Cheers Psych

Flexibility. Stealth. Mismatch. Proactive.
They are the word that come to mind when we have so much flexibility in the side.
We can change and mix things up seamlessly to catch teams out with mismatches which are in our favour.

I know Hendo played a brilliant first Qtr (and could've snagged a couple of sausage rolls).
I just watched the replay again this morning and Hendo's first half was fantastic.
Yes he seemes to tire in the 2nd half, but he continued to present and link up.

His was a fantastic return to the team. The main point being is that he is in our plans for finals and so is Waite.
What a great headache to have. That's for the MC to view the opportunity as an opportunity for an advantage.
The glass is half full.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Have Kreuzer or Hampson with Waite and Henderson inside 50...don't have to have all 3 for the entire game. Rotate the ruckman through the bench.

We now have an excellent forward mix.

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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

Good points guys and i am enjoying the discussion.

I think it all depends on the way you see the whole gameplan and what we are trying to do.

I think the key to this whole press thing is winning clearances and contested football and getting the ball deep into the forward line and not getting outmarked (if no high percentage short lead options are available). The last thing you want is a mark in the oppositions defensive 50. We either mark and score (rare in all games apart from after centre clearances), crumb a goal or slow things up with a stoppage where we set up a press and score on the repeat 50.
So with that in my mind i think it all starts with the clearances so we need a strong midfield that has plenty of run and rotations so we can run out a game. We have that and our smallish backline helps as does the luxury of being able to use one of our tall forwards (Walker) as an onballer if needed.

I dont think Waite has the attributes of a modern onballer nor do i think he has been drilled as one. The advantage of playing him as one would be the contested marks he could offer out on the wings when we are trying to get out of the opposition press. He or the other tall forward (walker) have been giving that option anyway when its their turn to play CHF.

THe sort of position you are hoping for waite to play would be that of Simpsons or Scotlands or maybe Robbo's. Watch the replay of yesterdays game and try and imagine Waite doing what they are doing. I dont think he can match it in the modern game style. You are hoping that the extra marking will give us more than the running power of Simpson /Scotland/ Robbo.
I dont believe it would but i could be dead wrong. Worth a look as i said earlier and it can be looked at with out risking a game. Just put Walker and K forward for a bit and let Waite run loose.

This is nothing against Henda. He is a fine young player and will be a gun in the future for the blues. I would play waite and walker ahead of him.

#

Walker will have to alter the successful tall forward game he is playing at the moment though. Wouldnt want to break that.

I think Waite and Walker are very similar in mindset and that they shouldn't be given a 'complex' role. I think both are suited to forward roles with the simple objective of 'get ball kick goal'.

@ bondi

Its interesting to watch the development of the side and the pieces coming together.

Henderson is finally fit. The hip injury he had really hampered his first 8 odd rounds. Only in the last month has he been able to have lateral movement and attack the ball. I expect him to keep improving. He is a smart footballer who plays that strong body key forward you need ala Dawes/Pods as he creates a contest and just as importantly brings Betts and Garlett into the game. Given the right opportunities they will tear sides apart.

Kruezer just adds to our structure. He can play tall forward, second ruck and again create opportunities and when resting we revert to a small fwd line. I know some people like Setanta but the difference between having him as second ruckman vs Kruezer is chalk and cheese. Kruezer just does the little things well and makes the right decisions.

Touhy into the side finally give us that tough running defender that can also shut a small fwd down. His job on McGrath in the first half was fantastic. McGrath couldnt get near it and most importantly Touhy adds to our kicking and decision making which previously been a weakness. Touhy's ability to play on Krakouer, Rioli, Stokes etc will be vital. He along with the much improved attacking Jamo, Yarran, Gibbs, Duigan and Laidler makes defensive turnovers a rarity and as such we now attck from defence which allows us to break through the press.

The addition of Curnow and the improvement of Walker, Robbo and Ellard as huge bonuses. Guys like Bower, Houlihan, Warnock, McLean, Austin, Setanta, Armfield, AJ, Lucas, White ,Watson now have to earn their spots if they can and the players in the side need to keep performing or they may miss out!

Put this along side the natural maturity of our kids along with pressure for spots that in my opinion makes us a real chance. Given that side, fit and in form I have no doubt can beat Geelong or Collingwood. The key will be holding it together an producing on the day but an exciting September is ahead!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

My main concern with Waite vs Henderson as such is.....Waite still has brain freezes and makes poor decisions at crucial times......including getting reported as well as poor field kicks.

I think Jarrad is a conundrum, selection wise....has heaps of ability; but has weaknesses that seem to be ingrained.

Hendo already is showing signs of rapid improvement; and is a natural forward.

So.........Waite.....forward or back?....and replacing who......?

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

It is a good discussion, and thanks for not allowing this to become personal like some others do.

It is a great space to be in.

Personally, and there are many supporters who feel the same way, Hendo is a better CHF than Waite...and better than Waite in many other ways too. Waite has been my favourite player till Judd came along, and there's no way I couldn't find a spot for him in our 22. He is so versatile, and just because you can't see him in a midfield role, doesn't mean he couldn't play an important role in that spot. It's not about hope. I remember Kouta changed people's perception of what a midfielder shouls be and he was heavier than Waite and bigger than John Nichols.

What I do know is that he can play midfield. Has got pace and adds value to the team.

My bet is that Hendo is the preferred CHF releasing Waite as a HFF with a bit of freedom (which he likes). That's what happened last year, and that's all I'll say at this stage.

Now if for the argument's sake Hendo is our CHF, a ruckman is at FF, Walker in a FP and the 2 other spots to Garlett and Betts, do you think the MC will just drop Waite out of the equation altogether? Waite as an Emergency? I can't, and just the same I can't see Hendo being left out of the 22 either. He's flexible too.

Did you notice Hendo playing FB in the last Qtr yesterday? I think from here on end it's going to be about building on where we are at, including adding more flexibility and unpredictability before the finals.

Another way to look at it is to ask the question, whether you drop Hendo or Waite before you drop Bower, Thornton or Laidler?
I'd rather have Hendo or Waite play at CHB before any of the 3 backmen I mentioned, so it's not all about Waite and Hendo, it is about the mix and who the most valuable assetts are in a final.

Now remember the point you make about the mobile backline. Hendo and Waite have more pace than TBird and Laidler. Bower may be ahead, but Hendo and Waite are much better marks and CHB's than Bower is imo.

It's great to have depth. No one deserves to be dropped, but there will be players of quality who will miss selection. I don't believe for a minute if everyone was fit and firing that Hendo and Waite would miss.

I hate the way some so called 'supporters' blamed and still blame our loss in last year's final because Hendo didn't catch that ball in the last. Waite's 3 easy misses were more costly than that, but both played well and are very good quality footballers in Dark Navy Blue.

Lets just hope we have close to a full list available for this year's finals campaign and may the best man in the best team win.

It's great to be a Bluebagger.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Waite will be needed up front for while yet.

Hendo can only run out half a game, without a pre-season his fitness will improve, but it's not likely to be 100% even by september.

Hendo may well be getting as much time down back when we play sides with more than one tall.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Good to be discussing team balance rather than sakcing blokes.

I am all for run and trying to get away with fewer tall players as possible. Walker worth his weight in gold due to his ability to play tall and small and also has great endurance so we can use him onball if required. We play extra running players and it shows,

The backline is going well due to the inclusion of players that can kick and make the right decisions, Jamo's form and the protectection the mids and forwards are giving them. The ball rarely goes into defensive 50 on the opposition terms. That starts with the pressure the forwards put on and of course the press.

Including extra talls will i believe compromise that. I worry including Waite who has had no real training as a mid and i doubt is as agile as proper mids will upset our whole structure. It has been pointed out many times that it only takes one weak link in a zone or press for it to fail.

CHB for Waite or Henda would work but do you really want to fix something that is not broken.

I cant see the the MC leaving Henda or Waite out but i would leave out one of them and keep the balance until it is proven our balance is off and another tall will fix it.

Henda will be a top player for the blues for years to come.

It's interesting that the one game Waite misses our goal conversion is the best it's been for the year. For once our forwards offered multiple leads and created space. Also, our mids had shots at goal instead of hitting up lazy leads on the boundary.
I'd give Waitey another week on the sidelines to see if the synergy continues against better opposition.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Waite has had to play CHF when his best position is as a deep forward. He has also had to play as the sole tall forward, taking the best backman each week - No hendo, No Kreuz. I tip he will play deep forward and kick 20 goals in the last half of the year. His the guy you need at fullforward against Harry O'brien. Waite is the guy that will make Harry O reluctant to run and carry. September, Dry Day infront of 90,000- Waite is in the forward line.

Shhhh don't tell anyone we have beaten one side in the top 8

Shhhh don't tell anyone we have won one more game than this time last year


......but stats do lie- we have really improved

..... Ellard lovers, he was at 60% efficiency against Brisbane. His tackling is keeping him in the side

My foward line setup of;
Walker Waite Gartlett
Kruezer Henderson Betts
Allows Waite & Walker to play higher up and the flexibility to push hard both ways as needed.
Both these guys with their athleticism will create huge headaches with a license to do this!
Henderson & one of Kruezer/Warnock/Hampson to play closer to goal and be the main focal points into the F50. There height and mobility will cause additional sleepness nights for oppositions. Out of the top4 sides this year only Franklin is a better KP than these guys in the mobility stakes.

sakc Ellard

:michaeljezz:

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dane's trolling again

Don't like the idea of Waite going into the midfield. Would be to it's detriment, in that our strength have been being able to force contests, second and third efforts and tackling hard.

Waite's second efforts are minimal, his tackling (unless he's chasing someone down) isn't where it should be for a bloke his size, and has that horrible nack of going to ground whenever possible.

I think his strengths lie in being able to lead his opponent smartly up the ground, presents well, and leads to the advantage of the crumbers and Walker.

Reckon Hendo offers more at CHB if we're moving anyone back.

Tough week at the selection table, or a very easy one if they go with No Change straight away.

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When the game was up for grabs in the 1st half Simon Black had 8 possessions. Ellard was his shadow for much of that. Would you rather Ellard tagging or Gibbs?

You missed his 2 goals obviously and the fact that many of his possession are in close and under pressure.

Regards Cazzesman

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Not a lot of love for Waite apart from his conversion in front of goal I thought he has had the most consistant year yet

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