Told you Thornton wouldnt play.

Not held in high very high regard. Refuses to go with his man.
Anyone who watched last weeks Bullants game will attest to this. Tall defenders dont get 30 touches.

Hampson was poor against the Dockers,yes.But prior to that his improvement was great.I wouldnt drop a bloke after one poor game,especially as his oponent was Sandilands.As far as our best backman goes,i was referring to Thornton,not White.White in time maybee become that such player,but on what i saw,he is a mile off Thornton at this stage.

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All my dangerous friends

I agree Mick. Hammer offers us a long ball option in the forward line which Sauce hasn't to date. For whatever reason, Ratts didn't utilise that option last week which left Hampson as a back up ruckman only. Yes, he was monstered by Sandilands but he's not Robinson Crusoe there.
I'd play Hammer in the square and stretch the Swines defence.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

It does seem lik almost a foregone conclusion - I'll keep him as he adds depth to the list.

Not sure who will be willing to take him?

Geelong have an ageing backline - maybe
Nth Melbourne?? - maybe
Spangher for Thornton straight swap? - maybe

No apologia from me Josh; though a bit more measured when it comes to Ratts than your good self! Just calling it as I see it! .

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

From the BOM:

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

They are expecting rain on Saturday night so the ground may be soft underfoot.

also note - from the Ants match report
"Sam Jacobs was supreme in the ruck and contributed 3.6 to the tally, Bret Thornton with 18 marks caught everything bar a cold, and Chris Johnson on a wing was solid, while the midfield of Walker, Hadley and McLean were supreme over the footy.”

Could be we need to get the ball away from the middle ?? Then let Waite & Henderson do what they are paid for.

Jacobs and Hadley for mine

Julius Caesar: "The best form of defence is to attack." (it might have been someone else - Who cares)

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It's the jumper

+1

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Thornton has been ordinary all year and doesnt deserve to play finals.

My mail is Carrazzo will def miss but should be right for Sat week if we beat the swans

Not sure why Robinson gets a game, he was horrible last week and no doubt Mitch Robinson will be found wanting on Sundy.

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You heard it here first!

I reckon these points are close to mutually exclusive: IF anyone of us is found wanting, we will not be around the following week. Need four quarter effort from everyone on the ground (& off) to compete at finals level.

Robinson is best at bursting into a game early, kicking a couple of goals and a couple of opponents and then running out of puff. Let's see if he can raise it again under the finals spotlight!!

Heats fairly and squarely on Ratten this week.
Very dubious selecting Robinson and Davies for such a big final.
Very dubious non selection of Thornton.
Has an incredibly poor record against well structured, Roos coached teams.
Definately needs to try something different-- has to ensure we get defenders back to help out Jamison/ Bower etc, because the Swans have been dynamite at causing turnovers and getting teams on the transition.
This could be a defining game in so many ways- for our players and the coach.
I'm sure the people with pull at the club will be watching very closely...

Given that we won't win the flag this year....selection of kids like Davies & Robbo is a great move IMO

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"I had to eat"

Couldnt disagree more.

GO BLUES .. GO Ratts, Walker, Bower Robinson & Davies!!!!!

Hmm, We need to find some faith in young players. No reason they can't perform.

This list had no more than 50 games on gf day, many would have played finals with even less experience.

79,

Harmes, Francis, Young, Johnston, Marcau, Buckley, Brown, Sheldon

81
Glascott, Howell, Bortoloto

87
Kennedy, Alvin, Dean, Gleeson, McKenzie, Murphy, Silvagni, Aitken

95

Campo, Whitehead, Manton, Pearce

The only difference is that the rest of the squad had more experience. So if we are to perform this weekend we need a special effort from a few youngsers and the oldies but mostly our middle age group - Cazz, Simo, Walker, Russell, Betts, Armfield, Warnock, Murphy, Bower, need to step up. THey will be the mainstay of the team over the next 5 years.

Go Blues.

At first I was peeved off that Hampson was dropped howev they are predicting rain fri and Sat in Sydney, plenty of stoppages which the Swans will like. Jacobs is the better option on a wet track. Hampson better option most days but horses for courses.

Jacobs for Hampson
Walker for Grigg
Hadley for Carrazzo

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Miami! They need a punter.

I'm @#$%&! tired of all the media fapping over Roos, Kirk, Goodes, Hannebery, rejuvenated Swans, poor Sydney having to play at ANZ stadium, etc. You'd barely know we were playing finals by looking at the papers.

It's about @#$%&! time we ruined someone's party for once.