No Waite, Thornton or Bower...this could be fun.

Fair chance this is bullshit...

Can anyone confirm either way?

Would be very suprised if Waite or Thornton were dropped

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Agree, particularly on Thornton, was the leading spoiler last week, and was among team highs in tackles. Cannot fault the bloke when he's doing the job of two players.

Here's the original post. Did Ratten come up with this game plan after watching the success of the Bulldogs and Essendon* (note: collective record of 3-3) with smaller forward lines?

Sure, I felt we needed to lose a tall from the front half, but we needed one down back.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

From what I saw last week end - the problem started with the lack of ball coming from ruck contests.

This denied the ball movement down the corridor as the afternoon was spent in chasing the ball and only on occasion getting it under control.. At that point the known and infuriating skill errors of the current playing group meant thatthe ball was turned over so frequently that stopping the oppositon scoring and getting a larger score to win the game became impossible. The lack of understanding on "game plan" is adjusting to a new environment where the forwards must be flexible and able to work with each other. it is based on having rucks that are able to get at least 50% of the ball from celarances - hence the investment in Warnock and Kreuzer. This is not an instantly delivered outcome - it will take time for the players to get it right - there will be losses when it goes wrong. It goes very wrong when the rucks underperform.

It was Kreuzer's worst game - Hampson is just tall and does not put in as he needs to. While he may prove to be a 10 year ruckman, it had better not be based on his efforts last week. This is where getting hands on the ball first broke down.

Perhaps he needs to build his confidence and learn to assert himself on the contest - then a few weeks at AFL would show he can do this. So far he has recovered from injury in 2009 but not done a lot else.

I would bring in Jacobs for Warnock, Jacobs is able to control the ball by hand to his running players. he is mobile and can mark the ball and kick a gaol if he is in the fofrward 50. These are skills Warnock should study and take into his game.
The I would light a big fire under Kreuzer to get him to lift his 2nd and 3rd efforts in a contest.

Next is Hadley for McLean and bring in Garlett.
Wiggins deserves a game based on his last week's efforts over hte day compared to the lack of effort shown by too many against Essendon*.
He would give us a straight leading forward so if the ball can be kicked for him to run into then do it, else select a second option.
Wiggo is not Fev - do not kick it to him if he is covered or has two opponents.

Judd rejoining the team is a given.

The who to discard and why?

McLean is injured and will not play - swap for Hadley is logical and clear.
I would drop Walker for Judd. Someone has to go.
I would drop Houlihan for Garlett. More effort is required and he did not do much but kick a goal from a Betts handpass.
I would retain Lucas and the key defensive players.
One of Henderson or O'Hailpan would need to go for Wiggins to come in. This should be Setanta if it is a swap for Wiggins.

Thats a lot of changes but what would it bring to the team - players who can make an impact Jacobs, Judd, Wiggins, Hadley and Garlett.

It would show to the 22 who played Essendon* that there efforts on that day were not acceptable and that are all under scrutiny.

If Waite has been dropped Ratten and co can get flowered as far as I'm concerned.

Thornton I can live with - watch the dynamic of the back line change without him slowing up play or kicking sideways. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Thprnton and Jamo in the same backline just doesn't work, far too defensive.

One things for sure, if we hug the boundary at AAMI like we did last week, we may well not score.

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"I had to eat"

These are called clearances, and we won them.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Would be a hint of rebuilding if true.

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

Waite may have a knee injury (he mentioned something about his sore non-reco knee on Sunday).
But if that is the case, I'd be surprised if they subsequently dropped Thornton.

I would be surprised if Hadley doesn't come in for McLean.
Judd is in but not sure who he replaces. Possibly Robinson or Houlihan.

A case could be made for the likes of Walker but I think he is better off being corrected and sent back in to get better.
Houlihan knows what he should be doing so sending him back may be more of an appropriate 'punishment'.

It may even be worth trying Thornton up front with Hendo in the backline but I wouldn't be doing that after 3 rounds (well, I would send Thornton forward when Hendo on bench but wouldn't send Hendo back yet).

Think Setanta should stay exactly where he is AT LEAST until Fev overtakes him on the goalkicking table!
Seriously, he also needs to learn and get better in the heat of AFL level. Perhaps, Ratten was pissed at him leading wide. However, I do think we went wide much further up the ground too.

And another thing.... Warnock may have a long way to go. But where is all this support for Jacobs coming from? He is the sort of guy many will demand for selection and then after 3weeks, realise he's too slow and a midfield liability and then start calling for his head.
The pecking order is: Kreuzer, Warnock, Hampson, Jacobs. (At least until Hampson takes an offer from the Gold Coast...)

If those are true, there's some crazy stuff happening.

Unless Waite is injured, I can't see any reason for him doing anything but picking up gametime at the pace that counts, not VFL pace.

I'm one of the few appreciators of Thornton I guess. Wasn't it jsut last year Ratten publically lamented that the team we took over to Adelaide was too young and that we should have gone over with more experience? What happened to that theory? So we now go over witha debutant key defender.... makes perfect sense to me.

Hadley may as well pack his bags if he can't get a game with McLean out. Which is bullshit because as others have mentioned, when we were playing good footy last year he was a major reason why.

Baffling stuff.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/s ... -sgza.html

and there it is...Thornton and Waite gawn! White and Garlett in.

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http://www.thesauce.com.au: 2011 Player Partner of Andy Collins

flower me.. waite dropped.. wtf seriously.. unless injured.

Houlihan and Walks keep there spot...

hmmm... lets wait and see hey.. remember our game plan last time we played at AAMI against the crows..

Staggered. Our most versatile player, dropped. Bunkum.

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"I had to eat"

HUN reports

just heard from Sam Edmund that the Blues have dropped Waite and Thornton

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WE ARE CARLTON @#$%&! THE REST

Waite's performance was McKernan-esque - running under the ball and becoming a statue when the ball hit the deck.

Needs to get some confidence in the 2s. Adelaide's defenders run off their opponents at every opportunity...Waite would get severely exposed.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

We had a game plan against the Cows last time?

I'm all for making a bold statement, but this smacks of making scapegoats of Waitey and T-Bird which actually damages the club's chances on the field. Maybe. I dunno. I'm terribly confused. I need a drink.

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http://www.thesauce.com.au: 2011 Player Partner of Andy Collins

You're kidding right...

Our best chance to knock off the Crows at home in a long time and two of our experienced and handy players get dropped.

_________________
Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Start the tank thread

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Green Shooter

"It was Kreuzer's worst game - Hampson is just tall and does not put in as he needs to. While he may prove to be a 10 year ruckman, it had better not be based on his efforts last week."


Since Hampson didn't play I presume you mean Warnock.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"