Whose spots are up for grabs?

[RudeBoy]

With the arrival of Perryman, Houston and Membrey, along with the expected improvements from Allan, DeMattia and possibly (eventually) Harrison, which current senior players might struggle to hold their spots in our side?

Aside from fringe players like Markov, Frampton, Sullivan, Long, McInnes and Macrae, I suspect the following players, unless they improve, might find their places in our side under threat:

Schultz - was satisfactory in 2024, but needs to stamp himself as a lock-in small forward.

Lipinski - a hard running and skilled player, but one who seems to go missing when the going gets tough.

Cox - his absence demonstrated his value to us, but perhaps Steene or Smit could step up and take his place.

Mitchell - a wounded warrior. His place will probably be determined by how well he has recovered from his foot injury.

Of course, an argument could well be made that all spots are up for grabs, but these are the most vulnerable imho. I'd be interested to know which others think are the 4 or 5 most vulnerable senior players, who were generally in our best 23 last season.

[Johnno75]

I reckon Mitchell is important to us and was sorely missed as an inside mid. I hope he gets his body right. It may mean the difference between a top 4 spot or not. It could also mean guys like Nick or Perryman, Houston and others running through the mids gets off the chain.

[stui magpie]

Mitchell, if fit, is the in and under feeder of the ball, unless Perryman takes his spot.

Lipinski can play forward, but will need to be at his best.

Cox is virtually irreplaceable. No one on our list can play key forward and ruck as well as he can. Smit may be next up if he can develop his forward craft, Steene is more pure ruck to me.

[Culprit]

Mitchell, if fit, is the in and under feeder of the ball, unless Perryman takes his spot.

Lipinski can play forward, but will need to be at his best.

Cox is virtually irreplaceable. No one on our list can play key forward and ruck as well as he can. Smit may be next up if he can develop his forward craft, Steene is more pure ruck to me.

The rules kill anyone who has excellent tap work. These days, you need to be a Ruck Rover virtually these days. Membrey and McStay can ruck around the round, you only need to make a contest under the current rules. I am a huge Cox (pardon the pun) fan but the versatility McStay and Membrey can bring means Cox needs to bring his A-game each week. Sure we don't have Membrey yet and in saying that I feel recruit wise it will be horses for courses in 2025.

[Pies4shaw]

Mitchell is still relatively young, provided he gets back over his injuries. He engine-roomed one flag and can probably do it again. If he gets back to full mobility, we have no one who can play that bullocking role as effectively. Lipinski is responsible for about a half of our scoring and came 7th in the best and fairest - immediately ahead of Hill, Maynard and Moore, so he’s going nowhere - unless we get Dane Swan with a late pick.

[Charlie Oneeye]

I am a huge Cox (pardon the pun) fan but the versatility McStay and Membrey can bring means Cox needs to bring his A-game each week.

Ditto, was about to write the same thing. I don't wish to take too much away from Cox.

Would a Membrey who runs around all day be better value over 120 minutes, and Ruck shared by MCStay or say Frampton.

With Checkers and Membrey available, and McStay out there, is Cox going to stand out like the Lone Ranger again?

He would need to unsurp Cameron. As a forward we have better options.

On the basis of team balance I leave him out.. but I am not sure, I look forward to selection time.

[RudeBoy]

The rules kill anyone who has excellent tap work. These days, you need to be a Ruck Rover virtually these days. Membrey and McStay can ruck around the round, you only need to make a contest under the current rules. I am a huge Cox (pardon the pun) fan but the versatility McStay and Membrey can bring means Cox needs to bring his A-game each week. Sure we don't have Membrey yet and in saying that I feel recruit wise it will be horses for courses in 2025.
[/quote]

Unless I'm mistaken, Membrey is only 188 cms so he is unlikely to be able to do much ruck work. Pendles is taller than that.

[Charlie Oneeye]

What I've seen of him, Membrey is not going to outmark a tight pack in the air, but in space, he uses his body/strength/footy smarts to outmark KP-sized opponents. He has the added value of being very good around the ground. If he passes the medical, we have a taller Elliott, not a shorter Cameron lol

[The Black and White Lion]

So a much cheaper version of Stringer?

[Culprit]

You are correct Rude Boy, it’s not about the height it’s just making a contest. Ruck work is a non event these days. You train not to win the ruck contest, well that’s how I was taught.

[qldmagpie67]

It’s hard really because with the players we’ve bought in so far they can play a couple different roles
Couple that with the players we had out injured last year and how they come back
Then we have our veterans players who have another gruelling preseason to get through
In a perfect world all positions should be up for grabs means we’ve got loads of players in form and no injuries
Then are we going to adjust the style of play ?

[Charlie Oneeye]

Then are we going to adjust the style of play ?

Yes. Definately. I think.

Watching Brissie this year, in the early rounds they were smashing it in the first qrt only to be reigned back in and losing games.

As the season wore on, they extended their leads into the 2nd qtr, then the 3rd, and by the GF they hit the accelerator for 120 mins.

Post GF it occurred to me they had offensive plans all over the ground from back pocket to forward pocket, In order to do that they had a side capable of executing.

Which is our 2025 game plan, Perryman, Houston, Membrey all dangerous players. A few injuries in, we have WHE, Lipinski, ?, We are not plugging as many holes and playing to remain competitive. Luck with injuries, we can build offensive momentum.

[Jen2310]

Mitchell is still relatively young.

He's 32 in May.

[Pies4shaw]

^ Yes.

[lazzadesilva]

Mitchell is still relatively young.

He's 32 in May.

Easily another two years left in him, because he’s one who keeps his fitness up and trains well.