Best 22 - Nick Galea

Over the past four weeks, The Salty Bulldog team have been revealing their Best 22 ahead of the start of the 2021 Season. Today, we look at the team that Nicholas Galea has revealed over the past month, and give him the opportunity to justify his side.

Selecting a best 22 for one’s favourite football club can be a wonderful pastime but with this particular list of ours which is filled with plenty of talent, it makes for quite a challenge as there are a host of names who can count themselves unlucky to not feature in the line-up.

DEFENDERS

Right Back Pocket – Bailey Williams

We all know that Champion Data doesn’t always get it right but in season 2020 Bailey Williams was deemed the most improved player in the competition and there is a fair bit of logic to it.

A naturally aggressive half back that is filled with flair and composure, Williams was able to add more offensive skills to his game finding himself up the ground where he collected 25% of his possessions.

His creativity and ability to pinpoint a low percentage pass (13th overall for effective passes) was also a strong feature which complimented the Bulldogs collection of attacking half backs, who contribute a huge amount of overlap run and scoring opportunities.

Williams was rated above average in several statistical categories including being elite in rebounds (4.9), inside 50s (2.3) and metres gained (395.9) in his position of general defender.

Williams put together his best season in the Red, White and Blue finishing fifth in the Charles Sutton Medal with 121 votes and he is now well and truly established in the Bulldogs back six.

Full Back – Alex Keath

Alex Keath’s first season as a Bulldog was quite impressive as he ably adjusted from his traditional third tall role at the Adelaide Crows to being utilised as the number one key defender.

Keath at times throughout the year was punching well above his weight division trying to tame Tom Hawkins, Charlie Dixon, Josh Kennedy and Jeremy Cameron and but he was a stable, calming influence down back in his 18 games for the Club. Keath spent the most amount of time on the field with 95.8%.

Although he is only 48 games into his career, Keath is a senior member of the line-up and finished sixth in the Charles Sutton Medal (118 votes) which was well deserved. Hopefully he can find some proper key position support as if he could be freed up, it would benefit not only himself but the side as well.

Left Back Pocket – Hayden Crozier

One of the most underrated defenders in the game, the high-flying Hayden Crozier has become an essential cog in our back six since his arrival in 2018.

We saw a different side of Crozier as he went from attacking intercepting weapon in 2019 to steady, reliable and dour defender who negated some of the best forwards in the competition and at least in the early stages was considered an All-Australian squad chance. In saying that, Crozier still has a very attacking mindset for a defender and

Right Half Back – Jason Johannisen

One of the few players on our list who has genuine leg speed, the 2016 Norm Smith Medallist is an integral member of our best 22 despite some up and down seasons as of late.

Towards the backend of 2020, Johannisen spent periods during games in the half forward line where his overlap and run helped create havoc and indecision amongst defenders playing higher up the ground. That said I still believe his best position is on the half back flank as he is more proactive with the ball in front of him, thereby allowing him to create the play instead of reacting to it.

Still in his prime and with talent and pace to burn, it is time “JJ” re-established himself as one of the premier half backs in the competition.

Centre Half Back – Lewis Young

Big things were expected from Lewis Young after he featured in the final three games of the 2019 season which included the Elimination Final.

While Keath is the more mature footballer, Young certainly has the scope to be better in the long run as he already has many of the tools to be a fine centre half back; namely the height (197cm), the size, reach and marking ability. We just haven’t seen a lot of it at AFL level yet and I stress the yet.

Centre half back is arguably the most important position in the back half as it generally contends with the oppositions most athletic forward. I still feel Young is up to the task. In terms of importance for team balance, if Lewis Young can chuck a Bailey Williams and become one of the most improved players in the competition it will help solve a myriad of problems in the key defender department.

Still only 22, 2021 will be Young’s fifth season at the Club.

Left Half Back – Caleb Daniel

The reigning Charles Sutton Medallist (205 votes) was one of the stars of the competition last season and thoroughly deserved his maiden All Australian guernsey after a fantastic season across half back.

One of the most composed players in the league, Daniel recorded a kicking efficiency of 77.3%, which for a player who tends to be tasked with being the designated distributor off half back, is more than reasonable.

Amongst defenders, Daniel was third in the league for effective disposals (298) behind Sydney’s and Richmond’s Jake Lloyd and Jayden Short, emphasising just how valuable he is with ball in hand.

Not only a walk up start in the backline but one of the very first picked on our team sheet.

MIDFIELDERS

Right Wing – Bailey Smith

Smith is certainly one of the standout up and comers in the AFL after his exceptional start to his football career which has seen him play 41 games.

Although Smith is more of a inside ball winner, I believe playing on the wing will help transform his game not only in the short term but the long term as well where his strength and power from a contest can be balanced out by focusing on the uncontested ball. It would also give him more time to dispose of the ball. I still feel Smith will end up a very similar player to Brad Johnson – minus the exceptional marking power the smiling assassin possessed to play large minutes forward.

Going into his third preseason, Smith hasn’t missed a game from his debut in round one 2019 and finished seventh in the 2020 Charles Sutton Medal.

Centre – Adam Treloar

One of the premier midfielders of the competition, there is no doubt Adam Treloar walks into the Bulldogs line-up even if it has the deepest midfield in the league.

Across his nine seasons in the AFL, Treloar has generally featured rather highly in the Giants and Magpies best and fairest counts, recording a collective of six top-five finishes including a three top-three finishes.

Treloar is still touch and go for round one against his former team in Collingwood but is set to feature in Monday’s preseason hit out against Casey at Western/Whitten Oval on restricted minutes.

In comparison to Bailey Smith, Treloar is more of an uncontested ball winner yet I do feel his burst from a stoppage will be more valuable then on the outside as it just adds another dynamic dimension to our midfield division as well as balancing out its strengths.

Left Wing – Lachlan Hunter

Without a doubt one of the best wingmen in the game, there aren’t many players like Hunter who can run as many kilometres to be the extra man at a contest or be involved several times within a single scoring chain while maintaining the same endurance throughout the course of a game.

The quintessential linkman at the Kennel, it speaks volume just how highly rated Hunter is internally at the club that despite playing only the 10 games last season that he still finished ninth in the Charles Sutton Medal and if he played a full season, Hunter would have been a huge chance for All Australian selection as well.

FOLLOWERS

Ruck – Stefan Martin

The recruitment of Stefan Martin was absolutely essential even if it is only for one to two seasons as at times last year to be brutally honest, we got our arse handed to us in the ruck.

Although he is still a step below the top tier ruckman in the game like Max Gawn, Todd Goldstein and Nic Naitanui, Martin has for sure been one of the very best mobile rucks in the competition throughout his time at the Brisbane Lions. With a career hit-out win percentage of 44.1%, (English – 29.3%), Martin will definitely provide first use for our already impressive midfield brigade as well as restricting the

influence of the opposition ruckman around the ground.

Martin will no doubt play a huge role in 2021 as he looks to give English the required support on matchday and Jordan Sweet throughout the week.

Rover – Josh Dunkley

After an unsuccessful trade request to Essendon, I think it is quite fitting to return Josh Dunkley to the position where he is at his best and dominating games – as a midfielder!

A syndesmosis injury no doubt affected his 2020 season and it would have contributed to his lack of midfield minutes on returning to the line-up after we had built continuity with another midfield division but with full fitness, we can expect Dunkley to stake his claim as one of the premier inside midfielders in the competition and return to his 2019 form.

Many fans will breathe a sigh of relief with assistant coach Steven King earlier in the preseason stating that the Dunkley ruck experiment will be put to bed.

Ruck Rover – Jackson Macrae

With back two back All Australian selections I don’t think many would argue Macrae deserves to feature in the starting on-ball division. Macrae averaged 26.39 in his 18 games last year and if extrapolated to make up for the 20% reduction in game time, it jumps up to 31.66 which is very comparable to the numbers he has reached since 2018. There isn’t much that needs to be said other then ask one question; when will Macrae win his maiden Charles Sutton Medal?

FORWARDS

Right Half Forward – Toby McLean

McLean might still be recovering from an ACL he suffered in round 17 against Hawthorn but remember this is a overall best 22. Re-established himself back in the best 22 after finding a niche as an attacking tagger roaming in the midfield and half forward, McLean had several victims last year which included Lachie Whitfield, Jake Lloyd, Shaun Higgins and Andrew Gaff.

Will probably be eased back into the side but there is no doubt of his quality to the line-up and even with his indifferent form over the past two seasons he has still featured regularly, missing just eight of the past 39 games up until his injury.

Centre Half Forward – Aaron Naughton

Forward or back? It is a question that gets asked almost weekly but no doubt opposition clubs have more sleepless nights when Naughton is named at centre half forward then centre half back.

His contested marking ability; especially in large packs, is something out of this world and an asset that is a gamechanger in the front half.

Playing Naughton down back probably will make him a better footballer but it as a centre half forward where he will be a match winner and where he will determine the outcome of games for the Bulldogs.

The most promising prospect in the competition bar none.

Left Half Forward – Marcus Bontempelli

I know, I know… It sounds like utter madness to have the Bulldogs best midfielder playing in the forward line but his versatility unfortunately works against him here as he is such a good midfielder but he because compared to our other midfielders, no one bar him genuinely can play forward in a legitimate sense.

A dangerous mismatch for opposition defenders, Bontempelli is mobile, tall and possesses the ability to break games open. Capable of kicking at least two goals a game; even with his wonky set shot goal kicking (which I am backing to come good this year), Bontempelli will provide much more than just that in the front half.

Even though I have “Bont” named on the flank, I would still have him feature at least 30% of his game time in the midfield.

Right Forward Pocket – Mitch Wallis

A club leading goal kicker featuring in the best forward set up? I think that makes perfect sense!

After kicking a career best 25 goals; equal ninth in the Coleman alongside Brody Miochek and Ben King, Wallis established himself as one of the better medium forwards in the competition although being rather inexperienced in the role. The ex-midfielder was strong above his head, led the club for marks inside 50 with 25 while he too was equal first with Bontempelli for goal assists (11).

Full Forward – Josh Bruce

Bruce would be the first person to admit his 2020 season was certainly not up to what was expected from him with just the 14 goals from 17 games and a career low 2.76 marks per game, which is well short of his pre 2020 average of 4.65.

Bruce has trimmed down significantly over the preseason, dropping seven kilograms and appears to be moving far better across the ground which has allowed him to create greater separation between himself and defenders. This was evident in the practice game against Hawthorn where he kicked two goals and took a number of contested marks. Bruce is a senior player and is certainly a capable footballer.

2021 will see Bruce return to the dangerous, underrated forward he was from 2015 to 2019 and remind the competition of what he is capable of.

Left Forward Pocket – Laitham Vandermeer

Vandermeer quickly found himself into the line up last year once find after hamstring related issues in season 2019 and fitted in perfectly. Leg speed is something we lack but it isn’t simply Vandermeer’s pace that makes a difference to our side but his ability to be a major ball carrier and line breaker that looks to create the play via and be heavily involved in a scoring chain.

Ideally, I’d have Vandermeer playing on the wing or that high forward role but that will come in due time. The “Dutchman” shows a bit of campaigner which is important when playing up forward, has a knack of hitting the scoreboard and his closing speed brings a strong point of difference that will make him a valuable contributor of the forward line.

INTERCHANGE

Taylor Duryea – Duryea has only been at the club for two seasons but his absence for majority of 2020 (three games) was sorely felt as we struggled to contain fast footed small forwards through the year. Duryea has a calming influence on the back six despite his small stature and his long kicking is quite important as it helps us clear forward half zone setups.

We are a much better side defensively with this man taking down the oppositions most dangerous ground level forward, which in turn allows our more aggressive defenders to take risks, play on edge and make opposition forwards more accountable.

Zaine Cordy – Having Cordy in the best 22 allows the side a safety net amongst its key position players in case one is having a poor day at the office. Although undersized, Cordy is generally given the role of playing on the oppositions most athletic key forward and has claimed a few scalps over the years. With 85 games under his belt, the no-frills defender should break through the 100 game mark this season.

Cordy is the third key defender in the line-up and his combative nature is very much welcome into the line-up.

Thomas Liberatore – “Libba” might not be a starting midfielder in this particular best 22 but Liberatore in top flight is still one of the competition’s best clearance players going around. For me it was all about the balance of the midfield setup .

If there is a centre clearance that has to be won, there is every chance the premiership hero will be put into the guts and deliver the goods.

The heart and soul of the Bulldogs midfield, Liberatore will bring much of the same and no doubt fly the red, white and blue flag at all times.

Tim English – With the recruitment of Stefan Martin, it is expected that English will feature a fair bit more in the forward line where his long reach and contested marking ability will help create a trio of aerial weapons alongside Naughton and Bruce.

That doesn’t necessarily mean English won’t feature in the ruck but the “Pom” can put his best foot forward in the ruck in short bursts where he can feast on the oppositions second ruckman.

English showed how important his intercept marking around the ground was in the early stages of the season even to the extent where opposition clubs started using their ruckman to follow English around the ground to negate this influence.

EMERGENCIES

Patrick Lipinski – Lipinski is in a similar situation to McLean where they are best 22 quality but being able to find the right balance to utilise them best is a tricky situation.

With several midfielders already in the line-up I found it hard to find a place for him as to me there isn’t yet enough traits that put him above the rest. This isn’t a knock on Lipinski’s quality but more of the calibre of players keeping him out of the best 22.

Lipinski still needs to keep building up his engine and work on his tackling efforts but he is definitely one of the sides better ball users when delivering the footy inside 50.

Easton Wood – It might be seen as controversial to not have Wood in the best 22 but it is just an opinion and I was debating his position and those on the interchange very much. The reason being is solely for the fact that I have decided to go with a more attacking back six as much of our scoring power came from the drive our defensive half provided and that I had chosen three key position players down back as well. Wood is now one of three players on the Bulldogs list older than 30 and his leadership is still important on and off the field.

Ryan Gardner – Gardner’s speed across 20 metres is quite important to our zone defence as it allows him to support his teammates and be the third man in marking contests and when you consider our vulnerability in isolated marking contests, it is an integral part to our team defence.

Gardner gradually got better as the season progressed last year, building continuity and confidence as he established himself an important role player in our back six.

Gardner might not be the strongest when it comes to one-on-one battles, but to be fair to him not many of our defenders are exactly blessed in that ability as well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him named in round one.

Lin Jong - One of the hard luck stories for the Bulldogs throughout the past decade, Jong was every chance to become a premiership player if not for a broken collarbone before doing his ACL a year later in 2017. Additionally, Jong has battled hamstring problems (2018), suffered mental health issues (2019) and a syndesmosis injury which ruled him out of the rest of 2020. This has limited him to just the 64 games in 10 years on the Dogs list.

On the other end of the scale, when Jong has been fit he has been a valid contributor to the side. Jong is very much capable of playing as a high half forward as well as spending minutes in the midfield, bringing the desired versatility to the 22 and with interchanges now cut to 75, it makes his role quite important.