Position 2025: FORWARDS DISCUSSION

[BlufBlufShuv]

Anyone got any view on Sam Powell Pepper? ie is he best 22, sub candidate or not.

 

[Erek22]

Anyone got any view on Sam Powell Pepper? ie is he best 22, sub candidate or not.

Given his experience you would think he would avoid the vest.

 

[FlatTrackBully]

Anyone got any view on Sam Powell Pepper? ie is he best 22, sub candidate or not.

Definitely best 22 and would be extremely surprised if he was used as the sub throughout the year, did 65-70 in a poor role for multiple years.

Would be in my team but there's a lot of other options I like in the forward line. Probably worth paying up for if you're after solid job security and has a nice fixture to start.

 

[wogitalia]

What's the pass mark for a $350k-$400k forward?

I've not had Bailey Smith in any drafts so far but see him in a lot of teams. In 2023 he played 19 games at 80. If you got that this year, that's a fail: not much cash gen; not a premium.

What happened in 2023? Was he played out of position? Off-field issues? Playing while injured?

Have we seen evidence that things will be much different at Geelong? Guess we get R0 to have a look

He had all kinds of issues. Had the off field issues around a certain video, wont be an issue at Geelong who have a, let's call it, more encouraging attitude towards that particular aspect of the sport.

Wanted out of the club but couldn't get a trade done, showed up a bit out of shape which for a low skill gut runner is brutal. Then he pretty much gave up in the last 2 months of the season, averaged 64 over the last 2 months, then couldn't get a trade again and did his knee ahead of 2024.

Priced at 72, 90 looks like a solid F6 keeper but he can put up huge scores on his good games and the F6 position is likely to be flexed out anyway most weeks so really just needs to get to the bye scoring 20+ on his average and he's done the trick. Upside towards the 105 mark, likely to score low 90s, if he bounces back, capable of 140s that would spike his price.

Definitely not a slam dunk but at 67% selection he's a very high risk fade option. Basically if he fires then you're behind 2/3 of the teams, if he fails then you've got to pick someone else that works to even get an advantage, so it's a very risky target. Also looks like there's a ton of other options and with the r3 bye, you can probably dump him to better options at that point if he doesn't work.

Doesn't hurt he looked really good today.

One I haven't seen a lot of chat on is Liam Baker.

Over last 3 years has averaged ~90 playing HB across 17 games, most with Rioli/Vlastuin/Houli/Short there taking away points. Primed to be the main rebounder for the Eagles, I would expect that if he plays any other role it's probably midfield, where he scores similarly.

Priced at 82, has one of the best byes has a very good durability record, should be the Eagles primary rebounder and is really the only above average ball user in their projected back 6 right now besides McGovern.

Don't see any reason he can't push towards the 105 region on the upper end of projections, think 90 is probably a reasonable low end target. 95+ is probably a keeper.

There's obviously some risk he plays as a forward but the Eagles are actually pretty well stocked there with Cripps, Petrucelle, Ryan, Long, Owies, Hewett and Reid all available there.

Graham also a very decent option depending on how the midfield mix looks, with Yeo likely out early that sure opens up a spot for someone and Graham makes a lot of sense as that bigger body protector for Reid.

Just so many forward options this year, it's crazy after recent seasons!

 

[Herbie66]

Wait and see what F rookies we get but don't mind this for planning purposes :-

Horne-Francis * , Rankine , Macrae , B Smith * , Parker * , Daniel * / Lynch , Powell-Pepper

Cheaper F rookies look viable would then need to weigh up starting Lynch & Powell Pepper onfield v M rookies (Lalor - > Smillie price range)