Here's a theory. (I'm not 100% sure of my facts though so guns at the ready scribes).
I think the only time our forward line has really functioned properly this year has been
when Thorton wasn't in the team.

Bit hard on the guy, but it was poor at the start of the year. He went out then all of sudden
we found a new way to attack. How long do you reckon it's been seen we've seen the ball
spill over the back of leading forwards and our crumbers pounce on it? Even in the wins against
the D's and WC I never felt the forward line was functioning smoothly like it did against the Cats
and St Kilda. (And here's were I'm not certain if Thornton played in either of those games).

Even if I'm 'right' it might be just a coincidence, but f.i. , I'd drop him anyway. Stick Bower and
Lucas in the backline and see if we look any better. When you dominate the mid field and still can't
kick a score against the likes of North Kangaroos, (or whatever they call themselves this week),
somethings not right.

Of course it could be something to do with the forward line itself.

I'm not a total Thornton hater,.......... but I must admit - i HATED seeing him shifted to the forward line the other night.


Not exactly sold on the argument that he SHOULDN'T be in the team............... but I'm still unsure as to why he should be picked every week.

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

8 day break vs a 6 day break with travel.
Even with Freo dropping their past 2 games, saw the 2nd half against the Saints and they have too much class around the ground and have good runners who use the ball well. With our un-accountable midfield at times Freo are going to carve us up. Pav and the pig man are going to have field days.
The giant Sandilands has always killed us in the ruck, were going to get smashed in the middle unless we can do something about it. Haven't seen our midfield dominate another ruckmans tapouts.
Can't see the end result being a good one for us.

_________________
31-3-2015 - R.I.P AFL, corrupted lying pricks
12-5-2015 - Go WADA
18-8-2015 - Suffer Hird* u lying flower
12-1-2016 - CAS goes bang, happy new year.. Drugcheats forever..

It might not make logical sense, but I reckon we're going to tear 'em
to pieces. IMO we'll know by the 5min mark of the first quarter. I think
we'll be 'on', and if that is the case, Freo will go the same way as
Geelong and St.Kilda.

With a few days to settle here's the changes I'd like to see.

Out: Browne (going to be hard for him to get back too), Thornton (just doesn't do enough), Robbo (injured)
In: Yarran, Bower and Lucas

Maybe Setanta for Henderson but worry about Hendo playing on Tarrant.

How did Eddie and Judd pull up?

After further thought and watching Freo yesterday!

A statement needs to be made after Friday nights performance. The effort was simply one that can never be tolerated in a Navy Blue jumper.

For me changes would be:

Out: Setanta (not consistent enough and worried about his ability to perform in big games, at 27 is he the future and can he get any better?) Browne (disappointed in several efforts when he didn't put his head over the ball) Joseph (down overall on last year and needs to work on a couple of areas of his game) Robinson (injured and young bodies shouldn't be risked). Thornton (too slow with ball and we cannot play him, Bower, Walker and Jamo in same side)

In: Grigg (hard at it left footer/midfielder who's kicking has improved and wins ball), Hampson (athlete who given that he is injury free will be our No.1 ruckman) Bower (our best key defender) Henderson (Gets to better positions than Setanta just needs to clunk a few and he will be fine) Lucas (all class)

Others: Yarran and Ellard (who deserves a go)

Line up:

B: Armfield Bower Jamison
HB: Russell Walker Lucas
C: Scotland Gibbs Simpson
HF: Houlihan Henderson Garlett
F: Betts Kruezer Waite
Foll: Hampson Judd Murphy
Int: Hadley, Grigg, Carrazzo, Jacobs

Lots of run and speed from defence
Better kicking side
More midfield rotations
More flexible with positioning
Genuine tall marking options inside 50

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I tipped Kangas and also had money on them, i knew we would lose to them. We just do it everytime... we think we are better than ' lower ranked ' teams and dont work hard enough and get beaten!! Kangas wanted it more and deserved it.

We will beat Freo this week... comfortably! Its just the frustrating inconsistency of the Blues... we play a couple of good games in a row... then relax as if we are too good and the wins will just come

I wish the players would get it through their thick heads.... IF WE DONT COME OUT SWITCHED ON AGAINST EVERY WEEK WE WILL GET BEATEN... I DONT CARE WHO THE OPPONENT IS!

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Matty Kruzer you star!

Same here!

In fact, i've won a few times this year when we've gone in as favourites.

The Essendon* game (we always choke) '
The Collingwood game (addmittedly, we weren't favourites)
The Hawthorn game (see Essendon*)
and the North game (because we can't handle the preasure of '3 in a row')


I think i've won about $200 this year for about a $40 outlay this year betting against Carlton in games that we "Should" have won.


It's concerning because we can seem to handle the pressure of the games that we just, plain and simply, SHOULD win and are reasonably well expected to do so.

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

One more game before the one week break.
It seems to me there's some fatigued players in the 22, who need a change of scene.

We have Freo, BREAK, Lions, Doggies, Swans. All finals contenders and games we have to practise our winning efforts.
So much for the easier run home. We're playing for our finals aspirations.

INS/ OUTS:

Bower/ Thornton
Lucas/ Robinson (inj)
Yarran/ Browne
Hampson/ Joseph
Setanta / Henderson

Setanta might not be dropped, but if he is, it's time to start putting pressure on spots and Hendo who has been doing allright, including the last game he played for a 3 goal return, is knocking on the door for a KPF role.

Robinson has done a quad and Lucas is the running player I trust at HB to release Gibbs into the midfield

Hampson to start his 2010 campaign in the ruck to relieve Kreuzer from ruck against Sandilands and try out as a KPF

Joseph Browne need to find form in the Ants.

Thornton not needed with the return of Bower and the injuries to Freo tall forwards...Headland...

B: Armfield Jamison Walker
HB Russell Bower Lucas
C: Simpson Gibbs Scotland
HF: Houlihan Henderson Waite
F: Betts Kreuzer Yarran

FOLL: Hampson Judd Murphy

IC: Jacobs Carrazzo Hadley Garlett

EM: Thornton Setanta Grigg McLean

Gotta win this won...goes without saying.
Home game, Fast Track, Responding after a loss.

GO BLUES

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Ryan and Hollywood did you lose money on the Melbourne, Richmond, Port and Westcoast games when we also went in as favourites. If so how much?

Lucas for Browne
Hammer (fresh against the big fella) for Kreuzer (two weeks rest to freshen up)
Yarran for Robbo (injury doubt)
Bower for T-Bird
Henderson for Carlos (Out of form)

Agree with those although Robbo trained ok this morning. Maybe Yarran could do with the extra break. If Robbo is suspect id go Grigg.

We'll win this.

_________________
Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Funny enough........... No.

I usually only bet against us when we're

A)
Coming up against Collingwood / Hawthorn or of course Essendon*

or

B)
When we're going for "3 in a row"



It's quite the money maker............ I won $200 last year too!




(It's actually quite sad really................ I'd much rather be saying i'm loosing all my money cause that means Carlton are winning.)

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

3 in a row i can understand. Betting on us when we are favourites or in games we" should win " is not a good stategy because we do win a few of them.

History repeats though,............ and Carlton seem to get rather nervous when coming up against teams like Essendon* / Hawthorn and Collingwood and get extra nervous when going for 3 in a row.



You can say what you want but the proof is in my wallet.........


(Again, i would much rather i be proved wrong!!!!!)

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Fair enough, I blame Thornton for the home insulation debacle

_________________
"I had to eat"

Freo will be pumped

From The Age:

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Yep I cursed Thornton today when the Pies came back and drew. Who does the bloke think he is??

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!