I've been thinking this all morning - it's a new and confusing feeling

I tried working out where our new-found depth leaves our players - and it's a bit scary (a good scary!)
This is my view on where our players fit in the hierarchy at this point in time (players gain or lose favour quickly of course). I'm treating rookies as if they were always available.

Core players 'guaranteed' a game when fit (13 players)

Jamieson Thornton
Waite

Gibbs Simpson
Murphy Judd
Stevens Grigg

Walker Fev
Kreuzer Betts

This group may be a bit big, because the groups below are big and will be pushing hard this year!

Probables (expected to play 15+ games if available) (13 players)

Bower Armfield
Browne Hadley
Russell Johnson
Houlihan Cloke
Warnock Yarran
Robinson Garlett
Wiggins

Uh-Oh that's already 26 players and look at some of those left out:

On the cusp / edge (depth / emerging) (12 players)

Scotland Carrazzo
O'hAilpin Austin
Anderson Bannister
Fisher Hampson
Hartlett Joseph
Jacobs Pfeiffer

3 players have moved from permanent selection to this group in my eyes, plenty of young talent here too!!

Dropping Back / Too Young (8 players)

Bentick Tiller
O'Keeffe Edwards
Ellard Hill
Stanton Bentley

Bentick and Edwards are well back at the moment in my view, some exciting kids here too!

Our list has repectable to serious depth, we're in pretty good shape. Our top 13 have plenty of improvement in them which is huge, plus a fair bit of turnover in the probables and massive increase in the quality of our 27th-38th players, designated here as "on the cusp" (rookies included).

Players who have been injured and have ready replacements have dropped down (maybe too far). No wonder it's so tough putting together a best 22, when players outside my top 26 will probably come good and play most of the season.

Nice post aramari.
Agree with nearly eveything however I'd have Bower as a "guaranteed" player these days. Ditto Hadley if he can stay fit.

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There is no footy god

Cheers Humpers - yeah those categories are definitely rubbery and reflect "how soon we forget syndrome", with emphasis on pre-season form and disregarding some of last year's form (Carrazzo 5th in B&F).

Bower was ok last night, but hasn't found his late season form (which is fine). I wish he'd kept building up to true KPB size so he can physically match the Franklins Browns and Roughies

I'm not sure what Scotto has done since last year but he is guaranteed a place in our 22.

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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.

Tell me about it!

The guy can hit a target consistently with both feet, reads the play exceptionaly well, and is hard at the ball.

Guaranteed to be in the first 22 when fit.

The list is fine otherwise. (if Hadley stays fit you would have to think he would be immovable from the first 22 also)

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.