I know what you mean ABN but think if we could leave Hendo forward permanently -kicked 26 last year without playing forward for half the year - jeffy is capable of kicking 30-40 - menzel is also capable of 25 or so as moderate tall - waite will always kick a few but because of injury /brain fade cant be relied on - either yarran or walker also have to go forward - both are capable goal kickers
I also think if delivered properly - rather than bombed on his head continually Casboult could also kick one or so a match

without Hendo defence isn't as solid but attack needs his creativity smarts and leading skills

..Betts was good, sure.. ..but nothing irreplaceable.. ..let's be honest, if we can't cover him, our players aren't working hard enough..

..in regards to where our goals will come from?, not a concern for me at all.. ..lookit, ppl gnashed their proverbials when fev went berserko, and we still haven't had a KPF kick more than 30 since,, but we've kicked goals as a collective.. ..and it will be the same with betts.. ..Jeffy has already kicked much more in the same number of games played in their respective careers..

..yes our mids aren't big goal kickers, but part of the reason is the number of small fwds we'd play.. ..less time up fwd for our mids overall, i fully expect more goals out of our mids with one less perm small fwd.. ..and with more players rotating thru the middle as well, goal kicking mids aren't doing overtime in the center.. ..murphy kicks goals, as does mclean.. ..judd and carrazzo won't be playing as many games this year as it looks, giving time for lesser light mids to play.. ..bell could be a goal kicking mid, has shown an appetite [greedy?] and ellard is a definite goal kicker..

..hendo must play KPF, and only be swingman to def if we are ultra desperate.. ..not only is he our best KPF [by miles], but he is our best KPF at 'running' the fwd structure.. ..and i think MM's style is conducive to his game.. ..i think Hendo would be a min. 50 goal p.a if he plays as a KPF.. ..i also think he'd be close to cloke contested marking ability as well..

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

Surprised ryan2000 hasn't popped up about the $2.40 for Port on offer.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Latest injury video just posted on CFC website: Walker, Gibbs, Hendo all to play rd 1. Judd ahead of schedule for rd3 return, carrots doing good. Was asked about Yazz and Walker at same time but only talked about Walker so who knows what's up with Yazz. Gibbs actually hurt his hand against North.

..interesting that Rowe has played key back, cos don't see him there with Jamo and watto, can't see a kpp as a 3rd tall when walker and Everett can play tall..

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

Should be longer than that.

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dane's trolling again

Rowe won't play round 1.

I will be interested to see if Warnock and Kreuzer play. I think they both will.

Hoping we have Waite and Hendo as our key forwards with Kreuzer in and out. Then guys like Garlett, Menzel, Thomas, Everitt, Yarran and Robinson all having time there. Not a bad set up.

Watson and Jamison and McInnes/White to hold up the key defensive roles with Everitt, Simpson, Tuohy, Walker and Gibbs to run through.

See on paper it reads ok..

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Koperek.

I can't help but feel we're going to get hosed by port, no matter which team we field.

I have a sense of dread.

Turn that frown upside down buddy.

Carlton by 30+

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dane's trolling again

haha ... let's hope so Dane.

I just haven't seen anything this preseason to give me hope. Particularly up front. We are just bombing it long with no composure. And our midfield isn't getting enough of it.

Hopefully Mick is just rope-a-doping the league and going into the preseason games doing nothing more than giving guys a run and getting the bodies use to contact. Because there doesn't seem to be any gameplan, let alone an improved one.

I hope he's just foiling the opposition too.

I dont like the long bomb as it doesnt seem to suit our talls when its bombed. Ball must be kicked to a position which is to the advantage of our team. If not it will continue to be predicatble and an easy take away for the opposition.

I have a feeling with the increase in numbers available in the midfield we will run and carry more than previous. Well I'm hoping.

The list seems good. Injuries to Judd and Carrazzo are a bother, and having a few underdone like Hendo and maybe Walker and Yarran is a concern.

If the boys respond to this being a game in front of the faithful and explode from the blocks we should be OK, but lets remember this Port team is a good running team and very fit.

Against the Port rucks I think we can get away with Kreuzer as the 1st ruck changing with Casboult. Against Freo West Coast Swans Hawks Warnock would have to play as the 1st ruck.

Cripps should be a definite. So we should see 3 new players in Everitt, Cripps and Thomas, but we will have Betts Judd and Carrazzo missing from our 2013 best 22.

Have to start with a win. 4 points. Cant wait and certainly not over confident.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

B: Everitt Jamison Simpson
HB: Walker Watson Tuohy

C: Thomas Gibbs Robinson
F: Kreuzer Murphy Curnow

HF: Menzel Henderson Yarran
F: Waite Casboult Garlett

IC: Cripps Bell McLean Ellard
Em: Scotland Armfield Warnock

INJ: Judd Carrazzo Docherty

I'm a big fan of Armfield and believe him to be worthy best 22, but n form this preseason Ellard gets the nod, plus kicks goals.
Maybe Warnock takes Casboult's spot. MM knows what to do.
McInnes and White may release Everitt to midfield or forwardline.

Graham Holman Cachia and Lucas knocking on the door...maybe Buckley too...and Psych likes Temay.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I think we can win but it will be a hard and fierce contest. To win would be very sweet because listening to Adelaide media they are well and truly on the Port bandwagon and are pumping up their tyres big time.

There will be hell to pay if Port lose and I'll love every minute of it.

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Make Carlton Football Club your sponsored World Vision Child today

All the practice matches done & dusted, so I'll give this another go....

Best case scenario for round 1 (ie. Hendo, Gibbs, Walker, Yarran, Bell & Brock all available)-

Simmo Jamo Everitt
Tuohy Watson Walker
Murphy Gibbs Thomas
Robbo Hendo Yarran
Garlett Waite Kreuzer

Warnock Curnow Brock

Ellard McInnes Scotland
Cripps


I've gone with Cripps ahead of Bell as sub. Bell has the edge in endurance but from what I've seen in the practice matches, Cripps is already a better footballer in every other way. Bell won't make it unless he becomes a one-touch player, IMO. Aside from the NM game, I don't think Bell has been all that impressive lately. Having said that, he'll get a game if Gibbs or Brock don't come up (assuming Bell himself is OK, he went off yesterday with what looked like a bad corkie). Cachia will be the other player I'd expect to come in if both Gibbs & Brock don't come up.

I haven't picked Menzel, not because I don't think he's an exciting talent (he is), but I wanted as much run and stamina as possible. If Garlett doesn't produce in the early games, I'd drop him for Menzel. If Yarran or Walker don't come up Menzel should play round 1 anyway. Armfield the other player to come in if both Yarran & Walker miss.

I've gone with McInnes, just ahead of White (mainly due to concerns that White might be a tad underdone), for the extra medium/tall that can plug holes at either end.

Levi will probably get the gig if Hendo doesn't play, but I wouldn't mind if we went with the more mobile White (fitness allowing). Rowe wasn't as awful yesterday as some have suggested (I thought he fought back reasonably well after a bad start) and they might go with him instead because he can play either end, depending on match-ups. It is hard to see Rowe getting a regular game this year though, unless we have a bad run of injuries to our other talls.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

I'm on the meh bandwagon too. The Sunday night at Etihad timeslot doesn't help.

If Menzel doesn't get a game I'm barracking for Port.

I thought there were some real positives yesterday and we were going half paced. Looked to me players were waiting for Round One.

What I think we will go with Round One:

B: Yarran Jamison White
HB: Tuohy Watson Walker
C: Simpson McLean Everitt
HF: Menzel Casboult Thomas
F: Garlett Henderson Waite
Foll: Kruezer Bell Murphy
Int: Ellard Gibbs Curnow (Scotland)
Emerg: Robinson Warnock Cripps

Inj: Judd, Docherty and Carrots

Not a bad side and I'm confident we will role PA.

Seriously, how the hell do we fit Kruezer & Warnock in the same side??? Also, personally I think Graham should play!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I noticed that you haven't included Waite and he isn't on the injury list

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Vice President, International Extreme Sarcasm Society (IESS)

That's because I haven't reviewed my post. Give me a chance will you?

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Waite was good yesterday
Kicked 3 goals 1 and aside from Menzel only forward that looked dangerous
Waite and Menzel have to play in my view so we kick a winning score given Hendo is underdone
Interesting Port keep saying Carlisle Schulz Gray and Trengove are all ready for the first round -can't see how they will be fit a bit like Hendo I suppose
Paul Stewart did a calf today so he won't be playing
Think we should win a point will do -beat port twice last year so good form line against them