Well then , I apologise and agree with you.

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T E A M

Last year we smashed them in Rd 5? and Fev kicked 1.


Its all about consistency. The pies are ususally hard at it for 120min, Thats a real Malthouse trait.
Its something we are still learning about. I hope we continue our lessons 1 more week at least.

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T E A M

Henderson got to contests and positioned himself well enough to take marks, that's a good sign. The completion of the marks will come. Great work ethic and fits in the structure well. I hope he stays.

Bower in for Walker.

I dont think we should read too much into the second Carlton v Collingwood game last year. Our skills were appalling and we were still in at three quarter time, notwithstanding only having kicked 3 or 4 goals. We looked for Fev at all costs, and the Pies just double teamed him - Maxwell was back and everywhere setting up from the front.

In the St Kilda v Collingwood game, the Saints tagged their medium forwards out of it. Big games required from Russell and Gibbs on Didak and Medhurst, if that's the way we go. Cloke kicked a bag on the weekend but he's very overrated. Jolly looks like he is hitting is straps; one of the Pies goals was pretty special from a Jolly clearance.

I dont think their list should give us any particular worries and we should match up well. We need to be smart going forward because with our midfield we'll get the opportunities.

Today's injury report promises Sporting Pulse will be keenly watched on Thursday and Friday for teams.

Mark Austin – Groin – Test, Paul Bower – Leg – Test, Shaun Hampson – Hamstring – Test, Rhys O’Keeffe – Hip – Test

The Bullants match report gives Hadley, Grigg and Jacobs some encouragement:

“Amongst the better performers for the Bullants were Richard Hadley, whose leadership qualities again came to the fore, together with Shaun Grigg.

Richard was outstanding with his physicality in close, and some of his inside 50 kicking was the best I’ve seen. Shaun Grigg had a 15-possession first quarter and ended up our leading possession getter across half-back and on-ball,” Teague said. Also deserving of special mention were Sam Jacobs who dominated the ruck contests, together with David Ellard and Simon Wiggins."

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Bawditawaba

Collingwood had no forward line that game, Richmond 2010 could've beaten them.

I'd like to continue for 2 more weeks, wins against the Pies and Saints!!

Ratten has said Waite and Bower will play. Bower will replace Walker off course. Guessing Waite will replace one of White or Henderson. On form it has to be Henderson. White's done well enough to keep his spot and looks really promising in defence. One reason too we got White because he plays both ends so if Waite replaces him they may even rotate.

Yeah nah, I'd expect only one of Bower & Waite to come in. My preference would be Bower. Having seen Waite in the VFL last week, I reckon he's getting closer but still labouring a bit. His timing and touch don't seem quite there yet to me. I'd give his game on Sunday a 5.5/10 or 6/10. He strikes me as something of a confidence player - the MC made the right call to drop him. I hope they stick to their guns and hold him back until he plays a 7-9/10 game in the VFL.

Of course, they might not have that luxury if Bower isn't ready to come straight back in to replace Tex. I reckon Bower could just about get away with coming straight in after 4 weeks, especially as it sounds like he's been back training for at least a week, but that's obviously one for the High Performance staff. Any more than 4 weeks is pushing it. He might only end up playing 65-70% of the game anyway.

I'm surprised at the number of posters calling for multiple changes this week. Obviously subject to match-ups, but I'd think that the only change will be the forced one (ie. Bower/Waite for Tex). I wouldn't be upsetting the winning combination too much at this stage...

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

I love it how nobody is even CONSIDERING bringing Thornton back. Just shows you how far out backline has come this year. Congrads to the boys for FINALLY stepping up. (except for Thornton, who has stepped backwards)

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Why are the Blues such a frustrating side!??!?!

and yet the call for Bower is loud and clear, based on what though is the curious part, should match up on Cloke ok though, other teams I'm not as confident

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I'd say based on his willingness to attack and run, just like Walker was doing. He has great instinct does PB, even though his hand ball is a bit heart in mouth sometimes.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

I guess for one thing we don't know if he's injuried or not. He didn't play for the Bullants on Sunday.

Anyway, even if T-Bird's fit, in terms of replacing Walker's dash out of defence, Bower or Waite are significantly more desirable options at the moment.

I'm not a T-Bird basher (he's been a good player for our club, often playing in very tough positions through a nightmare period), but he's no longer an automatic selection while Jamo and others remain fit, IMO.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

We just seem to play better with thornton out of the team. We had a glimpse of it last year against the saints when Tbird missed. Bower has five kicked on him but his attacking game balanced that out and set the tone for the rest of the team and allowed Rattens plans to work.

Thornton is an ok player but full back is the only spot for him as he is no good with the ball. Jamo is better at full back than him. Playing thornton at CHF ahead of Henda would be a short sighted move.

Similar with Waite. He can only replace either Henda or Carlos to keep the balance of our team right. When he gets his chance he needs to grab it.

Thornton is not good in the team, as he always cracks it at his team mates. He always blames others for his mistakes.

Once he cracks it especially with the young guys down back, their confidence goes down and make more erros out of fear.

I know Brown is fantastic, but he was nowhere around him and due to him to pulling his weight we lost the game.

His attitude has annoyed me for a while now, he blames everyone but himself. Like Fevola blaming team mates, Thornton is the other that upsets teams dynamics and needs to go.

Give him his wish and pack him off to Hawthorn I say.

Ratts seemed quite adamant that Bower would play this week didn't he. Stated that he was very close for the game on Monday. They've been very cautious with him which is great given he could well be a 200+ gamer.

Interesting to see what Ratts said about Robbo. If it had have been wet on Monday, they would have selected him to play. Bit of a wet weather specialist. Should it rain on Sunday, he may come more into calculations.

Went down to the Bullants game, Waite was much improved on the week before. Looked sharp from a timing point of view, disposal though is an issue ... needs to ask Walks how he improved so much. If Bower's back, Hendo may get a tap but I'd have thought Waite would need to show better skills before getting a recall.

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".

Thornton is injured, this was announced last week...

Austin & Hampson will not play; neither have played football in over two months.

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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.

Ce'

Because he's developing into a very good attacking key defender who can play on a variety of forwards and has 10 year player written all over him. Other than that......

Waite went back to the Bullants to find some touch and from all reports did quite well on the weekend. However I'd be inclined to give hime one more week there. Just to get a bit more run in his legs and to improve his timing and confidence.

Bower in for Walks definately. Joseph is also struggling this season too. Played tight on Ablett but really didnt have much effect on his game. AJ probably needs a run in the 2's also. I'd look at bringing back Robbo for AJ this week.

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

Looks as though this game is going to be on around 1 hour delay across the country due to the motor racing (WA 10 hours )...

From Monday's game, I do recall more than one forward leading well up the ground and having the ball kicked to him.

One wears 19 on his back and the other wears 13.

Eddie marked some of these balls on his chest to protect the ball from a rapidly closing defender. When you as short as he is this is a sensible tactic.

The identified deficiency of a leading forward was in fact supplied in this game.

Perhaps the versatility of this playing group surprises even some of the supporters.

Let's hope that opposition coaches are also surprised by what they see.