Best 23 in 2026?

[WilliamPowell]

I am debating the topic.

 - " Rance spoke highly of Chaplin's influence on him."
 - " Yze isn't going to come out and say Balta needs a whack over the head sometimes, is he?
Of course he's a <insert cliche here>"

Why is a former player seen as reliable in his commentary and the coach not so?

It's directly connected to the subject of the make up if the backline and the apparent need for leadership.

Refer to Tiger Khosh former discussion in regards to Vlastuin.

The above is indeed debating the topic.

Your childish, snide little comment that was at the end of the post I removed wasn't. It was a clear bait.

[one-eyed]

Every team's best 23 going into 2026

Nic Negrepontis
Nine
December 5, 2025

One thing to note is we have not included any players out with significant long-term injuries.

RICHMOND

FB: J. Gibcus, B. Miller, N. Vlastuin

HB: J. Short, N. Balta, S. Banks

C: S. Grlj, T. Taranto, L. Trainor

HF: J. Hopper, H. Armstrong, T. Hotton

FF: J. Faull, T. Lynch, S. Campbell

FOL: T. Nankervis, S. Lalor, D. Prestia

INT: T. Brown, N. Broad, S. Cumming, J. Ross, R. Mansell


STRENGTH: Potentially the hardest best 23 to predict this off-season given the sheer quantity of young talent the Tigers have accumulated across the last two years. No team boasts as many top draft picks at the start of their careers and the key will be putting enough veteran bodies around them to protect them.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Having so many youngsters is their strength, but it will also impact their ability to perform consistently across the season. The forward line in particular will take time to find its feet given the young key forwards coupled with Tom Lynch in the final stage of his career.

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/news-best-23-all-18-clubs-teams-trade-draft-period-2026-20251130-p5nl60.html

[the claw]

What is going on people do realise opinions are like  Aholes we all have one. Our opinions are no more right or wrong than the next one.

My opinion is we need experienced players in the team when we have so many kids demanding games.
Sometimes criteria demands we play a mature player over a kid and then for sure and certain there are cases for kids to be played over mature players.
Talent, form, performance, leadership, know how and even where the talent is and the need to get games into that talent.
Team deficiency is another big one hence all the debates about our midfield of mostly older players being as slow as treacle finding the balance is what its about.

Some had a go at me because i believe Trainor to be a kpd in the making but i rate Gibcus a better defender its an opinion and it does have substance to it so why try and do nothing but point score from one particular  D head.
Anyway logic says  it then comes down to, do we pick Trainor in front of Miller or Balta? Well currently Miller is the first kpd picked and Balta is coming off not just a shocking year this year but a poor one the year before. There is a case to be made for Miller, Gibcus and Trainor to be played in the back half in front of Balta. So the debate should include weather Balta is the one to miss. One reason Balta may play there is the experience factor  with Only Miller and Vlastuin genuine mature players with enough experience.

How about our midfield or mids that can win ball for themselves. there is room for seven genuine mids excluding pure outside running types.
For me if fit and ready to go Lalor, Smillie, Hotton in a dual role, McAuliffe and Cumming all play. Next to them Hopper and Taranto make up the seven needed and bring some maturity. If the likes of Ross and others miss a midfield gig tough its what needs to happen.

Wingers have been lousy for how long now? we need to do something different to address the problem. Retschko and Campbell for me please and definately in front of Trainor Ralphsmith Ross Short they are not the answer in that role.

Have we replaced Dan Rioli across hb whats that no i hear?. Then the best option we have atm is 18 year old Grlj . The question do we play him in front of mature a  type like Short  and some who have been around for 4 or so years. The answer is easy its a  big yes.

Back to the mids If Sam Cumming shows enough in the off season why would you not just play him? He addresses a very serious team need in several areas.
Surely if Smillie is fit he just plays, we know the talent and upside he has. same for Lalor. and Hotton playing 40% mid 60% fwd.
The one who always hardly gets a mention McAuliffe again he brings attributes to the table that blokes like Ross Sonsie Taranto Hopper Prestia just dont have, Who misses  do we try to address team needs.or do we continue to play blokes simply because they feel they need to fit them in somewhere simply because they have been around longer.


There are senior players i just don't rate and think we are wasting our time playing them in front of kids. If i had a choice, with the future the primary focus, then those senior players dont get a game weather we need their experience or not.

I think Broad will play senior footy most of the year simply because of his leadership and experience and he will lead by example , does he start in the back half well im not so sure but as a part of the 23 yes.

Kicking goals what a problem it has been outside of Campbell this year. Our small forwards are not proficient goal kickers and it shows but boy we love em when they chase tail but never quite affect the outcome aka Rioli.

Personally i have talked up Algar and Hotton and also have kept Mansell in the team for now not because he is the most talented or capable of players simply because he is better than half the small forwards we have. Mansell or Rioli or even Green sheesh Nigel wins hands down and he adds that bit of toughness and experience for the kids around him.

Anyway enough. To say all of the above is opinion is correct, its no more right or wrong than anyone else's opinion.

[Andyy]

A lot of good points claw

IMO Balta is our #2 ruck option and if Nank goes down he could be main ruck over Sims or the likes of Delilah*

[ajGreen]

A lot of good points claw

IMO Balta is our #2 ruck option and if Nank goes down he could be main ruck over Sims or the likes of Delilah*

Which brings as to another problem as the coach has steadfast states he wants balta in the backline and you call him a liar.

[camboon]

All good , we are all entitled to an opinion even if it varies from others or the coaches . With respect express your opinion and just agree to disagree , no issue.

[ajGreen]

All good , we are all entitled to an opinion even if it varies from others or the coaches . With respect express your opinion and just agree to disagree , no issue.

Of course that's the nature of being a supporter.

But it raises the question.

If the coach is not being truthful about balta leadership and mentoring.

Is he lying again? about wanting him as a pillar of the back 6? 

Balta is clearly the 2nd best ruckman. It's also make a backline of: trainor. Gibcus. Miller much easier to implement

[Andyy]

A lot of good points claw

IMO Balta is our #2 ruck option and if Nank goes down he could be main ruck over Sims or the likes of Delilah*

Which brings as to another problem as the coach has steadfast states he wants balta in the backline and you call him a liar.

Never called him a liar.

Just stating that a head coach is not going to publicly denigrate a player after an assault conviction and some very ordinary form on the field by stating that he's not a great choice for mentoring kids until he works himself back into favour and respect etc. And I have said the same about our coaching staff for other issues previously.


And to think some people have suggested moving on Vlastuin... lol

[Stripes]

I'm very torn between in the team that will win us the most games in 2026 and the team that I want to develop/build for the future. If its a team to win games in 2026, then here is mine -

FB: Broad Miller Trainor
HB: Banks Balta Vlastuin
C: Retschko Prestia Short
HF: Campbell Lynch Lalor
FF: Mansell, Faull Fawcett
Fol: Nankervis Taranto Hopper
INT:Brown Hotton Ross Rioli, Cumming

But....if I have an eye on the future then -

FB: Gibcus Miller Trainor
HB: Banks Balta Brown
C: Retschko Smilie Grlj
HF: Campbell Fawcett Hopper
FF: Cumming Faull Armstrong
Fol: Nankervis Lalor Taranto
INT: Broad Vlaustin Hotton Rioli

Full Back -  My developing team has Gibcus and Trainor on the Half Back line along with Miller. This is a balance of developing youth and rock solid defense. Both have a massive upside if they can get games into their legs. They have height, poise, intercept ability and skill. They just need the strength and experience.

Half Back - Brown becomes our number one intercept defender and Balta our number one shutdown defender. I sense Balta is going to have a massive year this year and Banks will give us good run off the half back plus be eager to keep Grlj out of his spot.

Center - The addition of Retschko will give is a specialist wingman who can run all day. I like the idea of moving Grlj to the other wing where he can use his run, elusiveness and kicking. Short could play this role but he doesn't have the defensive side to his game or run Grlj provides. If he can ever get on the park, Smilie in the middle just makes sense because he can use his ball winning ability and also act as a link man, given his height.

Half Forward - Campbell was a surprize packet last season and has the elusive speed we need running up and back into our forwardline. Fawcett has the size the other two key forwards lack atm to break packs and provide a physical presence in the absence of Lynch.
Lalor is our utility. I wish we had ten of him. He gives us another forward threat, sets up others and can rotate through the middle. Everything he touches turns to gold and with another preseason, I am super excited about what he'll do this year.

Full Forward - I want to see Cumming up forward so Mansell had to make way. I can see Mansell going back to the VFL to learn how to be a defender. Cumming will be a threat forward, setting up play, being an aerial threat and locking the ball in. He's going to a super player for us.
Alternatively, have Rioli in this role will give us greater defensive pressure. I am excited by what the two twin towers can offer us in the future. I love Faulls smarts; bringing ball to ground by crashing the packs, tapping it out to teammates, getting his knees dirty at the bottom of packs. He's an 'ugly' forward but one that does everything right. He honestly reminds me of Jack with his footy smarts.
Armstrong is your more leadup, conventional tall forward. Big mark, accurate kicks, loves to tackle. The two of them need to learn how to work together to better create space and opportunities for each other. With Bruest on hand to develop them, I feel we'll see that this year.

Following - I'd rather see a midfield of Lalor, Smilie, Campbell, Hotton, Cummings and Gryll but at the moment, our best option remains the old guard in Taranto and Hopper. I moved Hopper to the forwardline to rotate with Lalor. I pray we have the courage to begin to rotate both Taranto and Hopper forward with Lalor, Hotton, Campbell and Cummings early in the season, to give us more run and versitility.


Anyway, just my take