My team for round 1

[Simon]

Field
Macdonald
Milne
Dugan
Nightingale
Sims
Havili
Vaughan
Thompson
Frizell
De Belin

Ah Mau
Host
Leilua
McInnes

I know we're struggling for halves, but I'd still be suggesting we take the field with 13 players.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I think we all really should prepare ourselves for the undeniable truth.....McGregor has already locked in his round 1 team.
And I have no doubt our backline will be:
1. Dugan
2. Nighty
3. Lafai
4. Aitken
5. McDonald
6. Widdop
7. McCrone

As for the forwards we know Marketo will be there. Take your pick on who will miss out.

McGregor doesn't have vision and his first thoughts will be about saving his skin and if we're beaten he will rely on this 'old guard' to not be beaten by much.....this is his only way. To play around with rookies and probables and then get flogged (maybe) puts him under more pressure.
So its safety first only.
I really think McGregor has been told to get results or be replaced (Hornby to be caretaker seeing he was rushed into the AllStars Game) probaly by mid-season.

 

[possm]

I know we're struggling for halves, but I'd still be suggesting we take the field with 13 players.

Thanks Simon. My halves are Mann at 6 and Widdop at 7.

 

[Gippsy]

My team would be;

Dugan
Nightingale
Aitken
Milne
MacDonald
Mann
Widdop
Packer
McInnes
Vaughan
Thompson
Frizell
De Bellin

Sims
Host
Havili
Leilua


Dufty and Field will get their chances this year, and if that team doesn't fire, I hope it's sooner rather than later.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

What I find interesting is the abundance of halves that the Cutters will have once the First Grade side have settled on their combination.
Say that Field and Widdop are the halves they go with, i'm struggling to find a spot in the side for Mann (even though i'd have him in the side at wing ahead of Nightingale).
So that means they'll have Mann and Mcrone in the halves for the Cutters, but they already have Nona and Payne... However Payne is too old now to play for the 20s so does that mean he'll drop to park Footy?
What will that mean for Nona as well? How about this Delayne Ashby kid?

Confusing times.

 

[coast_dragons]

The Cutters have Sam and Adam Clune plus Payne.

Ashby is only trialling.

 

[dragonssamy61]

My team would be;

Dugan
Nightingale
Aitken
Milne
MacDonald
Mann
Widdop
Packer
McInnes
Vaughan
Thompson
Frizell
De Bellin

Sims
Host
Havili
Leilua


Dufty and Field will get their chances this year, and if that team doesn't fire, I hope it's .
I would also have the same

 

[Old Timer]

I love it...take one of our most hyped youngsters, a fullback who transitioned into a 5/8 and is looking to break into first grade at halfback, and stuff him into the centres, despite some of our best junior prospects in years already waiting for a spot in the centres!

This is Tim Sheens level genius!

Love the succinctness of your post.
I think the posts that led to your reply are all going to lead somewhere.
Can't wait for the Mann is shit but he's better than Widdop, so drop Widdop and play Mann at 5/8 post, I suspect it's not too far away.

 

[dragonrickjs]

Mann
Nightingale
Dugan
Aiken
McDonald
Widdop
Field
Packer
McInnes
Vaughan
Thompson
Frizell
Debelin
Sims
Host
Havili
Leilua

 

[kit66]

I think we all really should prepare ourselves for the undeniable truth.....McGregor has already locked in his round 1 team.
And I have no doubt our backline will be:
1. Dugan
2. Nighty
3. Lafai
4. Aitken
5. McDonald
6. Widdop
7. McCrone

As for the forwards we know Marketo will be there. Take your pick on who will miss out.

You nailed it Dragonslayer, at least for the Charity Shield ( and undoubtedly round 1 ).

Not much point picking my own R1 team but we can dream.

1. Field / Dufty when he's fit.
2. McDonald - not actually convinced by this kid yet but prepared to give him a shot.
3. Milne - how could Lafai possibly be ahead of this guy. How ?
4. Dugan - has to be there somewhere. Dodd or Aitken to cover for inevitable injuries and SOO.
5. Nightie
6. Widdop / possibly Mann by Round 10 when Widdop fails.
7. Mann / Field by Round 10 because we'll need a 7.

8. Vaughan
9. McInnes
10. Packer
11. Frizell
12. Thompson
13. JDB

14. Sims
15. Ah Mau - Mose when fit.
16. Host
17. Havili

Leilua comes into the side depending on his fitness and impressing in the Cutters.

 

[Crush]

Mann
Nightingale
Dugan
Aiken
McDonald
Widdop
Field
Packer
McInnes
Vaughan
Thompson
Frizell
Debelin
Sims
Host
Havili
Leilua

If that was the team lining up to play week in week out I would be happy win lose or draw. A well balanced team with real gamebreakers and a mixture of youth and experience.
If only that was the team.

 

[Dragon93]

Hopefully Mary takes some chances and plays a bit of a different team like others above. I'd like to see at some point -

Dufty
Nightingale
Aitken
Dugan
Nene/Milne
Field
Widdop/Mann
Vaughan
McInnes
Packer
Frizzel
Thompson
Sims

JDB
Host
Ah Mau/Mose
Havili

Dugan is our strongest ball runner but the lack of ball playing at the back is killing us, let him focus on running the ball at Centre. Milne in if Nene or Aitken arent performing, Mann in as well for Widdop if same as above and again same with Ah Mau/Mose or any bench player not performing.

 

[RufusRex]

You can have a ball runner at fullback if you don't have runners in the centres .. you need to have some ball work out there somewhere ...

Dufty will get a run and that path has probably got to be through Nightingales wing

I would start

Dugan
Nightingale (r), milne (r), mann (l), macdonald (l)
Widdop/Field
Packer/McInness/Vaughan
Frizell (r), Thommo (l)
DeBellin

McCrone (covers 7/9), Ah Mau, Sims, Host

I know that is going to be panned by many here .. I just think the combination of Dugan/Aitken cant work as neither of our back rowers are real ball players either .. Too much pressure on the halves to create and the wings will die of boredom. Aitken to the cutters to develop as a forward.

Might leak a few more points through the centres but we will score a lot more too ... and be more enjoyable to watch.

The game plan though has to match the players we have.

Havili comes in off the bench once we know that field can cut it.

 

[Buz-V]

1. Dugan
2. MacDonald
3. Aitken
4. Milne
5. Nightingale
6. Widdop
7. Field
8. Packer
9. Mcinnes
10. Vaughan
11. Frizell
12. Thompson
13. Sims

14. Havilli
15. De Belin
16. Masoe
17. Leilua

18. Mann

That's our best side with all guns blazing. Would love to see Mann in there. He's a freak with a lot of natural ability but Milne is keeping him out in my opinion because of his size and power. Wouldn't be suprised if Lafai is there instead of Milne either and I'm not too fussed cos I think he has a lot to give at his best and keeps the balance of the backline intact.

 

[RufusRex]

That backline is not balanced ... the left (where Aitken was playing) is your natural attacking side and he is incapable of setting up a player on the outside or inside. Take a look at the tigers trial first half highlights. He is simply playing the role of a back rower at left centre and we have one of those already there in Joel Thompson.
We would be better with Aitken at Left Back Rower and either Lafai/Mann playing left centre.

EDIT - The left is where Aitken played last year when Milne came into the side.

 

[Old Timer]

That backline is not balanced ... the left (where Aitken is playing) is your natural attacking side and he is incapable of setting up a player on the outside or inside. Take a look at the tigers trial first half highlights. He is simply playing the role of a back rower at left centre and we have one of those already there in Joel Thompson.
We would be better with Aitken at Left Back Rower and either Lafai/Mann playing left centre.

Smart post RR.

 

[Buz-V]

Disagree. Aitken is a power house as is Joel Thompson. Having both those players running at holes together on that left side would be pretty hectic for any backline to defend against. And defending on our own line would be just as strong ala the Beau Scott/Ben Creagh days.

 

[Old Timer]

Disagree. Aitken is a power house as is Joel Thompson. Having both those players running at holes together on that left side would be pretty hectic for any backline to defend against. And defending on our own line would be just as strong ala the Beau Scott/Ben Creagh days.

The winger on his natural RHS has enough problem getting clean ball let alone the winger on his non natural side.
Our wingers are starved of the ball now, so putting people in non preferred positions certainly isn't going to help that.

 

[RufusRex]

Who is going to throw the pass that puts these runners into the holes? Dugan? That is the part everyone is missing ... It is all very well for these blokes to be running into the holes of the opposition defence .. Dugan isn't going to get them the ball, they are not going to get the ball off each other .. So the pressure and a shit tonne of it goes onto Widdop/McCrone/Field.

The other thing is, if the defence is not worried about the pass coming out then they can double/triple team the ball carrier ... We are too easily defended.

 

[Buz-V]

Who is going to throw the pass that puts these runners into the holes? Dugan? That is the part everyone is missing ... It is all very well for these blokes to be running into the holes of the opposition defence .. Dugan isn't going to get them the ball, they are not going to get the ball off each other .. So the pressure and a shit tonne of it goes onto Widdop/McCrone/Field.

The other thing is, if the defence is not worried about the pass coming out then they can double/triple team the ball carrier ... We are too easily defended.

That is a good point. I guess we have to have our fingers crossed that they have been working hard in the pre season on the issues in our attack.
We can sit here all day picking the best team on paper but if they don't change the side ways stuff we had last year it wont matter.
Personally I like the idea of Thompson, Aitken and Macdonald on that attacking side. Especially close to the line.