If _______ and _______ are All Australian this year, we make the top 4?

[Go_Dogs]

Hopefully self-explanatory.

It?s absolutely a team sport and we are hopefully better than the sum of our parts, however if you had to nominate two players who if they have All Australian calibre seasons it goes a long way to propelling us into the top 4, who are you nominating?

Because it?s my thread I get to go first.

I?m nominating Baz Smith and Naughton.

If Baz can elevate his game and consistency to that of an All Australian level it will make a huge difference given his running power (both speed and endurance) defensive capability and goal scoring. In this scenario I?m of course still having Bont land an AA jumper too.

Naughton and the club have made a huge commitment to each other and now?s his time to breakout and take over games in a dominant year. Hopefully he becomes a prominent forward and starts getting some of that preferred treatment others get to take him to a 55+ goal season.

Over to you WOOFers.

[Mofra]

Weightman and any outside midfielder.

Weightman is a 'do it all' forward that will never get the no 1 defender.

If we have a running mid (Baz/Treloar/any one of our 57 wingmen) in the AA squad it probably solves our transition issues. We were 16th in the comp for transition from D50 to F50, in a team with Dale & Richards.

[Go_Dogs]

Love the Weightman call (wish I’d thought of that). Forward pocket AA who can take a turn in the middle to add some different looks on top of his 40+ goal season?

[MrMahatma]

If J OD and Artie Jones are All Australians we make top 4. And we prob have a handful other AAs, and we win the flag.

[Jasper]

Simply speaking if Naughton and Ugle-Hagan have AA quality seasons then this would push us right to the top of the tree.
Can you imagine our main 2 key forwards kicking 60 plus goals in the season where that would place us?

[jazzadogs]

If J OD and Artie Jones are All Australians we make top 4. And we prob have a handful other AAs, and we win the flag.

If Artie Jones is an AA in 2024...well I can't even think of something crazy enough to bet! What position do you think he is in?

I know you said that you assume Bont is AA, but I think its worth reiterating - we don't make top 4 as a team without him being a top 5 player in the comp. My other picks would be whichever one of Naughton and Jamarra wins the Coleman, and Treloar or Baz as a hard running mids.

Interestingly, the top 4 sides last year had minimal representation in the aa side...
Pies: Moore CHB, Naicos and Jaicos MID
Lions: Charlie Cameron FP
Demons: Petracca HFF
Port: Butters MID, Rozee HFF, Houston HBF

[hujsh]

How about Coffield and B.Williams?

If we somehow found ourselves and elite interceptor and one of our wingmen when to another level then we'd have to be somewhere close to top 4 you'd think.

[Packaged]

Ugle-Hagan & Bont for mine. If JUH can get to AA contention then either he has kicked bags or set Astro and Weightman up. The Bont will continue doing Bont things and be the AA captain.

[Bulldog Joe]

Weightman and Naughton or Jamarra.

If we have 2 AA forwards we are scoring heavily and that means our rebound and delivery is working really, really well.

We would be looking at top 4 for a start.

[kickit2Koly]

Liam Jones and Naughton

[Bumper Bulldogs]

For mine it Jones and JUH. If they get AA we are a shoe in.

Bont, Libba, Naughts are automatic selection based on LY. Beverages talking up how fit we will be, so here to a great December dr among of our next flag.

[Bigdog]

Naughton and JUH are a good call.

if you have the best performing key forwards in the comp you will have kicked a lot of goals.

[jazzadogs]

Naughton and JUH are a good call.

if you have the best performing key forwards in the comp you will have kicked a lot of goals.

Nick Larkey was All Australian last year...so not a guarantee. Though I agree if you had the TWO AA key forwards you're doing something right.

[Dazza]

J'OD and Jones.

If we had the best 2 KPD's we'd win the grand final in a canter

[Bigdog]

Nick Larkey was All Australian last year...so not a guarantee. Though I agree if you had the TWO AA key forwards you're doing something right.
A poor team couldn't get the supply to have two key forwards in a AA Side. If we had both Naughton and Marra as AA forward we probably get 140 goals out of the 2.

140 goals would be like 55% of norths total score last year.

if we kick a lot of goals and have a competent defence we will be a good side next year.

[ledge]

Well we might not like SEN but after a fan survey this was the result .. this is just wow stuff 1223

[Go_Dogs]

Really interesting mix of responses so far, with lots of nominations from the spine, a few running midfielders and/or wingers, and Weightman as the only pocket player.

Highlights we think we need more from our key position players and vital midfield cogs.

[Grantysghost]

For me, it's all about defence.

If we can have a couple of AA seasons out of our defenders to me that's the sign we make top 4.

Considering our struggles with rebound 50, I'll say Dale, and without a May type the next best is an interceptor so I'll go Jones.

Dale and Jones for me.

[Mavericks]

Jones and Libba, Can make top 4 with only Bont making AA if we have even contributions across the Board, we are fitter and better match day coaching. Maybe do as Pies and practice end of game scenarios.

[GVGjr]

There is a lot of merit in the opening posts recommendations of Baz and Naughton in identifying two players who if they have AA seasons would help us in our top 4 ambitions for 2024.

Naughton has been a consistent goal kicker for the last 3 years with 47, 51 and 44 goals so for him to get into the AA conversation he would probably need to kick 65 goals plus for the season. That's possibly achievable in a really good season but he's probably going to get somewhere around 50 goals anyway. Those extra 15 or 20 goals will in all likeliness win us an extra 3 or 4 games which based on this seasons effort and that would just about get us into the top 4.

One other scenario could be that if Lobb were to to make AA he would probably need to kick just 40 goals and clearly become the premier 2nd ruckman in the competition. A few more marks around the ground and of course some more hit outs

I'd normally be keen to see a defender as the next priority but if Jones just stays fit we will be a far better side. Richards and Dale are always in the mix and I doubt if either of them have an outright AA season that it changes the needle much for us. JJ had a good season and once again just staying fit will be a huge plus for us. O'Donnell made a lot of progress late in the season and Coffield adds some depth there. I don't see any real scenario that an AA level season from any of them results in a lot more wins for us.

Now if Baz Smith were to have that absolute AA type season and somehow get ahead of or break even with the likes of Gulden, Butters, Cripps, Neale and Rozee etc then could really change our fortunes. I'm not sure how realistic that is but in a team of already great midfielders that would make for an exciting season.

There are a lot of scenarios that would help make us a far better side but I think Naughton and Smith could work for us.

[SonofScray]

Richards and JUH

Means we've started defending and rebounding much more strongly without him getting shut down either way because there's no other avenue to the move the ball.

Means we've grown out threat forward of the ball and hit the scoreboard significantly.

[Bulldog Joe]

Liam Jones making AA would certainly mean an improved performance for the team with consistency.

The more I think of it the achievement to guarantee a successful year would be Liam Jones winning the Norm Smith.

I think we could all be happy with that.

[Jasper]

Nick Larkey was All Australian last year...so not a guarantee. Though I agree if you had the TWO AA key forwards you're doing something right.

He could have kicked 80 goals and I doubt North would be pressing the top 8. We are a bit different and just need some consistent scoring.

[Mofra]

Nick Larkey was All Australian last year...so not a guarantee. Though I agree if you had the TWO AA key forwards you're doing something right.
Larkey is the most underrated player in the game by a significant margin.
McKay and Curnow won back to back Coleman medals between them.

I'm not sure KPFs winning everything is a recipe for success anymore.

[bornadog]

For me it is Libba, and Richards. Both worthy but didn't make it this year. If the Media think they are flying then we must be as well.

[weltschmerz]

When Libba is out there our heads are higher, and if Naughton was just a bit more accurate, he'd be a Coleman fancy. Libba and Naughton in AA form, we make finals.

[Angak]

If Caleb has AA caliber season it will mean that our ball movement excellent. His last two years have been down years compared to previous seasons. Need a big year from him.

[Go_Dogs]

When Libba is out there our heads are higher, and if Naughton was just a bit more accurate, he'd be a Coleman fancy. Libba and Naughton in AA form, we make finals.

Like it. I know Libba probably doesn’t care, but seems appropriate he gets an AA. A very good footballer for a long long time.

[Bulldog Joe]

Like it. I know Libba probably doesn’t care, but seems appropriate he gets an AA. A very good footballer for a long long time.

Libba has well and truly earned the recognition more than once already.

Badly under rated by the media and consequently by the selectors.

[Axe Man]

Libba has well and truly earned the recognition more than once already.

Badly under rated by the media and consequently by the selectors.

I think Libba wasn't helped by our season this year (not that it should matter). Had we won a few more games and perhaps a final he may have gotten the nod. Selectors probably didn't want to include the ruck and 2 onballers from a non-finals team.

On a slight tangent, If Sweet and Schache are All Australian next year we will need to shut the site down. :D

[Mofra]

Like it. I know Libba probably doesn’t care, but seems appropriate he gets an AA. A very good footballer for a long long time.
He was something like the 4th most effective player in the competition in 2023.
Funky Miller must still get nightmares about 2016...

[spindles11]

Naughton and Liam Jones- naughty kicking stacks and LJ stopping the best forwards

[Sanders]

I think Red is a lock for AA off half back this year, can wait to see him tear the comp apart this year!

[Go_Dogs]

Naughton and Liam Jones- naughty kicking stacks and LJ stopping the best forwards

Great nominations.

It’s easy to forget that Jones was well in the mix for AA conversations prior to his injury in 2023, and despite his age, he’s not showing signs of slowing down. In fact, he’s arguably still getting better as a player. I’d take 23 games from him - if he manages that many he’ll probably be well in the mix.

[TheColonel]

If Liam Jones and Jamarra can become AA?s this year then we are going to be right up there. I think Jones most importantly as it means he has had an injury free year and we know he will be super competitive every week he is out there.
Jamarra has had strong growth year on year, if he can continue that into next season and clean his goal kicking up (he could?ve had 50+ goals last year already), then he will put himself and us right into contention.

[hujsh]

The only problem I have with Jones being one of the players is I remember him being near BOG against GC and we lost that one embarrasingly. If it's a question of where we get improvement from to guarantee a better year I think we need to look elsewhere

[Bulldog4life]

If Caleb has AA caliber season it will mean that our ball movement excellent. His last two years have been down years compared to previous seasons. Need a big year from him.

In an interview last year with Daniel he was asked his favourite position. Wherever the coach needs me was his answer. Very impressive.

[Go_Dogs]

In an interview last year with Daniel he was asked his favourite position. Wherever the coach needs me was his answer. Very impressive.

Agreed. I think we as fans undervalue his current “Mr Fixit” role and get a bit nostalgic around his work out of the backline a few years ago. If he was to make it as an AA, no idea what position it would be, but it would certainly be a good sign for us as Caleb having it 25+ times means we’re trusting him to use it well and often. We could do worse…

[foow]

Liam Jones and Ed Richards. Our lack of intercept and rebound was a fatal flaw in 2023 and if we correct that then we?re in the mix.

[mighty_west]

Jamarra and Naughton and in position, and both would obviously have to have their goal kicking radar's on, there are usually only two key forwards in the AA side, they may sneak one on the bench but if both become 1 and 2 next season, surely we'd be a lock for top 4.

[Eastdog]

If Liam Jones and Jamarra can become AA?s this year then we are going to be right up there. I think Jones most importantly as it means he has had an injury free year and we know he will be super competitive every week he is out there.
Jamarra has had strong growth year on year, if he can continue that into next season and clean his goal kicking up (he could?ve had 50+ goals last year already), then he will put himself and us right into contention.

I'll go for this one as well. Also a big year for Naughton as well up there with Jamarra would be great and would get us scoring big most weeks. When Jones got injured last year that affected us as I thought he was really good in that period after those big losses round 1 and 2. Coffield could be huge as well.

[yourmate]

I'd love it to be Smith and Naughton. We already know Bont, Libba and Treloar are likely to put in solid years but Smith getting the nod would mean he's finally put a consistent year together and he really does offer a nice point of difference for a team. Naughton getting in would mean he's started kicking straight and he's up around the 65-goal mark which I think is where he needs to be if we want to finish top 4.