We play Richmond and Gold Coast first up so I would expect that 1 maybe 2 of them may play early.

Richmond has Reiwoldt, Griffiths and possibly Vickery through the forward line. GC may go with Day who McCarthy may suit plus maybe Brennan, Fraser and Smith pushing through. All in all no real gorillas.

I expect around 15 games for Watson, 12-15 for McCarthy and it may be later in the year before we see Mitchell as he needs more size and endurance work due to injury and other issues.

It's actually very hard to see how Thornton & Setanta will get a game. Austin needs to step up but I would like to see him as a forward. Bower and Jamo will also be under pressure as the guys we have recruited win the their own ball, are attacking and genrally use it a lot better which has been a big issue in recent years.

Of course this will all depend on form and what sort of pre season they have and will be good to watch!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I think you're being a bit over-zealous with their anticipated game time. I doubt Watson's endurance base will see him as much more than a sub for the first half of the year. He will lose a good chunk of kilos in the pre-season.

McCarthy might get a go as a third-tall in the games you mentioned given that Griffiths, Vickery, Fraser & Day aren't big bodies at present, but it's going to be first crack at the spot to Austin, Thornton & Setanta (probably in that order), so he's got his work cut out for him.

It's easy to see how these young blokes won't get a game this season: one needs to lose puppy fat, the other needs to put on serious bulk. McInnes & Duigan are the better bets for a senior berth.

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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.

Not sure how you can class Watson as a tall and McCarthy as a medium when all the records say he is the taller of the two.

The future of successful clubs will hinge on having multiple players who can swing through various roles, rotating around a set spine structure. I'd be developing Hampson into a rotating ruck/defensive role, Warnock as ruck/forward and big Matty K as ruck/roving.

Waite rotating forward/wing, leave Henderson forward. Throw a big blanket over the rest at training and see who pops out first for my 22.

It's a good feeling to finally not be able to whittle it down for a change instead of feeling like you have to play the dead wood because there is no-one else.

He has the pace to handle lead-up forwards of about 187+ cms. That means he can play on medium types if required, which I specified as my sole criterion for which player went into which category.


Ruck/forward is what you can hope for all of those players, nothing more. Kreuzer's tank may see him floating around as a third-man up and big body at stoppages, but this talk about him roving the taps is ludicrous. The future dictates that three-tall forward lines built around specialist players will see clubs lose out in midfield, which was beginning to happen anyway. We're fine.

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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.

What if Warnock wins the tap towards Kreuzer and Kruezer taps it further out to Judd, would you still be classifying Kreuzer as a rover?

As ludicrous as it may sound, Kreuzer has played ruck rover for short periods and he's known for roving his own tap outs with his 2nd and 3rd efforts.

I'm not sure by what you imply with "The future dictates that three-tall forward lines built around specialist players will see clubs lose out in midfield"

That's the thing about Kreuzer, you shouldn't pigeon hole him, because him as the 3rd tall doesn't mean you lose a midfielder or being too top heavy imo.

Kreuzer is a freak. Moreso a freak than Nic Nat.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Feed McCarthy plenty of Carbohydrates so he can put on plenty of bulk over 12-18 months and he will be our CHB in 2012 ala Waite tht can be swang around - Watto FB.

Take Geelong's forward line of last year: three talls, all pretty much forwards. Take that side in now with two ruckmen and you're a man down in midfield, or a man short down back. Take out a ruckman and you might get murdered at centre bounces at the least.

I think we have the ideal solution in three ruckmen who have a nose for drifting forward, or can cause havoc out of the square. Seems to be a lost art for many. Two rucks, two tall forwards, three tall backs, a few mediums/hybrids/tweeners and a host of smalls/mids; that's the set-up we should look for.

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

Bloody hell its difficult...

B: Armfield Jamison Duigan/Laidler
HB: Russell Bower Watson/McCarthy
C: Lucas Gibbs Simpson
HF: Walker Henderson murphy
F: Betts Waite Garlett
R: Warnock Mclean Judd
I/C: carazzo/robinson Houlihan Kreuzer
Sub: Scotland

Unluckies that could come into the team and do a job straight away - carazzo/robinson, ellard, white, collins, joseph, davies, yarran - thornton even!

I really doubt T-Bird will get a game for the year, and Stenata may given a short chance to grab his opportunity but that's about it.

Agree Aussie will get a go, but the kids will be looked and whoever shows a bit early will be given experience.

I thought you were adamant earlier this year that 3 talls is too top heavy in the backline.

Is this change due to the new Sub Rule? If so, I don't understand.

I'm into 3 talls with plenty of space, and 1 of those should be 196cm+ to play against the gorillas/ ruckmen.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Other way around; I was against three tall forwards.

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

Its always difficult this time of the year come round 11 your flat out finding 22

Couple of comments - Carrazzo is always in our best 22
Of the new recruits the only one I would like to see next year is duigan and thats only because you dont recruit 26 year olds and not play them

I think we have reached the stage where it is time for the young ones to earn their spot not just given a run
Watson Mitchell Mccinnes and McCarthy should show some good form in the 2's before they are even considered

Players like Austin Laidler Collins Lucas Davies Kerr Hampson Yarren Robbo White Ellard - should be all about to step up up to the plate and put their hands up - 2nd and third year players and in Austin 4th year - These blokes will be crucial for our development - The blokes selected this year I want to see them in 2 years time

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

McInnes could be the surprise packet...

_________________
Bawditawaba

Makes it hard now. I'm tipping Watson and Mitchell to be given first crack in the seniors come Round 1, which then has an impact on a few others like Bower as Waite is free to play anywhere.

B: Joseph, Jamo, White
HB: Russell, Watson, Laidler
C: Walker, McLean, Simpson
HF: Murphy, Henderson, Waite
F: Garlett, Mitchell, Yarran

RCK: Warnock, Gibbs, Judd

INT: Kreuzer, Lucas, Scotland
SUB: Betts

Lucky we have the NAB Cup to have a look at the blokes that have never played at AFL level before.
After draft week 2 yrs ago who would have predicted Garlett to play before Yazz?

Thanks

Now I get you and get you clear.

2 talls with the ruck drifting forward; making him the 3rd tall sporadically, thus creating the mismatch (I prefer to create) if the opposition ruckman doesn't follow.

I wouldn't be surprised for a period of games and for long periods of a game (till they really need a rest) that Kreuzer will play as the FF/ FP (returning from injury) rotating with the fitter Warnock, and have Hendo as the CHF moving around.

That leaves 4 others to fill gaps/ create space/ lead up or play close to the KPP and rove the crumbs.

I can see Waite selected forward of centre as a linking CHF unless he's needed at CHB, and that would be because Bower, White, Austin, Setanta, Watson or McCarthy can't do the job at CHB against Brown or Reiwoldt or Hall or Pav or Buddy or Roughy....and I'm OK with sending Waite to CHB against those types or just to mix things up...for 40% of the game.

It's looking good for forward options in 2011, and we haven't even discussed the possibility of trying Mitchell, White, Austin, Thornton, Setanta, Walker or even McCarthy or to play forward....just to find out what they've got.

I'm sure we should get 2 great talls in 2011-2012 with that many options.
I'd still like the luxury of seeing what all the others have to offer in 2011 and 2012 (to create value to trade),
because 2013 onwards I really expect Watson, McCarthy and Mitchell playing in the 1st 18.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I prefer to not put a cap on them.
I'd like them to earn their spot too.
It's all relevant. We are a young list.
They may be old enough because they're good enough amongst a list of kids.
If any of the 3 new big boys are ready in 2011 or 2012 then that's a bonus.
Never say never, but I doubt they will play much next season.
If they do play in Ratts' do or die year, then we're seriously playing for more than a finals win in 2011.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I feel for the talented kids who'll be forced to play bullant reserves next year...

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There's so much I could say...

yeah, BTW has the Ants Reserves coach been appointed?

_________________
Bawditawaba

Joseph (or Armfield), Jamison, Bower
Laidler, Watson (or Austin/Setanta), Russell
Simpson, Gibbs, Murphy
Warnock, Judd, Carrazzo (tagger)
Garlett, Henderson, Waite
Betts, Kruezer, Houlihan (defensive forward)

Scotland, Lucas, Yarran, Walker (sub)

Back Up : McLean, Ellard, Hampson, Collins, Robinson, Duigan, Davies, Mitchell, White

Walker might not like being given just half a game each week, but if he can be positive about it he might find a niche as a sub which means he gets picked every week and isn't that what he wants? Has great tank and is versatile, can play down back, up forward, midfield, wing, and can play small or tall at a pinch so looms as the logical sub for Carlton.

I prefer Houlihan as the defensive forward, because his kicking especially set shot for goal is exceptional. He rarely misses. Scotland getting towards the end so he now resides on the bench. Lucas still a skinny boy so he sits the pine too. Yarran needs to improve his engine and second and thirds efforts. Until that time arrives Garlett starts in the 18 ahead of his mate.

AJ or Army for BP, flip of the coin.

Leap of faith that Laidler will slot straight in to HBF and look the part, and this plus Bower being given more freedom down back as a third tall means Gibbs finally gets released to the midfield where he belongs. As good as he is down back, the fact he can get dragged to the last line is not good. You don't have a player of his caliber playing on the last line, that is just stupid.

If the three talls up forward is too many then throw one onto the bench or play Kruezer as a roaming tall. In fact Waite plays the same, they are both very athletic and can run and run so it's not like they are dinosaurs who cannot move. Waite is as much a running HFF as a CHF. And Kreuzer is not disimilar.

Obviously the big call I have made is Watson slotting straight into CHB. I am probably being a bit optimistic here and he will probably cop a few hidings if he plays there in 2011, but I just see him as being a bit like Lance - he has the bulk already so why not blood the kid in the seniors, get his 50 games up quickly and it's not like we will be premiers in 2011 so why not take the plunge next year. Obviously if he gets murdered then get him out of there and into the Bullants for a while to restore confidence. But something tells me he might go alright, and obviously while I have him at CHB he could play the 3rd tall in 2011 with Bower going to CHB or even Setanta. Austin if fit is the other option. It is time we found out if he can make it or not, and I don't like Thornton or Setanta down back, though the latter may surprise, as might Davies who I think is super competitive and can run but unfortunately is not tall and so is not a CHB. The reality is Watson is the only player we have who is physically big enough to play CHB and so this might see him getting games in his first year.

Mclean hasn't proven a thing yet, other than his body is apparently as bad as we thought, so until such time as he can get consistently fit, I cannot see him in the starting team.