I will be very interested to see if Thornton gets the nod.

Not sure where he fits in the coach's thinking these days.....

I'll have a crack

Backs: Laidler Bower Russell

HBacks: Yarran Watson Duigan

Centres: Simpson Gibbs Scotland

HForwards: Armfield Henderson Garlett

Forwards: Betts Waite Hampson

Rucks: Warnock Judd Murphy

Int: Carrazzo White Robinson Sub: Walker

Perhaps a dash tall given four tall defenders, two tall forwards and two ruckman, but I see the thinking, and I like it.

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

I was tossing up between White and Collins for a spot on the bench and went with White just in case our inexperienced defence finds it tough.

Kreuzer, Jamison, Ellard & Mitchell definetely wont be considered for round 1.

Russell Carrazzo Henderson & Collins all made their senior debut yesterday.
Russell cramped up
Carrazzo was rusty
Henderson had a run with the Ants last week and got better as the game progressed.
Collins seems to have done allright but I don't know if he's fit enough to play out a game worth 4 pts.
I'd say of those 4 maybe Hendo and Collins will be selected for round 1 (only 11 days away).

Houlihan and Thornton may play in the Ants next week, and Brock got his first taste yesterday in the Ants. Can only see TBird being considered.
I just have a feeling that all the above are a tad underdone for the real stuff, and we couldn't play so many underdone players for the 4pts.

I have a feeling with White and Setanta also underdone and carrying niggles (and Jamo suspended) that maybe Watson will come in to play at FB.

Can Russell or any of the above improve their fitness and stamina enough in 11 days to warrant selection in the seniors for round 1?
I've really got no idea, but it doesn't look too promising.

If I'm right then that's a fair few to be unavailable for selection...even if it is against the young Tigers.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

My side;

B Duigan Bower Russell
HB Laidler Watson Yarran
C Simpson Gibbs Scotland
HF Armfield Waite Garlett
F Betts Henderson Walker
R Hampson Judd Murphy

Inter Lucas Warnock Robinson Sub Thornton

Collins played against Adelaide I thought?

Assuming that we have a full list to pick from for Round 1 aside from Ellard, Jamo, Kreuzer, & Mitchell...

JR Bower Duigan
Yarran White Laidler
Simmo Judd Scotland
Garlett Hendo Robbo
Betts Waite Tex

Warnock Gibbs Murphy

Inter: Hammer, Carrazzo, Armfield
Sub: T-Bird

Emerg: Collins, Curnow, Watson

* Brock, Carlos & Hoops should start the season in the VFL.
* Curnow gets a game if Murphy doesn't come up or Carrazzo doesn't get through the Bullants praccy match this week.
* I couldn't split White & Watson for CHB. I've gone with White, but that could go either way...
* I very nearly went with another running player as my Sub (eg. Collins or Lucas), but I've gone with T-Bird because I wanted some KP insurance.
* From the above team, I would suspect Carrots, Hendo, JR & Murphy are the ones potentially underdone. All are coming from fairly good fitness bases, so hopefully they will be OK. Having said that, I think Carrots & Hendo definitely need to get through the VFL praccy match this week to be considered. As I've already mentioned, if the MC thinks Murphy or Carrots are not ready to go, then Curnow steps straight in. If Hendo isn't right, then T-Bird starts at CHF and Watson becomes the Sub. And if the MC decides JR is too short of a gallop, then Lucas is probably the replacement for him (or maybe Collins comes in, with Scotland or Gibbs moved into defence).

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

He did. Played very well in the first half of that game too.

_________________
Koperek.

Correct.

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

To take on the Tigers

B: Armfield, Bower, Duigan
HB: Yarran, Watson, Russell
C: Scotland, Gibbs, Simpson
HF: Garlett, Waite, Carazzo
F: Betts, Henderson, Walker
R: Warnock, Judd, Murphy
I: Laidler, Robinson, Hampson sub: White

My best 22 would have the following changes:
In: Kreuzer, Jamison, Ellard
Out: Hampson, White, Robinson

The one's that will push the above:
Collins, Lucas, Austin, Davies, Houlihan, Kerr, Curnow, Twomey and Tuohy

We finally have some serious depth... And the other 3 pick ups from the draft look like they'll be good in next couple of years, not to mention the inclusion of Buckley!

The one's that I think are gone and won't be around in 2012:
Thornton, O'hailpin, Joseph, McLean (unfortunately McLean could irritate us for another couple of years...)

How many rookies can we up? Curnow and Twomey look like very good players

anyone who doesn't have lucas in there team has no idea about footy!!!!
the kid will play 22 games plus finals if we make it.
played 8 games last year, and was voted best first year player.
anyway imo,

armfield bower duigan
russell watson laidler
simpson gibbs scotland
lucas waite gartlett
betts henderson walker

warnock judd murphy

collins hampson carrazzo sub; robinson

curnow to take carrazzo's place if he is not fit enough.
any problems down back i am sure waite will help out.
kreuzer and jamison are big losses.

Amazing that AJ is gone from most people's thoughts.

B: Russell Watson Duigan
HB: Yarran Bower Laidler
C: Simpson Gibbs Scotland or Lucas
HF: Garlett Henderson Collins
F: Betts Waite Walker
FOLL: Warnock Judd Murphy
INT: Hampson Armfield Curnow
SUB: Robinson
EMG: Thornton Joseph Davies

Not ready: Kreuzer Carrazzo McLean Houlihan
Suspended: Jamison Ellard

I remember watching him in the Saints game in 2009 and thinking "this kid is exactly what we need." Then last year, he quickly stalled, and in certain areas went backwards. Perhaps the full season the year before left his body a bit shot, but I think he's not continuing to work hard on his weaknesses, which are similar to Carrazzo.

With blokes like Yarran going into defence, Armfield, Lucas & Russell into midfield, he goes back in the queue. He needs to bring more than defensive application and hard running or he will fade into the background, and into oblivion as far as his spot on the list is concerned.

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

I agree with what you say. Just goes to show how quickly one can drop back in the pack.

I think most people class him as an excellent pick 12 who will play 200 quality games for us, based on what he did last year. However in the practice games against Adelaide and Geelong his ball handling, disposal and composure have all been ordinary, and if he does get a game in round one he'll be one of the last picked. A combination of our increased depth and his current bad form might see him in the Ants. He's only 19 so it's not like it's the end of the world for him to play in red for a bit.

I'm a fan of Lucas...just from what he's already shown.

But he and all others should be picked on form, and form only.
If we have too many underdone players he will be selected, but his form in the 2 praccy games mentioned hasn't been too convincing from what I've read.
He'll come good.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

B: Russell, Thornton, Armfield
HB: Yarran, Bower, Duigan
C: Simpson, Gibbs, Murphy
HF: Collins, Waite, Betts
FF: Garlett, Henderson, Walker

R: Warnock, Judd, Robinson

IC: Lucas, Laidler, Hampson

Sub: White

Emerg: Carrazzo, Curnow, Hoops, Watson, Scotland, AJ

T-Bird gets Jamo's 2 weeks to make an impression. If Riewaldt makes an early impression I would try Walker then Waite on him.
Hampson as a second ruck is a luxury (and would not survive the return of Kreuz) and I can see how they would go for another mid instead to help with rotations.
The tagger is a tough one. AJ needs to find his form of 12-18 months ago, Carrots still needs to work on his disposal - either is a better pure tagger than Robbo, but Robbo gets the nod after being in my best players for most of the pre-season - plus he loves playing the Tiges and I am not as concerned about the Tiges midfield as others.
Watson has had a solid pre-season, but I am not sure he has the tank for AFL yet and personally I would prefer he spent most of this year learning how to play seniors at the Ants. IF he gets a run, he probably takes Hampsters spot on the bench.
Another interesting duel has been for Gibbs old HBF possie between Laidler, Duigan and Scotland. IMHO the 2 new players have shaded Scotland's pre-season. Laidler seems to play a bit taller than Duigan, but the latter gets the nod for his run.
First bounce will be interesting. Judd obviously startsin the sqaure, as does the tagger (Robbo) and I think you have to give Gibbs a first shot at the engine room. I was staggered that he reportedly had 26 possies on the weekend - I would have been lucky to have seen half of them. At any rate - this pushes Murph out to the wing for the first bounce.
Collins gets into the starting squad after a couple of good games - I think he can provide a very handy cameo role up forward as either a marking target or opportunist crumber, a bit the way Matt Clape did in 95.
White is my sub because of his versatility.

Reckon Carrots and AJ actually have opposite weaknesses. Carrots gets plenty of the pill, but is prone to burning it. AJ's disposal is generally sound, but he doesn't get a enough of it.