Good example. I don't doubt that we'll see it happen.
Will he be a Bosustow who was a forward freak, or will he be a Cattogio....not ready for finals this year....or will he be a Camporeale who played 25 games and won a flag in his 1st year?

Dunno.
I do know he will get a game under MM...or don't I? Well I don't ACTUALLY know.

But its looking promising to think Menzel slipping into the forwardline to kick 5 or 6 cameo goals and nothing much else (I do xpect to see that too)...that'll do me fine but MM might want more.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

,,neccessity could change things, hendo was barely ready to resume seniors [2nd time round] in mid 2011, when he was forced back due to KPD injuries.. ..he wasn't proper fit, and had no pre-season and very few 'training sessions' for CHB duties.. ..he'd played perhaps 20/30 games all up at that stage too.. ..it took him a month or two to settle in..

..it's things like this that have me thinking that a player like Watson could 'come on' quicker than expected/hoped for, if he's given games and responsibility.. ..he's always played CHB, and is a natural at zoning off and reading the play which makes him better suited for a roaming KPD role a'la CHB, vs a deeper closer checking FB type role [which i believe Jamo is best at]..

..in fact, in regards to FB options i think Jamo is our best for this, Hendo isn't as good at FB as he is at CHB, and our other tall kpd options waiting in the wings likewise seem more suited to chb vs fb..

..something we know for sure about salty malty, is he's fond of giving youngsters genuine opportunity.. ..and i think that watson last season showed signs of steady improvement and belonging during his games and could well lay claim to a regular spot for 2013.. ..especially so with MM's team orientated defensive set-ups..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Yeah I prob went with Buckley more over hype than anything and therefore put him coming in as the sub. I'm hoping the hype about his skill, speed and him beefing up would give us a lift in the final quarter. Someone like Army could do the same, and whilst I am a fan of Army and the things he can do I left him out cos that goal he coughs up every game annoys me!!

If Brock can find the ball like he did last year then he'll push too, however if we have a fully fit squad, I can't put him in our best 22... Aside from Buckley who would you get rid of? I rate Scotland more than I do Brock...

..if fit, Brock's in the team every day of the week.. ..and in the center, none of this wing/HF business UNLESS it's part of rotations, since he can run all day and need not be a mid rested via the bench.. ..he's a pure mid, with the right on-field attitude, and a proven big game player.. ..good hands, and at stoppages will often get his hands first on the ball, very good at roving the taps and seemed to be getting better combination with Krooz as his games last season racked up.. ..he's slow, so he may get the tap and not get separation out of the pack, but is smart enough to use his hands to release others, and better blocking within stoppages will help him and others get more break-aways out of congestion..

..also, he's very much the old school footballer, and can counter his lack of pace with good footy nous, he's often in space racking up uncontested possession to balance his inside game cos he knows and understands the play, watching the game 'live' you see him be repeatedly one of the first to spread from contests, and the amount of 'link-up' work he does is bloody impressive for such a slow runner..

..with Brock finally being proper fit, and with a better coaching panel, i'm really excited to see how he plays in a smarter more fit midfield.. ..i think ppl forget that Brock's late season form is actually pretty much his 'standard', his body has let him down overt the last few years and that's what has hampered him, he has the skill and right attitude..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Brock will be Micks new Luke Ball

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I laughed to myself when that thought crossed my mind.
Then I thought about it...and neither possess high octane pace, but they are footballers...hard ones.

I like the hardness for battle these types have.
A necessity come finals time....building a troupe of them
Carrazzo, Robinson ....tough as nails...and so are Judd, Murphy,Touhy and Duigan.
...and sprinkle ample pace around them.

I really hope Brock has a cracking year and we win the flag.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That's what excited me when we traded for him. I nearly gave up before his resurgence last year. I hope he stays fit.

Well here goes - best team, not Rd 1 team, other choice in brackets:

B: Armfield (Temay), Jamo, White (McInnes/Duigan)
CB: Yarran, Hendo (Watson), Laidler
M: Simpson, Murph, Touhy
CF: Walker, Mitchell (Casboult/Rowe), Gibbs
F: Betts, Waite, Garlett (Menzel)
R: Kreuzer (206, Hampson), Judd, Carazzo
IC: Robinson, McClean, Scotland (Duigan)

Problem is the small defender, opted for Touhy on the wing as I think this has great upside
Only 1 ruck, I'm more interested in pace and ability to play different roles
Not sold on Watson, slow as a wet week and not good body on body - intercept seems more his go and prefer Laidler for that
3rd tall went for White, but if McInnes is fully fit and has confidence would go that way
2nd tier mids Bell, Lucas, Ellard, etc will have to take a spot from one of the incumbents for mine
CHF - anyone of the big boys, Hampson included

Should be some good competition for spots

Mitchell???

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

..agreed, if the kid can build upon hus debut game to make himself a regular player awesome, but it won't be happening at CHF [very unlikely, since he's at this stage a 1 dimensional FF]..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Mitchell at this stage is a FF or nothing and there is no-one in that team to give Kreuzer any sort of chop-out. Hendo and Mitchell are the sort of blokes you would try if you had to but they'd both get slaughtered. If Kreuzer went down early and we had to rely on cobbling up a nearly whole game of rucking from the rest of that side heaven help us. Either Casboult Hampson or even Rowe instead of Mitchell looks more like it to me, and probably switch whichever one chosen with Waite.

Other than that the team looks pretty sound, maybe Menzel can push his way in, even Temay might, maybe Duigan ahead of White , although White's end to 2012 and preseason form probably has him ahead, and if McInnes can pick up where he left off before injury he may be ahead of them both. But that's all pretty line-ball.

..i liked the look of McInnes last season too, but to expect him to come back strongly from that knee [busted so late in the season] in season 2013 is asking too much i believe.. ..and it's not like he's an experienced KPD and we have only rookies to replace him with, good signs notwithstanding he's in the same 'boat' as players like watto and white, so i'd give mcinnes extra time to ease back into footy via the ressies for 2013..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

I agree it's a damn shame for McInnes...

For my mind, to get the best possible result, the following need to be on the park together in at least 70% of our games.

Backline - Armfield, Jamison, Laidler, Yarran, Henderson, Tuohy, Scotland

Midfield & Ruck - Simpson, Murphy, Carrazzo, Judd, McLean, Gibbs, Hampson

Forward - Waite, Betts, Garlett, Walker, Casboult

Interchange - Kreuzer, Robinson, Bell, Curnow

Pushing for selection - White, Ellard, Duigan, Bell, Lucas, Menzel, O'Keeffe, Watson, Cachia, Mitchell

Who I hope to see more of - Casboult, Mitchell, White and Bell in particular.
Who I hope improves significantly - Kane Lucas
Who I hope to see less of - Joseph, Davies. Maybe harsh on Joseph but I don't want to see him anywhere near the back line or the opposition's best small forward. Davies sadly just doesn't appear to be a solid AFL level player, and he was exploited big time in 2012 by opposition coaches.

Edit - you'll note that I have only 5 players in the forward line and an extra one down back. I expect MM to deploy his "extra man" that he used with Maxwell to good effect, and for the midfield to create the extra run into the forward line needed, particularly Gibbs, Simpson, Robinson, etc.

Agree...gotta get them on the park come finals....90% of them preferably...with Judd and Murphy being a must in the GF.

I reckon that Robinson is a midfielder who can play forward or back. Booming kick and good mark. Inside and outside player... damn elusive and gets his own ball. Hunter. Kicks a few too.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That's the exciting part about a full list having a full preseason.
Everyone has time to prepare.

Our kids really stack up against all opposition teams imo....not 1 top 10 player in that.

It would be good to see Lucas become a star....if he is.

IMO Bell is a top 25 player on the list....and Casboult will make it at Carlton if he isn't enticed somewhere else. He's proven capable on the big stage...just has to keep it going. Big heart this boy.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Agree with ianh.
Mitchell was not involved in most drills at training yesterday and on last year's showing is very much a one dimensional forward until he get's healthy and experienced. Levi is way ahead of him fitness-wise and as a forward: his ruckwork in the 2nds was noticably good too.

..still not convinced with a fwd/relief ruck at FF when we have 3 rucks good enough to be the main ruck in their own right.. ..i firmly believe you need real fwds playing the key positions, the player that is 2nd ruck should be a deep FP resting ruck marking option, let the KPF's control and create the fwd structures..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

It's a fair point Big Kahuna but there must be more than a few who believe that Hampson and Kreuzer make the best combination because of their ability to get around the ground and importantly kick 1 or 2 goals a game.

Warnock has shown he can be an okay tap ruckman and not much else. His kicks for goal whether concussed or not aren't good, and he doesn't demand physical presence. Heck even Josh Bootsma holds his spot in a contest better.

Warnock may prove everyone wrong and for one of the tallest in the league he should be better... I just have my doubts.

Getting close to Round One!

B: Yarran Jamison Laidler
HB: Touhy Watson OKeefe

C: Simpson McLean Bootsma
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy

HF: Robinson Henderson Gibbs
F: Betts Casboult Walker

Int: Carrazzo Waite Bell Lucas

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

You shouldn't doubt Warnock when fit.
He's already proven what he can do at 90% fit and 100% committed when Kreuzer, Hampson and Jacobs weren't available against WCE in the final at Subi.
He's young remember....and a very very good ruckman who was also a good kick before the Geelong game...and could take a mark or 2 back then when Hammer and Kreuzer weren't holding theirs...short memory.

Good thing about our 3 rucks who are committed to Carlton...they're all mobile, they're all very good when fit and they're all young, so they'll be around for another 6-8 years. We need 'em all fighting for the N0 1 mantle.

May the best man win...................the flag

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue