You'll know if we've gone to short because Hendo or Walks will have to go down back if the Eagless talls start getting the better of us.

We shouldn't lose een if this happens.

I would think the MC is doing a balancing act of trialing/rotating players whilst still trying to win games. Sept is the goal.

They haven't made many stuff ups this year so I'm sure they are on the right track.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

you forgot Carlos in that list.

tend to agree, as much as it pains me (mainly because mclean pains me).

i reckon injuries are now clearly the biggest problem the club has at the moment. and its an impressive one.

it seems we're losing 1 or 2 every week to varied minor soft tissue issues (excl. hammers knee)
Laids & White one week, Waite & Carlos the next, Duigs and Curnow the next...... geez I hope this isn't becoming a pattern

funny how we're told very very little about this, the club releases NOTHING concrete to the media on our injuries (good!)

in the blink of an eye we're suddenly 6 men down (just lucky Hendo hit form, and Kruzers immaculate return) otherwise we could almost be 6 or 7 down (of our best 22).

And whats more is I saw a friend today who has pretty close links with the Judd's who tells me Judds been playing through pain ever since he hurt his foot a month ago and that it's far from 100% and furthermore that he plain and simply refuses to take a week off despite what the club suggested he do for the Port & Bris games.
god bless that champ.

I agree.



Carlton by 183 points.

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#DonTheStash

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You heard it here first!

It's only a danger if our intensity and pressure is down around the ball.

Must say I haven't been this excited about a debut since my man JR.

Most agree that the inclusion of Duigan, Laidler and Curnow are a huge reason for the good result the club has had thus far in 2011.

Now they're out injured along with Waite and Hampson. Is that going to go against us? Why would it?
The formula is the same. Players have to play to keep their spot in the seniors, and despite Laidler and Duigan out, we've replaced them with the class of Gibbs and Russell. Despite my preference for one more tall, Russell and Gibbs are good enough reason to keep Austin out.

Like someone said earlier lucky Hendo and Kreuzer have broken into the team and showed a bit.

You'd expect McLean to replace Curnow and vice versa. I don't, but I understand the reason for it.

The ins are ROK (most likely the sub), Warnock for Hammer and Armfield for Curnow.
Nothing wrong with Armfield's inclusion, and I'm glad the MC have stuck with the in form Tuohy.

People are forgetting that the class of Houla is back for his 2nd game, and he looked all class whenever he touched the ball last week.

Who knows? We might be a better team this week than we were last week.
Whilst I prefer Hampson, I still reckon that Warnock will be too awkward for the the Cox with Nits to handle a 206 Warnock.

I reckon we'll win by at least 10 goals. We do look the faster team by a long shot...well on paper we do.
Warnock better kick 2 goals or Setanta will take his spot....pressure is still on everone's spot.
Laidler, Waite, Curnow, Duigan all want their spot in the seniors back.

Lets pluck those Eagles and send them back by bus.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Eagles haven got much run in this team. Two talls on the bench, 3 forward, 2 defenders and Cox in the ruck. Fair enough Cox is mobile, but the others if they don't take the marks will be run ragged.

Comment on Armfield isn't fair. He was on emergency duities last week and couldn't show his wares. So nothing to compare there.
In the last game Armfield played in the Ants (the previous round) he was one of our best, hence the 1st emegency.

Sure Brock was banging on last week for a spot. Goes to show it's not Curnow whose taken over Brock's position...it's most likely pace.
Armfield is a good inclusion. Dry track. Plenty of pace. I'm happy to see him playing. Surprised? Yes. Disappointed? No way.

Too simplistic suggesting Brock and Curnow are like for like. There's a difference imo between a fast in side mid and a slow inside mid. Curnow being the former makes the Carlton side, Brock the latter doesn't. They are different in a big way. I'm just going on what the MC have selected.

We are going to run rings around the Eagles....even if Brock played imo. There's obviously more to the story....ROK's time to show his wares.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Sorry 43........

can't help you there.........but well done on ya
first post.........!


kindest regards tommi








and by the way......if you see Monty from the Fab Four
walking around over there.........?

could you trip him over please..........?

ta.........!

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

LL you can't play high intensity, hard running, high pressure footy like we are, without some casualties. The good news is there are now players to step into the roles. The best teams have players ready and in form to step in when required.

Ratts and the MC know it is all about the mental application now through to Rd22 and those that are getting a game are being rewarded for showing that application on the track and in the VFL. They don't want the work-rate or intensity to drop off.

Those coming back from injury will probably come back through the VFL if they miss any longer than 3 weeks, so that gives those that step up to the senior team a few games to sell their wares.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Gee............

pretty proud of yourself there HEY Cox.......!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

I think it's been fairly clear that Judd hasn't been the same player since the foot injury, and that Curnow came back in far to early. Three weeks for an A/C ... I know there a grades but ppffft!!

I am assuming the club is smart enought to enforce a rest for Juddy once the second of the 8 point games is out of the way.

More than happy for you to disagree with my opinions BB but you might want to make sure you've got your facts right before taking potshots at the "simplistic" views of others.

Firstly, Armfield played Bullants last week and was OK but didn't have anywhere near the impact of McLean IMO. As for you assertion on McLean, I'm not saying he and Curnow are the same. What I'm saying is Curnow offers an inside body that can block for Judd and also get his share of clearances. I'd suggest Juddy is benefitting from having someone help him with the grunt work. Armfield doesnt have the smarts to go close to that role. I'm not knocking Armfield, just unsure of the value he'll offer in this game V Mclean. Brock is playing excellent footy ATM and I'd like to see him rewarded for it.

Just my simplistic opinion though, hey.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Hawthorn are showing Essendon* atm what a team of fleet footed players can do. Absolutely destroying them for uncontested possessions and this is what i predict we will do to WC on Sunday.

Carlton by plenty.

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You heard it here first!

Brock must be in a world of pain tonight ... but he'll get his get his chance.

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I just want my old club back ... (edit) maybe I have!

Curnow joins the injury list with a quad - Brock doesn't get a call up in his absence on the smaller Etihad Stadium (as opposed to the 'G), does that mean good night nurse for Brock now????????

ROK to make his debut with Warnock and Arma called back in.

Agree....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

It's reassuring to know that the MC realize that McLean may not quite be up to it....in any case if Ellard does play then we still have our in an under with Armfield adding more pace....it isn't so much about the personnel now as much as it is those willing to implement the game plan....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

That's rotten luck for Curnow. Hope he gets it 100% right for the run home into September. We've still got a very good side I think and should account for WC.

Don't take my opinion personally. It's not a potshot, its an opinion, just like yours.

The use of the word simplistic is used to emphasize that there looks to be more to the MC's choice between Brock and Curnow than inside work. I didn't say it but perhaps they measure outside effectiveness too. Its worth considering and airing for debate.
What makes the MC tick? Why is Brock overlooked? Good questions to debate.

My bad about Armfield last week if that's the case. Honest mistake...I'll check it out. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Nevertheless, I'm looking for the reasons why the MC would not choose Brock after he's played a pearler.

Nothing wrong with you preferring the Ants BOG getting a go. It's a logical viewpoint but its obvious it doesn't always work out that way.

But also interesting about all the block work Brock is said to do for Juddy which Sydney Blue mentioned a while back.
I checked the only 2 games Brock played over and over again, and just didn't see Brock even close to Judd. When McLean was in the midfield, Judd wasn't. It was weird, but I certainly didn't see any evidence of the famous Brock blocking in those games he was supposedly doing blocking. IMO it's a myth....at present...at AFL level.

Curnow, on the other hand I do see him block a few for Judd more times. Maybe thats because he's spent more time on the ground than Brock. He's pretty quick and he gets on his bike to the next contest. Curnow's a beauty.

Nice to know we have a BOG from the Ants in the waiting.
I like him and he's in our top 30 imo, and I know he comes with a reputation (I was a fan of the trade).
But I'm not sold he's ahead of Armfield and some of the lesser likes in the top 30.
He hasn't done much to make me think otherwise.
I honestly think the game is slipping away from him. But that's just my opinion.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue