They will try to exploit us through Hille at every opportunity. Need our midfield to choke theirs up so much that they've no room to move. We need to work and work and work.

On paper we're a far better side but it's played on grass and we always struggle against these c$#%$s.

In the end, my decision to stay home and not go will be the difference. Blues by 22

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Congratulations CK95

I think you'll find cows have calves - not horses.

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"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."

Just stick a fork in Bower now. Seriously.

No Jobe, No Hocking = no excuses for our midfield. There should be a legitimate belting at stoppages.

Really confused by the ins vs the outs. Could Setanta be a late inclusion? Essendon* don't have a super big lineup, but even if it's a wet night, I think Setanta's ability to bring the ball to ground and allow Eddie and Jeffy to get front and centre would be very handy.


Head scratching stuff.

No Russell.

It will be a brave effort on Essendon*'s part if they win this game.

Crameri isn't a KPF.

One would think that Davies would play on him.

Austin's papers may be stamped, but they should play him.

Not good enough to warrant being brought in a defensive tall, or even a third tall. Another case of Ratten trying what he knows over what has the potential to work better.

Ellard has been rubbish and Bower has actually performed well. What lacklustre KPI sees Ellard retained and Bower sent off the deep end? I'm going to get the game tape and watch Ellard's game. I won't hold my breath for anything amazing.

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

Setanta named as an emergency..............

God I hope he plays cause that's a pretty short back line right there.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Bower's out injured Jimmae.

Oh dear. Here we go again.........bringing in a bloke for his first game of the year in a CRUCIAL match, and what's the bet he'll do nothing and get dropped the next week never to return (ala Austin) ?

Very short team. Only 1.5 genuine KPP players in the team (I count T-Bird as 0.5). The Bummers will be licking their lips and loading up with at least 3 talls up fwd all game.

But of course someone will say "all we have to do is smash them in the midfield and it won't matter". Yeah right.

On the bright side, Touhy returns, even if a week too late.

Not just brave.
Heroic!
I think, as a crowd, we should all stand up and applaud when the Bombers come out.
No Hocking..no Jobie...for them to even get out on the park at all will be a massive achievment, and cannot be over stated at tis time.
Carlton on the other hand....a few minor exclusions..Pshaw!!!....meh....pffft....etc.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

I reckon club will like this team.

It isn't too bad...it's midfield Vs talls.

Carlisle has played <5 games.

Ratten has said in the presser they will work on at least bringing the ball to ground in marking contests.

We should monster them at clearances.

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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

I'm not sure if they COULD do that. They could potentially send Hurley forward, but that would require them to play Fletcher on the resting Ruckman. I'm saying this on the basis that they would send Pears to Walker. Either he or Hardingham would be looking to Walker I would guess, with the other going to Thornton.

this is midget ball.

Sorry, it seems I forgot that between clicking quote and hitting submit.

I guess the same kind of question applies to Austin though. He's not doing a thing wrong.

Don't discount one of our ruckman causing issues for their defence at any given point in the game. That takes us back up to 3.45 (I count Walker as 0.25 and Laidler as 0.7 ).

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

That would be me saying that MIL. If we smash them in the middle and play like we should around the packs and have our forward press working as it should those talls up the other end will be more a hindrance than an advantage.
When has a pack of tall forwards bothered us. One tall here and there has been a worry. WC outplayed us all over the ground and outmarked us around the grounds but that is hardly a pattern. If we lose because Essendon* played 3 tall forwards things have gone wrong all over the ground and the whole gameplan that has served us well this year needs a complete overhaul.

The only selction issue would be selecting Davies ahead of Watson. To me that really could have went either way but Watson is a long term project and Davies is someone we need to look at by the end of the season. He possibly has stitched up Carlisle a couple of time in the rezzies too.
Watson will be given plenty of chances to prove himself. At the moment its costly playing him.

Good to see a bit more run in the side with Armfield and Touhy included.

Go Blues !

I guess now we will start hearing how badly we will miss Bower now....it should be obvious to all now that the guy is a figment of our imagination....

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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

What are they doing with WATSON,I hope he has a strong mental resolve ,I cant believe they dropped him ,why did they play him last week just to drop him after one game , they will ruin his confidence, our selections are a joke ,Davies played one good game in Ressies ,Armfield is only an honest battler ,Touhy should never have been dropped in the first place also if Irish is fit enough to be an emergency he should be in the team

I am starting to have a bad feeling about this game

We can only hope Essendon* play 3 talls forward. Hopefully they're dumb enough to try 4.

Davies instructions will be to run off whichever tall he lines up on at every chance.

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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

Wow shortest team of the year by far!


Obviously the bombers will do their best to stack the FWD line, expect Hurley, Ryder, Crameri and Hille to be rotating through. Laidler going to be important!

Anyone know of the weather forecast?? Maybe it's gonna rain??

My theory behind this team would be the run that the bombers have, over the last 2 weeks they have run the other teams off their legs and belted teams in the 2nd half. Me thinks we are trying to match/beat them for pace and running players!!

I don't mind the look of the side.
Laidler can play on a tall, ditto Duigan plays taller.

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T E A M

Have we won a midfield V Tall game apart from Sydney in the wet.?

It's obvious that Ratts will keep backing a small forward line despite the results showing that without a large body the rest go missing. That's all well and good but FFS if the little bastards don't get on their collective bikes this week Ratts, can you at least give someone a spell in the magoo's so they know you are serious?.

Armfield must think he's one of the few guy's on the list that has to earn his spot.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Ratts has anew game plan this week




Kick it to Kruezer

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws