Roar Guru
Joined February 2018
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Doran Smith is a passionate sports fan. He predominantly follows AFL, football and cricket. He has a Commerce Degree majoring in Accounting and Business Law. He also does some freelance writing.
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The opening round of the AFL season was entertaining and threw up some surprising results.
It was a challenging four rounds of football for the coaches in the A-League.
It was a tough four rounds of football for the ten A-League coaches, because there wasn’t much recovery time for players.
The Asian Cup is almost upon us, and with the group stages starting this weekend, I’ve chosen who I think should lead Australia’s title defence.
It was an eventful second month of the A-League with a lot of entertaining football being played, although the games in Round 8 were fairly one sided.
The Tigers roared against the Hawks, the Demons obliterated the Cats, the Giants destroyed the Swans, and the Magpies had their wings clipped by the Eagles.
This is my best 22 players if I was picking an All-Australian team based on the 2018 season.
I have picked my best 22 utility players for the 2018 season.
Thanks to the coaches, the 2018 season was one of the most exciting and competitive years in recent AFL history. The football played was of a high standard for the most part so here is how I ranked the coaches based on their overall performance.
This team consists of players who underperformed in Round 23 of the 2018 AFL season.
With the regular season over, it’s time to sit back and ponder who deserves representative honours.
It was a mixed final round of the AFL season featuring a couple of disappointing blowouts that were difficult to watch.
This team consists of players that I predict to be the best performers in the upcoming round.
This team consists of players who underperformed in Round 22 of the 2018 AFL season.
There were two blowouts in Round 22, but thankfully the other seven games had margins no higher than 20 points, with most still in the balance in the last quarter.
This team consists of players I predict to be the best performers in round 22.
This team consists of players who underperformed in Round 21 of the 2018 AFL season.
I have always believed in Newman’s ability as a player ever since he debuted at the Swans and couldn’t comprehend why he didn’t play every game and I’m not sure why he was traded. Cunningham was also under strong consideration for the team lifter for the Blues, but I felt that Walsh tried to take the game on.
What happened? AFL Round 1, 2019
Newman was under strong consideration to be the team lifter, but I couldn’t go past Sam Walsh in his 1st game of footy at AFL level, he was outstanding. I chose Cameron and Oscar Allen as I felt that their goals lifted their teams, while Cameron and Sheed were extremely important players for their respective teams.
What happened? AFL Round 1, 2019
Good team, Stuart.
I would have had Ryan Strain at right back once again. Surprised that Castro didn’t get a mention. Also, Lowry instead of Taylor.
The A-League team of the week: Round 16
1- Burns (Renshaw’s average this summer counts against him)- Burns deserves another opportunity at test level. Averages nearly 37 at test level.
2- Harris- Did enough to keep his spot.
3- Patterson- Averages nearly 48 this summer at Shield level.
4- Hughes- Having a very good summer at domestic level- Averaging 46- Capable of playing for Australia at test level.
5- Handscomb (Vice Captain)- Averages nearly 39 at test level. Will thrive if given a leadership role.
6- Head- Attacking number 6. Also a part time bowling option- Taken 36 wickets at first class level. Batting at number 6 will suit him.
7- Wade (Captain)- Averaging 63 this summer at Shield level. Doing a fantastic job as captain of the Hurricanes. A humble leader who has the ability to make people around him perform better.
8- Tremain- 28 wickets in 6 matches at Shield level this summer, 2nd for total wickets at state level this summer. (Boland would have been considered for this spot, but wasn’t on the list of candidates to choose from).
9- Lyon- Averaging approximately 21 in 3 matches at Shield level. Taking 20 wickets, shows that he doesn’t take his spot in the Australian team for granted.
10- Hazlewood- Just holds his spot based on his ability- Still our best fast bowler, despite not performing to his capability in the Indian series.
11- Bird- Averaging under 23 at Shield level this summer. Taken 27 wickets, which is equal 3rd on the list. Taken 34 wickets in 9 tests so Bird has the ability to play at the highest level.
Lower order batting is a bit thin, but I chose the 4 bowlers that I thought were the best of the candidates to choose from.
VOTE: Pick your Australian XI to play Sri Lanka
I have a few changes I would make: I thought Broxham instead of Taylor, Strain instead of De Laet, Davidson instead of Pepper and Baumjohann was outstanding, but don’t know who I would take out of the team for him. Agree that Kurto and Brillante were outstanding.
The A-League team of the week: Round 11
I am a big fan of Fenton as well as Brillante, but Georgevski and Baccus were everywhere. Nevertheless it’s a very accurately chosen team. The goal keeper position wouldn’t have caused you stress this week that’s for sure!
Thanks for the complement.
The A-League team of the week: Round 10
Good team Stuart.
What do you think of Georgevski instead of Fenton. Kearyn Baccus instead of Brillante?
Apart from that perfect team!
The A-League team of the week: Round 10
Thanks for that Stuart. I still think that the team I formulated could be competitive; no disrespect to Syria and Jordan. I have always believed in Maclaren and Irvine’s ability to be good players in the final third. Maclaren just needs some confidence at international level.
I believe we have 3 good goal keepers so don’t worry!
My Socceroos Asian Cup line-up
Rogic is injured. Irvine too defensive? He scored a brace for his club and scored a goal against Oman.
My Socceroos Asian Cup line-up
I would bring in Chris Ikonomidis onto the bench as I believe he can play as an impact player.
My Socceroos Asian Cup line-up
Rhyan Grant and Aziz Behich showed that they are capable of getting forward against Oman and playing in crosses. Also, I think Risdon and Gersbach deserve to play as wing backs, while Grant and Behich could play a role in midfield, as they would be given more freedom, having less responsibility defensively.
My Socceroos Asian Cup line-up
We are lacking midfielders; Sainsbury is a good passer of the ball so I think it would be a good option.
My Socceroos Asian Cup line-up
It’s all a matter of opinion, stats wise they are similar.
My best 22 if I was picking a team based on the 2018 season
Hipwood and Membrey would have kicked over fifty goals each for the season in better teams. Hipwood kicked thirty-seven, while Membrey kicked thirty-four. Masten had a solid season; he was a big reason why the Eagles finished in the top four, while Hunter had a good year averaging nearly thirty possessions a game and Webster played well in a defence that was under siege and won plenty of the ball, providing run out of the Saints back line.
Neville Jetta is underrated, Talia and Astbury always play their role and are important parts of their respective teams structure. Scharenberg was fantastic for the Magpies; they probably would have won if he was playing against the Eagles tonight.
Josh Caddy is a star, he showed that on Friday night against the Hawks with two pivotal goals.
My best 22 if I was picking a team based on the 2018 season
Not deliberate at all, Menegola for instance doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, Brayshaw is a star, he was outstanding last night in the final against the Cats.
Membrey and Hipwood would have kicked a lot more goals if they were playing in better teams.
I deliberately made sure that the team had a few players who are capable of kicking multiple goals.
My best 22 if I was picking a team based on the 2018 season
Players such as Macrae and Josh Kelly would have been All Australian if they had played a full season, as they were injured.
Jack Steven is elite in my opinion, but unfortunately, he wasn’t recognized as his team was low on the ladder, same with Lachie Hunter.
My best 22 if I was picking a team based on the 2018 season
I strongly considered Blicavs, but I thought Hurley was outstanding this Season in defence.
My best 22 utility players of the 2018 season
I wasn’t sure that Gunston was a utility as he I consider him to be a forward. I accept your point of view, re Burgoyne.
My best 22 utility players of the 2018 season
Thanks for pointing that out re Dangerfield. Couldn’t fit Dusty in the midfield, didn’t know who to take out of the midfield, it was my prediction not necessarily my team. he was named up forward in round 23 and managed to kick thirty goals for the season.
My predicted All Australian team
The Magpies have a lot of depth in their squad and good assistant coaches this year. I still feel that the Magpies should have finished higher last season as they had a good list then as well.
Simpson had Naitanui injured as well as Kennedy, Darling and Lecras and Gaff was suspended late in the season. Dimma kept the same system even when Cotchin, Lambert, Nankervis and Houli were out and it’s tough to back up from a premiership. Martin, Riewoldt and Edwards and others still played at a high level; 8 players in the All Australian squad is testament to Dimma as a coach. Clarkson had Mcevoy out along with Sicily, Roughead, Burgoyne and Rioli at different times and lets not forget Birchall.
My coaching ladder for 2018
I’m a Collingwood fan and I don’t think the injuries that we have suffered have been major, possibly Scharenberg and Treloar, but every team has injuries. Collingwood still have the best team on paper apart from the key tall back positions, without any bias at all attached to my opinion.
What happened? AFL Round 23, 2018
I didn’t expect more from Connor Glass, but I felt Stratton didn’t play to his capability.
Team of underperformers from Round 22
The GWS are a better side with Kelly in it and any side who recruited him would also be.
Splash the cash for Josh
Bailey Scott was a shining light for the Kangaroos
What happened? AFL Round 1, 2019