I'd replace SubjectToAvailability with Test and 1-2 Weeks

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Go Blues

BUMP. I knew this time would come. I was hoping it wouldn't.

Its not "pretty deep Cru". Its not even pretty imo. This was my concern

This week we get back Charlie and Orazio to replace Evans and maybe Kemp if Gov pushed forward, or Young is preferred to give TDK and talls a chop out)

We will be missing 4 players in Newman, Smith, Cincotta and Hollands, and maybe you could add Pitto (2 rucks) and Durdin (to add speed to forwardline, and replace Motlop/ Fogarty)

We need to improve our team against the Hawks, so one of Motlop and Fogarty survive because we have no proven options.

Who is available in reserve to make more than 2 changes?

Young (obvious not a Voss favourite despite a good preseason, needed but not selected...may be able to fill a gap) Yes or No?
Boyd (to add speed in backline; replace Gov) Is he ready to play? Hasnt plyed any praccy games in preseason, but proven. Don't know

and the rest are kids ...

Moir (no stamina and faded badly after 1/4 time in Saints praccy game)
Binns (his chippy chippy passing better than Lucas Camporeale?) will he make us quicker? Break lines? Doubt it)
White (speed, is worth a try. unproven)
Carroll (speed, is worth a try. umproven, but could take the Boyd role if Boyd aint ready. Had good preseason in praccy games)
Wilson (speed, unproven, still developing)
Charleson (developing)
O'Farrell (developing)

Still need SOS to play one of CHB.

How do we fill the gaps?

Fwd Ruck role for chop out
Genuine dangerous small forward with speed.
A quick mid now that Smith is injured, to add to midfield mix.

Injury has shown its ugly head and opened a few gaps. There's a lot of maybe's. Are they genuine depth?

Motlop, Fogarty and Evans are not my ideal small forwards. They are fillers imho.

Phoning a friend: How deep is deep Cru?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

How deep?… looking at the injury list, about seven less than we were a month ago.

I won’t be throwing the baby out with the bath water. How can you judge anyone when there were so many fundamental errors?

We went inside 50 with some weak sauce half trackers and flower whooshka, it came back out at a rate of knots… No crumb. Mids in no-man’s land. Defenders scrambling to be in three places at once… they kicked six goals from the goal square ffs.

Same structure for mine, but cycle the personnel.

Key: Curnow, McKay
Medium: Kemp, Williams
Small: Fogarty, Motlop… or Fog/Fantasia
Mid: Cottrell, Fantasia… or Cottrell/White, Cottrell/Binns… but not Walsh, or Lord. That’s a waste.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

I like our list, but see the blatant hole in the backline and Fwd-Ruck without injury.

Last year our season was derailed after being at the top with injuries to TDK vs GWS round 15.
Doc and SOS were already out for season
Martin Marchbank Gov joined Carroll, O'Keefe, and Wilson.
Then the list grew larger and larger till there was a breaking point.
Cottrell
Williams
Cerra
Boyd
Fantasia
Fogarty
Cuningham
Cerra
McKay
Curnow
S.Durdin

I understand the injuriy list was unusual, but following the end of season we discarded

Marchbank, Cuningham, Martin, Kennedy, Owies and replaced them with Haines, and Evans with experience.

That's a lot of depth out the door.

My point was that with just a few injuries in 2025 and we don't bat too deep. That's all.

We lost Cincotta and Newman, and I still felt we have only 'names' to fill if we suffered some more injury because we don't necessarily bat deep.

Since a month ago, Smith did the ACL and for round 1 Charlie, Boyd, Durdin, Fantasia Hollands, Pitto, O'Keefe are added to those unavailable for selection.
That's nowhere near our worse case scenario last year, but without them, otuside the team we selected, we only had left to choose from were

Carroll 20yo no games
Binns 20yo 2 games
Wilson 20yo 0 games
Moir 20yo 2 games
White 21yo no games
Lemmey 21yo 0 games
O'Farrell 19yo 0 games
Charleson 19yo 0 games

Young 26yo

You get my point?

From our best 23 we have Charlie (KPF), Newman (HB), Boyd (BP), Fantasia (SF), Hollands (HF), Smith (IC) ie 5-6 missing from our best 23yo.

See the depth issue?

Doesn't mean I don't like the list, and feel we need only a couple spots filled by genuine small fwd and a Fwd Ruck, but I can't be convinced we bad deep. Just being realistic and pointing out our vulnerabilities after axing 5 senior players, not arguing.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Interesting to read this this morning.



Obviously I agree with his summation. Its a worry when we a hoping some youngsters emerge this season.

Jagga Smith, the great hope, is out for 2025.

I think Lucas put his hand up for a round 1 debut against bottom of the ladder Tigers. Whilst I was calling for this, I didn't expect too much from Lucas, and didnt think he would hold on to his spot against the Hawks as first choice wing. Its a long season, and he will feel the strain as the season rolls out. I don't think Binns is going to be the one to replace him.

Ben Camporeale? I think he is one who could break into this team this year.

Lord has to improve a lot to move past Hewett, Cipps, Cerra and walsh. He isnt blessed with speed; something we are craving for. He is an up and coming young player.

Carroll has the poise and speed and is a good long pass. He's a good size too and I expected him to break into the team this year. He is the package for a HB role. Could free up Ollie to a wing.

Wilson is still young and developing. His body is still adjusting to senior football and has copped a few injures. Great to see him tried in the middle for the first time. He has some pace, and a nice left foot. Will he get a game this year, let alone break into the team? I don't think this year.

Moir needs to last 4 quarters and find that defensive part of his game if he's going to be a good forward. I just get the feeling he's not fit enough, or he's lazy at times. Sure, he can be a sub, but a sub who is called upon in the first quarter, the question remains is he fit enough? Needs to proove he's a 4 quarter player in the VFL for me to be convinced this is his year.

Charleson, looks great, but expect Boyd to be ahead of him and stay ahead of him when he returns to the seniors. ie Boyd and Carroll snuff out Charleson's chances for 2025. I love the way O'Farrell moves, marks and kicks. Has a great leap on him too, but he's skinny and and developing. One who will make it, but not this year.

Durdin? A fit Durdin is the best small forward we have imo. So, lets hope he can get fit and stay fit, or his body can't be depended on.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue