Picking a team of AFL players aged 24 to 26

By Doran Smith / Roar Guru

This age group of 24 to 26-year-olds was a tough one as there were so many midfielders in particular to choose from.

Marcus Bontempelli was an easy choice as captain of this team, as was the vice-captain Lachie Neale.

The team would be a difficult team to beat if there was an exhibition game played, as most of them are in the prime of their career.

B: Jack Crisp (Collingwood Magpies), Oscar McDonald (Melbourne Demons), Sam Docherty (Carlton Blues)
HB: Zac Williams (Greater Western Sydney Giants), James Sicily (Hawthorn Hawks), Adam Saad (Essendon Bombers)
C: Lachie Whitfield (Greater Western Sydney Giants), Patrick Cripps (Carlton Blues), Zach Merrett (Essendon Bombers)
HF: Stephen Coniglio (Greater Western Sydney Giants), Ivan Soldo (Richmond Tigers), Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney Giants)
F: Jordan de Goey (Collingwood Magpies), Tim Membrey (St Kilda Saints), Marcus Bontempelli (captain, Western Bulldogs)
Followers: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood Magpies), Tim Kelly (West Coast Eagles), Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn Hawks)
Interchange: Nick Vlastuin (Richmond Tigers), Elliot Yeo (West Coast Eagles, Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs), Lachie Neale (vice-captain, Brisbane Lions)
Em: Rowan Marshall (St Kilda Saints), Darcy Moore (Collingwood Magpies), Chad Wingard (Hawthorn Hawks), Ed Langdon (Melbourne Demons)

(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Backs
Jack Crisp is a competitor and a player with immense ability.

Oscar McDonald is a player that is an extremely pivotal part of the Melbourne Demons’ defence.

Sam Docherty is a quality, consistent player who has the capability of providing run out of defence.

Halfbacks
Zac Williams is a player that can give a team run off the halfback line and also make marauding runs forward onto the wing.

James Sicily is an extremely consistent player, finishing fourth in Hawthorn’s 2019 best and fairest.

Adam Saad finished third in Essendon’s 2019 best and fairest, which indicates how much ability he has running the ball intelligently out of defence.

Centres
Lachie Whitfield is a quality player who plays well on the wing and can also fill other roles.

Patrick Cripps is probably Carlton’s most influential player.

Zach Merrett is a player that is a consistent, quality performer.

Half forwards
Stephen Coniglio is a player that’s capable of hitting the scoreboard.

Ivan Soldo is a player that is important to Richmond as he is extremely mobile.

Toby Greene is a valuable player, because he can hit the scoreboard.

Forwards
Jordan de Goey is a valuable part of the Collingwood forward line.

Tim Membrey is a player that is capable of kicking more than he has if he played in a better team than St Kilda. He averaged two goals per game playing all 22 games in 2019.

Marcus Bontempelli is a natural leader for the Western Bulldogs and a quality player. His presence up forward would scare other defences.

Followers
Brodie Grundy in the ruck was a no-brainer.

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Tim Kelly proved in 2019 that he is one of the best players in the competition as he finished second in Geelong’s best and fairest.

Tom Mitchell showed that he should be back to his best once footy returns as he gathered 25 possessions in Round 1 of the 2020 season.

Interchange
Nick Vlastuin is a player that can hold down a key-position role as a centre halfback, and also has the ability to play in the midfield.

Elliot Yeo finished second in the West Coast Eagles’ best and fairest in 2019.

Jack Macrae is a player that deserves his spot in the team’s best 22.

Lachie Neale would benefit from being an impact player off the bench in this team.

Emergencies
Rowan Marshall was unlucky to miss out on the best 22 as he came second in St Kilda’s best and fairest in 2019.

Darcy Moore is one of the best centre halfbacks in the competition.

Chad Wingard is a two-time All Australian and has kicked 247 goals, but just misses out as this team is extremely tough to get into.

Ed Langdon managed to finish fifth in Fremantle’s 2019 best and fairest, even though he made a move to the Melbourne Demons when the trade period arrived.

The Crowd Says:

AUTHOR

2020-05-19T03:02:56+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


Josh Kelly is 1 of my favourite players; tried to take the emotion out of it.

AUTHOR

2020-05-19T03:00:43+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


It’s subjective!

AUTHOR

2020-05-19T02:59:47+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


Nothing against Moore, I rate Sicily extremely high as a player; trying to be honest as it's an extremely subjective exercise!

2020-04-08T00:07:48+00:00

Andrew

Guest


Zach Merret a bit overrated here but other than that decent team.

2020-04-07T04:03:44+00:00

Footy Nerd

Guest


Darcy Moore should be centre half back

2020-04-05T12:25:34+00:00

Matches

Roar Rookie


Why go to that trouble?- -No friends / life / relevance?

AUTHOR

2020-04-05T02:49:53+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


Luke Parker is 27

AUTHOR

2020-04-05T02:49:21+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


Will keep that in mind; good idea.

2020-04-05T02:34:21+00:00

Davico

Roar Pro


No Luke Parker?

2020-04-05T00:31:06+00:00

Peter the Scribe

Roar Guru


I’d love to read your over 28 side

2020-04-05T00:29:27+00:00

Peter the Scribe

Roar Guru


Everyone looks good when you win by 90 points though

2020-04-04T23:35:30+00:00

6x6 perkele

Roar Rookie


When in iso it's recommended one does find entertainment even if delivered in your repetitive mundane manner ;)

2020-04-04T22:24:54+00:00

Naughty's Headband

Roar Rookie


And their attempts at comebacks are lame, because I really don’t care, it’s just footy, but they really really do care.

2020-04-04T20:03:21+00:00

PriddisJunior

Roar Rookie


Does it help you forget your new team keeps losing by 50+ pts in big games?

AUTHOR

2020-04-04T11:46:42+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


I have done an under 24s team as I believe a player should have to play at least 10 games to judge them on, but interestingly I did make Sam Walsh Captain who is aged 19; https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/03/31/the-afl-all-star-under-23s/ Feel free to give me more ideas and feedback!

2020-04-04T11:34:33+00:00

berrlins

Roar Pro


really cool list, keen to do a best 22 under 21 list?

AUTHOR

2020-04-04T10:29:12+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


Thanks for the feedback!

2020-04-04T10:14:28+00:00

Peter the Scribe

Roar Guru


Williams Id say Doran. Great fun article by the way

AUTHOR

2020-04-04T09:17:19+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


I strongly considered picked Hamling in particular, at full back, but was concerned about his injuries. Thanks for the interesting stats!

AUTHOR

2020-04-04T09:15:12+00:00

Doran Smith

Roar Guru


Who would have you taken out of the team to put Moore at CHB? Assuming you would keep Sicily on a flank.

More Comments on The Roar

Read more at The Roar