly? You seem to making alot of assumptions on who would be in my starting 22 

[Tiger Khosh]

Absolutely embarrassing.

If some of you lot were coaching you'd knife poor old Cumberland to get Jack Graham into the side. Because you certainly can't pick him ahead of Cotch, Bolton, Dusty, Hopper or Tarranto. Kmac and Pickett have the wings covered and Sonsie was significantly better than Graham last season

Hmmm didn't mention dropping Cumberland (I wouldn't) and I'd expect the other 4 you mention to all play if fit. Though I do expect Cotchin to get managed a bit in 2023. Ditto KMac and Marlion. Also didn't suggest dropping Sonsie.

So what's embarrassing exactly? You seem to making alot of assumptions on who would be in my starting 22 

Who is in your best 22 out of curiosity? I’m with Damo, if he’s in the team he’s right on the fringe of it. You mentioned cotch being rested which I think is obvious not so sure I agree with Pickett and especially kmac given his almost our fittest player and still under 30. But regardless of this I think the debate is best 22 so you assume every1 is fit, injury free and not suspended.

He’s not a defender so that’s automatically 7 players ahead.

He’s not a ruckman so that’s another 2 players automatically ahead.

As a winger Pickett and Kmac are ahead although I do think there is scope to improve in this area if he can learn the position and execute better than the 2 players mentioned.

In the midfield he is easily behind Prestia, Taranto, Hopper and Cotchin. Then there’s sonsie and short which atleast you could make an argument for picking graham ahead of them depending on how they start the year.

Then finally in the forward line he’s easily behind Lynch, Jack, Dusty and Bolton. Then there’s MRJ and Cumbo. While he’s got similar elite pressure to MRJ I don’t think Graham would be a sustainable option to select long term ahead of him - we’d just lose too much speed. With Cumberland atleast he could play a similar sort of role, you’d lose on the offence but you’d gain in the defence.

So by my count assuming everyone is available, that is 17 players who I can’t imagine anyone making a case that graham should be picked over whether that’s due to position or talent/performance. So that leaves him competing with the likes of Pickett, Kmac, Short, Sonsie, MRJ and Cumberland for a place in the side i.e. the bottom 6 players.

Again not saying it’s hard to believe Graham can be best 22 but can’t see how he can comfortably be best 22, so interested to see your team.

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Absolutely embarrassing.

If some of you lot were coaching you'd knife poor old Cumberland to get Jack Graham into the side. Because you certainly can't pick him ahead of Cotch, Bolton, Dusty, Hopper or Tarranto. Kmac and Pickett have the wings covered and Sonsie was significantly better than Graham last season

Hmmm didn't mention dropping Cumberland (I wouldn't) and I'd expect the other 4 you mention to all play if fit. Though I do expect Cotchin to get managed a bit in 2023. Ditto KMac and Marlion. Also didn't suggest dropping Sonsie.

So what's embarrassing exactly? You seem to making alot of assumptions on who would be in my starting 22 

what's embarrassing is your take on the kid. Future captain, easily best 22, only in Adelaide to see family etc

You obviously love the guy and that's fine. Your view is just too biased to be taken seriously anymore

[the claw]

I reckon we are blessed to have four very promising and talented small fwds one is also a fantastic mid.

In order id say
Bolton - like dusty and probably Taranto will spend plenty of time fwd.
Cumberland - well hes going at 2 goals a game we just canot sneeze at that and fob it off.
Rioli - we dont have a better pressure fwd and the great thing about him is the offensive part of his game is starting to get there as well.
Clarke - How can anybody not be impressed with what he bought to the table in his first three games. Just think about it how much better should he be with another preseason. These players are where we need to be heading.

For the life of me why would you want to play Short Baker or Graham in front of any of them as forwards. If we do its tantamount to just playing a favorite to the detriment of a better credentialled kid for the role. FMD AT SOME STAGE WE MUST GET GAMES INTO OUR GOOD KIDS.Not rob them of opportunity with favorites who are inferior in the role.