Oz Footy List Manager now takes a look at the boys from Punt Road.
List:
As everyone knows, the Tiges are in rebuilding mode, and they have largely done a good job, as seen in the depth and variety of its junior players.
In the draft, most expectations were about the Tigers rebuilding their midfield, but its recruiters took the view that it wasn’t just the midfield that needed rebuilding. The inference from their draft selections was that the entire list needed rebuilding, and that the rebuilding process was going to take several drafts, not just one. Who could disagree with that?
However, in the short term, it will raise another of those many recruiting questions, this time Sam Lalor v Jagga Smith?
The list still needs a lot of work.
The midfield – as yet, none of the developing smalls or mediums – Mansell, Maurice Rioli, Dow, Sonsie, Ross, Ralphsmith – are not showing enough intensity to stamp themselves as genuine tier 1 midfielders. That will continue to put pressure on the regularly injured Prestia and Hopper.
The ruck – Nankervis is now in the twilight phase of his career. Focusing on that part of the list, Colina, now in the mature phase hasn’t played a game yet, was delisted, then relisted. Hayes-Brown hasn’t played a game yet, either. And, last season, the promising Ryan wasn’t getting a game until supporters began sending messages to the football leadership. (Which worked because he played 7 of the last 11 games.) Why would you relist Colina when their are younger and possibly better options?
The forward half – decimated by injury and retirements leaves it wide open for any juniors or developing players that can kick multiple goals. 2025 is an end-of-contract-season for Tom Lynch, and he’ll be busting his gut to get on the ground every opportunity this season. (Sceptics sit down!)
The defence – it’s the best part of the Tigers’ list with 6 excellent interceptors – Vlastuin, Blight, Broad, Trezise, Miller, Brown – and they need a season together to settle, instead of filling gaps elsewhere. But it does raise a question, where do you play Balta?
Here’s the big knock on the Tiger list – Bauer, Blight, Campbell, Colina, Gray, Hayes-Brown, Lefau, Trezise, and Young are all on the rookie list, so they can’t even start with their best team on the field. It would be logical for the Tiger selectors to be factoring for some early injuries or absences.
A non-list item to look forward to will be the immediate influence of Blake Caracella, if he can re-build the way the Tiges transition from defence into attack.
Select 22:
I was tempted to put up a team of senior listed players only to show up the rookie list absentees, but decided that I hadn’t done that for others teams, so why do it now.
As said, the Tiges best 6 interceptors should be in defence, that’s easy. Koschitzke’s lack of marking prowess is a worry as a replacement. Balta, averaging 6 marks a game, still looks better.
Harder is the lack of genuine midfielders, and the doors will be open, and the pressure will be on, for Dow, Sonsie, Ross, Ralphsmith, Ross, Campbell, and McAuliffe to quickly develop themselves as inside midfielders. Then, of course, come the new draftees – Smillie, Lalor, Hotton, and Alger.
The forward half is open slather for anyone.
Like the bad old days of the mid to late 80s, Nankervis, like Mark Lee, remains unchallenged in the ruck. Ryan looks the next best bet, and he should be given more games, and more time in the ruck.
It’s hard to see the Tigers bouncing if they structurally can’t put their best team out on the field.
B: Vlastuin, Blight, Broad
HB: Trezise, Miller, Brown
C: Short, Hopper, Ross
HF: Bauer, Lynch, ?
F: Mansell, Lefau, ?
R: Nankervis, Taranto, Dow
I: Prestia, Ralphsmith, Ryan, Balta
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About
It was 25 years ago that I began developing a model for analysing footy squad lists for the purpose of improving those lists into a premiership window. Since then, the model has been used to successfully predict premiership clubs and to improve either lop-sided or underdeveloped lists into premiership lists. Indeed, the model was used for an article that I had published as a double page spread in The Age 2005 Pre-Season magazine. Over the 25 years, I have analysed the annual lists of one particular club but have used it for other clubs upon request. It has always been on my bucket list to display the lists of all the clubs, using the model, which I've done since 2021 on my website - OzFootyListManager.com
Micky rookie listed players can play the rule of having to be upgraded to the senior list changed a while back
Have to be honest do some research
Rioli be hoped to play in a pocket.
I am Tigers man and was at function at Punt Road couple of weeks ago. Think we know where we at but we while losing Rioli & Bolton really hurts we got fortunate the clubs they went to had good draft hands. While we are likely to finish two we are developing some depth in each area, hopefully the youngsters come on good as well as the players that have being there 3+ years as they have being slow to come on. Some luck with injuries would help especially Lynch, Gibcus, Brown & Clarke.
Still need to get some pace which hopefully maybe address with two first picks in this year draft. While watching maybe hard just hope younger players develop.
Thanks Malcolm, I missed that one. “It used to be that rookie-listed players had to be upgraded to the senior list in order to play at AFL level. But that is no longer the case, so being on the rookie list doesn’t make much of a difference for the player.”
Thanks Rodney, yes, it will take a few years. My concern is that at this point the developing group, 22-24yos, lack elite players. This means that we may have to wait until our 18-21yo group reach maturity. So, 6 years looks about the time we should be beginning to hit another window.