Brad enjoyed reading your thoughts and other comments from other hawks followers, so thank you everyone... I just have to say that I absolutely LOVE the fact that in October, we are already talking about the team for next year's season after such an exciting year that we've had ... GO HAWKS !!!
Thanks Brad, never too early for a selection dissection, especially having scribbled down endless potential combinations in recent weeks. Not that we should read anything into it, but in his review of the defenders, Kade Simpson says that Weddle can grow into an elite defender - perhaps that's a clue to where he'll play in 2025?
In the end, I think there are four more likely scenarios:
1. Amon at half back, Weddle on a wing, Sicily forward
2. Weddle as a defender, Sicily as a forward, CJ on the other wing to Massimo
3. Sicily as a defender, Weddle on the wing
4. Sicily as a defender, Weddle as a midfielder
A few other comments:
Meek is a watch - he faded as the year went on, which was understandable given the high workload he had for the first time in his career.
Chol is also a watch - he too faded over the year and was ineffective in both finals.
The key forwards in general are a watch, as the other key forward will be 19 and going into his second year - this part of the ground is an area of exposure until Lewis returns. Hoping to see Scaife have a big pre-season.
The midfield remains heavily reliant on Jai and Will Day - as you say, we really need Cam or Josh Ward to really step up next year, especially as we've traded out of a draft that is stacked with midfield talent.
Despite Sam's comments, it's very hard to see how Frosty is in the 23.
There's no world in which Morrison is in the best 23 ahead of a fit CJ.
What will be fascinating next season will be to see how Sam spins the magnets given the great deal of flexibility at his disposal - not just with selection, but in-game.
Purely from a list management perspective, the Sicily forward option has "implications" for the list management decisions that have been made, particularly for Gunston. With a forward structure of three talls (in rotation at times) and three/four small/high forwards, this would likely mean Chol, Sicily & Dear as the first tall options. The issue then becomes who would be be the "next option"?
With Lewis likely to be side lined until mid-year, to this part of the season, it would leave Gunston in a potential contest with Scaife and possibly Weddle given the midfield is already a tight unit plus he has played as the ruck chop out at times for Meek. I'm not sure that his forward craft would be at a level to challenge to others, but his mobility could allow him to play a high half forward option. When Lewis is fit to return, it would be reasonable to suggest that he would be given opportunities to play.
With Sicily forward, then the re-signing of Gunston is very much a niche form of insurance as his capacity to provide defensive pressure on the ground isn't what it was with his primary role in the later part of this season was to play a "tag" on the opposition's interceptor.
The question from a list management perspective - would we have re-signed Gunston if Sicily was to play forward, particularly given how tight list spots have ended up with the signing and re-signings?
A potential factor that could impact on this perspective would be any change to the sub rule i.e. if the bench went to 5, would this mean a 2nd ruck, another tall forward or an extra mid/high forward? I doubt it would be used for another defensive option.
Another implication with the recruits is their time on ground statistics- Barrass (averaged 94% 1st for WCE) & Battle (90% 2nd Saints). For us, Frosty was our leader at 97%. It would be fair to say that none of them would be seen as impact players who could come off the bench and be game changers, so it would be a matter who is seen to be the best fit for the job. Of the three, Battle has the obvious advantage of having spent some time forward and is a better kick than Frosty who has had some limited time forward.
My mail is that Breust carried an injury all year. I think he'll be injury free, play something closer to 2023 footy, and kick 35-40 goals. Wastson and Breust close to goal, Ginni up the ground a bit more.
If we go back to the 2023 season and think about the ideal additions to our backline, Barass and Battle would have been our dream recruits. Way better than any other options that were available for that season.
I agree Ramsden is likely to overtake Reeves as main backup ruck as the latter appears to me to be a one trick pony - he's unusually tall. He doesn't offer a great deal else. On that basis, I was surprised Hawthorn didn't pursue a trade (though perhaps they felt it left us too exposed until Ramsden proves he's advanced a bit more). Generally, I felt there were other players who also could have been traded (at least one of them) like CJ, Serong, Morrison, even Frost (though he had a terrific season, there's only so many tall defenders you need). Obviously I wasn't privy to what was being offered by other clubs. I just feel uncomfortable with our lack of involvement in the upcoming draft which is supposed to be pretty strong. I'm not as convinced as many that next year will automatically be a repeat of 2024 (not that I'm expecting any major decline).
Not sure Morrison is in our best 23. Weddle starts on the wing regardless and CJ probably gets a spot on the bench replacing Morrison.
The other one I’m not keen on is Chol starting at FF, Sicily and Dear with the 4 mosquitoes might work better. MacDonald starts at HF, Ginni to the pocket. I’m also confident Scaife will break into the side early in the season.
Brad enjoyed reading your thoughts and other comments from other hawks followers, so thank you everyone... I just have to say that I absolutely LOVE the fact that in October, we are already talking about the team for next year's season after such an exciting year that we've had ... GO HAWKS !!!
What she said 👏
As you stated, wanting a step up from Cam Mac and Josh Ward. I think we will get it as well.
Thanks Brad, never too early for a selection dissection, especially having scribbled down endless potential combinations in recent weeks. Not that we should read anything into it, but in his review of the defenders, Kade Simpson says that Weddle can grow into an elite defender - perhaps that's a clue to where he'll play in 2025?
In the end, I think there are four more likely scenarios:
1. Amon at half back, Weddle on a wing, Sicily forward
2. Weddle as a defender, Sicily as a forward, CJ on the other wing to Massimo
3. Sicily as a defender, Weddle on the wing
4. Sicily as a defender, Weddle as a midfielder
A few other comments:
Meek is a watch - he faded as the year went on, which was understandable given the high workload he had for the first time in his career.
Chol is also a watch - he too faded over the year and was ineffective in both finals.
The key forwards in general are a watch, as the other key forward will be 19 and going into his second year - this part of the ground is an area of exposure until Lewis returns. Hoping to see Scaife have a big pre-season.
The midfield remains heavily reliant on Jai and Will Day - as you say, we really need Cam or Josh Ward to really step up next year, especially as we've traded out of a draft that is stacked with midfield talent.
Despite Sam's comments, it's very hard to see how Frosty is in the 23.
There's no world in which Morrison is in the best 23 ahead of a fit CJ.
What will be fascinating next season will be to see how Sam spins the magnets given the great deal of flexibility at his disposal - not just with selection, but in-game.
Purely from a list management perspective, the Sicily forward option has "implications" for the list management decisions that have been made, particularly for Gunston. With a forward structure of three talls (in rotation at times) and three/four small/high forwards, this would likely mean Chol, Sicily & Dear as the first tall options. The issue then becomes who would be be the "next option"?
With Lewis likely to be side lined until mid-year, to this part of the season, it would leave Gunston in a potential contest with Scaife and possibly Weddle given the midfield is already a tight unit plus he has played as the ruck chop out at times for Meek. I'm not sure that his forward craft would be at a level to challenge to others, but his mobility could allow him to play a high half forward option. When Lewis is fit to return, it would be reasonable to suggest that he would be given opportunities to play.
With Sicily forward, then the re-signing of Gunston is very much a niche form of insurance as his capacity to provide defensive pressure on the ground isn't what it was with his primary role in the later part of this season was to play a "tag" on the opposition's interceptor.
The question from a list management perspective - would we have re-signed Gunston if Sicily was to play forward, particularly given how tight list spots have ended up with the signing and re-signings?
A potential factor that could impact on this perspective would be any change to the sub rule i.e. if the bench went to 5, would this mean a 2nd ruck, another tall forward or an extra mid/high forward? I doubt it would be used for another defensive option.
Another implication with the recruits is their time on ground statistics- Barrass (averaged 94% 1st for WCE) & Battle (90% 2nd Saints). For us, Frosty was our leader at 97%. It would be fair to say that none of them would be seen as impact players who could come off the bench and be game changers, so it would be a matter who is seen to be the best fit for the job. Of the three, Battle has the obvious advantage of having spent some time forward and is a better kick than Frosty who has had some limited time forward.
My mail is that Breust carried an injury all year. I think he'll be injury free, play something closer to 2023 footy, and kick 35-40 goals. Wastson and Breust close to goal, Ginni up the ground a bit more.
If we go back to the 2023 season and think about the ideal additions to our backline, Barass and Battle would have been our dream recruits. Way better than any other options that were available for that season.
I agree Ramsden is likely to overtake Reeves as main backup ruck as the latter appears to me to be a one trick pony - he's unusually tall. He doesn't offer a great deal else. On that basis, I was surprised Hawthorn didn't pursue a trade (though perhaps they felt it left us too exposed until Ramsden proves he's advanced a bit more). Generally, I felt there were other players who also could have been traded (at least one of them) like CJ, Serong, Morrison, even Frost (though he had a terrific season, there's only so many tall defenders you need). Obviously I wasn't privy to what was being offered by other clubs. I just feel uncomfortable with our lack of involvement in the upcoming draft which is supposed to be pretty strong. I'm not as convinced as many that next year will automatically be a repeat of 2024 (not that I'm expecting any major decline).
Not sure Morrison is in our best 23. Weddle starts on the wing regardless and CJ probably gets a spot on the bench replacing Morrison.
The other one I’m not keen on is Chol starting at FF, Sicily and Dear with the 4 mosquitoes might work better. MacDonald starts at HF, Ginni to the pocket. I’m also confident Scaife will break into the side early in the season.
I had the same 23 but in different positions 🤎💛
Sicily has stated he prefers down back Battle could rotate with him when or as required. This is a strong team to start the season with.