Let's get back to footy.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

THE JFK Curse...

Agree with others... ATM Motlop and /or Durds have to push out Owies.

Owies is no superstar but he does plenty...
I also don't think JSOS will be dropped in a big rush again...he's slow and small for a KPP, BUT he's smart and does everything required too.. Both defend, pressure, present, deceptively outplay a similar sized opponent and score when they get the chance.

If we can control the ball as we did early in the season, they'll be even more valuable...

Go Blues

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Agree Billy . Stop that slingshot out of our forward line . Control that ball .

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All my dangerous friends

With Walsh likely to miss early part of year I think Docherty goes back on the ball.
Will depend how quick Hollands Carroll come on. Maybe Dow Ed or Cuningham? Positive is we have options
Newman comes in or even Cowan to be part of back 6.
I reckon we will see Cerra go to another level

A midfield rotation of Cripps Kennedy Hewett Cerra Docherty assisted by Fisher Martin Hollands is still as good as any. Walsh just makes it better and having him fresh for second half of the year may be a bonus

Our midfield is:

Cripps
Hewitt
Kennedy

Walsh - possible wing
Cerra - possible wing
Acres on the other wing

Take out Walsh for the first month and what happens?

Dow? Ed Curnow?
Docherty?
Cunningham or Fisher?

Williams / Boyd / O'Brien / Cotters on the wing?

Someone younger? Hollands or Carroll? Philp?

I am thinking it's gonna be a fair bit more than the first month.

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#DonTheStash

Having had what I think was a similar operation, I am guessing we have been given a timeline on the lengthier side so as to not disappoint us more than we already are when Walsh finally returns.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

1-2 weeks then?

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

I was thinking the club might be providing a 'best case scenario' so membership numbers aren't significantly affected. Hope this isn't the case.

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In the Truth there is no news, and in the News there is no truth.

He is not dead.

It is only an operation.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

If Walsh misses I see it as Cripps Hewett Kennedy & Cerra. I think Cerra will step up to genuine A grade
Docherty will go there and gives us something different
Carroll is the wildcard. Can play and looking to mature
Ed is always a handy back up and I'm not sure about Dow but hoping
Kemp is a possible as was recruited as a mid

Generally we play 5 midfielders (not wings) with Durdin Motlop Martin Fisher can all play some relieving minutes

Boyd IMO will be a gun running defender

Acres will have one wing with O'Brien Hollands Cottrell fighting for the other wing. Philp Cunningham other possibles

Nice to have options

Always been a fan of Kemp as he has never done anythng really wrong when given the chance. He gives a point of difference as well at 193 cm and 88 kg. Could be a really good player.

Deserves a run of consecutive games as others have been given but who have put in underwhelming performances and still get a game.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

IMO, this is the closest to the Best 23 from anyone in the media thus far:



Well done Glenn McFarlane

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/where-does-your-afl-club-sit-avoid-injuries-and-carlton-is-a-genuine-topfour-contender/news-story/e8532613bf0ca623ad5d8e0dd6198599

Obvious difference to mine is Boyd missing.

Feel Cottrell will feature too, but that's the beauty of Best 23 teams...no one knows.

No one knows how Cuningham is progressing.

Will Carroll, Kemp or Philp have their breakthrough year?

Is Hollands really already for AFL? Cowan?

There's so many others missing who feature in half of ther Best 23 teams, Silvagni.

What will LOB and Dow produce in 2023?

So many players out of contract at the end of 2023, some playing for their footy career. Which of the following will join past first rounders, SPS and Stocker

David Cuningham, Ed Curnow, Tom De Koning, Sam Docherty, Paddy Dow, Lachie Fogarty, Josh Honey, Brodie Kemp, Caleb Marchbank, Mitch McGovern, Jesse Motlop, Nic Newman, Sam Philp, Marc Pittonet, Lachie Plowman, Jack Silvagni, Lewis Young, Domanic Akuei, Sam Durdin

Can't wait for the season to start. I just hope Walsh makes a speedy recovery like he did last year, and injury doesn't feature in our season again. If that happens....give us the CUP!

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I wouldn't be playing Cerra on the wing. If Walsh is fit then he plays the other wing and Cerra plays on ball. Also if Cunningham hits pre-injury form then he replaces JSOS on the other HFF.

A form line of three games in a row isn’t exactly a form line.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill


Message to “you know who you are” - my name is not Chris or Carrot and I’ve been happily married for 31 years and still going strong.

Our form line in the first 3 rounds in 2022 showed 3 wins, 0 losses.
That was our form line. Couldn't measure anything else.


Finished off the year with 4 losses in a row.
That was our form line to finish off season. Not a good way to end the season with so much promise in the first half season.

Having said that, our last 2 games showed a lot of good form against two top 4 teams.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We have a pretty tough first two rounds - Tigers then Geelong. Then GWS in Sydney, then a Clarkson-coached North followed by Magic round curtain-raiser against hosts Adelaide...

Lid should be firmly on. And the boys should be getting flogged on the track. Season could be on the line earlier than we think.

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Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. Fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem, qui spatium vitae extremum inter munera ponat naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores.

A few speculative inclusions there Doc! eg. TDK ahead of Pittonet; and the inclusion of Boyd, Philp, Hollands, S.Durdin & Kemp ahead of 2022 regulars (when fit) C.Durdin, Owies, Newman, Young & LOB.
And I take it you’re not expecting to see Walsh in 2023?

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To one who, journeying thru night & fog
Is mired neck-deep in an unwholesome bog
Experience, like the rising of dawn
Reveals the path he should not have gone

- Ambrose Bierce

Sam Durdin a better fit than Young because...?