I went over to Adelaide on the weekend and went to the game with a couple of lady friends and they wanted to wait for the team after the game to board the bus to goto the airport, which we did. Houla and Armfield both looked very sore leaving the ground.

What happened to Houla anyway?

I don't know if I'd read to much into it as I imagine the boys often pull up badly from a game and manage to get up the next week.

The CFC website hasn't been too reliable with its injury list this year, but hopefully they will update it later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, I was looking at the list of players we are likely to have unavailable this week:

Waite: suspended - 2 weeks
Tex: collarbone - 3-4 weeks
Fish: knee - 3-4 weeks
Lucas: hamstring - ??
Bower: leg(?) - ??
Brock: hip - ??
Hoops: hamstring - ??
White : shoulder - ??
Grigg: ankle - ??
Hadley: knee - ??
Dare: ?? - ??
ROK: ?? (went off injured in the VFL on Sat) - ??
Warnock: ?? (didn't play in the VFL on Sat, possibly just rested) - ??
Ellard: ?? (didn't play in the VFL on Sat, possibly just rested) - ??

And Hammer & Austin have just returned to action in the VFL after extended lay-offs.

So our depth is going to be tested in the next few weeks. We really didn't need the Waite suspension....

I think it will be tougher than people think vs Hawthorn on Sunday. This will be our 3rd game in 13 days (including 1 interstate trip). Hawthorn still have enough match-winner types from their premiership side (less than 18 months ago!) to be dangerous. They are under scrutiny in the media. Clarkson will have them playing aggressively against our boys, no doubt about that...

Aside from the 4 points, I also see this game as having 'symbolic' significance....ie. Hawthorn is another side that took liberties with us when we were struggling, and a win over them (following 2 x wins interstate and wins over Geel & St K) would really go a long way towards proving to ourselves that we have moved on from the dark days and are ready to compete in finals....

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

It basically depends on the week. If we're afforded the luxury of having him in the backline, then yes, he still plays the "Hodge Role". When we need the added class and grunt through the midfield though, he moves in there, but often it'll only be for 5-10 minutes at a time. There were a couple of key clearances against Richmond orchestrated by Hodge, and I'd imagine he'll play a very similar role this week.

I'm not sure there's much point in manning up on him if he plays in the backline. The only side that I've seen do it successfully was Essendon* with Angus Monfries last year. The way to take Hodge out of the game is to deliver it low and precise to your forwards. As a third man up he won't be able to cut off those sorts of passes. Also, you have to be able to tackle ferociously in your forward line as he has a tendency to get caught holding the ball while barging through players.

To be honest, I'm disappointed you guys ever got rid of Cameron Cloke. I used to love that match-up, probably almost as much as Hodgey did.

Houla or Robbo (if he's in) would probably be our matchup options for Hodge.

Injury list on CFC website updated-

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/injury/tabi ... fault.aspx

No mention of Brock, White, 206, Ellard, ROK or Dare.

Hadley & Grigg - "Test"

Hoops & Lucas - "TBA"

Bower - 3 more weeks

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

Yep

Carrots on Hodge, lock it in.

No mention of White with his shoulder.
Bower 3 weeks, saw that comin, why they play it down initially is ridiculous.

Out:
Waite, Lucas & Hoops
In:
Hendo, Robbo & Wiggins

Army to Rioli
Joseph to Peterson
Carrots to Hodge
Jamo to Buddy
Thornton to Roughy
Russell to Burgoyne

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The climbing has alread began

Houla or Carrazzo.

Not sure why people think Robbo is capable of playing a defensive forward role.

Hodge would be delighted if we sent Robbo to him.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

It really doesn't pay to be above 6'0 tall in our team does it? Seems you're destined to get injured one way or another.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

It's a good week to have had Hendo kick 4 in the magoos

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http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/afl.php? ... scot=Blues

This website seems to know more than CFC website does . Houlihan out for 3 weeks, that's a blow; White, McLean, Grigg, Hadley possibly available.

Shit Shit Shit is the news on Houla and also an apt description of the CFC website if the information is true.

Thanks Tommy

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

As long as there are players coming back to cover those going out injuries do not hurt as much when you are playing to a game plan which we are finally doing....those coming in will be desperate to show the MC that they are willing to do whatever is necessary to execute the game plan and be part of the starting line up going forward....I expect us to be very fired up this week....floodgates via the little helpers is my prediction....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

massive disappointment on Hoops. He's played his role superbly the last month. Maybe Wiggo comes in for him, but what's going to hurt is that Wiggo won't get the same respect from the opposition with his ball use.

Looking ahead, we've got a LOT of games at Etihad voer the next couple of months. No doubt the fitness team have plans in place, but we'll need to manage all that very carefully.

I am more concerned about this game than our past two games.
Wiggins to replace Houla and Henderson to replace Waite.
Henderson onto Roughead for me, I don't want Thornton to go anywhere near him.

Was it Thornton or Bower that Roghey dismantled last year ? I

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Thornton. Remarks apparently came from him after (repoerted on TC) that Roughhead is a very lazy player, sitting back and wiating for the turnover. This is correct from what ive seen.

Thornton should sit on him all game and run run off, utiilising any / all of the available runners in the team who do it far better anyway.

Hope Ratts doesnt take as long as he did last time to make a move if one of their twin towers starts dominating.. I remember Roughhead had 6 goals on the board near on 2 quarters before Ratten came to his sinces last year...

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS