Did you notice Watson's lack of recovery after he spoiled Galea?

I think his opponent moved it on quickly and they scored a goal...Watson isn't 100% ready for VFL level just yet...It was similar to Dixon showing superior recovery to rove Watson's spoil and score...Reid wouldn't be any different to Dixon...Watson will take his time like Collingwood's Nathan Brown who was a manchild...If McCarthy wasn't such a stick, he'd be closer to getting a game with his mobility.

I've been thinking the exact same thing.
Switch Hendo to CHB, Watto to CHF.

btw......to those saying we should "free up" Gibbs, well surely he can't be any freer than he is now.

That would give a green light to never lay a tackle or pressure an opponent.

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I made comment on it in the Bullants thread. Recovery isn't an issue if he kills the contest with a stronger spoil.

obviously needs a pre-season to improve his agility and speed, but I don't see the harm in playing him when he does most things well. If we need to fast track anyone, it's Watson, whether it's back or forward the more he plays at AFL tempo the better IMO.

Wouldn't read too much into the positioning aspect, as per the 22s that come out on Thursday night. Agree with you on both counts, Joseph can't play off half back, but should be given a role in the back pocket or so.. If he can shut down Rhys Shaw I'd be rapt.



Agree to some extent, I think we need a stay at home full forward that can lead out and take a grab on the chest, given the small dimensions of the ground. If we're going purely on that basis, I'd take o'hAilpin over Thornton/Henderson, and he was ordinary against Port Melbourne, and I reckon nowhere near match fit. I'd rather gamble with Betts and Walker in this role. Walker's done it before surprisingly...watch the elimination final again, and a lot of his goals were due to smart leading (those were the days....)



Not necessarily. Fremantle with Palmer, and the Hawks with Lewis, both similiar players have been used to good effect. I figure we may need him to break even in the clinches, but don't back him to play four quarters. Either start him on the ground and sub him for Army, or bring him on late in the third quarter. In hindsight, I prefer the former, as if the game's done and dusted, it's a waste of the sub for the reasons you specify.

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HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

If McLean doesn't play this week on the postage stamp he may never play for us again.

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@Rhino

AJ as a defensive fwd on Shaw would be a good move. Love AJ's attitude and workrate but dont know if he has the tools?

I hope Setanta gets fit. With the new rules and rotations this is his chance! IMO he is the perfect relief ruckman. I can see he and Kruezer forming a very good ruck duo with Casboult. Gives us tremendous flexibility and goalkicking options. Mitchell is the other one.

Hendo when he gets fit will be very very good. Still young and needs some time. Wouldn't mind seeing him play CHB for a while to regain confidence and fitness. Would play well there and his bigger body would be a bonus!

Waite IMO needs to play wing ala Richo, Kouta etc pushing forward. Tough match up and adds significantly to our mid rotation.

I see you point re: McLean. I am not a fan and have serious doubts but we have him and when fit needs to play to fully assess if he is worth it! Ellard, Curnow are doing the job.

The two others I would bring in are Lucas and Touhy! Lucas is class and a running machine and needs serious game time. Touhy has developed quickly and despite a few weaknesses needs to play and would be a bonus. He would be a person who will step up and is tough and is a very good kick. Can play on ball as well or a shut down role.

Personally (wont happen) but I would go with this!

B: Touhy Jamison Laidler
HB: Yarran Watson Lucas Duigan
C: Waite Curnow Simpson Warnock Judd Murphy
HF: Russell Setanta Walker
F: Garlett Thornton
Int: Ellard McLean Gibbs (Robinson/Armfield/Carrazzo/AJ)

Lots of variety and options through midfield. Better skill and run around the ground.
Forward line options with mids and Warnock and Waite able to push forward as well.
Kicking from defence improved and will provide attacking run and carry.
Thornton and Setanta able to provide chop out in ruck.
Russell looks better as a mid/defensive forward.
Duigan may be the option for Goodes?

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

This will be tough. We would want to improve on Saturday night's effort, but it is definitely winable, and would be a huge tick for us if we get the 4 points.

People calling for mass changes this week are kidding themselves.
Possible inclusions are (in no particular order) Army, McLean and Lucas.
Reckon the only out will be Yarran if he doesn't pull up.
Hampson hasn't been great, but we do not have a replacement until Kreuzer is right. Setanta has only had 2 games back, and is not a ruckman.

I agree that Setanta isnt a ruckman but niether is Leigh Brown, Jason Blake, Jesse White, Tom Hawkins or Kepler Bradley etc. The issue is with the 3 man bench and the emphasis on rotations, floods and presses the balance of the side is vital. If you can have two ruckman that can genuinally push forward it is a bonus but Hampson and Warnock are NOT forwards. Therefore it is important to have a back up option. At the SCG in particular Warnock will be able to do the majority of the ruck with some relief. Setanta and/or Thornton can do this and allows us to add an extra mid such as Lucas or Armfield who will have more of an influence on the game.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Teams that only play 1 ruckman do so because
A) they have a freak as first ruck (Fremantle)
B) they have no decent alternatives (Geelong, Collingwood, Sydney etc)

What happens if Warnock gets injured in the first quarter? We lose.

Can't agree but that is my opinion. Balance these days is vital!

Geelong have West, Vardy, Blake, Simpson in the 2s, Collingwood have Wood (who was very good when Jolly was out against Richmond) McNamara, Keefe, Ceglar in the reserves, Sydney have Seaby and Pyke in the 2's. IMO all comparable as a back up as Hampson but none would worry an opposition pushing forward.

I don't agree we would lose if Warnock went down but it wouldn't help. We would probably lose if Judd went down though!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I have already discussed this with you: clubs want two genuine ruckman in their side if they can do it without costing themselves too much.

All of those names have featured in the ruck in seasons past for each team. Fact of the matter is the cupboard is pretty bare after their first ruck at each of those teams, and the names mooted are certainly not on the same level as Hampson, who could take first ruck duties tomorrow and acquit himself very well.

What clubs are trying to do is find a bloke who can genuinely relieve the ruck duties and play in another role (usually key forward). If they can do that, they get another midfielder in the mix as their reward. I understand them trying this out, especially when their stocks are so low.

BTW, Kepler Bradley & Jesse White were recruited as ruckmen.

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Well reading Ratts' comments it seems Betts is good to go this week. I didn't think he got seven tackles watching the game live but fair play to hm if he did.

I still think Armfield should be coming in, and if Brock is playing, which seems to be a good chance, who comes out?

PS - I highly doubt anyone calling for Gibbs to be dropped thinks he's not a part of our best 22, or that whoever coming in to replace Gibbs would be 'better' than him. In exactly the same way Nick Dal Santo was 'better' than whoever he was dropped for in 2009. But the fact is Gibbs' effort levels are way down right now. Anyone at the game can see this. Maybe something's going on with him at the moment which the coaches are aware of and they're prepared to play him through it. Who knows. But on face value his effort level during games is worthy of a spell in red. If he brings that attitutde to Sydney, he get found out very quickly and cost us significantly. There's no hiding lack of effort against that team.

I agree clubs do want to ruckman who can play forward and if Kruezer was fit and available we would play two. But the fact is at the moment that playing both Warnock and Hampson effects our rotations and options as does playing both Betts and Garlett. Makes us very predictable up forward and allows the opposition to easily rebound from defence then set up a forward press. We then have to work extremely hard to create scoring opportunities. Limits us greatly and puts tremendous pressure on Judd and Murphy.

IMO a couple of structural changes will make a huge difference and leesen the gap between us and C'wood.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

After reading Ratts comments (of which he has changed again after saying Betts needed to step up last week) I ask the question is there more valuye playing guys like Carrazzo, Armfield, Robinson or Russell as a defensive forward as they can still rotate through the midfield?? We still have Garlett as well!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I think playing Warnock on his own will see us using him in the ruck for 80% of the game, which will take it's toll and he'll come up with some sort of stress fracture or soft tissue injury.

Henderson has barely rucked in his life, Setanta cannot ruck to save his life, Thornton struggles also. We'd be losing ruck contests, making life that little bit more difficult for the midfield unit. As you noted, until some injuries are overcome, Hampson is all we have.

We have zero reasons not to stick with him at the moment, I just want all the issues he's having with his fingers to clear up so he can haul a few marks in.

I think the greatest concern in our ruck situations is our stoppage setup, and the taps. We win taps just fine, but we go for direct taps in close vicinity to the ruck, rather than putting it into space in an area for one or more to run onto. Zones are harder to defend than a small circle around the ruck, which is what is making some of our clearances such a battle.

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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.

If you can get a ruck advantage by having Hampson rucking against a fill in ruck that can net us a couple of goals then that would be the equivalent of having a Leroy Brown who they hope can at the very best break even when filling in the ruck but kicking a couple when resting forward.

The Hampson ploy works providing he doesnt get outmarked in our forward line and scraps hard at ground level to hopefully create a chance. At the minute Hampson is failing there but id personally would stick with him.

Brock McLean in line for Blues call-up

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brock-mclean-in-line-for-blues-call-up/story-e6frf9jf-1226044929439

If he comes in which midfielder goes out? They are all in pretty good shape right now?

Hope it's not Yarran

Carrazzo IMHO.

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

Heard Longmire say that Tadhg Kennelly is a certainty to come into the side this week. He will have to be watched closely.

Does Gibbs go to Goodes playing defensively on him? Looks to be the best matchup.

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