Having seen Browne a lot at U18 his best position is BP. Needs to settle there.

As for Armfield I believe his future is around the midfield or tagging. He is also a couple of years older.

I would give Browne the edge in skills and poise but Armfield is better with his pace and dash. Both are very good defensively for so young but I agree Armfield has better closing speed but he is better than most let alone Browne. Anderson will be as good as well when he gets a decent pre season. Some question his skill but you will find it is as good as most.

I have a high opinion of Setanta but I am not sure the MC have?

Austin will be a star! That I have no doubt. He is very young and in 2-3 years will be a top CHB, whether he can hold the position now time will tell. Good thing is we are developing some real options.

Of course it is all subjective.

A few of the best 22's in recent posts have had Grigg and/or Armfield either not in the team or in an extended interchange bench..... Some had Jamo on the bench???


I'm not sure what you guys have been watching?

Did you people see yesterdays game for Armfield, the way he takes risks and tries to break the lines...while at the same time is prepared to gut run to put on defensive pressure - He is your protype of the Modern bit parts (non superstar) AFL Player. A must in our best 18.

Jamo is getting more confident, taking risks and hitting long range targets consistently each week, can play tall or small which I believe makes him the first picked in the backline each week!

As for Grigg....have you people watched any of the games in the last 3 or 4 weeks???? He petered out a bit against Port, but set the scene early and I gave him votes yesterday.

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It's the vibe.........Tell him he's dreamin' Darryl!

no way houla with the crieria you listed. his time has passed

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one you knock back is one you never have

I think his best is yet to come. He isn't that old, he will now have to fight for a spot and he will have better support. I believe he will thrive on it!

Poeple forget that Houla is at that age where he about to peak for a few years.

They also forget that he broke into a team next to the names of Kernahan, Badley, Ratten, Sivagni when he was a baby. Do they remember why? I'll remind them...skills and reasonable pace.

It's amazing how people remember that game when he pulled out of a contest.

I'm with youCJ, let him have his day, and if the hip operation hasn't [REDACTED] him up (and it doesn't seem to have done so given the class he showed in the Bullants recently), the he may just be another valuable piece to the puzzle.

We can get some value from a Houla trade...that's because he is a valuable commodity...only if you choose to consider seeing it.

Breadlet wasn't a ferocious player, but what he was was very much in demand!

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Maybe Aaron Joseph is a chance for next year if he has a good preseason. Pace to burn!

I am an unabashed Houla fan as regular readers of my posts will know. Having said that, Houla would probably be on the list if he had played but it is unreasonable to have him in it when we have no recent form to judge him on. I am sure he will be back better than ever but based on current form? Sorry.

I haven't done this exercise for a long time but when I try I am certain it will be a lot harder than it was earlier in the year. That has to be a good thing.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I hope the MC are ruthless and make the hard decisions for next year. Last chance to really turn over list for a long while:

Best side for 2009?

B. Anderson Setanta Jamison
HB. Browne Austin Grigg
C. Simpson Gibbs Waite
HF. Betts Cloke Walker
F. Houlihan Fevola Kreuzer
R. Hampson Judd Murphy

Int from: Carrazzo Hadley Armfield Bannister Stevens Scotland Jacobs.

Development from: AJ, Jacobs, Pfieffer

Other Possibles to add:

Hurley with 1st pick
McKinley for Bower
Russell for third round to PA
Fisher for third round to St Kilda
Thornton to Hawthorn for 2nd round

Would give us 6 picks in 1st three rounds and one in PSD.

Another preseason, a bit more size and some additions to our depth and finals should be a reality!

3rd rounder for JR ?

Why on earth trade Bower for an undersized forward who essentially would be providing a foil for Fev for the next 4 years???



It's ok upgrading your picks but you want to be pretty sure you're not throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Geeez........ditching Bower ?? He was one of the reasons I went to the footy this year. When he puts on a bit more beef, he'll be awesome down back. Agree re the rest, but Dawks ain't silly enough to blow a 2nd roun der for a dud.

A big call , trading Bower for McKinley . I certainly hope not . Can't see Russell bringing a 3rd round pick either . 4th rounder at best .

if I were coach...

B. Thornton Jamison Bannister
HB. Bower Waite Anderson
C. Simpson Gibbs Houlihan
HF. Wiggins Kreuzer Walker
F. Betts Fevola Fisher

R. Hampson Judd Murphy

Int from: Stevens, Grigg, Hadley, Browne

EMG: Scotland, Cloke/White , Austin (matchups)

Carrazzo unlucky to miss - kicking needs to improve





This would be my conservative team for next year. Although Stevens is holding on by a thread after this weeks performance (simply refused to run both ways - it was utterly disgraceful. Could easily be replaced by Scotland or Carrots).

I am backing Waite to take the monsters - he played very well on rocca/reiwoldt this year, needs to do it consistantly.

Big Kreuz to hold down CHF for good/ giving Hammer a break in the ruck - with Fev and Fish staying up forward with betts at their feet. Walker to play HFF FP Wing to cut up the opposition - very dangerous this week untill the ball stopped entering our forward half.

PS. Anyone that isn't prepared to work hard enough (that means Stevens, Scotland, Carrazzo & Thornton) would get dropped and put in the bad books for a long time

Kruezer at 19y.o. to play CHF and then ruck. Does he get to rest at any stage? He will be dead by the time he is 22.

Hmmm didn't think of that. Probably why I'm not coach!

I guess we can rest him against collingwood

my squad,

browne jamo bower
grigg waite austin
simmo gibbs walker
stevens r.murphy kreuzer
betts fev russell

hammer judd m.murphy

hadley armfield white scotland

ryan murphy from freo would be a fantastic pick up. 22 or 23 years old, 193cen and has plenty of talent. maybe looking to come home?
jeff white comes in for a year and helps out hammer and kreuzer then see how he goes and maybe another year after that.[one year contract only].cleve hughes from tigers could be another one.

I made up some possible teams for 2009

Seniors

B: Anderson Jamison S.O'hAilpin
HB: Bower Austin Armfield
C: Simpson Gibbs Browne
HF: Walker Waite Grigg
F: Betts Fevola Kreuzer

R: Hampson Judd Murphy

I/C: Hadley Stevens Scotland Joseph(Nom. rookie)

Reserves

B. Draft#2 Thornton Hill(rookie)
HB. Russell Draft#1 Bannister
C. Houlihan Bentick Draft#3
HF. Wiggins Cloke Fisher
F. A.O’hAilpin Hartlett Ellard(rookie)

R. Jacobs Pfeiffer Carrazzo

I/C: Draft#4 Touhy(Int. rookie) rookie rookie

Delist: Ackland Benjamin Saddington Blackwell Jackson
Promote: Jacobs ND1 ND2 ND3 ND4 RD1 RD2 Touhy

I love how people think Fisher and Russell are no good, but think we'll get a 2nd round pick for them this year.

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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

That's always amused me too brad.

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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.

FB: Paul Bower; Michael Jamison; Brett Thornton

HB: Shaun Grigg; Jarrad Waite; Heath Scotland

C: Nick Stevens; Marc Murphy; Kade Simpson

HF: Ryan Houlihan; Matthew Kreuzer; Brad Fisher

FF: Eddie Betts; Brendan Fevola; Andrew Walker

R: Shaun Hampson; Bryce Gibbs; Chris Judd

INT: Cameron Cloke; Steven Browne; Richard Hadley; Setanta O'hAilpin

EMERGENCIES and DEPTH: Jordan Russell; Mark Austin; Dennis Armfield; Simon Wiggins; Andrew Carrazzo; Jordan Bannister; Darren Pfeiffer; Adam Bentick; Joe Anderson

Gone:
Jason Saddington (good career, time to hang it up)
Cain Ackland (soft and should never have played for the blues)
Adam Hartlett (unfortunate but his body will not hold up)
Jake Edwards (one trick poney)
Luke Blackwell (a real shame, would like to see him stay)
Clint Benjamin (shown nothing)
Ryan Jackson (unfortunate, lacks the same class as our other midfielders)
Aisake O'hAilpin (??? completely wasted talent! hope gets another chance)

IMO Fantastic post nytdog, and really good team; representative of where we're at.

Carrazzo from Browne imo

Armfield is one of my favourites, but is only in his first year.

Dunno about Hartlett and Jackson. Maybe a lack of class is a good description for Jackson, but what an engine. Hartlett's position I think is dependent on the trade opportunities and likelihood of snagging a KP, or maybe whether we keep Aisake or not.

Edwards I gave up on a long long time ago, but the fact he's kicked goals in his first 2 games says something, but imo he lacks a bit of heart/ mongrel. Has potential, but we can't afford to kep em all, we must entertain this years draft and trade period.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue