We're on different pages Stamos.

You're for dropping guys who have to doing the job just to bring "names" into the team. Why?
In all probably our next two games are dead rubbers anyway. I reckon we should more or less leave
the guys in who have won us the past four games and see how they handle a bit more of a contest.

If it works out yahoo, if not then hopefully the "names" will have gathered a bit of form in two's and be
ready to come in.

I'm not sure how Austin's be going for the Ants, but if he's been playing well ... why not give him a go
against Buddy? I reckon the next two games are perfect finals warmups, but that's all. Like it or not we'll
be playing Essendon* in an elimination.

I'm all for having another look at Austin (not necessarily to play on Buddy), but I reckon it's pretty clear that Ratten/MC don't rate him, otherwise surely we would've seen him since the WC game? Has not got a look in since, not even as an emergency (someone I'm sure will correct me if I'm wrong on that one....), pretty clear his papers have been stamped for mine.

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Football is life: there is nothing else

He has been listed as an emergency a few times since the WCE game.

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

You don't really see the MC playing him though, do you?

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Russell may not get back in at all

As far as a game goes this friday night is as big as they come. This really is a season defining game as far as I am concerned. They are a boggie side with capital 'B" . they are coming off a 165 point win - Buddy and Rioli are flying and Sewell and Mitchell are in career best form .

If we win this we will know if we are a serious contender or just making up the numbers . The odds are stacked against us
We don't play well at Etihad
We are retruning from Perth on a short week
we are missing both our book ends and if one does return they will be lacking match fitness
They are the only side Ratten has not had a win over as coach
We haven't beaten any of the top 5 sides all year

win this and we can all jump on the band wagon

lose it and there will be some sole searching and start planning for next year

This friday is the ultimate in season defining games


Go Blues

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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

Jamo should come back through the two's. Bower should come in and play on Buddy. Hendo can be exposed by the more agile, athletic forwards. Armfield should play on Rioli as he can play on him in the middle and we don't lose too much.

In Bower
Out Touhy

I dont think we need to get too worked up over this game. You raise all good points but I personally wont be paying too much attention to the scoreboard with my focus on that first week of the finals. I look forward to seeing how we go in a tight contest where every posession will be hard to earn and our ball use will have to be spot on. I am looking forward to seeing how our team defense goes against a team that is far more efficient than those we have been playing against of late.

Its going to be a very interesting game from a number of point of views. Not the end of the world if we dont come out on top but we would want to show signs of being able to compete against those
teams that are finals hardened and dont give an inch.

Should be a fun evening.

What's the deal with Sewell's ribs? Something for Robinson to test out on Friday if he plays?

Yeah I agree. We can lose the next two and still finish 5th, or we can win the next two and still finish 5th. What if we beat Hawthorn yet bomb out in an elimination final?

The footy media will be gleefully pulling out the flat track bully comments if we lose on Friday but who cares.

There is this thing called self belief - If we lose the next two it will be all but gone
sure we might get over the Swannies round 1 of the finals - but that will be the end of it

This game this week is a must win

Get up this week and the pressure falls back on the West coast and Hawthorn- If we knock over them on friday night the Eagles will go into Saturday against Hirdies brave bombers knowing that if they lose the will come up against the Swans first week of the finals who have already beaten them in WA this year

It is time to stand up and claim a scalp

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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

Good post

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

I reckon we will make a prelim whether we win this week or not.

Copping a smashing this week will have me second guessing myself though.

I will be taking the scoreboard out of it but hope to see us doing things right in a tight game against a team that is hard to play against.

Unless Waite and Jamison are both fit, I think the Blues are in trouble.

A full fit lineup with everyone playing at peak would look maybe something like...

B: Russell, Jamison, Laidler
HB: Yarran, Henderson, Scotland
C: Warnock, Judd, Murphy, Simpson, Gibbs, Robinson
HF: Thornton, Waite, Garlett
FF: Betts, Walker, Kreuzer
Int: Carrazzo, Ellard, Duigan, Armfield

On the cusp: Joseph, Hampson, Tuohy, Davies, McLean

I reckon that's as formidable a team that can go with anyone in the finals.

What's this role everyone talks about with Davies? To my eye he is barely AFL standard & I don't see that he has any tricks to distinguish him as footballer like Watsons hoof, O'keefe's left foot or Setanta's height, strength and flexibility. How many average footballers with no sparkle (Joseph, ellard, Davies) can you play in one side?

Totally disagree.

I'd tank it - anyone who needs a rest before the finals can have one, (although deciding that with a Bye coming up might be a little difficult).

Rnd 22, (or 24 this year), is full of losing premiers*. You have to know when to turn it on and when to back off.

* In other words teams that have lost in that round have gone on to win the flag.

I recall a nice little collect I got on Fitzroy to beat West Coast in Round 22 of 1992 at $9 - and this game was in Perth.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

The Finals begin now as far as Im concerned...

If we are to do any damage in September, we have to proove ouselves against the Hawks and the Aints.

Not so worried about the Aints gmae, as we play them on the G and away from their beloved Etihad...

The Hawks on the other hand, and a challenge we must stand up to. They ve beaten us up the last few years, but we re a far tougher prospect this time round. This is our chance to proove to everyone, ight on Finals time, they we are the Real Deal in 2011....

A Top 4 place isnt done and dusted just yet as the E-Girls still have to play a resurgant Bummers, Crows and Lions (at the Gabba?)

We ve got Jamo and Waitey coming back just at the right time to springboard us into what hopefully will be a successful finals campaign...

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

I agree with SydneyBlue again. Time for us to stand and deliver! No excuses.
If we want to be taken seriously and as a genuine premiership hopefully, it's time to win these matches and make everyone in the football community, including ourselves believe. No more close and happy losses to top4 side. Starting this week.

..incorrect, he played on Roughy in that game [and did very well]..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..