It seems like the list is settled (barring any pre-season LTIs and subsequent supplemental selections...) So, what does our best 23 look like in 2024?

This is our most experienced 23:

B: Newman - Weitering - Saad
HB: McGovern - Marchbank - Williams
C: Acres - Cripps - Docherty
HF: Silvagni - Curnow - Martin
F: Fogarty - McKay - Fantasia

R: De Koning - Walsh - Kennedy

INT: Hewett - Cerra - Pittonet - Young

sub: Cottrell

There are nine players in this side with less than 100 games under their belts and six of those have played between 50 and 60. Cripps is the most experienced player on the list with 188 games.

This is our oldest 23:

B: Newman - S. Durdin - Saad
HB: Williams - Weitering - McGovern
C: Docherty - Cripps - Acres
HF: Cunningham - Curnow - Martin
F: Silvagni - McKay - Owies

R: Pittonet - Hewett - Kennedy

INT: Boyd - Cincotta - Marchbank - Fantasia

sub: Young

All these players are aged between 25 (Young) and 30 (Docherty & Newman).

This is our youngest 23:

B: Cowan - Young - Akuei
HB: Boyd - Kemp - Wilson
C: O. Hollands - Walsh - Binns
HF: Cottrell - Lemmey - E. Hollands
F: Moir - McKay - Motlop

R: De Koning - J. Carroll - Cerra

INT: O'Keefe - C. Durdin - Mirkov - Fogarty

sub: M. Carroll

All aged between 18 and 24.

(NOTE: Our two Irish rookies aren't included becasue they're not on the list I was using to make this.)

Just for fun, this is out tallest 23:

B: Young - S. Durdin - Weitering
HB: Marchbank - Kemp - McGovern
C: Acres - Cripps - E. Hollands
HF: Moir - Curnow - Silvagni
F: Lemmey - McKay - Kennedy

R: De Koning - Hewett - J. Carroll

INT: Mirkov - Pittonet - O'Keefe - Akuei

sub: M. Carroll

...and our shortest 23:

B: Saad - Cowan - Cincotta
HB: Boyd - Newman - Williams
C: Binns - Walsh - O. Hollands
HF: Fantasia - Martin - Cunningham
FF: C. Durdin - Motlop - Owies

R: Moir - Cerra - Hewett

INT: Fogarty - Cottrell - Wilson - Docherty

sub: M. Carroll

I think this our best outfit.

B: Saad Weitering Newman
HB: Kemp McGovern Williams
C: Acres Cripps Docherty
R: Pittonet Cerra Walsh
HF: Cottrell McKay Martin
F: Motlop Curnow C.Durdin
I: E.Hollands De Koning O.Hollands Hewett Kennedy

The highlighted spots are, for mine, the least settled.

I think six defenders will be plan A for this season. Obviously a risk going without a certified CHB, but we’re a much better side in transition these days.

I’m really hoping Cowan throws down the gauntlet for a spot in the back six. No mean feat to push either of the highlighted two out of the best side, but he’d be ready for the challenge. Same goes for Boyd.

In the forward half, I’m more hopeful than certain with Durdin. He’s going to feel all the pressure of league footy this year. The knock on him is that he still plays the role like a displaced midfielder - too often a moth to a flame. If it’s not him then Owies is ultra-reliable & obviously a fully fit Fantasia waltzes in to our best side.

New Hollands, Hewett & Kennedy is almost the same decision. If the penny drops for Hollands, then the other two might both find themselves overlooked.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Newman Weitering Kemp
Williams Marchbank Saad
Acres Cripps Docherty
Cuningham Curnow EHollands
Silvagni McKay Martin
De Koning Cerra Walsh
Kennedy OHollands Motlop McGovern
Boyd/Fantasia

I like this side better. I would probably have Cottrell ahead of Ollie at this stage due to greater versatility.

I think Moir is the wildcard.

Same.

He’s physically ready. Let’s hope he can get it locked in between the ears.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Is he ready fitness wise though?

For the first time in a while we have some serious depth.

Great stuff bluechampion.

Nice summaries to lean on.

I don't expect the Irish lads to feature this year in our best 23.

I have a strong feeling Elijah Hollands and Fantasia will crack the best 23 this year. Zac Williams is the recruit of the year.

Marchbank's form in Finals enhanced my belief in him for 2024, and he, Martin, Fog, Cotts & Cunners prove our players are in good hands with Andrew Russell.

No doubt the whole team will play like they believe they are a top 4 side. That alone will lift every player.

The big debate in 2024 will again be about the rucks.

I expect DeKoning to improve but not have a break out year. He's improving steadily.
I expect the coach will continue to avoid McKay at the centre bounce ruck, but will continue rucking in the forwrdline.
Pitto? Is he fit? He wasnt last year,and in that Final vs Dees, Pitto won the most important hit out, to advantage too, against Gawn: the last one of the match and we won. He can ruck allright, and is miles stronger than any of our other rucks.

If fit, Pitto No 1 ruck TDK forward ruck and SOS emergency. Can see SOS playing a big role in the team this year, when fit. He will rise like Kennedy did when he was offered another contract (albeit rookie)

I'm hoping Young finds the form he had in 2022, and round 1 2023, but we are not desperate for him...unless we want Weitering to be our interceptor.

Only 3 changes to my best 2023 team, for me Hollands, Fantasia and Williams in. They will keep out Fogarty, Motlop and Cincotta.

Marchbank is ahead of Kemp and Gov imo. Gov ahead of Kemp.

Players playing for another contract are Carroll, Owies, Cuningham, Fogarty, S.Durdin and even Marchbank.

Heaps of pressure on spots, when everyone is up and running. Depth this year is seriously deep.

We could win AFL & VFL Flags in 2024...with a bit of luck. Windows are open.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Gee... Tough gig this...
Not much love for Boyd yet he came in and was outstanding, I thought....
Who does he replace. Newman? (same as Boyd, terrific year)..
Williams?.. Maybe initially only if he's got more to do..

I don't think Elijah is a lock either, and sadly, neither is SOS... BUT I hope I'm proved wrong.

Fantasia is not ahead of Motlop /Owies IMHO.. let's see what HE can do too...

Could be a classic horses for courses year?...
But (dare I say it) IF some injuries come along, we will hopefully have depth

Go Blues!

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Only weakness is key defenders, as far as depth goes

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Bondi to suggest Motlop isn't in our best 22 is crazy stuff.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I understand your sentiments but imo Its crazy to think it couldn't be the case.

I'm looking this through a fully fit list lense.

I've seen it year after year a young "developing" kid, with flaws in his game he needs to work on, toted not only the future star, but as a current best 22 when all players are fit and available, because......expectation? excitement? hope? draft selection? pedigree? Flashes of brilliance?

In recent years its been Fisher, Dow, O'Brien, Stocker, SPS...all selected earlier in their draft than Motlop.

I like Motlop and see him as best 22 from 2024-25 onwards.... unless someone else pops up ahead of him.

He is a good player, but like others I have a lot of question marks about his pace as a small forward, and his tendency to go missing during the game. signs he's not fully developed yet, or something else. I think his strength is his tackling, and he knows where goals are.

The debate who is the best 22 small forward is going to be ongoing debate.

Lets look at the situation, if all FIT and in form. Its not an easy task, nor as straight forward as you may think.

Fantasia ... when fit and in form he is super quick, elusive, clever and a PROVEN elite small forward.
Durdin ... is quicker than Motlop and can tackle.
Owies ... has the runs on the board as best tackler and snags a few goals. Motlop was dropped and should have been, along with Fisher around the same time. Fogarty past him too, then Motlop got a reprieve due to injury and came back and kicked 4 opportune goals. I remember Davies doing that in a quarter vs Pies to win us a game, and then he disappeared.

Fogarty when fit was a staple for Voss last year

and that's just the really smalls. I have Fantasia and Durdin ahead of Motlop at this stage, but hey, anything can happen with another 8 weeks of the preseason to go.

Its not crazy, its just too hard to pick the best 22 small forward.No one is is right or wrong, and imo its crazy to dismiss any of the above a crazy choice when all fit and firing.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

It seems like a weakness, but 199cm Durdin and 202cm Young are KPD depth imo, so its not completely empty. Lets hope Young finds his 2022 form again and earns a lockdown role in the backline to bolster the backline rather than just depth.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Hey kingkerna just noticed you went to training.

I havent been to a training session yet but have been told Motlop has looked good, but others have stood out more.

Motlop seems to feature in some of the training vids. If he can step up..... bloody exciting stuff.

I thought we had the list to win last year, but the addition of Elijah and Fantasia, to a young improving team is a team that will give this year a real shake for the flag.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

They all looked super sharp at training, more as a unit though, excellent ball movement from the backline.

Motlop misses the Melbourne game and we don't play the prelim.

Maybe we can agree that a different times of the year different small forwards will get a go

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I'm pretty high on Motlop but I agree it's not outrageous to suggest he could be outside the Best 22 depending on how other blokes go in pre-season. I've always rated Durdin and reckon he may even have a higher ceiling because of his ability to chip in in the midfield, and Fantasia in career-best form would be our best small forward, although I reckon the odds are pretty long on that happening and if I were a betting man I'd put money on him being a cheap but failed experiment. On the other hand, I don't consider Motlop's lack of pace a burden (is he actually slow? I remember him doing an eye-opening chase and tackle in one game). For small forwards it's all about quickness of hand and mind, and he has demonstrated that at the highest level, just needs to do it more consistently. Was Eddie particularly fast in a sprint?

Diesel kicked five as a small forward in the 95 grand final and was probably the slowest player to play for Carlton in the last 30 years.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

He was definitely fast over the first 15m

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#DonTheStash