Co-sign.

He would be the first to admit he's not anywhere near where he'd want to be, but some of his running efforts in the last were 1st rate. He's busting a gut every week. Obviously had a very specific role last night. He will improve.

In: Carrazzo, Waite
Out: Robbo (susp), Ellard

If Brock doesn't come up (hand), then Ellard holds his spot or Bell comes in. I'd lean towards Bell, if fit, because I think we'll need the bigger bodies against the Crows.

God only knows if Waite & Carrazzo will actually play, but being a cock eyed optimist I tip they will.

Yes Tommi, I said cock and tip....



My optimism doesn't extend to Judd. I've got a feeling we won't see him until round 12 at the earliest.

Yarran - back or forward? This will be a week to week, even quarter to quarter, question from here on I think. I get the impression Yaz himself likes to mix it up. Yarran vs Betts would be fun to watch, but I want to see Yarran, Garlett and Menzel all start in the forward line.

So who plays on Betts? I fear he'd be too smart for Tuohy (who must be on thin ice). Buckley could get the gig but I'd be a bit worried about Betts making a fool of him in marking contests. Maybe Everitt is the man for the job. I've always thought Eddie needs an opponent who will stop him taking marks. He's more or less a lead up forward and he also judges the long ball coming in well and positions his body smartly. Everitt is fairly nimble for a tall-ish player. The only thing is that the MC might have another job for Everitt further up the ground. He might also lack acceleration? Jamo would actually be a good match up for Eddie, but he may be needed on another opponent. It'll probably end up being Tex, although he's not in great form. Maybe the job on Eddie will focus him back to form? He should be able to match Eddie on the ground and in the air.

The week off will be welcomed, particularly by Hendo who looks a bit sore to me. Thomas might be struggling with his body too, but I actually thought he played his role well last night.

12 days to go, but at this stage I'll say-

Walker Rowe White
Simmo Jamo Docherty
Murphy Brock Everitt
Yarran Hendo Thomas
Garlett Waite Menzel

Warnock Gibbs Carrazzo

Armfield, Buckley, Casboult
Tuohy (sub)

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

And he better!

We didn't sign him up on the big bucks just to 'bust his guts' out trying. If i wanted somebody like that i would have kept Setanta.

We signed him up on that lucritive contract because we needed an a-list star. And he's nowhere near that at the moment.


Look, i can't stand the bastard, i really don't, but i do find myself sympathizing with him. He's essentially had a year and a bit out of the game........... so understandably he'll take some time. And i'm willing to give it to him too. And no doubt he will improve.

But with that said, i reckon we paid well over odds. Especially when Gibbs (who isn't perfect either) is apparently going on a contract worth about $150k a year less?????

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

ABNS, reckon a few teams might be a fraction worried at a forward group of Hendo, Waite, Menzel, Garlett, Yarran. Not the worst group

If we need a sixth maybe throw Walker in for good measure, or Daisy.

Looking at my team above it occurs to me that Lucas is the TYPE of player we need. By that I mean an endurance athlete who can run the lines. Unfortunately he just hasn't been able to get it all together on a consistent basis. The odd glimpse of class here and there, but overall disappointing for a first round pick. Like Watson & Bootsma, I question whether Lucas has the burning desire that is needed to play at the highest level.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

If we can get them all in the park and in form at the same time, there's enough there to keep the opposition nervous. A lot of it is about how we bring the ball in as well. Having said that, we are still crying out for another quality key forward. Waite is almost at the end and I'm not convinced yet that Levi is the long term answer. And I doubt very much that Kreuzer will ever be the gun forward we're hoping he will be.

Let's face it, whether it's the fault of our recruiters or the development coaches over the last 5-6 years, our list has more holes than grandma's undies.

We need, in equal measure, a quality key forward, a quality key back, at least one more endurance runner with good pace & skills on the spread and a gun inside mid. Hopefully Cripps will be the future gun inside mid, but it's hard to see where the others are coming from based on what's running around in the VFL. Maybe Giles will be the key defender, but that's 3+ years away (if at all). Watson is fast running out of time - the spot that was there for him has been taken for now by a less talented but more determined player (Rowe).

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

It'll be interesting to see how ADL line-up in their forward line. Walker back? Betts, Jenkins, Pod's, Lynch - maybe 1 tall to make way?
Could McInnes return & take Betts? MM used to play Harry O on him, so expect a taller player to mark him. Walker, Everitt, Jamison or could White take him? Rowe will go to Jenkins or T. Walker.

Like Army on Danger. Everitt may go to Sloane after some great blanketing jobs this year.

Hopefully Waite is back, which would give us the 3 talls back up fwd. This is when Hendo seems to play better. Menzel, and A.Walker lurking around with Yazz and see if Jeffy gets a gig. Handy forward set up.

3?

Strangely we might be doing just that. Maybe it was the only way to secure his services? As far as I'm concerned the jury is far from out on Daisy. He may not be winning games off his own boot, but he does add quality to our team, and a full list with Daisy in it is a much better prospect than without.

Not too worried about this game. It seems like a lifetime away because of the break. Will get more concerned as time approaches I guess.

Levi

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

This will be a a great game tough and hard , good clash. The Crows are getting their act together and will not be push overs. A lot depends on the personal we have ready to go and I'm a little concerned about the break and it's effect on players mind set too. Should be a great game we 'll knock them off in very close one .
Ciao

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Go Blue Boys

Mate they just lost to Melbourne in Adelaide. They're not getting their act together. In fact if they were in Victoria, I'd say they'd be declared nearly as bad as us.

Yeh, but Taylor (Showpony) Walker will be back.

Some changes Adelaide way for their Collingwood clash.

They'll get pounded by Collinwood and play us in a state of shock.
We'll be fresh from the break like we were last week (10 days off) and come out firing on all 18 cylinders.

If we don't knock them over I'll be very surprised and disappointed.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I'll reserve my judgement until I see Taylor Walker play this week.

Next season put money on Taylor Walker for the Coleman. He won't have a huge impact on games this year.

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It is not as bad as you are lead to believe.......it is %$#^& worse!!!

..it takes a long time to get back to your best post acl.. ..footy players generally say it takes anywhere between 12 & 18 months after comeback to get back to your best..

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

Taylor will have a good game tonight. First game back after a big layoff is always better with all that adrenalin, but he'll have a let down Vs us the following week. His body will be sorer than it has been, he'll be stiff and Rowe will pounce like a jungle cat.

Also see exhibit B - (10 days) rest between Richmond & Essendon* games....and Adelaide also has a 10 day break in between games.

Who knows who'll turn up.