It's wide open as far as I'm concerned and I reckon we're as good a chance as any. The players and coaching staff certainly concur with me. If they don't then they're wasting their time and I'm wasting more than that in being a paid up member.

To properly address your statement and not just paraphrase - Watson might very well play in 2011 - but I can't see it being at FB or CHB. That's asking a lot of a player who will only do 60-70% of the pre-season the main squad will be doing.

Yes and that is why I said ... and obviously while I have him at CHB he could play the 3rd tall in 2011 with Bower going to CHB or even Setanta.

Chances of Carlton winning the 2011 Premeirship would be about 5% - unlikely but not impossible. Remember, we haven't won one final yet !

Ratts has had an issue playing too many talls for the first parts of seasons. I hope he doesnt fall into that again. We always look clunky when he does.
I like two talls back and medium sized player like white or Walker when he was in form. 3 Talls back only if totally needed.
In the forward line i like 2 talls and a resting ruck going forward for 5 -10 mins of a quarter.
Although players like Kreuzer ,Waite and Bower are nimble for tall players they are still not as nimble as normal onball size players so throwing them on wings and on the ball should only be used
in bursts and when their marking is on song in my opinion.

The good thing about the new recruits is we can give them time to develop in the 2's and still have them as back up for Jamo and Bower who have both been forced to play underdone lately and its cost us.

Will be hard to look past Watson for his kickout ability but he should not be rushed.

--- jamo/Watson White
---- Bower / Mcarthy -----
---- Judd ----
---- Waite ----
----- Henda -----

Ruck :- Warnoch / Hampson Murphy Mclean
Int:- Kreuzer --- --- ---

Can't agree with you on this one.

In previous years we played 3 and sometimes 4 talls in defence (which is too many). Last year we only played 2 for nearly all the year, and it wasn't enough. Occasionally you'll catch a break with that set up, but we were simply monstered too often by marking forwards.

Given that Bower and Jamo are a lock. And we've just recruited at least 2 more key position backs on top of Austin and Setanta (who the coach talked of playing in defence). It looks like the coaching panel is of the same opinion.

What do you consider a tall? Are White and Laidler talls or smalls?

Also does anyone else get the feeling McCarthy is going to be trained a fair bit as a forward? Just a hunch

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

mccarthy will be played as a key defender, hughes stated this in an article on the carlton footy site.

Mainly it's about their actual height (generally 190cm+), but it's also partly about their ability to compete aerially against marking forwards. But I'd consider Waite, Jamison, Bower, Thornton, Setanta, White, Austin, Watson and McCarthy talls.

I haven't see Laidler play, so not sure how to categorise him. But I'd hope he's got the mobility to match up with shorter forwards.
Davies is probably not quite a tall. Hopefully he's got the mobility to match up on a medium forward.

There wouldn't be much difference in height between players like Laidler, Davies, Walker, Judd, Russell and Gibbs. And you wouldn't call the last 4 'talls'.

White is not a tall, he is a medium, as is Laidler.

At the start of the season carazzo will be in our 22 - I can however see him relegated to depth though by the end of the season if the younger players progress far enough (a big if - and probably more likely to happen by the end of 2012)

The young ones will have plenty of opportunity to show their wares in intraclub + NAB. Imo, we (and most clubs) will tend to blood a couple of players each season as part of the natural turnover of players. The question will largely be whether or not they can maintain their form/spot in the list

Newly listed players into'd within the 1st 3 rounds for the past 3 seasons
2010 - mclean, henderson, lucas
2009 - joseph, robinson, garlett, johnson,
2008 - kreuzer, judd, hadley,

Note that the 'new' players turnover isnt limited to 18yos - just anyone coming into the list from drafts/trades. Imo, if one of the young talls show a bit of promise they will be in the team to try and fasttrack development - they will be given the opportunity to establish themselves. Similarly, you would probably expect one of duigan, laidler or collins to be in the team early into the season.

Even mature/'flag-window' teams tend to intro a couple of players within the first 3 rounds of most seasons. In 2010 for the flag contenders...
pies - jolly, ball,
cats - podisally, duncan, motlop, simpson
saints - pattison, peake,

You actually do yourself a disservice if you dont put the new players in the team early in the season (if they show promise). To an extent, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year players are somewhat known (albeit improving/developing) - players new to the list need to be tested out to see how they fit within the team.

I doubt we'll be playing White as a 'medium'. He'll be played either as a marking forward, or as a defender against marking forwards.

darren harris will be the ants coach

Lets say Embley from WCE played at HF against us. Would you consider Embley as a HF or as a tall marking forward. Like White he's around 190cm...just as is Judd.

Is Judd a medium? I think he is. I don't consider White as a KP tall. He's tall, but about the same size as Judd.
The kids are getting taller, and so the physical descriptions of players is changing too.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

dont think you can categorise them by height alone. ie need body weight is critical particularly to play on a big bodied forward

white is 98 kg

judd is 88 kg

....10 kg makes a big difference

A more relevant example is Watson vs Mccarthy ie watsons name comes up as the obvious KP Back vs Mc.
watson = 195 cm & 102 kg
McCarthy = 196 cm (according to Wayne H) and 84 kg

And how they play.

I think Teague was a round 186cm, but basically played as an undersized key position player. Strong aerially. But slow, and didn't win much ground ball. Whitnall was 190cm, but couldn't play anywhere else but key position. White is obviously much quicker than either Teague or Whitnall. But doubtful that he could ever play as a genuine mid-sized player.

Judd, Gibbs, Russell and Walker may all be similar height to White and Whitnall. But carry far less weight and play as 'runners' rather than as 'talls'. Walker is probably the only genuine utility in that group, with the ability to play either 'tall' or as a 'runner'.

And as for Laidler and Davies. I haven't seen Laidler play. And I'm still trying to work out if Davies is able to play either as a 'tall' or as a 'runner'.

The other interesting one is McInnes. I gather he's been playing as an undersized 'tall' up till now. I presume the club is hoping that he can develop as a 'runner' or genuine utility ('runner' and 'tall').

McCarthy is actually 197 cms according to WH, and Laidler plays as a medium rebounding defender who can pinch hit on a tall.

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

B: D. Armfield M. Jamison M. Watson
HB: K. Lucas M. Bower J. Russell
C: K. Simpson B. McLean M. Murphy
R: M. Kreuzer C. Judd B. Gibbs
HF: A. Walker L. Henderson G. Garlett
F: E. Betts J. Waite R. Houlihan

IC: R. Warnock H. Scotland C. Yarran
SUB: S. O'Hailpin

Would love to slot Laidler or Duigan in there to provide some mature bodies and attitudes down back, and also get some more games into Davies, but I went with Watson in the end because we're crying out for a backman with a laser-beam kick to help set up play and release Gibbs to the midfield. White would be the other player to slot into that place. Unfortunately for another year Jamison has to take the big forward with Bower on the other IMO. Lucas to play back and wing to continue learning the caper at AFL level and to provide the stable rebounding run that we saw earlier this year.

Very happy to give McLean a go in the centre although needs to be surrounded by pace IMO.

Would like to see Walker played mostly forward / wing, and for Waite to stay forward for the entire year.

Setanta as super-sub to relieve either a KP backman or forward if they're injured, or release Waite who could replace an injured midfielder.

What a tough ask to assemble this side! I guess it ultimately comes down to a horses for courses approach. Would be good to get a look at Watson and McCarthy this year, although you'd have to think that injuries to White / Austin / Bower / Jamison would be needed for this to happen.

Joseph Jamison Watson
Russell Bower Armfield
Scotland Judd Gibbs
Simpson Henderson Yarran
Betts Waite Garlett
Kreuzer McLean Murphy
Warnock Houlihan (sub)
Carrazzo Walker

I think Watson or another tall one on one defender (whoever performs the best over pre season) needs to come in straight away to help free up Bower.

Houlihan is a great sub. He can play forward, back and midfield and is a real X factor for parts of games. You can bring him on to shut down a player or for that something extra that has been missing.

Laidler, Collins, Robinson, Duigen, Ellard and Lucas all ready to come in an have an impact. KP wise, we have a lot of young talent to choose from so it will be interesting to see who gets a chance with injury or form affecting the starters.

_________________
Koperek.

to hard so early, will give a nab squad a crack instead,

armfield jamison mccarthy
white watson laidler
simpson mclean lucas
yarran henderson walker
kerr mitchell collins

warnock carrazzo cachia

robinson davies ellard dare casboult houlihan

Teamboard updated

Changes
------------
- Assigned squad numbers for player(s) Duigan, Lucas, McCarthy, McInnes, McLean, Mitchell, Watson


Future Updates
------------
- Further possible list deletions
- Further 2011 draftees & additions
- Squad numbers
- Confirmation of rookie list additions

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

Please, a 190cm player cannot be 98kg. The CFC website may say so but he must have had weights on at the time. Have a look at the kid, solid but he would have to be built like a tank which he is not.

Back pocket, half back flank. Or lead up marking forward. But not big enough for a KPD.

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