Am I the only one who felt genuine excitement every time the ball was kicked high and long into the forwardline last night? I haven't felt it since the days when fev was deep, one-on-one, and you knew he was going to win it. The reason i felt it was basically all to do with Shaun Hampson. I thought he played a valuable role up there. He often times looked out of his depth, sure, but EVERY time the ball was kicked to him i felt he had an edge... just because of his height and athleticism. I haven't felt that way for a long time. I didn't feel it with Fev most games last season because he always had 3 opponents... We have a seriously gifted human being on our hands here... and it is exciting as hell.

He needs some serious work on his body positioning, and timing, but otherwise, he already seems quite capable of playing forward. A couple of times a brought it to ground and got it off to a small forward for a score.. combine that with a few strong grabs and youve got yourself a useful forward. Dare i say... he could be better than Kurt Tippett...

_________________
R A D I C A L B R O T H E R S

Inspired by the One-Minute Sculptures of Erwin Wurm

"All in all is all we are..."

Don't undersell Hammers ruck potential. He was playing well last year in the ruck and given more game time this year I'm hoping he regains that form while pinch hitting up forward.

As for our forward line, I'm hoping Levi kicks on next year after full pre season and string a few games together. Saw him early this year for the bullants and think he's got potential as a serious forward weapon.

I'm happy to see Hammer in the side too as he has some real upside but lets wait till he takes at least a single mark in a game before we compare him to forwards like Tippett.

_________________
"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

he gets himself into the right spots and gets his hands on the ball.. he is not far from taking some big marks.

_________________
Koperek.

I think the most excitement in our forwardline comes when the kid wearing #38 gets anywhere near it.

Whether he's crumbing a contest 10m out for goal, gatheriing the ball 50m out and about to make someone look stupid as he blazes past them or chasing someone down in a tackle you know something is about to happen in fast forward.

_________________
"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

Our forward line is our biggest concern right now.
We need to find support for Hendo. Setanta/Hampson don't encourage me.
The 3 dwarfs cannot be depended upon to kick us a winning score, week in week out.
Certaintly Houlihan & Simpson aren't the answers for contested marking either.

That argument only lends weight to our shambolic forward line structure. Yeah lets build our forward line around a 70kg whippett

_________________
If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Look I'm not bagging the guy just keeping a lid on it.

First he needs to take a mark before he can take some big marks before he becomes the next Kernahan.

_________________
"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

three urchins and a couple of bigger blokes bringing it to ground is the only option we seem to have.

I'd like to see Skinny come up with plan B for at least one of the players to try - ie a lead into space.

_________________
This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

I didnt mean we can build around him, I said he's exciting when he's near the ball.

_________________
"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

I think the key to the original comment by The Shag is 'when we kick it in long'!!!!!

We looked so much more dangerous when we went long to the square instead of chipping it around to stationary targets 15 metres away (sometimes backwards) purely to hang onto the ball.

When Scotland kicked the ball long inside 50 a couple of times we scored and scored quickly. The result is that either Hammer or Henderson mark it or it goes to ground where Garlett, Betts, Yarran & Houlihan are sniffing around. Isn't that playing to our strengths?????

Otherwise sides just pick us off.

_________________
#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Football is a simple game!!! When we get it to the tall timber deep into the forward line, we are dangerous when the ball is in the air and when it hits the ground. I just wish our players knew that

_________________
It is not as bad as you are lead to believe.......it is %$#^& worse!!!

I don't think anyone is saying they're the answer..

But they surely could be a nice bonus if they can both take a nice mark if thrown deep in stints

_________________
#23: Lachlan Henderson

Hampson was very ordinary last night, he touched the ball 4 times, did not take a mark, if
we are relying on him and O'Alphin as forward prospects in the long term, challenging for
premiership is a long way off.

Henderson will be part of our forward structure going forward, we need someone else
and very much doubt is either of O'Alphin or Hampson.

Mate it was his first game for the year. I reckon he was in position for a few grabs but failed. There will be times when they stick.
Around the ground he will work his way into the season.

I liked his second quarter. Did some good stuff that resulted in goals.

Hammer told my brother at the footy clinic today that he couldnt get over how fast the game has become since he last played.

Said there was a massive difference between VFL and AFL.

Give the kid some time to get use to the pace.

_________________
“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

There's a bloke called Jarred Waite who could be valuable up forward.

_________________
Life is made up of 3 things: Pre-Season, Post Season & Footy Season.

I agree Shag. It's pointless having 3 talls in the forwardline and then going short to a 50/50. Load it up and kick the bloody thing and give the 3 amigos an opportunity to feed off the spoils.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

if we do that next week Lake could quite possibly break the record for the most marks taken in a game

_________________
If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Lets roll the dice and see.

Who are the talls we have in the goal square? Setanta would be the only one.
He'd have to play a very negative role against Lake to give th 3 Helpers a chance.

Lake is an amazing player and amazing mark.

I'm worried they lost last night. We have to win.
I put this game down as a loss to us at the beginnning of the year despite the good record we have against them.
I did the same for the Crows, Saints and Cats games too.
I also selected wins against Essendon*, Brisbane, Fro and North.
Anything can happen.

Hall and Hahn are big boys and good marks. How the @#$%&! are we going to stop them?
Jamo? No hope unless he can find some form.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue