Discussion General Discussion

Which team wins a final first?

  • Essendon

    Votes: 23 28.8%
  • Tasmania

    Votes: 57 71.3%

  • Total voters
    80
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The official team, for reference:
View attachment 77412
My gut feel is Merrett is very unlucky, but whoever was left out for him would be equally so. Can't fault this team too much.
Someone who watches more footy than me would know, but how many of these players are named in spots they didn't play all season? I'm guessing at least 5-6. Plenty of mids out of position (and the entire bench being mids) - not arguing they are not all deserving of a spot, but it's not a great team structurally.

Happy to see Dylan make the final team for the first time (even if he generally plays more HF), always been a fan of him, even before he was nearly delisted. Hopefully the first of many. Liked Massimo as a player even before he moved to the Hawks, was dissapointed we missed him in that draft, so good to see him make the squad in his first year with the Hawks. Possibly the biggest improver in the comp this year? Good for Sicily to make the squad again too, even if this wasn't his best year - still a gun.
 
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The official team, for reference:
View attachment 77412
My gut feel is Merrett is very unlucky, but whoever was left out for him would be equally so. Can't fault this team too much.
Merrett definitely stiff but I can’t confidently say who I’d take out for him so it’s probably just a case of there being too many deserving players. I’d rather see him miss than be named in a forward pocket just to squeeze him in..
 
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My predicted team was:
Ryan, Andrews, Houston
Zorko, McGovern, Whitfield
Gulden, Bont, Treloar
Sheezel, Curnow, Heeney
Moore, Hogan, Stengle
Xerri
, Cripps, Neale
Daicos, Serong, Butters, Merrett

16/22 correct. Players in red were wrong.
The ones that made it instead were Weitering, Warner, Waterman, Cameron, Gawn, and Blakey. Think Andrews was incredibly stiff to miss out. Xerri and Gawn were 50/50. Key forwards were always a bit of a toss up after Hogan. Sheezel pretty unlucky. Stengle got squeezed out due to the elite ‘forwards’ in Heeney and Warner. Also… how on earth did Flanders not get in the squad? I would’ve picked him in my 22!
 
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I don’t see any big problems with the AA team other than the omission of Flanders from the squad. That is just mind boggling. I would also have him in the team over Houston. Houston had a good first half of the season but was no standout in the second half.

Outside of that if I was nitpicking I would have Whitfield on field over Houston and probably any of the 3 benched midfielders on field over Serong. Serong started very strong but faded a bit as the season went on. I think all of Neale, Treloar and Butters ended up having better seasons than Serong (only just). If I had to nominate one it would be Treloar who was outstanding for the whole season.

I am disappointed Sheezel missed but can’t really make an argument for him displacing anybody selected. I also think Gawn over Xerri was the right call.
 

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Andrews should have been in.
A pretend team that means nothing and still made the 44 man squad. Individual accolades should not be strived for in a team sport and the only importance is for meeting performance incentives in their contracts, so found it very amusing the club thought it was worthy to point out and care about.
 
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My attempt :-

View attachment 77363

View attachment 77364

Notes:

Ryan/Andrews/Collins/Weitering is too tall - Ryan can play 3rd tall. Weitering & Andrews are really full backs so only pick 1, Gov is a true CHB. Sheezel has been outstanding all year, I know he transitioned into the midfield but him & Sinclair (on my bench) rotate through half back & mid.

I wanted true winger, Gulden a lock & Brayshaw does spend much time on the wing as well as in the middle - he had a big finish to the season.

Heeney & Butters do spend time at half fwd, more than the other mids in the squad & they are locks to be in the 22 so makes sense to place them at half fwd.

Moore & Stengle were the 2 best small fwds this season so they get the fwd pockets.

Xerri has to be the AA ruck, amazing season. Neale,Merrett,Serong & Sinclair all excellent seasons again - all deserving so couldn't squeeze Max in. Xerri averaged 84% TOG ruck time this year anyway, so only 1 true ruck required & Curnow/Cripps can offer relief when required.
Glad you found a place for Zach.
 

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