How quickly they forget

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Ok, here goes. Assuming no RoK. Going to let Pick 6 develop in the twos.

B: Carazzo..........Jamison..............Thornton
HB: Grigg..............Bower................Scotland
C: Simpson.........Stevens..............Murphy
HF: Houlihan.........Waite.................Walker
F: Kreuzer..........Fevola................Betts
R: Warnock.........Judd...................Gibbs
I/C: Hampson........Fisher...............Hadley..........Armfield

Depth: Russel. Browne, Austin, Bannister, Bentick, Cloke, Hartlett, Wiggins, O'hAilpin

2 major issues that need to eventuate, IMHO.

1. Bower (or Setanta) holding down CHB, releasing Waite to CHF. This is crucial.

2. The forward line structure need s to be more mobile. Houlihan, Walker and Betts give 3 crumbing type, and with Walker and Betts, some real speed. Waite is mobile. Waite, Kreuzer and Fevola the marking targets. I have felt for a long time that we haven't quiet had the structure up forward right, with one-too-many talls.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

..yeah, not a bad line-up there Siegfried.. ..except i'd drop Fisher from the bench, and move carrots out of the bp and put him to the bench, and rotate him with hadley thru the guts.. ..i'd use browne from yer depth and put him in carrot's bp posi..

..i really dig yer HFF line.. ..i like it's ability to both float forward as well as push up the ground to be lead-up forwards....of course, this relies on bower holding down chb but i reckon with a good pre-season he could take it on.. ..and that HFF holds two key marking targets in waite and also walker, and houla's delivery into the F50 would really help.. ..plus he's more than capable of kicking right to the goals from the 50 with reliability..

..i'd also move stevens onto the wing, and put murphy into the centre..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Love Browny and would love to have him in the side but just can't knock anybody out of the side for him. Same as Russell, I think he was ok at HF for most of the year but with a full fit Carlton side I cant make room for either of them.

You could add Bower and Hampson to that list aswell. The only player I would consider giving the boot to would be Banno.

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Not so best of TheSexySquad


AWWWWWW STEVENS.

Carazzo and Scotland don't have to be starters.. I'd rather Bower than Carazzo on a back flank. When Caratz & Scotty and these players need to EARN their spots in a side we're contenders.

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Better late than Cerra

If we are genuinely able to be a top 4 side next season, Waite needs to be released from a key position. He and Walker need to be loose running players ala Richo. That will make us very dangerous and give us more matchwinners for the opposition to stop. Remembering that Ratts likes to play and extra man in defence and a HF as an extra mid these two will be keys.

For me Carrazzo CANNOT play in defence. When the ball is in the air he gets lost and skilful forwards get goalside of him to easily. He is a ballwinner or nothing.

Browne and Anderson along with Grigg are genuine defenders who need time to get know each others play more often. Bower is our new SOS and should be FB with Austin who I believe will step up next year at CHB. Jamo as the third tall can play tall or small not allowing oppositions to catch us out to easily. Thornton is a back up.

Gibbs could easily fill the "Quarterback" role that Hodge fills for Hawthorn.

I like Cloke at CHF swapping with Kroozer. Both are one grab marks and good kicks for goal. Houla & Betts are natural small fwds but need to work harder defensively than before. I also wouldn't mind Scotland filling that role.

Hadley and Banno are vital as they give us size and toughness around the ball and can tag if required. Russell is also a possibility in that role.

Warnock and Hammer to handle most of the ruck with support from Cloke and Kruz.

The wildcard for me is Setanta!! The four man boundary caught a lot of teams off guard late in the season and the Hawks used it as an advantage in the finals. Setanta can play loose on the wing and take throw ins when our ruckman cannot get there. He also runs well and will create contests and have opposition players looking over there shoulders.

His enthusiasm is infectus.

All in all it is good to have options and some depth.

Add H.Hartlett and O'Keefe and it is even better!!!

So, let me get this right.

Are you saying that Houla, Bannister, Hadley and the inclusion of Warnock, along with natural progression will get us into the top 4

I wish

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Go BLues

I am saying its a possibility!

Next year I expect Gibbs, Murphy, Jamo to really step up. Along with the others I have mentioned that is a bunch of kids equal to most lists in the AFL.

I have also metnioned other areas that we will improve. The addition of Warnock not only improves our ruck but adds to our options up forward by giving us options with Cloke and Kruezer (add possibly O'Keefe).

Yes, they need to step. Yes, we need our ruckman to make a contest. Yes, we need to have a good run with injuries and Yes, we will need a bot of luck, BUT if things go our way and we play to our potential a top 4 position is definitely not out of our range!

PS There is also a man called Judd who will be fitter than before.

We can only judge what has just been; we can ponder out yonder.

We were not that far off from 4th in 2008. Consider we played with half baked players alot; we lost the first 3 games on a trot; we didn't win 3 in a row, but came close; we had no ruck; and, we were a very young and inexperienced team.

Just 5% improvement across the board (say 1% for Judd), a bit of luck with injury, and the introduction of a 206cm ruckman to stop the bleeding at ball ups/ bounces, which should give us an extra 30 50/50 taps as opposed to losses, then of course we should aim for finals, but more importantaly aim for a top 4 finish (without spruiking that to the media).

It's natural to set your goals high. I don't think top 4 is impossible; difficult, yes.

I agree with CJ69 about the use of Waite and Walker. The objective is to kick a higher score than the opposition. With Walker and Waite floating forward I can see them kicking a few goals but assisting in many others; let the opposition worry about us, so give them something to worry about.

Cloke? Don't know where he fits in.

Adding pick 6 and a good PSD, along with a goor preseason for the kids inder the guidance of Cordy, I can see depth improving, and competition for positions on the increase. There's no mauch left in terms of delistable candidates after this next cull. We have a good squad.

Harvey as a development coach raises the standards somewhat, and I'm sure he will have a significant positive influence on the kids, let alone the whole team; offield and on field. I'm sure Ratts will improve too!

Why shouldn't we be optomistic about 2009?

"Ball bounces and Warnock taps it to Judd...."

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Grigg Jamison Thornton
Bower O’hAilpin Scotland
Simpson Judd Stevens
Fisher Waite Walker
Kreuzer Fevola Betts
Warnock Gibbs Murphy
Armfield Carrazzo Hadley Houlihan

Options: Austin, Bannister, Cloke, Hampson Wiggins
Depth: Bentick, Pfieffer, Russell
Developing Anderson, Browne, Joseph
Thin Ice: Edwards (maybe developing),
Hartlett (needs to get over injuries and show something)



BROWNE PICKUP PICKUP
ANDERSON AUSTIN BANNISTER
JOSEPH BENTICK PICKUP
PICKUP /FISHER* HARTLETT RUSSELL
CLOKE EDWARDS PICKUP
HAMPSON WIGGINS PFIEFFER
PICKUP PICKUP PICKUP PICKUP

* Fisher if ROK comes in PSD

Would then suggest need an even mix of talls (esp backs) and runners
to add to the squad - there is room for a ruck if a decent one is around

Yep...No problem with optomism. I start every season with optomism and belief.

THe problem is I judge what can be from what has gone before. THere is no significant additon to the squad this year yet. Warnock is not a significant addition, even considering that we were 16th in the tap outs last season. Warnock is still largely untried having played a handful of games. As Ratten says anything at all from him would be a bonus. So therefore IMO it depnds largely on improvement from the present squad if we dont snag ROK or cousins.

WE would have to improve 7 goals a game against StKilda, Crows and negate any improveent from the filth, scum Sydney. and the Roos 2010 a distint realiseable goal. Next year bottom of the eight for mine maybe 6th.

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Go BLues

At this stage:

B Thornton, Jamison, Grigg
HB Scotland, Bower, Waite
C Simpson, Gibbs, Stevens
HF Fisher, Kreuzer, Russell
F Betts, Fevola, Wiggins
R Warnock, Judd, Murphy
Int Carrazzo, Walker, Cloke, Houlihan

Our forwardline is poor but we're starting to have some decent depth in the midfield but they need to work harder when they don't have the ball. Our defense is developing and needs Bower is really stand up this year.

For a bit of fun, I will assume we get ROK and pick up Hurley.

Carrazzo...........Jamison..........Thornton

Scotland.............Bower.............Grigg

Walker...............Gibbs............ Stevens

Waite................ Cloke............ Okeefe (otherwise Fisher)

Betts.................. Fev............... Houla

Warnock.............Judd...............Murphy

IC: Russell.....Kruezer...... Hadley.....Hurley (otherwise Austin)

KPD
Jamison
Thornton
Bower

3 quality talls, with Hurley or Austin rotating off the bench. I dont see Setanta pushing any of these guys out of a place, he might be brought in for specific game/players.

Defensive Mids
Carrazzo
Scottland
Grigg

I know that calling Scotland "defensive" is a bit of a stretch but he plays that sweeper role pretty well. Carrazzo did pretty well this year as a run with player, and will need to because we won't force his way into the midfield. Grigg coming along nicely.

Midfield

Warnock
Judd
Murphy
Walker
Gibbs
Stevens

Looks pretty good on paper. I'm going with Stevens because I think that with a good preseason he should be able to bounce back after his neck injury/ordinary year last year. Warnock rotates with Kruezer off the bench. Hadley walks into our midfield.

Attacking Mids

O'Keefe
Betts
Houla

Obviously dreaming that we snare ROK. He would be a massive get for us, we really need a player of his ability in our forward line. Betts deserves his spot and hopefully will get even more consitant next. I went with Houla because I think he gets a hard time from alot of people but could really become a handy forward, hopefully adding 30+ goals or so. I have Russell coming off the bench because I think he can make the grade.

KPF
Fev
Waite
Cloke

Fev speaks for himself (as we all know). Waite must play forward, he is too much of an asset to be left down back especially with the talent we have coming through. CHF is a bit of a stretch with his lanky body type but running off a flank would be perfect. I think Cloke should be given every chance to make his mark as a CHF, he can mark, he can kick goals, lets hope a massive preseason gives him the engine and strength to hold the position.

Here is my dip guys but the beauty is that finally we have options.


Thornton............Jamison.............Armfield


Scotland............Bower..............Grigg


Simpson...........Gibbs...............Stevens


Walker..............Waite..............Houlihan


Kruezer.............Fev.................Betts


1st Ruck

Warnock...........Judd.............Murphy


Int

Carrazzo........Hadley............Cloke..........Wiggins


Emg

Russell.........Ohailpin........Austin.........Browne...........Anderson


Ok here is my explanation, i have tried to look at balance and cover.

A have selected a mobile defense and if we need somone to play on the big Ogre's then Setanta is the man.

On the INT we have cover for the midefield in Hadley and Carrots, cover up forward in Cloke and Wiggins as well as Cloke as a back-up thug ruckman.

I like the look of Austin but i reckon he will start in the Ants but will cement a spot in the 2nd half of season. Scotland off HB gives us a good user of the footy as well as Stevo on the wing.

Houla adds class and crumbing ability up forward, and Waite and Walker add some real mobility and tough matchups. Krueze adds some help for the Fev.


Anyway thats my run and that is assuming that our number 6 takes time to develop in the Ants and that we dont pick anyone substantial up in the PSD.


What you think?

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Blue boy thru and thru

Rucci, I reckon you are pretty much spot on!

A couple of MINOR points in MY opinion.

I would like to see both Walker and Waite on the wings. They are both big, mobile and will worry any opposition pushing back and forward. I believe for us to get to the next level we have to get away from making Waite a key position player. He is NOT a strength player he is an athlete and could very well be our X factor. Cloke at CHF for me.

Browne instead of Armfield in defence. It is where he played all his junior footy and he is coll under pressure, same for Anderson. For me Armfield is more a run with player.

Austin could easily replace Thornton.

Prefer to see both Scotland and Stevens play off the bench as impact players with more reliance put on the kids (they are the future).

Anderson Jamison Austin
Grigg Waite Bower
Russell Gibbs Simpson
O'Keefe Hartlett Walker
Betts Fevola Kreuzer

Warnock Judd Murphy

Hadley Browne Armfield Stevens

CJ69,

did you see Cloke play CHF this year. There were several. Lets just take the last game which is fresh in our minds. Cloke could not pressure the defender running through his line, due to lack of pace. Refer to Cloke vs Lovett Murray, and Cloke vs Ryder (Bumbers). If Cloke can't lose some weight to improve his pace, then for me, it's a Lance situation all over again.

Armfield in round 22 tagging Rioli. That was in the BP, and Armfield was superb. After tha performance, I couldn't see Browne matching Army in a BP. Army has pace to burn; really important for defensive pressure.

Just my 2 bobs worth.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Hey budzy, you finally got yourself a recruit good enough to replace Houlihan in the HF.

I hope Russell improves in 2009.

I take it that Warnock and Kreuzer are on the ground 100% of the game. They'll get tired.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

You know it wouldn't matter if we didn't land ROK.

I hope Russell will be a bit more attacking next year.

If we re-draft Sauce, which I hope we do, I'd have Hammer on the bench to rotate.

Towards the end of the year when he had long spells in defense you almost had to close your eyes whenever he had the ball down there. This happened a lot being a major ball winner/receiver but without the comfort of having quality ball users to dish off to as he would if he was in the midfield, he was left exposed in the back having to make something happen himself. His kicking skills don't back up what he's relied upon. For this role, I think it suits Heath a bit better as he is more reliable with the ball, although he isn't the best defender.