comedic genius? ..... point taken.

Thornton plays an integral role in setting up our back-line, and turning defense into attack. Take him out and we will have issues.
I'd say regardless of what you came to a team as, if you play 149 games at the highest level in a position, you are obviously have talent and experience in that position no matter what some keyboard tactician says.
Ratts has even flirted with the idea a few times for no real success.

I like Waite as a defender too, but our back six is sorted and we need another forward target. Even if he has lost a little pace, after the knee op, he can use his ball reading ability to take marks rather than prevent marks.

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dane's trolling again

btw...
wtf?

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dane's trolling again

I'll say it again, our club is blessed with the likes of Bower, T-Bird and Jamo as our major talls down back, plus a real talent like Aussie in the wings, what a luxury. Tex a nice back-up, too.

With our structure, Waite needed more forward then back. A no brainer, he must play fwd, even moreso after seeing my man Kreuze struggling up fwd past few - not as natural a fwd as I thought. Time will help him, though.

X-factor's like Betts, Yazz, Waitey and Carlos will cause some grief in 2010.

what he said!

Anybody who has seen Waite play as the focal point of our forward line knows he can do it.

Anybody who watched his forward play after he switched back from his stint in defence knows he can do it. Had the skill set, just didn't bring it together and apply it in a timely fashion. Does that now.

What more needs to be said? First crack at full-forward for Waite.

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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.

Well said!!

Summed up by a Saints friend of mine when he said "What's the big deal about getting rid of Fev, it's been Waite forward or back that has killed us everytime"
...and yes he is still hurting

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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

+ we dont want too many talls in the backline. Sometimes 3 will be too many. Same with out forward line.

Ratts wont want to go too top heavy. He has been stung doing that in the past. Blokes Russell and Walkers size are perfect for the modern game.

Waite can play anywhere.
That's how good he is.

On Kreuzer
Don't underestimate Kruezer's ability to play forward.
Furthermore judging his last 2 forays during the practise games playing in the forwardline as his failure or that there's form issues with him are dead set wrong.
The culprit for Kreuzer's failure on the scoreboard lays fair and square on the delivery into the forwardline.
Kreuzer's marking throughout this preseason has been a stand out with his beautifully timed one grab marks.
He's been in better marking form that everyone else on the list. A standout.

On Thornton
Thornton has not been a failure when he's ventured forward.
In fact, he's done well albeit only a couple of times (once being the preseason 08).
There's not enough proof to say he couldn't play forward, or that the backline would fail without him.

Waite forward
Waite, Kreuzer and Hendo (with Setanta in the wings) is an awesome tall forward combination.
I'd put that up against Roughead and Franklin.
In fact with those 4 talls available we have the luxury of sending Waite where he is more needed, allow Kreuzer to play ruck (and maybe swap Hammer or Warnock into the FP role), or just play a 2 man tall forwardline with Waite and Hendo, or even Setanta and Hendo, with Waite or Kreuzer sneaking forward from a midfield role.

Waite everywhere
Waite gives us the x factor we need to succeed in 2010. Add Walker, another x factor to the mix and wow, add Betts and Yarran who also have x factor and you can see we have the weapons to gel into a dynamic team.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

He has struggled to take a mark up fwd all pre season, and that is from viewings of the intra club, Syd and Lions games

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

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

It's true, so many around here judge him on his fwd play in his first few formative years at the club, it's ridiculous. In his few fwd cameos in 2009, geez he looked so dangerous and he was hitting the scoreboard, too.

Being the key target and attracting the best defender is something Waite has little experience at.
I'm hoping to he can be an answer but I'm not as optimistic as you are Jim. He's not a strong contested mark and his kicking is very average IMO.

I dont doubt his "X factor" but his ability to perform a key forward role at a consistent level is yet to be determined.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

In full flight Waite is one of the very special players in the AFL capable of playing all over the ground. We definately have a 'Richo' type dilemma when it comes to where to play Waite. He can be damaging down back, in the middle and up forward. But for 2010 he must play forward. Having lost the experience of Fev, someone like Waite at FF gives our forward structure much more substance. As much as I think that Eddie and Yazz can play key roles for us on the forwardline, I cringe at the thought of those 2 being our main avenues to goal. Hendo is great but he should be left to develop at CHF. And Setanta is still a little too inconsistent for my liking. Having Waite at FF just makes us look a hell of a lot more capable of kicking enough goals to win matches.

Besides that we have Thornton, Jammo and Bower downback. If they remain healthy they should work very well together. And Bower for all his detractors, is fast becoming a similar type running backman - much like Waitey in full flight!

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HENDERSONALENKO......YOU BEAUTY!!!!!

I still remember watching Waite towel up Nick Riewoldt.
When he's on his game Waitey is very hard to play against.

ya know,people talk A LOT about the 99 prelim
but...my secret favorite feel good match (for now at least)
is the one i saw the other nite...carl/coll 2008 rnd 12.starring one J.Waite being stupendous generally, and best of all,doing the pony high foot dance after one of his goals.
that match has everything for me...waitey...Fev rip.......group hugs,group joy, team work...Thornton...Murph....Gibbsy....Cloke..rip...Scotty ans setant...JUDD!!! sigh....
geez it's a great match....
topped off with the requisite Mcguire shots at end.
Lovvvvvvee it!!!!
Don't want to overbuild Waitey...but..we do really need him!

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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.”

You don't sit next to me at work do you?

Except for Judd, I agree by the way

Waite Kruezer and Hendo as good as Franklin and Roughead----YOU ARE DREAMING/WHAT YOU BEEN SMOKIN'?

Everyone is working on the expectation that Waite is fully fit and had a full pre season. He hasn't so give the guy a break.

Why not ease him into the play on a wing and let him develop a llittle confidence and take it from there?

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

I didn't want it to get to this Rexy, I was just pointing out some of the flack Waite receives is unfair and it sticks...unfairly..usually in the minds of the author and of course the gullible lap it up,

Have a re read of your post...the response...that Waite can be inconsistent...what do you call that? Praise?

I pointed out that he has kicked the ball outabounce every now and then...how do you find that a comment related to flawlessness? You're taking my post personally.

Anyway, you support my point with your response. There's a few clangers here and there, and then there's really severe remarks like Waite having brain fades, inconsistency.....mate Judd has been shanking them, Ablett shanks then, then tries to do too much...the point is all superstars make mistakes and imo Waite is a superstar...difficult to match up, can play anywhere, and hard to match up on, a game breaker and a match winner.

Some people like to place a lot of weight on the brain fades, out on a full rather than evaluate the real package as a whole.

So what are you really saying Rexy? I may have missed your point. Brain fades doesn't sound too complimentary...maybe it has something to do with the humidity in Sydney today....am I missing something? Did I say something you have taken personally> That shouldn't be the case. If so sorry, but I've made my point.

Waite is a bloody fantastic footballer who has flaws like every champion and great human being does. I'll take him just the way he is rather than trade him....as some posters suggested only 2 years ago.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

..this.. ..plus, a player like Waite needs to play off a flank, to be the most dangerous.. ..let him roam out at HFF.. ..use the bench so he gets his fitness up as well.. ..the big Setant can play the FF position, with crumbers in the FP's..

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