2023: SC Planning Thread
- Thread starter Gruffles
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Not expecting it to change it a lot.
Clug and Berry likely on the wings like most of last year. Zorko will push through but HF primarily and Lyons was phased out last year so would have to think he's further out with Dunkley in, he's also not bad as a pressure forward type but he'll go through at times.
Ashcroft is pretty special and Dunkley is clearly an upgrade on everyone but Neale.
Neale with a full preseason is definitely going under the radar I reckon.
Not sure why, not conditioning him to run out full games is a very dangerous move come finals or a pivotal close game where an injury happens. They'll only use the sub with free will about half the time anyway and really he only needs to start hot over the first 8 weeks.
It's always a chance but there's definitely a lot of other options at their side that I think you'd rest/protect more than him.
Clug and Berry likely on the wings like most of last year. Zorko will push through but HF primarily and Lyons was phased out last year so would have to think he's further out with Dunkley in, he's also not bad as a pressure forward type but he'll go through at times.
Ashcroft is pretty special and Dunkley is clearly an upgrade on everyone but Neale.
Neale with a full preseason is definitely going under the radar I reckon.
Not sure why, not conditioning him to run out full games is a very dangerous move come finals or a pivotal close game where an injury happens. They'll only use the sub with free will about half the time anyway and really he only needs to start hot over the first 8 weeks.
It's always a chance but there's definitely a lot of other options at their side that I think you'd rest/protect more than him.
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Lyons only phased out because his body was absolutely wrecked, gone and had the surgery to fix the problem and is building back up, I find it hard to see how hes not primarily a starting mid with a good run at it.
Zorko has dropped 7kg and has had his first pre season in 3 or 4 years so think hell spend more time in there than he did last year.
All of a sudden becomes 6 or 7 blokes and only 3 can be in there at a time so I can see what Vic is saying, think Ashcroft is a pretty special player though and won't be used as a sub, has the skills to play off a forward flank or half back and rotate in as other players move around throughout the game.
Zorko has dropped 7kg and has had his first pre season in 3 or 4 years so think hell spend more time in there than he did last year.
All of a sudden becomes 6 or 7 blokes and only 3 can be in there at a time so I can see what Vic is saying, think Ashcroft is a pretty special player though and won't be used as a sub, has the skills to play off a forward flank or half back and rotate in as other players move around throughout the game.
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Lyons looked pretty ordinary the first half of last year before they phased him out in the 2nd half, maybe he was cooked but he's basically a poor man's Dunkley so I'd expect those two end up going about 70/30 split in Dunkley's favour. Think they're too one paced and low skilled if Lyons and Dunkley spend much time in there together, basically putting it all on Neale and the wings which basically will have Neale tagged every week and things would grind to a halt then. Need that Ashcroft/Zorko type to bring some dynamism and movement through there. Clug can also achieve that if they wanted.
I actually expect Ashcroft to end up in the first group, probably flipping primarily with Zorko, again in about the same split as Dunkley. Don't really see a lot of point playing him forward over Zorko when Zorko is certainly a better forward and Ashcroft is their midfield future, may as well develop him in there. I expect it will be basically those 5 with Bailey, Rayner, Clug and Berry sliding through at times when matchups suit or they're just looking for a change up.
Clug will get some minutes here and there but I think they prefer him on the wing, fantasy wise it's terrible but he's exceptional on a wing so makes sense. Berry was basically on the wing all season last year in the end after the first few weeks when he did his shoulder, same story as Clug where it's terrible for fantasy but he's very good at it also.
I'd expect them to line up something along these lines:
B: Starcevich Gardiner/Payne XX
HB: Rich Andrews Coleman
C: Berry Neale McCluggage
HF: Zorko Daniher Bailey
F: Cameron Hipwood Gunston
R: OMc Dunkley Ashcroft
Int: Lyons McCarthy XX XX
I'm assuming Adams is unavailable for round 1, possibly all season so FB is basically between Gardiner and Payne. There's basically 3 clearly open spots...
Back pocket I think is between Wilmot, McKenna, Answerth, Joyce, Madden and Carter, with the first two leading. They could also go for Lester or the leftover of Gardiner/Payne if they want more size as third talls could present issues, reckon that's probably what Rayner is being trained for though.
The other two spots have a lot of possible options, I'd say Rayner a clear leader for one of them but then have all the defenders above as very decent chances, depends probably if Rayner is picked as a defender or forward. After them you've also got Tunstill, Sharp, Lohman, Ah Chee, Cockatoo, Prior, Mathieson, Robertson and they could even be stupid and go for Fort there.
They're one of those rare lists where almost every player has AFL experience which makes picking the last few bench spots really difficult but be surprised if they stray too much from that if everyone is available.
Will definitely be pressure for spots, basically Ashcroft is going to need to stay in the side on merit but he's good enough that he should. He's just got more talent and ability than any of those bench guys and his potential is enormous so no point wasting time in the twos given the obvious hole for him is in his natural role.
Very interesting side to watch for, Wilmot/McKenna could both be in but that spots going to be under hectic pressure, could be one of those pairings where you pick both and at least one should be playing most weeks, especially if both in the r1 side which is definitely possible.
I actually expect Ashcroft to end up in the first group, probably flipping primarily with Zorko, again in about the same split as Dunkley. Don't really see a lot of point playing him forward over Zorko when Zorko is certainly a better forward and Ashcroft is their midfield future, may as well develop him in there. I expect it will be basically those 5 with Bailey, Rayner, Clug and Berry sliding through at times when matchups suit or they're just looking for a change up.
Clug will get some minutes here and there but I think they prefer him on the wing, fantasy wise it's terrible but he's exceptional on a wing so makes sense. Berry was basically on the wing all season last year in the end after the first few weeks when he did his shoulder, same story as Clug where it's terrible for fantasy but he's very good at it also.
I'd expect them to line up something along these lines:
B: Starcevich Gardiner/Payne XX
HB: Rich Andrews Coleman
C: Berry Neale McCluggage
HF: Zorko Daniher Bailey
F: Cameron Hipwood Gunston
R: OMc Dunkley Ashcroft
Int: Lyons McCarthy XX XX
I'm assuming Adams is unavailable for round 1, possibly all season so FB is basically between Gardiner and Payne. There's basically 3 clearly open spots...
Back pocket I think is between Wilmot, McKenna, Answerth, Joyce, Madden and Carter, with the first two leading. They could also go for Lester or the leftover of Gardiner/Payne if they want more size as third talls could present issues, reckon that's probably what Rayner is being trained for though.
The other two spots have a lot of possible options, I'd say Rayner a clear leader for one of them but then have all the defenders above as very decent chances, depends probably if Rayner is picked as a defender or forward. After them you've also got Tunstill, Sharp, Lohman, Ah Chee, Cockatoo, Prior, Mathieson, Robertson and they could even be stupid and go for Fort there.
They're one of those rare lists where almost every player has AFL experience which makes picking the last few bench spots really difficult but be surprised if they stray too much from that if everyone is available.
Will definitely be pressure for spots, basically Ashcroft is going to need to stay in the side on merit but he's good enough that he should. He's just got more talent and ability than any of those bench guys and his potential is enormous so no point wasting time in the twos given the obvious hole for him is in his natural role.
Very interesting side to watch for, Wilmot/McKenna could both be in but that spots going to be under hectic pressure, could be one of those pairings where you pick both and at least one should be playing most weeks, especially if both in the r1 side which is definitely possible.
The track watcher for match sim said Wilmot was deep in the pocket and McKenna was up the ground providing the rebound, tells me they are playing different positions and can co exist in the same side, probably not great for Wilmot's ability to score but being 123K allows for that to an extent.
Do worry Wilmot gets dropped for a tall if they are playing a side with some size though, your lineup is close to how I have it but really lacks a bit of height down back.
Do worry Wilmot gets dropped for a tall if they are playing a side with some size though, your lineup is close to how I have it but really lacks a bit of height down back.
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The worry with Zorko is his achilles. This would almost certainly be why he has lost the 7kg in an effort to reduce the load on it.
He may present as fit, but the time bomb is ticking away. Zac Williams is another the same - training better than ever, leaner, first full preseason at Carlton etc. The fact is though, he hasn't had his achilles/calves bionically replaced.
If those 2 played 23 games at near full fitness, they'd be great picks.
He may present as fit, but the time bomb is ticking away. Zac Williams is another the same - training better than ever, leaner, first full preseason at Carlton etc. The fact is though, he hasn't had his achilles/calves bionically replaced.
If those 2 played 23 games at near full fitness, they'd be great picks.
