Hey Guys, it dawned on me recently that the most successful teams over the past few years have had a great deal of stability in their sides. They generally have a core defensive group and similarly the same group of players up front, week after week. These have generally remained fairly consistent. It has been the on-ballers who have been rotated throughout each game and from week to week.

I have been researching the last 6 years and particularly the Cats, who have been the most successful during this period. The key component that I have identified is that they have had a regular core of 4 Defenders, 4 Forwards and 2 Rucks. Naturally there has been the balance of the team filling the Wing/Centre, Flanks/Pockets and Interchange. If you do the sums, you would soon nut out that they have at least 12 in their rotation, which assumes that the 10 previously accounted for spend up to 80% of time on the ground. There have been a few exceptions, where one of their rucks get a rest on the pine and they use a forward (Sticks style) as the backup. Hawkins filled this role this year. They also have a number of players who can match up on tall and small opponents.

So, I ask these questions: How does our squad compare with the Cats? Do we have the 4, 4, 2 & 12? If so, are they as good? How deep do we bat? Now of course if you are as positive as me, you will say we pantsed them two out of the past three, with that couple of points loss this year. Finals of course are a different ball game.

The next issue is to sort our squad out and assuming all players are fit and available, who makes the cut. For the exercise, I left out all the Rookies. This is not to say that Zac and Ed won’t force their way in dependent on form and injuries. Very hard to leave the Irishman out particularly, but like the selectors, we need to pick a squad/team that fits the above criteria.

So, by numbers; this is the squad that I came up with. Some surprise omissions and inclusions, but once you have a go at this exercise, you will see how difficult it is now to fit them all in.


Initial Squad of 25: Walker, Russell, Murphy, Gibbs, Judd, Simpson, Kreuzer, Lucas, Warnock, Robinson, Yarran, Laidler, Bower, Betts, Hampson, Henderson, Armfield, Scotland, Waite, Thornton, Diugan, Garlett, Jamieson, Ellard, Joseph.

Apologies to the following: Watson, McLean, Collins, O’Keefe, McCarthy, Mitchell, McInnes, Davies, Curnow, Kerr, Casboult, Tuohy, White, Carrazzo, Carter, Bray.


4 Defenders: Jamieson, Henderson, Duigan, Laidler.

4 Forwards: Waite, Hampson, Thornton, Garlett.

2 Ruckmen: Warnock, Kreuzer.

12 Rotations: Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson, Walker, Robinson, Betts, Yarran, Russell, Scotland, Ellard, Lucas.

Emergencies: Bower, Joseph, Armfield.


FB: Laidler......Jamieson......Duigan

HB: Yarran......Henderson....Russell

WC: Simpson.....Gibbs.........Robinson

HF: Walker.......Waite..........Thornton

FF: Garlett.......Hampson......Betts

RR: Warnock......Judd...........Murphy

INT: Kreuzer..Scotland..Ellard..Lucas

Emergencies: Bower, Joseph, Armfield.



I look forward to your feedback and of course squads/teams and the final result.

Have Fun!

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2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Can't see the MC having the list set up whereby Tuohy and Curnow aren't all set to cash in on the nominated rookie slots. We'd have to strike gold in the rookie draft to prevent that, and thus probably them playing round 1. Carrazzo's not going to miss for a while yet either.

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

This Jamieson bloke looks like a handy inclusion.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Good stuff BB. Any chance you can re-do it with the purple changed to another colour?

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Bawditawaba

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

Touhy will definitely be in Carlton's starting 18 in 2012.

You may be well correct Jimbo, but based on the team that I nutted out, where do they fit in (assuming all are fit)? I already expressed dismay that I couldn't find a role for Zac. I wonder who would miss out if he was included? The chances of Ed getting a gig ahead of those who have jumped ahead of him are remote. Robbo, Slug etc.

Just because these guys would be our likely Nominated Rookies, doesn't make them automatic selections.

On the Carrots situation, I figured a similar scenario. What role will he fill and just who gets the shove?

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Great stuff Briz................CHF is the key for mine.Not sure who myself,but if this Mitchell kid is as good as they say,then we are on our way.Also would like another ball magnet onballer.Think i might have underestimated Zac Touhy.Got a gut feeling Touhy could emerge as that tough inside midfielder we have been crying out for.Not sure,but i think.

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All my dangerous friends

Reckon we might need a power forward tho'

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

High hopes for Luke Mitchell.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

I think that Ellard and Thornton would have trouble getting a gig when there's a full list to choose from, as might Lucas & Russell unless their pre-seasons translate.

I suspect all four will get at least 8 games next season injury permitting, whereas I would see Curnow, Carrazzo & Tuohy getting at least 12. I'm glad you're figuring Bower into calculations though.

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