The Doggies have a few players with injury concerns coming into next weeks game... The 9 day break might help them though, although in the paper today it was reported that both Minson and Johnson are most likely still in doubt.
To compound their concerns, Griffin and Lake may have cases to answer at the Tribunal during the week....

This is another must win game for us....

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

If we are going to push for a top 4 spot or earn the right to play a home final, then we must win this game and the one next week against Sydney.

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You heard it here first!

Yep should get a week.

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You heard it here first!

We will have to be miles better than we have been over the last month. Whoever is on Lake, run around, lead, move. If we persist with the plan of having a big guy stand still and have the ball kicked on his head, then Lake will take another 18 marks.

The MC need to get the players up for this game, that is their job. If we are not ferocious from the word go we will be creamed. And enough of the static footy, lets try to get it forward before the dogs flood back.

I am not confident at all. We have some very ordinary players running around on the navy blues at the minute

Given that we've beaten them the last 3 seasons our boys should go into this game with a pretty good mindset and let's face it, our performances are based on our mental state.

Big game for us but a MASSIVE game for the Dogs and Eade in particular. We need to really take them on and poor the pressure on them and crack them mentally.

JR Jamo Tex
Armfield Bower Scotland
Simmo Judd Lucas
Carrots Hendo Hoops
Betts Hammer Garlett

Sauce Gibbs Murphy

Grigg, Robbo, T-Bird, Yarran

IN: Bower, Lucas
OUT: AJ, Carlos

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

Good team but i would leave Thornton out this week if Bower comes in and leave AJ in.

I'd go Bower, lucas and fisher for thornton, AJ, and setanta.

We need to have the extra tall up forward and fisher will snag at least a couple (as opposed to setanta who has struggled in recent weeks)

Teams that have won in the last round seldom make many changes. So we will make one, Bower-in, Grigg - out.

What is all the love for Austin, he is likely to be delisted in 8 weeks. Can't get himself fit and injury free. White has passed him. As the team gets better, there becomes less chance that we will have project players.

Our team this week is likely to be as follows:

B: Jordan Russell, Michael Jamison, Aaron Joseph

HB: Heath Scotland, Paul Bower, Andrew Walker

C: Dennis Armfield, Bryce Gibbs, Ryan Houlihan

HF: Chris Yarran, Lachi Henderson, Kade Simpson

F: Shawn Hampson, Setanta O'hAilpin, Eddie Betts

Foll: Sam Jacobs, Chris Judd, Marc Murphy

Bench: Andrew Carrazzo, Jeff Garlett, Mitch Robinson, Brett Thurnton

Out
Grigg - Unluckly but Bower must come in

In
Bower

You mean we actually agree on something?!

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Can't believe the negative views on Thornton on this site.

For me he is a far better defender than Jamieson, he makes better decisions, has a better efficiency rate and is far more flexible in that he can go forward if need be.

T-Bird can play on a tall or medium sized forward. He has even done extremely successful jobs on players such as Didak and Robert Murphy as well. Jamo gives us nothing other than stop his own man (if that) and when he gets posession turns it over quite often.

My preference would be to see T-Bird, Jamo & Bower string quite a few games together to sure up our defence. They haven't played together too often in the last few years.

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

Interesting choice of usernames Bret.
If you are in this week, please try and follow our gameplan mate.

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dane's trolling again

Hahaha nice one Dane, i thought the exact same thing

that post by 'Can eater' is laughable.

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Matty Kruzer you star!

we should persist with setanta atleast until waite comes back and then it may be a matter of one tall going out for team balance.

i'm more than happy for setanta to stay out there and drag another key defender away from goal and open up space for the others, or provide a contest and bring the ball to ground for the little guys.

to be honest i think setanta struggles a bit more with postioning and what not when both he and hendo occupy the forward line.
as for fisher, he offers nothing whatsoever when the ball hits the deck and has no future at carlton beyond this season IMO
One of setantas strengths is when the ball hits the deck. We should persist with him. people have short memories. He kicked 5 against collingwood and could have had 8. he's far from usless and was not the only one rusty on thursday night - and given he's returning from injury will hopefully improve.

Exactly plus Jamo has the turning circle of a semi trailer. None of our defenders are perfect, we need them all to work together as a unit.

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

I agree we need Bower back but for all those expecting him to play I would advise caution. Even if he is named (which I doubt) he will probably be withdrawn as it is a Sunday twighlight fixture.

I want him (and Lucas) in as much as anybody but fear that Carlton is not being totally straight with what is really happening with Bower.

Scary isn't it....

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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

Geez you're Game telling a few home truths about Jammo.
I guess that's why you're The Game.

They all have strengths and weaknesses and when in form the 3 can play well together as part of the defensive unit, but form is a different discussion altogether.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Im confident we will win this week. We match up well against the Doggies, and they are there for the taking. I think our pace will worry them a lot.

Unless we cop injuries prior or during the game, or someone for them plays out of their skins (Will Minson kicking 6 or something), I expect us to win by about 4 goals.

For all the reasons you've posted..we may well be a chance this week.
We haven't been switched on for the last few games...but I get the feeling...yes...that spooky Blueman type feeling that we WILL be switched on this week.
That just leaves whether you think our team is as good as the Dogs when we are mentally up for it.
Should be a fantastic game....
We could win this..
I can't see us rolling over in any case.

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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.”