Best 23 in 2026?

[Andyy]

Gunna start by saying Broady is a favorite and been a great servant.

I have to ask though should he have retired this year.
Could have - yes, should have - no. Just my 2c. Doesn't mean he has to play 20+ games in 2026. He might have to transition to depth this year unfortunately.

I ask simply because of where our general defenders are at.

First off Luke Trainor. Future KPD but should be playing third tall until the real size and strength comes. Third tall is potentially a role Broad plays.
Priority one for me is getting games into Trainor in a tall role where he belongs.
Broady should be playing small if he can still run fast enough. Honestly though we are very top heavy if we're going with Miller, Balta, Gibcus, Trainor, Broad, Brown etc

Then there is Broads main role general defender plays one v one well, provides a bit of rebound and can intercept mark.He can play on talls and smalls.

We have a bloke in Tom Brown who is 22 who has just got to 42 games and he is tracking well in that role, would like a bit more offense from him but he is building.
Do we try Brown forward maybe? Bloke has a serious leg on him.

We also have a general defender called Nick Vlastuin who is probably the first defender picked every week.
Thankfully we didn't trade this legend out like someone else suggested LOL

There is only six spots in a back line so obviously our kpd's will be two of Miller, Balta and Gibbo. Vlastuin makes three automatic selections.. Trainor and Brown make 5 if they are to be developed in their best roles.
It still leaves us fitting in highly likely Grlj as a running hb and Banks in the old Short role.
Is Grlj really a HBF or are we just talking about HBF until he's big enough to play inside? I was under the impression he can play as a pacey extractor

For the roles Broady plays for us and given where those coming thru are at and not to forget We do have likely replacements for him in a period of rebuild. I am asking the question should he play in front of those mentioned.

I hate leaving him out of our best 23, but the back half does have its share of experienced players, the main reason why Nathan would get picked.
Imo its time to give Brown Broads role. We need to develop Trainor out of the back half as our y Grimes type third  tall who can play kpd but can be effective as a general defender on smaller types if needed.

This is not a disrespectful go at Broady, its  good to have him around the place with so many kids. But i keep asking what is best for us and i think playing both Trainor and Brown in the backhalf is the way to go.