Ratts tried a lot of things with disastrous results and probably didn't try things he could have/should have.

It's just as much about the role expectation for the players as for having three men over 200cm on the ground.

Well said!!!!

I think Mick is trying to get Hammer to keep things very simple (you'd think marking at that height would be fairly simple ), I hope he can be played higher up the ground and be more a link up player than an out of the goal square player, bring the ball to ground or mark and dish off!!

Blues have firmed to 1.25... pretty short.

Hopefully we don't have a team who pays attention to odds.

Crush! Kill! Destroy!

Tom Waterhouse to address the lads before they run out.

The keys to winning this game.
1. Put run with players on Montagna (Carrazzo or Cachia) and Jones (Curnow) to slow down the release of the ball from stoppages.
2. Do not let St Kilda have a spare player in the CFC forward zone.
3. Our Rucks need to direct their taps to the advantage of CFC.
4. Tackle count needs to above 20 in every quarter.
5. Kick straight at goal.

Don't think we'll put a run with player on Jones.

Thibk Aussie jones is past it, wouldn't tag him. Can only be him you are referring to, as tagging clint jones makes absolutely no sense

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Cheerio to my friends KN, BC, TT, GP, DK, AE, MS, SC, TC, JL, MO & LF

Feeling decidedly uneasy about tonight’s game. Mixture of opponent, having to wait until Monday night, my own doubts about our mental maturity to handle games we ‘should’ win and the likelihood of late changes.

All games are important but tonight is such a huge game for many reasons.

Desperately hope we can get the job done. I’ll take any win but a comfortable one would be great

Go Blues!

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We are on our way back...

..i hear what you're saying, but those three are no different from switching out a ruck for Boult or Rowe, in regards to mobility fwd of center.. ..Rowe starts well but fades as the game progresses, and Boult has been out of form, though seems to be playing better at VFL.. ..but lets not forget to take into account how much a drop off the ressies are..

..i think Krooz could be played better than ratts used him in the 3 ruck attack.. ..Knockers is 1st ruck, with Hammer 2nd ruck/FF.. ..a switch them.. ..Krooz stays out of the ruck, and plays not as a true CHF [doesnt know the role], but plays as a lead up high HF.. ..and this i think he can do, cos he's more an onballer after the tap than a KPF.. .... ..have him lead up in the middle, and be 3rd man up/rover at around the ground stoppages.. .... ..play him essentially as a tall mid-flanker..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Tagging a tagger in Jones?

I think right now teams are in two minds as to whether the have a spare man in defence to clog up our forward space or attempt to clog us up around the stoppages with their plus one (if they choose to have one). At the moment we have the space in the forward line and the mids are having to work harder to get to space and work forward, even though I think they're doing a great job thus far.

I reckon tonight's game will be the first time we see a true attempt to clog us up forward, which theoretically should leave us with a spare man or two somewhere else up the ground. I'd hope we use this spare man up-field and attempt to generate attacking forays with a bit of calm and composure rather than rely on space that isn't there for the amigos to run into. The addition of Kruez/Bolt to the forward set up should help immensely IF they are used properly and can play their role efficiently.

Saints team is crap, but Watters seems reasonably astute, could be a tight game.

No Gibbs, Waite and possibly Carrots and Krueze is a good test of depth for us. And a good chance for Levi to possibly take his chance a power forward against a short backline.

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"I had to eat"

Crickey why does everyone keep saying smash them? We couldn't even smash melbourne FFS.
We will be lucky to win at all, they aren't that bad. Any win against this mob i'll be happy.

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"Then joked and said he (Jack himself) probably wouldn't even need to play until round 2 against Collingwood."

THIS. Want to smash them. Dont think we will. Expect to win. 1 point will do it.

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"I had to eat"

I just heard this on radio, i think there will a couple of late changes.

At last some perspective.
I wish for a smashing but not the way we have been playing.
We have been fortunate our two talls down back have been in good form.

Malthouse made a great point about having to choose a squad of 25 on thursday for a monday night game....I wonder whether things would be different if say a Laidler or a Bell could also come into the mix....IMO Cachia, Casboult, Joseph still somewhat restricting....

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Carlton. Yes, Carlton are into the grand final!!!
- Drew Morphett, after 1999 prelim final

I reckon some around here will lob to Princes Park for the game tonight, this ''we'll smash 'em'' shite belongs to that era.

Insane odds

I know! Should be 1.05!
Time to get on!

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dane's trolling again