Best 23 in 2026?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I think your response pretty much sums up the thought put into your posting.

[Damo]

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Not in the same class
Vlastuin is my favourite player and a Richmond champion, but Hodge was a freak. One of the best to ever play the game. 

[ajGreen]

I think your response pretty much sums up the thought put into your posting.

Richmond won 3 flags iirc.

Who was this mysterious leadership guru that taught the defenders?

[ajGreen]

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Not in the same class
Vlastuin is my favourite player and a Richmond champion, but Hodge was a freak. One of the best to ever play the game.

That is a different conversation.

The question is why do you need Vlastuin AND Broad. Let alone short.

At this stage of a rebuild.

[Damo]

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Not in the same class
Vlastuin is my favourite player and a Richmond champion, but Hodge was a freak. One of the best to ever play the game.

That is a different conversation.

The question is why do you need Vlastuin AND Broad. Let alone short.

At this stage or a rebuild.

Definitely don’t need Short IMO
As for the other two , I would play them if available. Broad is a shadow of his best though, no doubt on that.

I’m appalling at selecting teams being honest, it’s why I very rarely post a team here. I’m opinionated on which players I like and don’t like however 

[ajGreen]

Another factor is -

Trainor *wants* to play backline.

His best position is prob backline.

He is one of the clubs most important assets.

[Andyy]

Who guided Rance Asbury houli broad Vlastuin? Chaplin? Lol

It's cliche feel good untruths.

Vlastuin is more than enough. What's going to happen is Vlastuin. Broad. Short will be in the back 6 damaging the development of the club long term. And you'll be there sprouting zomg this is good! Luke hodge!!

Ideally Vlastuin and broad should be phased out of the back 6 either not playing if moving to wing/tagger/mid/ruck/fwd etc. to allow a back 6 develop together.

Most importantly Trainor and gibcus and then balta and miller.

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Yes, Rance was quite vocal about Chaplin's significant and positive influence on his development. Just because Tross became a legendary player doesn't mean Chaplin didn't help his development. Ironically Chaplin is now part of AFL coaching staff - who'd have thunk it?

Rance guided both Astbury and Grimes IMO. Probably Broad in the early days a bit as well.

Houli and Vlastuin are different sorts of players.

Broad will see out his final year and be useful, then Vlastuin will continue another year or two easily.

[ajGreen]

Who guided Rance Asbury houli broad Vlastuin? Chaplin? Lol

It's cliche feel good untruths.

Vlastuin is more than enough. What's going to happen is Vlastuin. Broad. Short will be in the back 6 damaging the development of the club long term. And you'll be there sprouting zomg this is good! Luke hodge!!

Ideally Vlastuin and broad should be phased out of the back 6 either not playing if moving to wing/tagger/mid/ruck/fwd etc. to allow a back 6 develop together.

Most importantly Trainor and gibcus and then balta and miller.

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Yes, Rance was quite vocal about Chaplin's significant and positive influence on his development. Just because Tross became a legendary player doesn't mean Chaplin didn't help his development. Ironically Chaplin is now part of AFL coaching staff - who'd have thunk it?

Rance guided both Astbury and Grimes IMO. Probably Broad in the early days a bit as well.

Houli and Vlastuin are different sorts of players.

Broad will see out his final year and be useful, then Vlastuin will continue another year or two easily.

So you don't actually need a Luke hodge type to develop a good backline? Those were just lies a few posts up.

You can have a soft spud like Chaplin do it?

Hence balta and miller should be more than up to the task.

With all that said. Much to the chagrin of clawski. I expect the back 6 will include broad. Vlastuin. Short. If they are fit due to the wishes of the selection panel

[Andyy]

Who guided Rance Asbury houli broad Vlastuin? Chaplin? Lol

It's cliche feel good untruths.

Vlastuin is more than enough. What's going to happen is Vlastuin. Broad. Short will be in the back 6 damaging the development of the club long term. And you'll be there sprouting zomg this is good! Luke hodge!!

Ideally Vlastuin and broad should be phased out of the back 6 either not playing if moving to wing/tagger/mid/ruck/fwd etc. to allow a back 6 develop together.

Most importantly Trainor and gibcus and then balta and miller.

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Yes, Rance was quite vocal about Chaplin's significant and positive influence on his development. Just because Tross became a legendary player doesn't mean Chaplin didn't help his development. Ironically Chaplin is now part of AFL coaching staff - who'd have thunk it?

Rance guided both Astbury and Grimes IMO. Probably Broad in the early days a bit as well.

Houli and Vlastuin are different sorts of players.

Broad will see out his final year and be useful, then Vlastuin will continue another year or two easily.

So you don't actually need a Luke hodge type to develop a good backline? Those were just lies a few posts up.

You can have a soft spud like Chaplin do it?

Hence balta and miller should be more than up to the task.

Well, we managed 3 flags without Luke Hodge.

Rance spoke highly of Chaplin's influence on him.

I see Broad and Vlastuin playing that role somewhat.

Evidence would suggest Balta may not be the best candidate for mentoring roles at this stage.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I wouldn’t engage Andy. The guy is a circular reference.
It’s not hard to find many examples of older players - either in the club or brought into a club to take an on field role in player development.
It’s happened time and again over many years.

Not strictly a prerequisite but why wouldn’t you do it?
Norf has had to change it’s recruiting because Brad Scott dumped and ran on all his senior experience and their kids were exposed. Not yet fixed because the decay was so bad on morale.
If the circular reference doesn’t see that, he can continue to chase his tail.

[WilliamPowell]

Another factor is -

Trainor *wants* to play backline.

His best position is prob backline.

He is one of the clubs most important assets.

Let's be honest it doesn't matter where young Luke "wants" to play his job is play where the coaches decide to play him, which is and should be what's best for the team

[Andyy]

I wouldn’t engage Andy. The guy is a circular reference.
It’s not hard to find many examples of older players - either in the club or brought into a club to take an on field role in player development.
It’s happened time and again over many years.

Not strictly a prerequisite but why wouldn’t you do it?
Norf has had to change it’s recruiting because Brad Scott dumped and ran on all his senior experience and their kids were exposed. Not yet fixed because the decay was so bad on morale.
If the circular reference doesn’t see that, he can continue to chase his tail.

Yeah, bit of an echo chamber.

This is also why we have Taranto and Hopper, if not the reason we recruited them initially.

Thankfully someone else manages the list and runs the club.

[ajGreen]

I wouldn’t engage Andy. The guy is a circular reference.
It’s not hard to find many examples of older players - either in the club or brought into a club to take an on field role in player development.
It’s happened time and again over many years.

Not strictly a prerequisite but why wouldn’t you do it?
Norf has had to change it’s recruiting because Brad Scott dumped and ran on all his senior experience and their kids were exposed. Not yet fixed because the decay was so bad on morale.
If the circular reference doesn’t see that, he can continue to chase his tail.

How have north fixed their backline leadership professor Peterson? By bringing in the leadership giant that is Caleb Daniels?

If Richmond can win three times with troy bloody Chaplin as the leader why cannot miller and balta so that role?

You wouldn't so it because you want to get games into gibcus. Trainor. Brown. Banks. Etx. And you want them in their preferred positions.

Not engaging doesn't mean you are right

[ajGreen]

Who guided Rance Asbury houli broad Vlastuin? Chaplin? Lol

It's cliche feel good untruths.

Vlastuin is more than enough. What's going to happen is Vlastuin. Broad. Short will be in the back 6 damaging the development of the club long term. And you'll be there sprouting zomg this is good! Luke hodge!!

Ideally Vlastuin and broad should be phased out of the back 6 either not playing if moving to wing/tagger/mid/ruck/fwd etc. to allow a back 6 develop together.

Most importantly Trainor and gibcus and then balta and miller.

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Yes, Rance was quite vocal about Chaplin's significant and positive influence on his development. Just because Tross became a legendary player doesn't mean Chaplin didn't help his development. Ironically Chaplin is now part of AFL coaching staff - who'd have thunk it?

Rance guided both Astbury and Grimes IMO. Probably Broad in the early days a bit as well.

Houli and Vlastuin are different sorts of players.

Broad will see out his final year and be useful, then Vlastuin will continue another year or two easily.

So you don't actually need a Luke hodge type to develop a good backline? Those were just lies a few posts up.

You can have a soft spud like Chaplin do it?

Hence balta and miller should be more than up to the task.

Well, we managed 3 flags without Luke Hodge.

Rance spoke highly of Chaplin's influence on him.

I see Broad and Vlastuin playing that role somewhat.

Evidence would suggest Balta may not be the best candidate for mentoring roles at this stage.

Balta twating a bloke in a pub disqualifies him yet hodge is the goat for drink driving. Ending his friendship with rioli. Endlessly elbowing people in the head. Heading a systematic racism scandal. Telling goodes he's a wanker etc etc. is acceptable?

Many Richmond and former Richmond have spoken highly about balta too

[ajGreen]

Another factor is -

Trainor *wants* to play backline.

His best position is prob backline.

He is one of the clubs most important assets.

Let's be honest it doesn't matter where young Luke "wants" to play his job is play where the coaches decide to play him, which is and should be what's best for the team

Yep goes without saying what he wants doesn't matter.

Yet he was a top2 defender in his draft pool. It's his natural position. The club is starting a rebuild and it's imperative to get games into him.