although, i still think we can beat sydney in sydney - esp if the match is at ANZ Stadium.

My preferences:

1. Carl v Freo at MCG
2. Syd v Carl at ANZ
3. Carl v Haw at MCG

Don't think we can realistically end up playing Sydney in Melb (but if so, this would abviously slot in at 1a above...)

Id actually take Freo in Freo.


We have great support over there............ and Freo know shit when it comes to finals.

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

Cheers, thanks for the info.

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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

Funny, I thought the same about Grigg. Check the draft camp results:

2006 NAB AFL Draft Camp results -

20-metre sprint
Nathan Krakouer - 2.83 sec
Nathan Djerrkura - 2.90 sec
Nathan Brown - 2.91 sec
Simon Hogan - 2.91 sec
Brock O'Brien - 2.92 sec
Shaun Grigg - 2.92 sec
Ben Reid - 2.93 sec
Ben Ross - 2.94 sec
Clint Benjamin - 2.95 sec
Travis Boak - 2.96 sec

He's deceptively quick and athletic. Gets to alot of contests.

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

Interesting stats Los. I would never have seen him as being quicker than Benjamin or Boak. I'll have to watch him more carefully.

Did you say north of the border gerry?
I think that must mean me.
I agree with you though....with all of your post...that's a worry. That's probably because I'm more of a Melburnian than you.
Bring in Setanta to smash a few heads and smash a few through the goals; he creates a mismatch...but only if he's fit. There are some doubts.

Would still like to see Hammer/Warnock rotate on Sandilands. It will be his first game in a long long time... I think that's an advantage to us.

I am expecting a beauty from Judd with Barlow missing, and I hope the embarrassment with his kicking against Geelong will be mad eup in this game.

My worry is Bower and Jamo against Pav. They are simply not big enough or their form has vanished. They need the support of TBird imo. He seems to be in better form than both of them. Swallow your pride Ratts and do the right thing fo the team even if TBird is earmarked for the trade table. I want to win this and next year is next year.

Betts, Walker and Grigg better get their shit together for this game; Subi will suit them...and if Hadley survives the cut...he too better pick up the pace...it's a big ground and easy for his lack of pace to be exposed. He has to get his hands on the footy first, then dish it out. In that case he can hurt Freo rather than Carlton.

I'd drop Hadley and let Carrots and Ellard play in and under, and I'd pick the show pony (outside player) Yarran play in his home state. Maybe he might show some ticker over there. Show ponies like to show off in front of their own.

I am expecting Fisher to be selected over Setanta...only to make his 100th game...the size of this ground does not suit him whereas it will suit Setanta. He can offer a target though. I hope we win this...and I think we can.

With the need for speed and some good marking targets in the forwardline and a game being played on the big open spaces and a dry sunny day...and with an alert on Pavlich (who is too much for Bower aor Jamo imo):

IN: Hampson Thornton Yarran Setanta (well Fisher for his 100th..puerly for FS selection post 2030.
OUT: Jacobs Hadley Davies and (need to check the list, but Grigg still doesn't giveme half a thickening whatsoever)

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Actually Bondi I was thinking of another Sydneysider. I know you're a Setanta fan.

Look, there's no point in selecting Setanta if Ratts wants him to continue playing the decoy role. Sydney Blue believes that's the best we can get out of Setanta because he lacks a lot of other stuff in his opinion. I'm not from that school of thought.

I did think Setanta in his last few games in the seniors was a waste of space because of the way he was being played plus I thought he lost his confidence...playing in no mans land.

I think a Setanta fit and playing lead up is a difficult match up ... if he's fit, then he could cause Freo lots of problems...no Tarrant and their backline seems to lack composure. Well that's just dandy becasue sometimes that's what Setanta shows too.

Imagine Heno as the lead up from CHF, Setanta as the lead up from FF with a crumber next to him and Waite waiting for the get out of gaol kick in the square with a crumber at his feet....hey, that's marking forwards and options too....I hope the other options are the lateral ones leading outside the corridor. Yes I love the way the Cats provide all those types of options; we can learn from that.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Carlos is not a footballer and lacks the smarts....this is the business end of the season....no room for passengers....we need to be very prudent at the selection table in the next couple of weeks....

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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

I understand you POV.

When you look at the names that are not available for selection due to injury/other then we are thin. Thin for height.
If an injury was to happen to a Jamo or Bower (and they are known for being absent from injury) then Waite or Hendo or even Carlos are going back. Now, lets consider that Bower and Jamo's recent form hasn't set the world on fire; so we're already playing with fire given our lack of depth.

Look at who is not available for the next 3 weeks:

Talls: Kreuzer, White, Austin aint playing 2's, Thornton (aint in thew good books), Setanta might not even be fit.
Others: Houlihan, Lucas, McLean has lost a lot of game fitness.

That leaves Setanta as the only other tall available; Jacobs is a ruckman. We'ere pretty thin on defenders in particular hence .

Whose next in line? Wiggins Fisher as the only other sort of talls.

Get my drift?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

As a last resort when we have no other options possibly....still no...just kidding but I'd rather throw hammer forward and Waite back and leave Carlos out for now anyway....

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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

I assume we will be in white this week.

Our tall forwards are going Ok - who on earth would drop to bring in Setanta

I would actually like to see another mid brought in maybe at the expense of Davies

The result doesnt really matter and the way it is looking we are better of taking our chances against Sydney and then fronting the Doggies the week after than busting our balls only to cop Freo or Hawthorn then either Geelong or Saints the week after

I would actually bring in Brocky get a game into him so that when we came up against Sydney the week after we would have the in and unders of Grigg - ellard Hadley and Maclean to match it with the Swans - It also gives you the option of pushing Murph forward more as that extra small

and as bad a player that Anderson is he is looking a better option than Walker at the moment

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

..whadda ya mean the result doesn't matter..?.. ..pies should beat dawks,so.. ..we win, we play a home final from 6th spot.. ..no need to travel two weeks in a row.. ....hell, brions beat swines up at the gabba and we can jump into 5th if pies beat dawks.. ..or even 6th if we win, dawks win and swines lose.. ..still very open the bottom half of top 8..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

White makes everyone look a bit chubby...but we seem to win in white

I would definitely stay away from wearing white

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Look I'm being selfish - I wanna go to the footy to see the Blue Boys

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

LUCKY White Jumpers.
white is the new white...

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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.”

Fremantle have called a Press Conference this afternoon re: Aaron Sandilands.

Possible plantar fasciitus injury for Sandi.

Ive had that. Shocker of an injury. Would be good if they tried to play him.