I like the Gibbs matchup actually. Would be an outside contest, less impact on a suspect shoulder. Bit better than Lynch anyway.

Hurn can kill us on the counter.

Yes, it's as simple as that. Hampson may be tall but he's quicker than half our mids. Who would you sub? Carlos or Army depending on matchups?

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

I'm in 110 RR

I think 210 is directly behind and 310 directly behind that - sounds like they're sticking the Carlton people in much the same general area.

I was actually surprised about how low key they were after the siren on Sunday. Sure, they looked happy, but they weren't jumping around like they'd just won the granny (like the Bummers would have).

i'll be the one going for the blues

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Yep I didn't get the sense they were satisfied, more a sense of release. Think the shackles are broken and they will be playing out of their skins this week.

81 bucks for a reserved ticket?

With Hammer finding form with the bullants he will seriously have to be looked at to combat Nick Nat and my brother Dean Cox.

Davies the likely person who will be omitted if Hampson plays.

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You heard it here first!

yeah and they magically made the majority of the stadium premium seating somehow

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

yes...the winner of the team singing with the most gusto award for the w'end would have to be Swannies. That was great viewing...with Gary Rohan an absolute stand out...made me laugh...he is fantastic!

No doubt...if we win on Satdee nite...it'll be worth watching...with possibly Robbo topping Rohan's rendition.
Now that is something I'd like to see.

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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.”

Word is egirls are wearing their darker home jumper...

...does this mean we're forced to don the nancy blue clash jumper?

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

So we're both singing "We are the navy blues..."?

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

My two cents on the questions:
I think we're more likely to have Simmo go head-to-head with Embley and back our boy in to be more damaging.

Carrots will go to Priddis - don't think we'll play more than one hard tag.

Agree Hendo on Kennedy but think Laidler is more likely to go to Darling and Jamo to Lynch - I say that because on the evidence of Pies v Eagles, Lynch poses much more of a threat than Darling and would be far too physically strong for Laidler - pretty remarkable for a bloke who wasn't even getting picked for a wooden spoon outfit last year. Don't get me wrong, we won't be letting Darling roam free, but he's still a young guy and struck me as a little overawed on the weekend.

Think we'll definitely put some time into Hurn, most of the better sides seem to be doing this these days and I don't think Worsfold and co have found a great solution to it.

As an aside, I hope we've looked at the tapes of the Eagles kick-ins vs us, they slaughtered us with some precise 60m kick-ins to the flanks on numerous occasions for virtually uncontested marks (think Schofield got a couple) - learning from that type of error could make the difference.

Think we can get there - although I'm anticipating we'll need to be 3-4 goals better in a vacuum to allow for the 2-3 goals advantage that the Eagles get from the umpires.

Totally agree with the above match ups. Let Simmo tear up the wing on Embley. Jammo on Lynch and Hendo to Their no 5.

Run em ragged boys!

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They coud'nt.....could they?

Laidler & Duigan will be important. WCE love the long kick into 50.

We need to pressure & crowd their mids at every opportunity. Guys like Priddis can be forced into indecision if their space is limited.

Glass is a danger man, was superb against Collingwood.

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#DonTheStash

Setanta can't run with Natanui. Setanta has a big heart but a small tank

West Coast have a very tall forward line. To counter it, we have to have a reasonably tall backline or risk their taking a lot of marks as they did against Collingwood. 11 goals kicked from marks IIR.

So it stands to reason to me that Hampson comes in to release Thornton to the backline for Gibbs. Gibbs cannot possibly play if he has bruised his AC. He couldn't even lift his arm over his head after the game. The first tackle would render him useless for the rest of the game.

Now we have Hampson and Setanta in the forwards. Two players @ 200cm, both who can mark or get the footy to ground. We also have Walker who can play the medium forward role a-la Le Cras and the amigos. The 6th could be anybody from Robbo to Simmo. No matter.

The Ellard debate rages on. And on. Ratts loves him because he sees a bit of himself in Ellard (nttawwt) so I reckon he'll stay. Davies is the other one. Personally I like Davies as a footballer but he hasn't played a lot of minutes in the past couple of weeks and that may count against him on the big ground. He is surely lacking a bit of match fitness after a couple of short weeks. Maybe he will make way for Lucas or Tuohy or someone else if there is s specific need. Whomever it is, needs to be a runner. There is NO WAY the sub will be a big man. We are going to have to have run and spread to win this game, especially if the WCE mids get a ride from Natanui and a suspect Cox.
I reckon this will be a cracker game and I enjoyed the post above which carefully analysed the differences in our team from the Rd 14 one (sorry but I can't remember who it was so I have to give a general credit but it was a very well thought out post IMO)
We can and should win this if we hold a few marks (important because of their press) and kick straight for a change (important because we aren't going to get as many shots for goal as usual).
Crap time to watch a game in Mexico but. Neither late night nor early morning. The dog watch.

Go Blues.

(Edit) It was Scotty 12000's post
Aslo some other really good posts above. Jimmae and ABNS to pluck a couple.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I think Setanta is an absolute MUST for the rest of the year now that Waite's done.
His last 2 games have been excellent and the one thing he does consistently is make a contest and at the very least bring it to ground, which no other forward has been able to do (other than Waite). I do not recall him being outmarked in the past 2 games and our small forwards are so so much better for it. One of our greatest strengths is scoring from crumbs and stoppages inside 50. If you look at our worst games this year, they are the ones when we are consistently outmarked in our Forward 50. which no other forward other than Waite. So for me, bring in one of Kreuz or Hammer to rotate with Warnock and leave Setanta as a permanant forward. Every now and then throw a ruckman forward as well for a mis-match while Walker has burst in the middle. If the balance is wrong and hurting us, we can always sub one out. The obvoius one to replace would be Davies.

Carrazzo to Priddis who is very dangerous.
Jamo to Lynch, Hendo to Kennedy switch them if not working.
Laidler to Darling. Has a habit of getting under the skin of forwards and I think this might throw Darling a bit.
Possibly Robbo to Hurn? Similar job to Fletcher? Not sure..
Happy to go head to head for the rest of the midfield. Create space and run run run run. If we can make it open / shoot out style game we win comfortably.
Jeffy and Eddy hitting form at the right time. Especially Garlett who's been out of sorts for a long time.

COME ON BLUE BOYS

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don't want to be the bearer of bad news....BUT gibbs and kreuz will not play.

I've been told hammo, touhy and lucas in the mix....

Must admit slightly surprised to hear that russ is not with those other names.

Sauce?

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

As soon as I saw the word 'hopeful' on the website, I knew Gibbs would be an out. Significant loss. I'd bring Touhy in to replace him.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY