Teams wont be release until 5:00pm tomorrow looks like they just put last week team up. There will be change

Thanks for the heads up.

You think Hampson played well against Essendon*???

And are you referring to a streetfight when you say "take him apart?" Anyway, how did Majak Daw even come into this? I don't care about North players!

Russell has come great, yes I agree (although he could step up a bit more this year but I'm sure it will come), but Hampson IMO will not come good. Were you this positve about Ian Prendergast, Trent Sporn and co??!! Good for you

Great post!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Re: Hampson, I have a lot of hope for him as a ruck man but I have strong issues with him up forward, just doesn't have the smarts or the clean hands to fill the role. Unfortunately with the new bench flexibility and each players ability to contribute consistently are now vital. If Kruezer was fit and firing Hampson wouldn't be in. Kruezer will fill FF whilst relieving Warnock. Until then I would be going with either Thornton, Henderson or Setanta as back up rucks who play fwd.

Our ability to get the most out of each player and have them contribute is now more vital than ever. Rattens need to carry players like Betts, Hampson, Walker, Carrazzo, Russell week in week out cannot continue. More than ever players need to be picked on FORM. With our 2s undefeated and guys like Ellard, Lucas, Thornton, Setanta, AJ, Touhy, Bower, Armfield, Watson, McLean all playing well changes have to happen. This is even more needed given our lack of bulk around the ball and the poor ball use of some of these guys.

Personally I would go with this:

Armfield Jamison Laidler
Yarran Bower Duigan Gibbs
Warnock Judd Murphy Simpson Curnow Lucas
Garlett Henderson Waite
Ellard Thornton

Russell Robinson McLean (Walker/Scotland)


Better kicking side with genuine ball winners. McLean, although I am not convinced, needs to play. His size around stoppages is needed and with Ellard and Curnow should release Judd, Gibbs & Murphy. He also has great endurance and will not fatigue as quick as others. Russell should play mid as well as his size will help and the freedom he will get should help him. Fwd line has options and variety and is less predictable and tougher to match up on. Better run and carry from defence and better ball use. All our small/midsize players can rotate through different positions thus creating less fatigue and more options.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Totally agree with this comment jimmae. It has been our achilles heal for some years now.
Sure we've done well to recruit Watson to fill this hole, but he's still a novice with an immature (albeit strong) body.

Can't wait for this game. Gotta win it!!!!

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

And if we don't pick said 190-193cm players (seeing as we don't have any other taller players not named Watson, and it would seem strange to rush him back), our options if Tippett or Walker run amock is to change our structure up forward and send Waite or Henderson back.

I dare say it's more important to keep structures in tact by sticking with a contingency plan, than worry about height differences. White did alright on Hurley last week....

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BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

We are more than a developing team in 2011.
We are playing for a top 4 spot and winning finals.
To do that we need to pick players in form.

IMO, we are carrying Betts, Collins, Henderson, Hampson, and players like Russell, Carrazzo and Laidler also need to lift.
We can't go in with 1 ruckman and whilst Kreuzer is out and there is no Jacobs anymore we have to play Hammer imo.
Hammer is good in the ruck, and yes I expect more of him around the ground, but beggars can't be choosers.
I am not a fan of the short ruckman...often referred to as the pinch hitter. They are lucky to get a nail on the ball let alone a pinch.
So carrying Hampson when in the forwardline is an issue, I think carrying more than one player is playing Russian Roulette, and with Betts at Hammers feet in the forwardline....well that aint gonna work whilst Betts isn't firing, but Garlett at Hammers feet would....because he's in good form.

I was super critical of Betts in 2009, and he made me eat my words in 2010...but that was moreso the first half of 2010. He is shit atm.
He needs to be dropped and he needs to find the desire to play senior football imo. If he's not dropped, he'll continue to shit on us as he did in 2009, such is the form of the guy. I hope I'm wrong about Betts, because he did show some great signs against cellar dweller Tigers.

No passengers please.

I want Armfield and Bower back in the team if fit (and of course Kreuzer).

I am worried about our short backline having to man up on gigantic Crows forwards, hence the need for Bower.
People have to remember that Duigan and Laidler are not KP backs, and shouldn't have to play that role.
Hence the need for Bower (and a 2012 version of Watson).

Midfield defensive pressure should get us over the line. I don't think McLean has the pace to offer that quality. I prefer Ellard to McLean and would welcome him to the side if the MC thought that way.

Pick the team in form and let the out of form players find their form in the Ants.
This year we play for keeps; aren't we?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We haven't got the armoury to defend against the 200cm Tippett; certainly not White or Jamson, or Bower...they're all too short.
Nevertheless, it's still our achilles heal till Watson matures....or Setanta makes the grade as a CHB (waiting waiting)

I agree Rhino, we do have Waite and Hendo to play KP back. Rob Peter to pay Paul, but we at least we stick to sound structures.
Beggars can't be choosers, we just have to deploy the best structure we can against all opponents. That's life.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Tippet is no stronger than Dawes or Cloke.

I would say the decision to keep Betts in the team is a brave one. The downside for Ratts is huge.

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T E A M

Ryder and Hurley have been in better form than Walker and Tippet,
prior to last week when Jamo and White pantsed them.
Bower will probably come in, but our backline isn't the worry. If our mids do their job, and a couple of the forwardline passengers pull their fingers out, this should be a comfortable win.

Eduardo is simply on the downward spiral. Can't see him playing AFL next year, unless GWS or GC want an experienced player.

The Filth made the hard call on Neon, and it probably helped them win the flag. He's back now, but will rarely play up forward. We need to make a similar call on Betts.

Lets off load Betts and use that pick to get that rising star Jaryd Blair who is leading Collingwood's goal kicking.

Jeez I think we're going a bit overboard with some calls on Betts here.

Like a lot of players at some point in their career, he needs a kick in the arse and some time in the ressies to show him minimum requirements to play senior footy (hello NDS). If Ratts is talking tackling in the forward line then go ahead and drop him for Armfield.

I would much rather Betts be dropped than Walker, which is what I fear will happen.

The decision to sign a play like betts for three years at the start of last year just smacks of absolute short sightedness.

I said at the time that he had a little bit of value at the trade table- his performances this season (especially in big games) indicate that value might have dropped away.

We simply need to get smarter off the field. Premiership clubs never make such sloppy decisions. We already have the sad story of the lost #11 pick to add to our recent off field foibles.

Betts was signed to a three year deal mid July last year. The 2010 season was virtually over.

Hear, hear.

I'd like to see Betts have a spell to find some form, but not be drummed out of the club.
Whilst he's not playing at his best and needs a tune up in the twos, even more important
,IMO, is sending the message to the Ants players that good form will be rewarded with a
chance at senior level.

Maybe the Weagles suported from Tassie works for The Age? Or maybe they are just incompetent

Crow Graham Johncock and Blue Eddie Betts contest during Carlton's big win over the Crows, round four, 2010

Hampson played ok against Essendon* - not great but not horrible either. Did a couple of nice things (mark in backline, contested possession down low and handball fired out to mids etc.

He definitely needs to do a lot more though I'm still optimistic that such things will come in time.

Betts being contracted to us, only improves his trade value