Even tho I would like to see Curnow play ... Ratts loves Robinson ... I suspect that Collins will probably get a game against his old side.

My prefered ins would be Bruce Doull, Alex Jesaulenko and Wayne Johnston.

_________________
I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

Yeah I can easily see Carrazzo missing out for Collins, and Curnow missing out for Robinson. Barring any injuries (or lack thereof), those are the only deviations really from those that I've named I'd suggest.

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

I'd love to see Collins get a spot but if it's either Collins or Carrazzo I'd bet Ratts goes with Carrazzo.

Its so hard to pick the team. I can't see Carrots or Collins missing out.

Reckon it will be

FB: Laidler Thornton Duigan
HB: Russell Watson Yarran
CC: Scotland Murphy Simpson
HF: Garlett Henderson Armfield
FF: Walker Waite Betts

RR: Warnock Gibbs Judd

Int: Carrazzo Hampson Robinson

Sub: Collins

_________________
I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

With Bower a probable 'out' it makes it easier to select Thornton.

Watson - Thornton - Duigan
Yarran - Laidler - Russell
Simpson - Gibbs - Murphy
Garlett - Henderson - Armfield
Betts - Waite - Walker

Warnock - Judd - Curnow

Scotland - Hampson - Carrazzo
sub: Robinson

This leaves us with having to put Waite / Walker back as defensive cover if someone gets away from us.

You've nailed it, Jim. Agree, Collins in for an underdone Carrots is not beyond the realms.

Ratts is a big Carrots fan and he'll be mindful that he was BOG Rd 1 last year when acting captain. He'll cut him plenty of slack, just as he did when he punted on his hammy in the Swans final - and didn't he get that right!

If Bower & White are out, I think that's pretty close.

The only change I'd predict is that Robbo will start on the ground. I reckon it will be "on" early, so I think we need the Tazmaniac charging in off the square at the first bounce. Murphy (possibly underdone) or Armfield might start on the bench instead.

And Curnow will be very close to selection (possibly for Collins or the slightly underdone Carrazzo).

Backline looks vulnerable to me, so the much talked about improvement to our 'team' defence is essential...

The Tigers will come to play, make no mistake.

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

Jeez that backline is a worry.

If it's

Laidler, Thornton, Duigan
Russell, Watson, Yarran

Then only one of those guys was at our club and in our best 22 last year (Russell). You'd have to think that Richmond would fancy themselves a chance to kick a score against us.

Not saying they won;t come good by mid-year, but that's not a settled, experienced backline.

_________________
Go Blues

Yarran was in our best 22 last year.

We can safely play our ruck behind the play to drop into the 50 if need be, and both have shown themselves to be decent at that.

Worst comes to worst, we know we can swing either of Waite or Henderson back there with some success, and throw a ruckman forward.

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

Obviously won't be an ideal side this week, but it should look like this:

B: Laidler, Thornton, Duigan
HB: Russell, Watson, Yarran
C: Simpson, Gibbs, Armfield
HF: Walker, Henderson, Robinson
F: Betts, Waite, Garlett
Foll: Warnock, Judd, Murphy

Int: Hampson, Lucas, Curnow
Sub: Scotland or Collins

Emergencies: Casboult, Joseph

Injured/suspended/unfit:
Kreuzer, Jamieson, Bower, McLean, Houlihan, Carrazzo

Agree with your team, I would have Scotland in on the Interchange and have Curnow as the sub.
Doesnt that backline look a little brittle?

Not overly fussed, but I think Curnow might provide a bit more grunt early, and Scotland a bit of run later on.

As for the backline, it should be solid enough for the first 2 weeks. We could also play around with Waite and Walker to provide support if need be, but hopefully those 2 will have piled on so many goals in the first half that the backline is irrelevant.
I certainly wouldn't want to get any more injuries between now and when Jamo and Bower come back in though.

It won't be physically brittle, that's for sure.

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

I like that backline.

Yes I'd prefer Bower and Jamison back there, but..........we have depth to cover them.

Perception is reality.

My reality is that TBird is a good backman, Watson is big enough and ready to blankett an opponent, Duigan was ready the minute I saw him at training, Laidler is an accomplished ex Cat with great delivery and good footy brain, and Yarran will be pushing for AA selection this year if he continues to impress. Russell is Russell, and he belongs.

jimmae's idea of the ruckman dropping back will not only plug a hole, it may look like a flood for Tigers running the ball into the fowardline. I think that would do the trick, and just let our midfield provide opportunities to our goalkickers (multipronged attack).

I cannot see us losing this one because of our backline. If anything I reckon it's stronger than the backline we played in the last 4 rounds including the Swans final in 2010, given Jamo was carrying a niggle and badly out of form, and Bower was carrying a leg injury, so wasn't at his best, and imo they actually hindered us playing half baked because we had no one to replace them with talls Setanta, Austin and White injured at the time, and no Duigan or Laidler....or Yarran to select.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Our backline won't lose us this game because our mids' & forwards' workrate will be the deciding factor.

I cannot see how the subs can be used other than an injury occuring.
It would seem silly to me to risk using them anywhere before the 4th quarter and even then you could risk being down one man in a tight contest. The other issue you have is fitness. These guys will have to show up and play in the VFL the next day or rotate between AFL & VFL with additional sessions during the week.

They mentioned this on OTC last night. How silly will it look if a substitution (of a fit player) was implemented in the 3rd quarter and then in the last quarter there's an injury and the fit player that was subbed can't come back on. Silly rule change.

They will probably get subbed on about 15-20 mins into the last quarter. Teams can cover being down one rotation in the last quarter, especially when you factor in the fresh player.

Great minds.
Seriously though, the AFL is a winner here. Did I say that.
The rotations where a joke last year. Hopefully this will go a fair way fixing this.