If Kruezer plays you would think/hope only one of jamo or thornton will come in for Davies. Touhy may get the chop for some more experience but i hope not.

Carrazzo and Ellard will give us more grunt in the bubble (something we neglected in our finals practice run against the saints. stats show we played in a way that was totally different to any game we have played this year).

Will be tough at selections but i hope they keep the balance right while trying to include a bit of experience and marking power.

Russell wasn't bad but then wasn't exactly good either.

Not happy, exactly. But my gut feeling is that in a final with 50 thousand Bummers fans yelling their guts out when we need someone to take a stand & make a statement, I'd rather Russell to Davies.

That said I think I'd also prefer Thornton to Russell (just barely), but I'm a bit wary of making too many changes.

Keep your eye on the weather.

Teams that outmark us around the ground and in our backline and those that flood back and kill us on the transition with slick ball movement are our nemesis. Wet and wild weather will work in our favour.

Bombers have played there best footy at etihad and havent got close to repeating that anywhere else.

I dont want it pouring with rain but a bit of drizzle should do the trick.

Bombers have only won one game at the G - and that was against richmond

they have played there 8 times

_________________
If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Armfield is a critical player against Essendon*, and he's proved that in every single match we've had against them in recent memory.

He also, along with Lucas, put in a much better performance than Russell. Lucas made the same step up into AFL ranks, which tells you Russell has some serious limitations at present. He has to go in my book, assuming Jamison & Carrazzo are fit.

I think the bigger concerns are what to do if Waite gets the nod, or if we opt to bring in another tall defender and mix it up with Henderson. Armfield is back in the gun if we've got to rid ourselves of three, as is Joseph & Garlett.

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

It wont be pouring, just cold and windy with a bit of dew on the grass.
Will help us, but not sure how much.

If Jamison, Kruze and Setanta all play, we should be ok for height.
Maybe having either Waite, Hampson or Casboult might be good, but I'm not sure they'll risk that.

Bower is looking very unlikely.

Here's some stats.

CFC and EFC* have scored 2225 and 2217 pts in 2011, so almost identical in terms of scoring.

But defensively we are miles better having reduced our opponents to 1700 pts in 2011 versus 2217 for Ess.

Moreover, Ess have let their opposition score 100+ on 11 ocassions in 2011, whereas we have let this happen just 3 times.

This might explain why CFC were practicing retaining possession so much on the weekend. If we can keep Ess to a low score, we ought to win. And on the flipside, when you consider Ess are nowhere near as good defensively as St.K then we should score going the other way. Scoring should be easier than it was last weekend against the notoriously tight St.K.

Here's how CFC and EFC* rate in the AFL for offense and defense...

CFC
Offense - 5th
Defence - 5th

EFC*
Offense - 6th
Defence- 12th

So the key is stopping Ess from scoring.

Don't know about the rest of you but the above tells me we deserved to finish 5th !

Here's some other stats.

The last 2 games Betts, Garlett and Walker have kicked a grand total of 3 gls. Betts hasn't kicked a goal since R21. These 3 need to fire for us to win.

Also, Judd has had 25 and 15 touches in the last 2 games, so you'd back him to play a big one this weekend.

Probably the biggest stat though is CFC haven't lost 3 in a row all year so you'd like to think we will win this weekend ?? Ironically the last time we lost 2 in a row we came out and smashed Essendon*.

Here's another. The last 2 games we have scored only 66 in both games.

Posters are talking of having

Henderson, O'Hailpin, Warnock, Jamison, & Kruezer as certainties. That's 5 talls.

And maybe another tall(s) in Waite/Casboult/Hampson/or even Austin?

Isn't that killing our game plan of speed and ball movement?

Jamison stiffens up the spine nicely (assuming he is fit). Why muck around. The bummers are chasing us not the other way around.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

I only want the one extra, and I think we've been missing it up forward. With Walker, Betts & Garlett providing more midfield support than at any time this season, now is the perfect time to drop one in.

The question is, who loses out if we do it.

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

The other thing is, the last 2 finals we have lost we let 111 and 99 pts through, so virtually 100pts both times. Just reinforces how important defense is and if we can restrict Ess to a low score we should win. we are a much better defensive team in 2011 but Ess are a high scoring side so shapes as a good battle !!

Essendon* are a high scoring side, but we are a higher scoring side.

_________________
"He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail."
And people are making his return to footy somewhat of a fairytale?

Interesting stats.
Seems to debunk the theory that they have ditched the Knights game plan and become more defensive.

Interesting stats Sugarcane.

I'd be extremely reluctant to bring in Waite after such a long spell out.

Seeing as it might be wet and we have Kreuzer to consider, I'd revise my team to this -

Duigan - Jamo - Laidler
Yarran - Hendo - Touhy
Simmo - Judd - Scotland
Gibbs - O'hAilpin - Carrazzo
Betts - Walker - Armfield
Warnock - Murphy - Robinson

Kreuzer - Joseph - Russell
Sub: Garlett

_________________
"He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail."
And people are making his return to footy somewhat of a fairytale?

For talls id go.

B Jamo/thornton
HB Henda
RUCk Warnock
CHF Carlos
FF Kruezer

Although with Walkers role slightly evolving into spending more time up the ground there may be room for tbird also. That would be a big call though.
Run is where we got them last time though once we sorted out our defensive structure on kickins and stopped letting them outmark us.

I have the same 22 but I reckon Garlett is a certainty to start - my sub would be Russell or maybe Armfield

_________________
Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

I agree.
Against other teams theyd probably consider subbing him, but I think 2 small forwards will work better against the Bombers.

Even Mark Robinson thinks so.

Jeff and Eddie just have to lift. Simple.
And our mids need to concentrate on structures and forward entries.

We have had a fortnight without playing contest football in a bid to freshen the boys up in preparation for an all or nothing game against Essendon*. The only stats that matter are tackles and contested ball. Win these and we win no matter who plays of those under a cloud.

Smash these @#$%&! cauliflower blues.... nothing less is acceptable.

_________________
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

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