Do interpret this as suggesting you dont think Dylan Stephens is best 22 with the recent departures?
I honestly don't know right now, lots of moving parts for Sydney.
Dawson vacates a wing.
Heeney's role is a huge question, does midfield mean genuine midfield or a more wing based role? Last year he moved to high half-forward and wing over the last 6 or so games, he could well just take Dawson's wing role essentially (he'd thrive in it) or he could move into the actual midfield where he should be even better, would like him to play as a genuine centreman because his marking is exceptional for a midfield and he uses the ball very well.
Assuming Heeney is inside you've got basically a high HF/wing role and a genuine wing role open. Hewett leaving means that genuine mid role is open for Heeney. Talk is JPK will also play more forward, so, I expect we see another genuine inside midfield role probably flip to 70/30 with JPK as opposed to being more of an 80/20 the last few years in JPK's favour.
I'd lean that Gulden is probably the reason for that change and the guy who takes that role.
So basically I'm thinking Heeney/Gulden replace/switch for Hewett/JPK.
We have Florent, McInerney and Stephens that for mine are our genuine wingers on the list, Stephens has shown more than the other two as having an ability to actually push through midfield as well but that's very limited exposure and as much the other two showing the don't have it.
I'd say right now though that Stephens is in our best 22 but probably on the INT and given how little Horse has trusted him or given him chances, that's a precarious spot.
FWIW I think our best 22 looks something like this right now:
B - Rampe T. McCartin Cunningham
HB - Lloyd Reid Blakey
C - Florent Heeney McInerney
HF - Gulden Franklin Hayward
F - Papley McDonald Ladhams
R - Hickey Mills Parker
Int - Kennedy Rowbottom Stephens Ch. Warner
EMG: Fox O'Riordan Melican Campbell
Those last couple of spots I think have a lot of potential names going through them. Two rucks seems likely, Horse has always liked it when he could.
FWIW I'd rather Campbell than Rowbottom, who I still find to be a very limited player but Horse loves him.
Right now you've got Florent, Mills and Rowbottom all sketchy for round 1, so basically Stephens goes from 21-22 on the list to 18th or so and he'd have a spot to lose. Not dissimilar to Jordon last year having a chance while Viney was out and making the most of it. Basically he's a bigtime boom or bust pick.
Hopefully preseason will show us a bit more.