Best 22 for year 2018

[bornadog]

Sorry Rocco, stealing your thunder. Terry Wallace picked the following team.

Terry has left out anyone over 30

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CntHep-UEAAGX8C.jpg:large


I would think Dunkley should be in somewhere.

[comrade]

So that's without including 2 years worth of first round picks or any FA inclusions yet it looks pretty solid already.

Still lacks some pace and class.

Fingers crossed most of these blokes are premiership winners by this time ;)

[Ozza]

Hard to imagine our side without Dale Morris!!! (and Bob and Boyd for that matter). But understand Plough went without all of Morris, Picken, Boyd & Bob, conservatively predicting they wouldn't still be there.

Still batting pretty deep when you consider no Dunkley, Roberts, Honeychurch, Webb or Bailey Williams listed in the side. AND, not a 30 year+ player in sight.

As Bob said - the list is very healthy.

I forget how young Dahlhaus, Wallis, Libba, JJ, Macrae and Hunter all are. Even Roughy - just 27 in 2018 - probably only peaking then (Goldstein is 28).

[comrade]

Also, where's Hurley?

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Hard to imagine our side without Dale Morris!!! (and Bob and Boyd for that matter). But understand Plough went without all of Morris, Picken, Boyd & Bob, conservatively predicting they wouldn't still be there.

Still batting pretty deep when you consider no Dunkley, Roberts, Honeychurch, Webb or Bailey Williams listed in the side. AND, not a 30 year+ player in sight.

As Bob said - the list is very healthy.

I forget how young Dahlhaus, Wallis, Libba, JJ, Macrae and Hunter all are. Even Roughy - just 27 in 2018 - probably only peaking then (Goldstein is 28).

Cordy not in there either.

I'll be damned if this group can't win us a flag (provided they all stay together of course)

[Mofra]

Cordy not in there either.
Very noticeable - I think the kicking ability of Cordy & Adams means we can afford to play three talls there if need be.

Didn't realize Suckling will only be 29 in 2018, I thought he was that age now. Even better pick up than I imagined.

[LostDoggy]

So that's without including 2 years worth of first round picks or any FA inclusions yet it looks pretty solid already.

Still lacks some pace and class.

Fingers crossed most of these blokes are premiership winners by this time ;)

Dual winners Comrade. ;)

[Eastdog]

Thats look a very good side chock full of talent. I just hope we can keep them all together for as long as possible.

[bulldogtragic]

Hurley is unlucky to miss.

[EasternWest]

Hurley is unlucky to miss.

Not bad.

[bulldogtragic]

Old man Crameri at 29.

If the list stays together you can see a lot of Hawthorn & Geelong about them. In that they will have played so many years together already by 70-100+ games that they will instinctively know where their team mates are, how they run, where they run, how to link up without thinking and everything will be second nature. It's the real strength of Hawthorn with Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Roughy and then the next batch in Rioli, Burgoyne etc.

[comrade]

Old man Crameri at 29.


He'll be fresh as a daisy at 29 after having a gap year to heal any niggles. Could prolong his career by a few years.

[bulldogtragic]

He'll be fresh as a daisy at 29 after having a gap year to heal any niggles. Could prolong his career by a few years.

A bit of tongue in cheek on my part. I like that as we contend we are not relying on a brigade of older players that the majority of the team will expect to get them across the line. Although at a thing last year Bevo & Morris both said they'd like to see Morris running around in 2018.

[jeemak]

I hope his hamstrings and other soft tissue areas that don't turn to chalk.

[comrade]

A bit of tongue in cheek on my part. I like that as we contend we are not relying on a brigade of older players that the majority of the team will expect to get them across the line. Although at a thing last year Bevo & Morris both said they'd like to see Morris running around in 2018.

Yep, given his later start in the big leagues, Moz could squeeze a few more years out. Can't imagine our backline without him. Seeing him with a premiership medal would just about be the greatest thing of all time.

[whythelongface]

Old man Crameri at 29.

If the list stays together you can see a lot of Hawthorn & Geelong about them. In that they will have played so many years together already by 70-100+ games that they will instinctively know where their team mates are, how they run, where they run, how to link up without thinking and everything will be second nature. It's the real strength of Hawthorn with Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Roughy and then the next batch in Rioli, Burgoyne etc.

Too true BT. Look at the team and how young they still are in two years. We are already a force to be reckoned with. Top this team up with a quality key defender and one or two outside runners and we are seriously good.

[Ozza]

I'm definitely concerned about how the year off will affect Crameri.

It took him quite a while to get some consistency in his game after missing some pre-season last year. I wouldn't be counting on him being a walk up start to be a senior player for much of next year. Particularly being a bigger frame naturally - although he is a good athlete - I suspect it won't be easy for him to get back into the mode of AFL football & fitness. Add to that, the psychological impact of being out of his profession for a year - personally, I am setting no expectations on Stew next year, and any good footy at senior level will be a bonus.

[jeemak]

I'm definitely concerned about how the year off will affect Crameri.

It took him quite a while to get some consistency in his game after missing some pre-season last year. I wouldn't be counting on him being a walk up start to be a senior player for much of next year. Particularly being a bigger frame naturally - although he is a good athlete - I suspect it won't be easy for him to get back into the mode of AFL football & fitness. Add to that, the psychological impact of being out of his profession for a year - personally, I am setting no expectations on Stew next year, and any good footy at senior level will be a bonus.

If it was a long term injury, like the one Dale suffered or a serious knee then I'd probably be more concerned.

My expectation is he'll come back super fit and be raring to go when match practice starts late this year. The concern I have is the sprinting in full match conditions and how his body will cope with it.

[Twodogs]

If it was a long term injury, like the one Dale suffered or a serious knee then I'd probably be more concerned.

My expectation is he'll come back super fit and be raring to go when match practice starts late this year. The concern I have is the sprinting in full match conditions and how his body will cope with it.

I'm more concerned about soft tissue injuries than anything. But they have done a great job with Libba this year. Hasn't missed a beat, just taken up where he left off

[bornadog]

I'm more concerned about soft tissue injuries than anything. But they have done a great job with Libba this year. Hasn't missed a beat, just taken up where he left off

We have been critical of our medicos not keeping us right up to date, but they have been cautious and doing a great job.

[GVGjr]

I'm definitely concerned about how the year off will affect Crameri.

It took him quite a while to get some consistency in his game after missing some pre-season last year. I wouldn't be counting on him being a walk up start to be a senior player for much of next year. Particularly being a bigger frame naturally - although he is a good athlete - I suspect it won't be easy for him to get back into the mode of AFL football & fitness. Add to that, the psychological impact of being out of his profession for a year - personally, I am setting no expectations on Stew next year, and any good footy at senior level will be a bonus.

Its an interesting point. I suspect he will ramp up his own training through August and September and he will be ready to join official training once the ban is lifted. Unlike being injured, he will be able to participate with full training early on and have a long time to prepare for 2017. He might be a bit rusty but if he stays injury I don't think he will be too far behind others come January / February.

[boydogs]

Definitely a big difference between missing training due to injury and training but missing games due to suspension. Crameri should be right to go after a preseason and NAB cup matches

[comrade]

Yep, given his later start in the big leagues, Moz could squeeze a few more years out. Can't imagine our backline without him. Seeing him with a premiership medal would just about be the greatest thing of all time.

With the very welcome return of the great Dale Morris, this post from July last year seems timely.

And seeing him with a premiership medal (despite a broken freaking back no less) WAS the greatest thing of all time.

[bulldogtragic]

With the very welcome return of the great Dale Morris, this post from July last year seems timely.

And seeing him with a premiership medal (despite a broken freaking back no less) WAS the greatest thing of all time.

As I've said before, I heard Bevo & Morris talk at a function. If he doesn't get 'old man' injuries (calf etc) or a series repeated injuries on/in the same area, both men have 2018 in sight to play on. I hope that's still the plan, as the saying goes, 'when the going gets though, the tough gets smashed into oblivion by Dale Morris no matter what the odds or pain'.

[bornadog]

As I've said before, I heard Bevo & Morris talk at a function. If he doesn't get 'old man' injuries (calf etc) or a series repeated injuries on/in the same area, both men have 2018 in sight to play on. I hope that's still the plan, as the saying goes, 'when the going gets though, the tough gets smashed into oblivion by Dale Morris no matter what the odds or pain'.

Personally, I think it could be their last year.