I know what your thinking... it's a little early isn't it??

I just got done working out a team for the rd1 clash with the Tigers and it got me thinking... How different will the team look by round 22?

So on the eve of Rd 1, i thought it might be interesting for people to pick who will be in the team by the end of the year. Who has improved? Who has forced their way into the best 22? Who already in the team has taken the next step? Who has pulled on the jumper for the last time?

Here is mine. (We are assuming everyone is fit of course)

FF: Edwards Fevola Betts

HF: Murphy Fisher Hadley

C: Simpson Stevens Walker

HB: Scotland Waite Houlihan

FB: Setanta Jamison Grigg

Foll: Hampson Judd Gibbs

Int: Kruezer, Bower, Browne, Bentick

The Improvers:
Gibbs - I can see him commanding a spot in the middle by the end of the year. Aside from Judd he would be my tip for our next Brownlow medallist.... its a big call i know.
Grigg - Definitely one to watch, as he settles and grows in confidence we will realise how much we needed a run and deliver player like him. He also has that touch of class, rare for a young kid, especially a second rounder.
Waite - I think he can hold down CHB this year and really expect him to make an impression on the competition. Possibly AA.
Bentick - I’m a bit of a fan of AB. He works hard, tackles hard, makes very few mistakes, and tries his guts out. By all reports he has bee working on his speed and he is my tip to be the surprise packet of the year. Don't write him off, I think he could be a harder, more skilful version of Carrazzo. He is only 22 and I think he might force his way in.
Edwards - I think he will come of age this year. I like the way he does thing and i think that as a third option he will be given some freedom to develop. His only 20, definitely one to watch.
Walker - Despite the early setback I still think he will be in the middle by the end of the year. All he needs is a good run with injuries. I believe he has the talent, there is no question about his determination, its just the game time that’s missing.
Murphy - Will have a much better year this year, but I am not sure how good. Although i knew he will get better, his development is probably the hardest to predict. After the battering his confidence took last year, it will be a real test for the kid.

The Disappointments.
Hartlett - I hope I am wrong. Believe me. I would love this guy to turn into a 200+ game CHF but i just don’t see it. He has some serious talent, but I think his is still a bit light on and his injuries worry me. CHF and guys who are injury prone aren't exactly the best combination. I hope to be proved wrong.
Russell - Gone.
Blackwell - Gone
Saddington - Gone
Thornton - Its touch and go between he and Setanta, but if Setanta continue to improve on last years from, Waite cements CHF and Jamison continues to do nothing wrong, then I think Brett might struggle. Sounds amazing to think that there might actually be competition for a spot in our backline but 4 talls is probably too many, so someone has to miss. I have Waite to go close to AA this year, Jamo is a potential 10 year FB and up until his injury/poor start to 08 i thought Setanta would move past Thornton. It will be very interesting.

Discuss.

No Carrazzo for RD22?

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Not so best of TheSexySquad


AWWWWWW STEVENS.

Prefer Blackwell over Bentick any time. Carrazzo must be in the side.

Maybe he's factoring in the curse of the best & fairest winner?

Carrazzo not in the side =

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

Not everyone's a fan of either Hartlett or Cloke, but I'd still rather see one of those 2 at CHF than Fisher.
Fisher can cause more damage by having a lesser talented/sized opponent than the genuine CHBs of the comp.
Also would mean that opposition teams would have to worry about Edwards and Fisher as mobile marking forwards, as well as Fev and whoever plays CHF.
Carrazzo will be there before AB.

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Cleanliness is next to Juddliness!

Sorry Carrazzo was an oversight we will definately be there round 22.

With the Fisher thing, I wouldnt really have him as a traditional CHF obviously, but as I explained, Hartlett still has a bit to prove to me before i consider him a real prospect. I'm not having a go at him here, we argueably need a CHF more then anything so I hope he does come good. You are right though, I probably should have him at CHF because he WILL be given the whole year (at the very least) to prove himself, I just didnt want to imply that he had nailed the spot.

Cloke I can only really see as a pinch hitter across the forward line. I love his work eithic, but I dont think CHF is suited to him, so i would prefer to go with two smaller guys across the foward line, then have one (Cloke/Hartlett) who maybe aren't up to the role.

B: Anderson Jamison Grigg
HB: Benjamin Setanta Gibbs
C: Simpson (VC) Murphy Walker
HF: Fisher Kruezer Waite
F: Houlihan Edwards Ellard
Foll: Hampson Judd (C) Carrazzo
Int: Aisake Browne Hadley Joseph
Em: Armfield Jacobs Austin

This is the future?

My predictions by Rd 22 are:

Fev to announce he will be going to NFL
Our development starts paying off with height around flanks with Benji, Grigg, Walker, Waite, Hadley all tall runners.
Waite (al a James Hird type role)to be matchwinner playing loose in forward line with bursts on the ball.
Jacobs to be promoted following continual improvement giving us three 200cm plus ruckman.
Walker to play loose in defence pushing through the middle.
Lots of midfield rotation and speed. This team can run!!!
Stevens, Scotland to run out of steam by end of year
Goalkicking power.
Maturing defence, small and tall.
Exciting times ahead.

This side will beat Hawthorn Rd 22.

Always interesting to review these things, with a third of the season gone we start to get a clearer picture about what the side will be by Rd 22.

My guess:

B: Anderson Jamison Thornton
HB: Gibbs Waite Grigg
C: Simpson Murphy Stevens
HF: Walker Hartlett Fisher
F: Kruezer Fevola Betts
Foll: Hampson Judd Carazzo
Int from: Hadley Jacobs Scotland Bannister Bower Browne Russell

That means guys like Houlihan, Ellard, Jacobs, Pfieffer, Cloke, Bentick, Armfield, Joseph miss out although they will still be here next year.

Hartlett still needs to play more football depending upon fitness, I would personally like to see Waite back up forward as Bower can fill his spot.

Some people will believe Setanta, Aisake, Edwards, Benji, Austin, Jackson are unlucky as well although I am yet to be convinced!

Whatever way we look at it the side and list is getting stronger with time. It will also give a huge indication regarding our recruiting come years end.

For me it is some big GUN forwards, a mature ruckman that can help Jacobs, Hampson and Kruezer. Then get some pure footballers who can run the lines and use the ball well.

Mine is pretty close to yours CJ...

My guess:

B: Anderson Jamison Thornton
HB: Walker Waite Grigg
C: Simpson Murphy Stevens
HF: Gibbs Hartlett Fisher
F: Kruezer Fevola Betts
Foll: Hampson Judd Carazzo
Int from: Hadley Jacobs Scotland Bannister Bower Browne Russell

This is on the assumption that Harts remains injury free and lives up to the promise he showed against the Crows.

Swapped Tex and Gibbs. Saw Bryce tear a few games apart in the SANFL playing on the half forward line and love Tex's run out of defence

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

I agree GiNB, love to see Gibbs more up forward as he is defensively strong as well, my belief is that guys like Anderson, Walker, Grigg, Simpson, Stevens, Betts, Gibbs, Hadley, Scotland, Browne, Russell all rotate through the wings, flanks and on ball spots.

Last weekend we had 15 different players run through the middle alone!

What a shame the game is at the Dome, imagine if we're playing for a finals spot and Hawks are up there at 1 or 2 while the MCG is vacant all day Saturday

I would rather see a team for our first final!

Team ready for finals action :

Carrazzo Jamison Thornton
Walker Waite Gibbs
Scotland Hadley Simpson
Houlihan Hartlett Fisher
Kruezer Fevola Murphy
Hampson Judd Stevens
Cloke Bower Russell Betts

I'm disgusted.......dis - gus - ted.

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end of message

FB: Thornton Jamison Browne

HB: Bower Waite Hadley

C: Simpson Stevens Walker

HF: Murphy Fisher Houlihan

FF: Edwards Fevola Betts

Foll: Hampson Judd Gibbs

Int: Kruezer Scotland Grigg Carazzo

Emg: Cloke Austin Anderson

OOPS! Forgot the T-Bird!

B Browne Jamison Thornton
HB Grigg Waite Bower
C Scotland Stevens Simpson
HF Gibbs Kruezer Carrazzo
F Fisher Fevola Betts

R Hampson Judd Murphy

Int Walker, Cloke, Hadley, Setanta/Armfield(depending on opposition and conditions)

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

and I thought you were just resting him for finals

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All at Carlton are Equal, Except some are More Equal than others

I really struggled to get them all in. We have some depth.
For more depth we need 4 players need to go at the end of the year...

Ackland (Jamo promotion)
Saddington (Round 1 Pick)
Wiggins (Round 2 Pick)
1 of Hartlett/Aisake/Blackwell/Jackson to go? (Round 3 Pick)
1 of Hartlett/Aisake/Blackwell/Jackson to go? (PSD/4th round pick)

Other than Ackland and Saddington it is very hard.

A big LOL @ Hartlett at CHF.

Cant believe how highly rated he is on this website.

The best thing hes done for us is deck some nobody from Richmond.

I still have a bit of hope for Hartlett. He is a strong mark and quite mobile and can kick the ball a mile. He also looks like a natural forward.

The key for him is get a number of games in a row. If he can play the final 9-10 games in a row I believe we might see something. It is not as though we have many other options.