Rivals unite - Ultimate off season thread idea

[RUNVS]

This is a thread because I am a little board and I find the idea interesting.

Say the AFL suddenly decided that 18 teams was far too much and they wanted to decrease the amount of teams to 9.

So every team must merge with the team they are geographically closest to.

So

Sydney/GWS
Port Adelaide/Adelaide
Fremantle/West Coast
Brisbane/Gold Coast

and for the Victorian teams, it is a bit harder to decide but using the zones we can sort of work it out

So

Richmond/Hawthorn
Geelong/Western Bulldogs
North Melbourne/Essendon
Carlton/Collingwood
St Kilda/Melbourne

and here are the general best 22's for each club

Your club's best 22 in 2025: Who's in, who's out, who's new

With the trade period and draft done, our reporters have their say on your team's best line-up for next year

www.afl.com.au

For the Swans/GWS team it would likely be

B: Dane Rampe, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun
HB: Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Lachie Whitfield
C: Josh Kelly, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden
HF: Stephen Coniglio, Logan McDonald, Finn Callaghan
F: Tom Papley, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Tom Green, Isaac Heeney
I/C: Callum Mills, Callan Ward, Justin McInerney, Aaron Cadman

A pretty damn strong side, take the Swans but would fix the Swans defensive and forward issues and also provide a lot more grunt in the midfield.

Would say it will be a top team but I am curious about what other people would come up with for their combined teams.

Which new club would be at the top of the ladder and which would be at the bottom?

 

[SC_Power]

Ok I’ll bite, because I’m bored too. And biased too.
I’ll try to be fair even though the exposed form of the Power squad (top 4 seasons galore lately) compared to the Crows squad (no finals since 2017) suggests a larger Port Adelaide representation


B: Max Michalanney, Nick Murray, Miles Bergman
HB: Mitch Hinge, Aliir Aliir, Isaac Cumming
C: Izak Rankine, Jason Horne-Francis, Kane Farrell
HF: Connor Rozee, Jack Lukosius, Josh Rachele
F: Mitch Georgiades, Riley Thilthorpe, Willie Rioli
Foll: Reilly O'Brien, Jordan Dawson, Zac Butters
I/C: Jake Soligo, Ollie Wines, Jase Burgoyne, Willem Drew

Power 12, Crows 10.

Fringe: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Darcy Byrne-Jones, James Peatling, Rory Laird

 

[Mr Meow]

Cats/Dogs

FB: Zuthrie J.Henry Stewart
HB: Dale Lobb Humphries
C: Holmes Bontempelli Smith
HF: Miers Cameron Mannagh
FF: Stengle Darcy JUH
FOL: English Treloar Dangerfield
IC: Liberatore Richards SDK Dempsey Weightman

The side's strengths would complement each other very well. Lots of versatile/dual position players also.

 

[RUNVS]

Cats/Dogs

FB: Zuthrie J.Henry Stewart
HB: Dale Lobb Humphries
C: Holmes Bontempelli Smith
HF: Miers Cameron Mannagh
FF: Stengle Darcy JUH
FOL: English Treloar Dangerfield
IC: Liberatore Richards SDK Dempsey Weightman

The side's strengths would complement each other very well. Lots of versatile/dual position players also.

Bont and Dangerfield in the same side would be amazing to see.

 

[Fadge]

Collingwood takeover of Carlton.

We'll just take the big 6, thanks.

Maynard - Weitering - Howe
Quaynor - Moore - Houston
J. Daicos - Walsh - Sidebottom
De Goey - McKay - Hill
Elliott - Curnow - Mihocek
De Koning - Cripps - Daicos

Cameron - Pendlebury - Crisp - Perryman

Was tossing up between Cameron as a second ruck, or McStay as a spare tall forward who can pinch hit in the ruck. Cameron's 2024 was too good to be overlooked in this team.

Excluded Newman as he is missing for 2025, but not sure who he replaces? Maybe gets the final bench spot ahead of Perryman (though Perryman has more versatility). Can't rely on Mitchell either given the issues he's experiencing after missing most of 2024.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Richmond/Hawthron
B: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, Jarman Impey
HB: Karl Amon, Josh Battle, Jack Scrimshaw
C: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Will Day, Josh Weddle
HF: Jack Ginnivan, James Sicily, Dylan Moore
F: Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Nick Watson
Foll: Lloyd Meek, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe
I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Conor Nash, Connor Macdonald, Sam Frost

 

[RUNVS]

Richmond/Hawthron
B: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, Jarman Impey
HB: Karl Amon, Josh Battle, Jack Scrimshaw
C: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Will Day, Josh Weddle
HF: Jack Ginnivan, James Sicily, Dylan Moore
F: Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Nick Watson
Foll: Lloyd Meek, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe
I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Conor Nash, Connor Macdonald, Sam Frost

No Tom Lynch?

 

[Muddiemoose]

No Tom Lynch?

Oh absolutely, was just taking the piss a little bit

Definitely think Lynch, Prestia, Broad, Vlastuin, Taranto and Hopper could have strong cases to be included
Maybe not all of them but they would be the prime candidates right now imo

 

[HairyO]

Oh absolutely, was just taking the piss a little bit

Definitely think Lynch, Prestia, Broad, Vlastuin, Taranto and Hopper could have strong cases to be included
Maybe not all of them but they would be the prime candidates right now imo

Lynch for Lewis, Broad for Frost... but the others? Who comes out?

Prestia or Taranto for CJ ?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Lynch for Lewis, Broad for Frost... but the others? Who comes out?

Prestia or Taranto for CJ ?

Someone would have to come out for Vlastuin. Still a fantastic player.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Lynch for Lewis, Broad for Frost... but the others? Who comes out?

Prestia or Taranto for CJ ?

As WalshistheGOAT said Vlastuin is probably the one to include, would have him before any of the others put forward but for CJ is a pretty easy swap without excluding any of the others

Could also go either Prestia or Taranto for D’Ambrosio in the centre line
Maybe Taranto since he is more of a threat down forward if needed

 

[HairyO]

As WalshistheGOAT said Vlastuin is probably the one to include, would have him before any of the others put forward but for CJ is a pretty easy swap without excluding any of the others

Could also go either Prestia or Taranto for D’Ambrosio in the centre line
Maybe Taranto since he is more of a threat down forward if needed

D'Ambrosio who was top 3 wing in the comp in 2024?

He would be one of our first picked.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Blues/Pies would be closer to this based on recent form.

FB: Maynard Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Moore Houston
C: J.Daicos Cripps Acres
HF: DeGoey Mckay E.Hollands
FF: Hill Curnow Elliot
R: DeKoning N.Daicos Walsh

I/C: Cameron Cerra Crisp Schultz

Sub: Pendlebury

Some contentious ones:

McGovern vs Howe - 50/50 call but Howe is 4 years older and in decline, McGovern provides more offensively these days.

Saad vs Quaynor - Not really a contest with Saad ahead in just about every measure.

Acres vs Sidebottom - Again, Acres pretty well wins out in every measure these days with Sidebottom on the slide.

E.Hollands vs Lipinski - Very close statistically, but Hollands nudges Lipinski in most of the key offensive metrics.

Cerra vs Perryman - Bit hard to compare given they play different positions, but gone for the extra midfielder. Crisp, J.Daicos and N.Daicos can go behind the ball if needed and Cerra a far more proven midfielder than Perryman.

Hewett vs Pendlebury - Hewett the stronger on baller these days and better defensively, but Pendlebury is more flexible and provides better ball use by foot.

 

[Mr Meow]

Blues/Pies would be closer to this based on recent form.

FB: Maynard Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Moore Houston
C: J.Daicos Cripps Acres
HF: DeGoey Curnow E.Hollands
FF: Hill Curnow Elliot
R: DeKoning N.Daicos Walsh

I/C: Cameron Cerra Crisp Schultz

Sub: Pendlebury

Some contentious ones:

McGovern vs Howe - 50/50 call but Howe is 4 years older and in decline, McGovern provides more offensively these days.

Saad vs Quaynor - Not really a contest with Saad ahead in just about every category.

Acres vs Sidebottom - Again, Acres pretty well wins out in every measure these days with Sidebottom on the slide.

E.Hollands vs Lipinski - Very close statistically, but Hollands nudges Lipinski in most of the key offensive metrics.

Cerra vs Perryman - Bit hard to compare given they play different positions, but gone for the extra midfielder. Crisp, J.Daicos and N.Daicos can go behind the ball if needed and Cerra a far more proven midfielder than Perryman.

Hewett vs Pendlebury - Hewett the stronger on baller these days and better defensively, but Pendlebury is more flexible and provides better ball use by foot.

Very nice side, especially if you could clone Curnow as you have done there.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Very nice side, especially if you could clone Curnow as you have done there.

Oops, fixed it up! Thank you Meowbagger

 

[RUNVS]

So so far we have

Sydney/GWS
B: Dane Rampe, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun
HB: Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Lachie Whitfield
C: Josh Kelly, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden
HF: Stephen Coniglio, Logan McDonald, Finn Callaghan
F: Tom Papley, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Tom Green, Isaac Heeney
I/C: Callum Mills, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Aaron Cadman

Geelong/WB
FB: Zuthrie J.Henry Stewart
HB: Dale Lobb Humphries
C: Holmes Bontempelli Smith
HF: Miers Cameron Mannagh
FF: Stengle Darcy JUH
FOL: English Treloar Dangerfield
IC: Liberatore Richards SDK Dempsey Weightman

Adelaide/Port
B: Max Michalanney, Nick Murray, Miles Bergman
HB: Mitch Hinge, Aliir Aliir, Isaac Cumming
C: Izak Rankine, Jason Horne-Francis, Kane Farrell
HF: Connor Rozee, Jack Lukosius, Josh Rachele
F: Mitch Georgiades, Riley Thilthorpe, Willie Rioli
Foll: Reilly O'Brien, Jordan Dawson, Zac Butters
I/C: Jake Soligo, Ollie Wines, Jase Burgoyne, Willem Drew

Collingwood/Carlton
FB: Maynard Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Moore Houston
C: J.Daicos Cripps Acres
HF: DeGoey Mckay E.Hollands
FF: Hill Curnow Elliot
R: DeKoning N.Daicos Walsh
I/C: Cameron Cerra Crisp Schultz
Sub: Pendlebury

Richmond/Hawthron
B: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, Jarman Impey
HB: Karl Amon, Josh Battle, Jack Scrimshaw
C: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Will Day, Josh Weddle
HF: Jack Ginnivan, James Sicily, Dylan Moore
F: Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Nick Watson
Foll: Lloyd Meek, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe
I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Conor Nash, Connor Macdonald, Sam Frost

 

[Mr Meow]

So so far we have

Sydney/GWS
B: Dane Rampe, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun
HB: Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Lachie Whitfield
C: Josh Kelly, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden
HF: Stephen Coniglio, Logan McDonald, Finn Callaghan
F: Tom Papley, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Tom Green, Isaac Heeney
I/C: Callum Mills, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Aaron Cadman

Adelaide/Port
B: Max Michalanney, Nick Murray, Miles Bergman
HB: Mitch Hinge, Aliir Aliir, Isaac Cumming
C: Izak Rankine, Jason Horne-Francis, Kane Farrell
HF: Connor Rozee, Jack Lukosius, Josh Rachele
F: Mitch Georgiades, Riley Thilthorpe, Willie Rioli
Foll: Reilly O'Brien, Jordan Dawson, Zac Butters
I/C: Jake Soligo, Ollie Wines, Jase Burgoyne, Willem Drew

Collingwood/Carlton
FB: Maynard Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Moore Houston
C: J.Daicos Cripps Acres
HF: DeGoey Mckay E.Hollands
FF: Hill Curnow Elliot
R: DeKoning N.Daicos Walsh
I/C: Cameron Cerra Crisp Schultz
Sub: Pendlebury

Richmond/Hawthron
B: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, Jarman Impey
HB: Karl Amon, Josh Battle, Jack Scrimshaw
C: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Will Day, Josh Weddle
HF: Jack Ginnivan, James Sicily, Dylan Moore
F: Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Nick Watson
Foll: Lloyd Meek, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe
I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Conor Nash, Connor Macdonald, Sam Frost

I guess you didn't like my "It's raining Cats and Dogs" squad.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

So so far we have

Sydney/GWS
B: Dane Rampe, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun
HB: Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Lachie Whitfield
C: Josh Kelly, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden
HF: Stephen Coniglio, Logan McDonald, Finn Callaghan
F: Tom Papley, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Tom Green, Isaac Heeney
I/C: Callum Mills, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Aaron Cadman

Adelaide/Port
B: Max Michalanney, Nick Murray, Miles Bergman
HB: Mitch Hinge, Aliir Aliir, Isaac Cumming
C: Izak Rankine, Jason Horne-Francis, Kane Farrell
HF: Connor Rozee, Jack Lukosius, Josh Rachele
F: Mitch Georgiades, Riley Thilthorpe, Willie Rioli
Foll: Reilly O'Brien, Jordan Dawson, Zac Butters
I/C: Jake Soligo, Ollie Wines, Jase Burgoyne, Willem Drew

Collingwood/Carlton
FB: Maynard Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Moore Houston
C: J.Daicos Cripps Acres
HF: DeGoey Mckay E.Hollands
FF: Hill Curnow Elliot
R: DeKoning N.Daicos Walsh
I/C: Cameron Cerra Crisp Schultz
Sub: Pendlebury

Richmond/Hawthron
B: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, Jarman Impey
HB: Karl Amon, Josh Battle, Jack Scrimshaw
C: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Will Day, Josh Weddle
HF: Jack Ginnivan, James Sicily, Dylan Moore
F: Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Nick Watson
Foll: Lloyd Meek, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe
I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Conor Nash, Connor Macdonald, Sam Frost

I think Brisbane/GCS would be seriously strong. Just off the top of my head

Starcevic - Collins - M.Andrew
Rioli - H.Andrews - Coleman
McCluggage - Neale - Anderson
Rayner - Hipwood - Bailey
Cameron - King - Lohmann
Witts - Rowell - W.Ashcroft

Dunkley - Zorko - Flanders - Ah Chee

Probably missing a few there too, if Daniher was still around instead of Hipwood I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better combination of teams.

 

[RUNVS]

I guess you didn't like my "It's raining Cats and Dogs" squad.

Sorry, added.

 

[Fadge]

Blues/Pies would be closer to this based on recent form.

FB: Maynard Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Moore Houston
C: J.Daicos Cripps Acres
HF: DeGoey Mckay E.Hollands
FF: Hill Curnow Elliot
R: DeKoning N.Daicos Walsh

I/C: Cameron Cerra Crisp Schultz

Sub: Pendlebury

Some contentious ones:

McGovern vs Howe - 50/50 call but Howe is 4 years older and in decline, McGovern provides more offensively these days.

Saad vs Quaynor - Not really a contest with Saad ahead in just about every measure.

Acres vs Sidebottom - Again, Acres pretty well wins out in every measure these days with Sidebottom on the slide.

E.Hollands vs Lipinski - Very close statistically, but Hollands nudges Lipinski in most of the key offensive metrics.

Cerra vs Perryman - Bit hard to compare given they play different positions, but gone for the extra midfielder. Crisp, J.Daicos and N.Daicos can go behind the ball if needed and Cerra a far more proven midfielder than Perryman.

Hewett vs Pendlebury - Hewett the stronger on baller these days and better defensively, but Pendlebury is more flexible and provides better ball use by foot.

I love how McGovern and Acres get the nod over Howe and Sidebottom because 'age' but it's not a consideration with Saad v. Quaynor.

Carlton get the nod 5-1 in contentious calls, and the only 'contentious call' Collingwood get the nod in is 'Hewett v Pendlebury'.

In no world does Pendlebury not get a gig in the starting 22.

Notables missing for Collingwood:
Mihocek
Quaynor
McStay
Sidebottom
Howe
Perryman
Mitchell
Lipinski
McCreery

Notables missing for Carlton:
Hewett
Docherty

 

[Arr0w]

I love how McGovern and Acres get the nod over Howe and Sidebottom because 'age' but it's not a consideration with Saad v. Quaynor.

Carlton get the nod 5-1 in contentious calls, and the only 'contentious call' Collingwood get the nod in is 'Hewett v Pendlebury'.

In no world does Pendlebury not get a gig in the starting 22.

Notables missing for Collingwood:
Mihocek
Quaynor
McStay
Sidebottom
Howe
Perryman
Mitchell
Lipinski
McCreery

Notables missing for Carlton:
Hewett
Docherty

The focus would be on the "decline", not so much "age"

 

[Arr0w]

Having to pick at least 11 players from each side would be more interesting

 

[The 747]

This is a thread because I am a little board

Indeed.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Richmond/Hawthorn
B: Tom Barrass, Noah Balta, Nathan Broad
HB: Karl Amon, Josh Battle, Nick Vlastuin
C: Massimo D'Ambrosio, Will Day, Josh Weddle
HF: Tim Taranto, James Sicily, Dylan Moore
F: Calsher Dear, Tom Lynch, Nick Watson
Foll: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Jai Newcombe
I/C: Sam Lalor, Tom Brown, Connor Macdonald, Josh Smillie

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I love how McGovern and Acres get the nod over Howe and Sidebottom because 'age' but it's not a consideration with Saad v. Quaynor.

Carlton get the nod 5-1 in contentious calls, and the only 'contentious call' Collingwood get the nod in is 'Hewett v Pendlebury'.

In no world does Pendlebury not get a gig in the starting 22.

Notables missing for Collingwood:
Mihocek
Quaynor
McStay
Sidebottom
Howe
Perryman
Mitchell
Lipinski
McCreery

Notables missing for Carlton:
Hewett
Docherty

Big difference between 30 yo and 34.

Also the Saad Quaynor one isn't even close, so age wouldn't be a factor. When you crunch the numbers Saad it's pretty clear who the more damaging player off the half back line is.

Yes plenty of names missing from that list, but all have their reasons. Mihocek for instance wouldn't play in a team with Curnow, McKay, TDK and Cameron in it. Too tall in that scenario.