I am really worried in our club’s excitement (& given its history) it will kill Hampson off.

He is only 19 FFS and playing in the most physically demanding spot on the ground against huge, fully developed, nasty Neanderthals. It only took the Port thug about two bounces before he started to charge straight into Hammer’s legs - he should have been reported but only gave away a free.

IMO he has the potential to be an absolute 200+ game star but the club needs to act responsibly and bring him along slowly - otherwise the Hammer will be Hammered right out of the game!

Happy for Cloke and Ackland to do most of the bullocking work this year - whilst giving Hamspon and Kreuzer cameos towards the end of quarter and perhaps full games in the Bullant firsts.

This is a year for improvement and taking stock.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Spot on AGRO.

I wonder if Cloke/Hampson/Kreuzer can rotate between Ruck/Forward/Interchange for most of the season, with Cloke rucking for half of each quarter.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Kepler Bradley

You have to remember that Hammer started playing Aussie Rules 5 years back. So his body would be pretty fresh compared to some other recruits who have been battered from pillar to post through there junior days.

I think that is why Ratts have been downplaying our chances for season 08 and emphasised that this will be a development year for the kids.

It will be very dangerous if the kids are thrown into the deep end so early in their careers. I have faith in the match committee to manage the kids well. I guess that would be one of the reasons why Pagan threw Gibbs in the back pocket in his first year, but got crucified for it.

On the one hand, you have supporters who want to see our young stars play in their natural positions. On the other hand, you have supporters who want the kids managed properly and slowly. On the (er...third hand???), you have supporters who want to see the kids play in their natural spots, but want them managed carefully as well as seeing results straightaway. I don't envy the coach's and the match committee's job...

Carted off in a box!

I've told you a million times not to exaggerate!

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Bitchmond are the only ones in the box

UNLEASH AISAKE

Aisake + Hampo + Kreuzer in the same team (this year) is really the stuff of miracles.....

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Love Cricket? Love me

QFT

AISAKE = SPOONT

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Tend to agree.....the game is all about athletes these days and Aisake could be a sensation..
I think Hampson can look after himself and providing he gets good support from his other ruckman wont have to worry about being carted off.......

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Thats the word I was looking for ... SENSATION

AISAKE = SENSATION

Forget Cloke and Ackland.... Aisake isn't going to get any physically stronger... he's ready....

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Love Cricket? Love me

A Visy Recycled box

Anyone reckon Aisaike will get a run in the NAB Cup at all?

Hampson should play every NAB Cup game - then sporadic stints in the firsts when his Bullants form warrants it.,,

Hammer is actually pretty well built, certainly his arms are anyhow.

He looks thin cause he is athletic.

Hammer will play every single game this year barring injury or a dramatic loss of form. He is now our number 1 ruckman and I for one am absolutely thrilled.

Go Hammer

a.k.a tanking????

I think Hammer will play majority of the time, he is a solid kid and our best option.
Kreuzer on the other hand could do with looking after for this year, he is a twig compared to Hampson, prob spend most of his time in the forward line i would think.
Cloke will prob do majority of ruck due to experience and size.
Haven't had the chance to see Asaike yet but sounds like he could be a goer, should be given the chance.
Ackland, time to prob let him go, i think he is the oldest, smallest and slowest of them all. Time to start developing the future and i don't think he will be there.

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The climbing has alread began

What Ratten excells at compared to Pagan (yes I know the list is very long) is player management with regard to managing time on the ground and appropriately developing players. He is not Stupid, H and the Kreuzship will only ruck for about 20mins each per game unless there are special circumstances. Cloke will be used as a battering ram if his body holds up and ackland will be used to ruck in the twos.

With a game played over 2 hours, you would hope that we win the game in the 40 mins that Kreuz and Hammer are there, or we will get smashed.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.