how many spots are actually available each week

[gurugeoff]

we always say there are 42 players fighting for 22 spots each week, but the truth of the matter is that a lot of players are automatic selections each week without question, so what you really have is 34 players fighting for 14 spots, or 30 fighting for 10 spots etc, depending upon how many you rate as automatic selections.

My point is that there maybe not much room each week to throw in a Marsh or Maynard etc. You need injuries to give fringe players a chance.

So, how many are always automatic selections? I'll start

Pendlebury
Cloke
Elliot
Grundy/Witts (one of them)
Reid (yes i know)

almost automatic

Crisp
Varcoe
Swan
Sidebottom
Brown
Frost
Adams
Williams

so, just this list leaves only 9 spots for 30 odd players to fight over

[dalyc]

I think at the moment the first 6 of your almosts are in fact autos.

[E]

I think all of those players, other than Reid are auto's (Reid cant be included since he is not in fact being selected either automatically or in any other form at the moment.

I also think Langdon and Toovey are also automatic.

[Dave The Man]

As I am not on the Match Committee.

I don’t have a Clue

[jackcass]

At the moment, assuming stable form and fitness, I'd say there are no more than 3-4 spots. Particularly if you factor in the preferred option of playing both Witts and Grundy.

If you look at last weeks team, Broomhead, De Goey, Oxley and Seedsman would be the 4 fighting to cement a spot.

Then injuries will play a factor and this week the Sack loses his spot.

I'm not saying that other players like Blair and Goldsack can't/won't be overtaken but whoever wants their spot will need to earn it if there aren't injuries.

[gurugeoff]

my point exactly. You might want to give Moore/Marsh/Schanenberg/Freeman/Kennedy/Maynard etc a run, but there is no room.

which means the likes of Dwyer/Young/Sinclair won't play again in all liklihood, and it's hard to see how McCaffer would ever break back in either

[jackcass]

Certainly puts some pressure on that group of players who have grabbed their opportunity and are performing but aren't yet complete automatics (Fasolo, Williams, Langdon, Adams etc) to either perform or lose your spot knowing that there are quality players waiting to take up the opportunity.

I'm a Sinclair fan so happy to see him back in the seniors, just don't know for who.

[inxs88]

Nice to have depth and a negligible injury count! Refreshing

[Lazza]

Yep. And although he is considered by many here to have had a poor go in the seniors, Benken is still a depth player at this stage of his career.

[dalyc]

[HAL]

Does "it" still refer to Collingwood 9point 6point 60 Fremantle 9point 6point 60 Goals Fas 2 Blair Crisp DeGoey Pendles Elliott Adams Broomy 1 Disposals Pendles 21 Adams 20 Fas 18 Adams 18 Crisp 16 Swanny 17 Ox 16 Trav 14 Broomy Marley Langdon Sidey 13?

[swoop42]

I think if you have a healthy list and good depth you can swap over your bottom 4 to 6 and replace them with another 4 to 6 and not lose all that much.

We are approaching that point now.

[stui magpie]

My opinion based on observation of who gets selected and who plays VFL and how often.

The automatic selections, meaning that if the player is fit, they play in the AFL.

Pendlebury
Cloke
Elliot
Reid
Crisp
Varcoe
Swan
Sidebottom
Brown
Adams
Toovey
Goldsack

Frost is an almost. Reid is being managed which is why he's in the VFL. Once they're confident he's ready physically he's in the AFL team.
One at least of Witts and Grundy will play if fit but neither are automatic in their own right
I can't remember the last time Goldsack or toovey played magoos because of poor form, they only play VFL when coming back from injury. I could put Blair in the same boat but the board might implode.


That's 12 automatics with 10 spots available each week. For those 10 spots, you have to allow that the incumbent has the advantage over the VFL player each week provided the AFL form is good. You can be banging the house down in the VFL but if the bloke in your AFL spot is doing his job you have to wait.

[MOTR]

Marley says hello.

[stui magpie]

Hello marley.

He's having a bloody good season but I don't think he's attained the rank of automatic selection just yet.