Tough call.

Hampson's performance today makes me think they'll have to pick him for round 1. There's no-one else that stands out as a potential pinch hitter in the ruck with no Setanta.

B Laidler White Duigan
HB Russell Bower Yarran
C Scotland Gibbs Simpson
HF Walker Waite Armfield
F Betts Henderson Garlett
R Warnock Judd Murphy
INT Lucas, Robinson, Hampson, Collins

On the other hand, need an extra in and under player. Didn't consider Carrazzo after having played only a half of footy so far this pre-season, and had Joseph and Curnow as next in line.

Perhaps Hendo is still needing another game in the Ants, play Hampson at full forward, and bring in Curnow instead? :S Although that would rob us of another option for Riewoldt.

Would say 17 spots are all but confirmed, Hampson/Henderson/Watson/Joseph/Carrazzo/Curnow/Lucas/Collins/Duigan competing for the last 4.

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

Hopefully Gibbs ups his performance come round one for the moment he does not deserve a spot in the starting line up and needs a hit out in the lower level.

I would NOT play Gibbs round one... Walker had a bad game but has some good minutes under his belt before todays hit-out.

Gibbs doesn't deserve a guernsey...plenty before him.

Based on today I think they will go with this:

B: Russell. Watson. Duigan
HB: Yarran. Bower. Laidler
C: Scotland. Gibbs Simpson
HF: Garlett. Henderson. Collins
F: Betts Hampson. Waite
Foll: Warnock. Judd Murphy
Int: Robinson. Armfield. Lucas. Sub: Walker

White, Krooz, Hoops inj.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Hampson has been a lock for round 1 since round 12 last year.


Carrazzo played out 3 or 4 quarters today from what I saw, as did Henderson apparently. I'd dump Robbo for Curnow, and perhaps eye off Carrazzo for Lucas' spot given his poor form this pre-season.

Hendo will not play defence, and will not play on Riewoldt. We have Watson, Thornton, Austin & possibly White to consider before Hendo or Waite.

Good team other than that.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Robbo is a lock for round 1

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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

Please don't be condescending to me.

Given the new ruck rules, Hampson was hardly a lock. Once Setanta was ruled out for round one, he became odds-on to play, but with Richmond's relative lack of ruck strength, he's still hardly a certainty. Could still see Warnock, with Hendo pinch hitting. It's unlikely, but if the need for an extra runner presents itself, it's an option.






I thought you said Carrazzo was one of the super-subs? Granted, Hendo played the majority of the match, and looks right to go, he's only really resumed full training in the past month or so. Yes, we've got plenty of better defensive options for him on our list, but if Riewoldt runs amok on the night, we haven't got that many options in the squad. Bower, whichever of White and Watson gets the nod, and then at the expense of our structure, Waite or Hendo.

We've sent Hendo down back before, when Buddy was running amok last year, and I doubt it'll be the last time.

Has Lucas' preseason been that bad really? Arguably our best player over both Richmond/Collingwood games, good first half against Adelaide, and then today's shocker. I personally would have him ahead of Duigan, but I think we both know that won't happen.

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

you're funny

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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

Not trying to be anything of the sort, but duly noted and apologies.


Setanta has been woeful in the ruck, and conventional wisdom suggests the ruck workload is more difficult to shoulder than any of the key posts (most FF/FB/CHB/CHFs play over 90% of the game). People were suggesting the 'Leigh Brown' role would become more prominent when the new rule was announced, but that has faded into the background, certainly in AFL circles.


Carrots is definitely a good sub due to his versatility. Austin is definitely an option, and you're leaving out Laidler as the 3rd tall defender. I just think we've got a pool of 5 or 6 tall/tallish defenders to rotate through before we have a look at our two primary tall forwards.


We've also recruited to prevent that, and he was dropping in the hole for the most part.


I agree, Duigan is riding on a little favouritism, but he is composed, knows what he has to do and can generally do it first time. Kane is well down on his pre-injury form of last year, especially in the last two games. One poster noted he was getting blasted by his captain before half time in the match thread, and I thought he was scratchy against Adelaide. When he's not allowed freedom off HB, he has looked erratic, particularly in possession. Still a chance for round 1, but I think he perhaps needs to go back to the VFL and work his way up a notch, because he was a quick decision maker in congestion last season as well as clean with the ball, and that's disappeared for the moment.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I agree, he hasn't set the world on fire in the ruck, however I think the versatility and insurance playing him ahead of Hampson would provide can be worth the risk in certain situations against certain teams.

The Leigh Brown role may well still come into fashion, we haven't really seen ample opportunity for it to be debunked just yet, given most matches have had the 6 man bench role. I dare say there'd be a few teams who will experiment with it throughout the season regardless.



I think you might be misunderstanding what I'm getting at. I'm talking about options for Riewoldt out of the 22 we have on the night. Given Austin and Thornton's absence from most full strength sides this pre-season, I'd say they're unlikely to line up against Richmond. I'm referring to the worst case scenario contingency plan where Riewoldt monsters White or Watson and kicks 5 in the first quarter, we're reluctant to play Bower on him as it negates our run out of the back, or uncertain if Laidler has the size to go with him. Hendo (and Waite)'s best position is up forward, but worst case scenario has to be taken into consideration.

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

I'm excited now. The real stuff is about to begin. How many the of senior types who are underdone will get picked?

Going by the way we lined up against Geelong, the team for round 1 will be:

Armfield Watson Laidler
Yarran Bower Russell
Simpson Gibbs Lucas
Garlett Henderson Scotland
Betts Waite Walker
Warnock Judd Murphy
Carrazzo Robinson Hampson
Sub: White

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You heard it here first!

I can't see both Watson and White getting a game ahead of Duigan. I'd probably prefer Armfield to Lucas at this point, Kane hasn't had the best two weeks, the clean ball handling and composure that was so impressive last year seems to be missing a bit at the moment. I'd be tempted to have Curnow in as well, I like what I've seen of him, probably for Carrazzo or Robinson, but for all his faults I'd be loathe to leave Robbo out - his attack on the ball and the man is second to none on our list. Collins is stiff to miss out as well. There are going to be some good players not getting a run this year.

Anyone know who is entitled to play in the Bullants practice match next weekend?

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Bawditawaba

Perhaps, but I really think Curnow deserves the nod ahead of him.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

based on what i've seen

b: armfield watson laidler
hb: duigan bower yazz
c: scooter russell simpson
hf: jeffy hendo houlihan
f: betts waite walker
r: warnock judd murphy
ic: gibbs collins robbo hampson

e: carrazzo curnow[unlucky] white

if i have it my way curnow replaces gibbs.

Curnow's work rate when he doesn't have possession is impressive. He seems a bit more composed than Robbo. Neither has a pace advantage over the other, IMO.

If you want Curnow in he would replace Houlihan in that 22, there's no chance he'll play round 1.

That's interesting, I haven't thought Curnow's pace has been a problem, he's not lightning but hasn't stood out as slow to me, whereas as on occasion Mitch can look like he's running through mud. I think both will play a lot of games for us though.

Curnow's pace is much better than he's shown so far Rexy, and you may have seen a couple of bursts yesterday in the second half. Remember this is the pre-season, where players are under a higher training workload and legs are a little tired in games.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Team for R1 is starting to take shape, the loss of Jamo is not ideal

B Russell, Bower (he will get riewoldt for sure), Laidler
HB Yarran, Thornton (or Watson), Duigan
C Simpson, Gibbs, Murphy
FOLL Warnock, Judd, Robinson
HF Garlett, Henderson (underdone but will play), Collins (to play against old side in R1)
F Betts, Waite, Walker (will get first crack at the defensive fwd spot)

INT Scotland, Hampson (has to play as second ruck), Carrazzo, Armfield (sub)

McLean and Houlihan won't make it to R1

Wildcard is Kerr