I think it is time someone from the club explained J Russell.. second in our b&f last year, yes not in great form but a solid big body who surely is important to our structure..

who are the two guys at the top of my browser window again?

someone start the thread now: "Who should Talking Carlton sponsor next year?"

Yazz and Jeffy. end of story

Wow the big Setanta is back. I'm glad about that, huge game for him, play well and he will be in for the finals, play bad and we may not see him in navy blue again. With Setanata it doesn't seem to matter about oppo or thinsg, he either has the run of the ball or not. He can't really read the game so if things fall his way he can be good, if not he can look lost. Let's hopoe they use someone else to tag Sam Fisher.

I love Zach Tuohy being in but am really surprised to see JR overlooked. What's going on there? I didn't think he was going bad when he went out of the side. Huge call with Kane Lucas too, close to 6 months after his last game. DAvies is unlucky to be dropped (as was Tuohy previously). Ellard has been a good soldier all year, struggling a bit recently, big call to make a change in round 24. Without him and with Curnow and McLean in the 2s, looks like Juddy's on his own again. We just can't find a Swallow/Hayes/Ball/Boyd type and it costs us.

Big chance for all of them. Play well and get a gig in our first home final in 10 years, play bad and all over. When we have been heading for a flag we have always had gunCHFs - Walls, MacLure, Kernahan, O'hAilpin, hard to pick between them really.

Go Blues, big game, big win, big September.

Please illustrate how t-birds form has tapered?? He is just being rested for the real stuff.

Was only just recently that he played his best game

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O'haelp'us

I'm feeling green

GO IRISHMEN

Oh and if Armfield, Lucas or Tuohy is the sub, they've lost me a little bit.

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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.

Shocking ag Hawthorn who are the real stuff. TBird is a handy 3rd tall defender and has been good duringb the year, but hasn't neither the height, pace or agility to be an effective forward ag real sides

Robbo and Army are still there to look after Juddy, don't mind it that way either.

What game was that?

The Hawks game was a disaster, and if he is carrying something then I apologise for implying it was mental, but for whatever reason his form has tapered. We need him fresh mentally and physically because as a forward his best work is by always being on the move.

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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.

Your memory isn't too good Jim, he played a fairly decent game against Freo and has been pretty solid most of the year. Agree he wasnt great against to Hawks but he had a few mates that night.

Not saying he is a match winner but his form hasnt tapered.

what's to explain - others are simply performing their roles better

T-Bird had more space to work in at Subi, so did the rest of the team. Being able to work into a game at a smaller ground bodes well for when we're playing a final, where every player will be playing at a higher intensity, and that space you normally have at the G & Subi disappears.

He was capable of doing that earlier on in the season, and has deserved his spot, but I'm happy to sacrifice him for this week if it means we get that bloke back. Swinging Lachie forward would have been nice though.

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

Touhy didnt play with the Ants a the week he was left out of Carlton and he didnt play for the Ants last week.

Is there a chance he won't play and Russ will come in ?

Russ looked like he meant business last week for the Ants and was solid. Lucas was very good last week also.

I am sure the MC have a plan with Russell.

The lack of big bodies to work with judd is a bit strange. Maybe Walker is going to get a big run onball this week as the MC were happy with the work he did in the second half against them Hawks.

Davies will be better next year for the taste of it that he had - should be fired up for the pre-season

Happy with Lucas if he shows what we know he can do.

Ellard is a surprise because he is always worth a goal or 2 but he probably plays too much of a cameo - I think that tuohy reads the game a bit better believe it or not.

I loved Setanta in Carlton teams that were struggling - I just hope that he has another of his 5 week bursts of form before he goes missing.

What we really need to do is blow away st Kilda this week - Get our running legs going at the G and hit our straps for the assault at 17.

By the way hardly anyone uses the emoticon

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

This is the first week I've genuinely paid heed to the 'Russell is leaving' crowd. Its not looking good on that front at all.

Davies hasn't done anything wrong over the past few weeks but, more to the point, he hasn't really done anything at all. His contributions during his run in the side were so unobtrusive, and not in a good way. I don't think its a case of him quietly going about his business, but rather a situation where I leave games thinking 'didn't notice Davies'. Yes, he's not done anything bad, but he's also not done anything impressive. He could almost not be out there and we'd be no worse off playing a man down.

Big night for Lucas, no doubt about it. This is an audition for next week and beyond.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

watching on telly, you're right that he doesn't get huge stats or is even in the play all that often, but i've been very impressed how he's played on his man when ever the ball does go his way.

he's doing better than I expected and very stiff to get dropped.

he doesn't "stick out" though.

lots of competition for his spot, and I'm glad touhy is back in.

Lucas needs a big one to keep ellard out I reckon

Great INS. Davies had a good run and it's about the future for him not the now. Thornton has been good but was exposed against the cream of hawks. Isn't going to take pack marks or break open packs and that's what we need hence give setanta a go. Ellard is a battler only. Lucas has been great late and could give us extra run at pointy end of year. touhy is a no brainer. but JRs absense is a worry.

Go Blues

I would look at trialling some different things this week. I would give Yarran, Garlett, Walks and Eddie runs in the middle. Rest Judd and Murphy for a half. Gibbs to go with Goddard either forward or back.
Like Lucas in.
Good experience against a defensive side like St Kilda pre finals.

The hawks last bye was in Rd 15 as was last week.