If we're going to beat a top-four team in September, we need a target at full-forward.
No, not Jamison.
No, not Thornton.
No, not Kreuzer.
No, not Betts.
Yes, Waite, but 60 metres out either forward or back.
Jesus Christ. The Irishman is a target. He marks the ball and he brings the ball to ground. He makes things happen. This little forward set-up bollocks doesn't work against the top sides, full stop.

Play the Irishman.

_________________
Dut, de dut, de daaa!

I agree.

_________________
Dut, de dut, de daaa!

A fit Waite will do thanks

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

If setanta is our saviour, we are screwed

_________________
"I had to eat"

Carlos to CHF rather than FF in my view. Provides a contest there and is big enough to cop the physical battering that comes with the position when the ball is bombed in under pressure. I think the Walker / Kreuzer combo on the FF line works better than a O'hAilpin / Kreuzer would. Waite if he can get back slots into whatever role we are lacking in - FF CHF HFF CHB W loose defender you name it (EXCEPT FOR RUCK!) and gives us the flexibility and X-factor that creates headaches for opposing sides.

GO YOU BIG IRISHMAN

Henderson to the forward line, Bower or Thornton to the back line. Waite forward also. End of discussion.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I tend to agree, especially in the absence of Waite. Let's face it, Kreuz up forward aint working for us. It might one day but not yet. Setanta I think is actually a really handy player to have and could be well suited to the crash and bash and contests of finals footy. Sadly for him he hasn't had an opportunity to play a final yet. We need him more than ever now.

I thought this was a good opportunity to copy across what I wrote in another thread a few weeks back. The stats are three weeks out of date but the story won't have changed:

Since the start of the 2008 season (ie when we became competitive again), Carlton has (forgetting about the draw) had 46 wins and 41 losses (53% win ratio).

I looked to see how we go without a couple of players who are/were considered crucial to our structure, over the same period, and these are players who have spent quite a bit of time in and out of the side:

Since the start of 2008, Jamison has played in 33 wins and 28 losses (54%) so we go slightly better with him in the team.

Waite has played in 29 wins and 28 losses (51%) so we go a bit worse with him in the team.

I also looked at Bower - he has played in 21 wins and 27 losses over the period (44% winning ratio so well down on our average), however I think the timing of his injuries has been a bit unfair to Bower, if he had been fit for this year and played that could be a very different story.

But the most interesting was Setanta. We have a great record with him in the side. Since 2008 he has played in 27 wins and 16 losses, a 63% win ratio, which could well be the best of all players who have played over that period (discounting those who only played a few games).

Why are you writing so much. Didn't you see the post above? He said "end of discussion".....

_________________
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

those stats are useless. Could it be that Waite and Jamo are in our best 22 therefore play every game when fit
Could it be that Setanta hardly plays against the good sides because the match committee don't see fit?

_________________
i AM CARLTON

To be honest, I don't understand your first point. Please explain. Regarding Setanta and the MC not picking him against the good sides, I don't think that's true - he hasn't been an 'in one week out the next' type player, he has stayed in and out of the side for long stretches at a time, based on form or injury. My main point is that he really gives something to the team, a desire and appetite for the contest that can be lacking in his absence.

'Could it be' that you don't like the stats because they don't fit in with your opinion of Setanta?

Playing last night would have been good for two reasons, the first he could have provided a target and second, if he is a forwardline option come finals, surely a game or two behind him is a benefit.

The big galoots nervous at the best of times, if they want him in for finals he needs a gallop.

Anybody else think Waite is gone?

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

Yes...shoulda palye Santy last nite to see...and should try him against Aints.

Yes...I suspect the worst but hope for the best re Waite.
Also...some time earlier in the year I realised Waitey might not be the white knight I though he was. Seems to me always on the verge of greatness,
So..for me, even if he comes back, i win't be expecting miracles...but maybe enough structure to tip a game in our favour.

_________________
That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

The side needs Sentanta and Waite. CHF and FF respectively. The lack of a target up forward was glaringly obvious last night and the Hawks had no trouble with who was there. Finals footy is crash and bash and kicking long to a contest in the heat of an intense match.....we need targets!

Kruezer is NOT working. In fact on present form I would rather have Hammer in as second ruck along with Warnock (if we had the option). He is definitely lacking a pre-season and may reach greatness next year but this is not his year. He looks slow and has lost the ability below his knees that marked him in front of other big men previously.

Now is not a time to be playing favorites.

Been saying it for weeks. Has cost us top4 and now any chance we had of challenging.
And please don't come in here and tell me otherwise today ... because I will throw up.
Can't believe Ratten has been so pig headed over this. He even prefered Jamison instead of Hendo foward last night.

Setanta should have been played last night and should be played against the Aints purely for the fact that he is our current standby for any of the following being injured: Henderson (as a fwd freeing up Thornton to go back to defence to cover for Hendo), Warnock, Kruise and (conversely) Thornton. He needs gametime in the seniors now in case we need to throw him into a final to replace any of those guys, he hasn't played seniors for a long time and giving him a game is just sensible management.

Hampson is another that needs gametime in the seniors before the finals but the fact is he may not be ready for that until the first final given this weekend will be his first run at any level for a long time. Waite also but looking more and more likely we will not see him play at all this year again.

Oh, and maybe Setanta would do a better job than Kruise/Thornton/Jamieson/Warnock as a key fwd, all of those guys have been struggling recently to provide real impact as a key fwd.

edit: fixed typos..

Good luck with that

2011 - 12
2010 - 16
2009 - 9
2008 - 21
2007 - 22
2006 - 13
2005 - 21
2004 - 9
2003 - 20

_________________
"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

I actually thought Jamison gave us a real target in the fwd line when he was there, if he had kicked straight we would all be hailing Ratten as a genius.

edit: my kingdom for a spell-checker!

I agree, he did, so why not try a forward - forward and a proven goal kicker?
I don't get it...we are shooting ourselves in the foot, especially with Waite out. He only have one more genuine forward on our list currently and are playing him back.
For mine, if you want to teach someone to play back for the backup, bring in Setanta for that and see how he goes .... god help us but don't rob Paul to pay Peter.....arrgg I'm over it. Last time I post about Hendo going forward....that's it.

Waite is injured.
Hendo is playing much better as a defender than a forward and we need a second key defender
Bower and Thornton should be in the backline for the Ants
Discussion not quite ended.

With Henderson playing back ATM, I'd rather reach and play Austin than go back to Setanta.

The latter isn't a footballer like Aussie.

If only Austin had as many petrol tickets as Armfield and Joseph who are favoured by the coaches.