I want walker to be pushing hard for a spot in the rd 1 game. But I'd be happy if betts & houlihan struggle to make it back for a month or more. Especially p*ssed off if betts goes straight back in. He's let himself down massively over the last 6 months or so. He started 2009 off well, but unfortunately due to a combination of poor condition & possible injury, he really tailed of as the season wore on. And, after what happened post- round 21 last year , & the way he dropped right off in condition during the elimination final up in brisbane (that inability to run at the defender in the final minutes of the game was weak), this preseason was his big opportunity to make amends. And IMO, he's failed dismally. I hope Gartlett learns from the mistakes of betts & overtakes him - & that being the case, betts could really struggle to make it back into our best 22 in 2010. This would be a shame, but he would have noone else to blame but himself.

..you're kiddin' right..?.. ..Eggy Betts will be right back in the side once coach says the punishment is over.. ..Edwardo under-done is still a far better, more seasoned/experienced forward than anyone that would take his spot, also no Judd and underdone Murphy means he could come in handy in short bursts through the midfield.. ..Eddie's is, easily.. .... ..ppl forget the mountain of work he does up forward.. ..with Fev hoggin' all the entries, he still snagged 37 goals and ppl reckon his second half of the season wasn't that good.. ..factor in our best assist player, and top 5 F50 tackles in the league and you start to get an idea of how good/important he is to us..

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

23 goals to round 8, then 14 goals in 14 games thereafter. And discipline problems that don't seem to go away.

Walker , Betts and Houlihan all have time to prove their fitness before round 1 .
All are training very hard with the Ants , can play in the regional challenge games , and then there will be a couple of full-on intra club hit-outs before round 1 .

With Judd missing , Murphy , Waite , Henderson all doubtful ( certainly underdone if they do play ) , I reckon Tex , Eddy and Houla will be out there .
With Fev and Stevens both gone as well , there are plenty of spots available .
The experience of the ( so-called ) 3 naughty boys will be invaluable .

The Richmond game is the best chance of a win in the first 7 or 8 rounds . We need to grab every chance we can in 2010 , or kiss finals goodbye .
We've got a tough draw .

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Get the facts first.
Then you can distort them at your leisure.

Good to see De Bolfo needs to get ideas from TC

He also didn't put in Betts, Walker and Houlihan - But I like my team better

Whilst we need to beat the Tiges, can't afford to take underdone players in. If we bomb out in the pre-season sounds like they will be more of a chance. As they say in the classics All will be revealed in time!

..his tapered off cos he wasn't playing at 100% due to carrying a niggle.. ..he still managed a goal a game after that, and lead our club in assists for the year and was top 5/6 in the league, and lead our team and was top 5/6 in the league for F50 tackles.. ..no-one comes close to this sort of output for our forward line/structure.. ..he's been second highest goal kicker two years now, and with Fev out he's our top goal scorer currently..

..now with Fev gone, he's our most seasoned/experienced fwd.. ..Waite will be underdone, and may still play the swingman role.. ..Hoops gets moved around as well, or when fwd gets assigned a neg role.. ..the other talls, meds and smalls are still new to the game/position.. ..like it or lump it, Eggy Betts is our best fwd.. ..hes also a very good, and highly under-rated/under-appricated fwd.. ..he does more than just kick goals..

..yes, he seems to enjoy a drink, and should work harder to get more out of his body.. ..he's also young'ish [23?], and with a cultural shift within the club i reckon he can offer more still.. ..the D&D shite was shite, on all sorts of levels.. ..dissappointing, not so much for the silly lock up but for our shitty luck.. ..now the AFL clears the club of any booze cruise tomfoolery, but have the 'sanctions axe' over the club's head should crap happen at a later date.. ..so for silly stuff ups we've got crap like that now.. ..but maybe that will get the boys more committed, changing times i guess.. ..but he isn't some trouble-maker type repeat offender.. ..just a bad end to our season, club wide..

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

On the basis of this week's press and positivity around the 3 ex-Stooges, does anyone have a changed team in mind?

I've always thought that Betts would walk straight back in to the team on account of his success and specific role, and it looks like Walker and Houlihan have done all they need to to minimise any fitness weakness (perceived or actual) from the ban. After all they still have a while until Round 1.

My team would be:

B: Armfield Jamison Joseph
HB: Thornton Bower Russell
C: Murphy McLean Simpson
HF: Waite Henderson Yarran
F: Betts O'hAilpin Kreuzer
R: Hampson Gibbs Hadley
Int: Walker Carrazzo Robinson Scotland

Out: Judd
Potential: Warnock for #1 but we'll have to see how this plays out. I still don't rate him.

I'm finding it hard to have Houlihan in the best 25 or so players.

Think it might be trickier than this ie Murphy, Henderson and Waite may ot be certainties (?)

Therefore, Warnock, Browne, Houlihan may be required

Fair enough.

But the last time you saw Carlton play Houlihan was our best on ground...that was the final.
You've got Betts and Walks in, so I guess his ommission has nothing to do with the Booze Cruise.
So you rate Robinson, Yarran, Betts, Hadley, Scotland, Russell and Armfield ahead of Houla; that's all.
Not saying you're wrong, but aint saying your right.

I think he's in our top 18 based on what I've seen.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Nice looking side even without Judd.
We definitely have plenty of depth in 2010 considering that Houlihan, Grigg, Garlett and Warnock are all worthy additions as well.
Not sure about O'Hailpin however I hope he proves me wrong.

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There is no footy god

Bring in the gimps.

After watching some of the Richmond effort last night I'm thinking round one is a real risk for us. They have a great young midfield and players like Morton always carve us up.
Martin looks a likely kid.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

..still wanting to see some Nab cup form, but so far..

FB - Joseph Jamison Thornton
HB - Armfield Bower Russell
C - Walker McLean Johnson
HF - Gibbs Henderson Houlihan
FF - Garlett O'hailpin Betts

RR - Krooz Carrazzo Scotland

Int - Hampson Murphy Hadley Robinson
Emg - Yarran Browne Jacobs


Simmo - injured?, otherwise on the wing and Johnson out
Waite - would prefer he be given a couple of games in the Ants first up just to be safe
Knockers - not sure he's that far ahead of either Krooz or Hammer, and nowhere near as fit
Lucas - close, but not yet there [to push another out]

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

From what I saw of Richmond's form last night, If we can't beat them in R1 we are absolutely GAWN

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Saw the intra and will be absolutely amazed if Walker does not play Rd 1.

Agree, looked the best out of the three, but Houla wasn't too distant a second.

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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.

Betts, Houlihan and Walker will all play in round 1. They have shown by their hard work, that they can not be ignored. We will need the experience to ensure a win to start the season.

Just wondering if you are size or should I throw you back in....

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Grigg deserves his chance. Scotto may be the player struggling to hold his spot IMO. He has lost a yard and seemed to struggle a little at times last year. Henderson will play. Hasn't Ratts already come out and said that the forward 50 is his? Hopefully Murph will be close to 80/90% fit ny round one.

I also think Waite wil play deep forward. Coming off a knee. 100% or not, confidence is a massive thing and as long as he still has his leap, he will be a handful for anyone. Remember Bradshaws first year back from a knee? Sensational.....

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/t ... 5838329563


Bugger

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#DonTheStash