Losing Waite, Kreuzer, Hampson and Jamo at the pointy end of the season mean't we were unlucky last year. Losing Gibbs in the Essendon* final was further bad luck.
If we had luck last year we would have been in the mix playing Geelong in the prelimin.
Luck is having your best/key players fit and well at the pointy end of the season.

Absolutely spot on.
The Geelong coach said in an interview in today's Sun, they they should have lost to us in round 8 or 9 (whenever it was).

Win that and we get the home final against WCE and anything could happen.

Then there was the draw against Essendon* that even James Hird said they were lucky to salvage.

Last year we could easily have played off in the Prelim and then the GF.

We saw how Collingwood played in the GF. Had we been there and had they played the same shite game, we'sdall be buying the DVD.

We are close. All we need is a bit of luck with injuries and a small step up from the middle tier players and consistency from the bottom six.

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Sounds easy!...............................................................
Well see.!!!

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Injuries are so important, but then so too is depth, they can go hand in hand

Say a Kruezer goes down (touch wood), if Hampson steps up he can be a good replacement. Of course last year they both went down.

I don't think you mean "touch wood" there. "god forbid" rather.

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Were ok if we have 12 injuries to half back flankers(at the one time).. but we cant afford 2 to midfielders.
So yes i agree with you.
Injuries will play a big part.. (depending on where)

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Yep ... we could have half a dozen back flankers go down ...its good to know we have them covered ...lol.

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

Even given injuries or no injuries the biggest concern I have is key position players particularly up forward.
Footy has changed but big key forwards will make the difference when it comes down to the last couple of games.
In other words despite how good Gartlett, Betts and Walker are this year they ultimately wont get the job done for us.

The club has gone out and recruited 3 big blokes in the 2010.
Mc Carthy looks more like a tallrunning half back to me
Watson looks a long way off at this stage
Mitchell is an unknown quantity
Henderson looks like he will play defense.
Kreuzer has the size but I have doubts he is a key positon forward.

In those final matches the pressure goes up a notch and forward 50 entries include far more bombs under pressure. A big marking forward only has to pluck a few marks and kick straight to make the difference between winning and losing.
Hawkins in last years Grand Final is the most recent example.
To be a serious flag threat we need someone to step up in this area this year.

Agree. In the big finals we are going to need 2 tall blokes inside fifty in form. We have options though and quite often some one you least expect bobs up. Hawkins in last years Grand Final is the most recent examples.

I also think late last year we got good performances out of Armfield and AJ as in tight on ballers. Perhaps Ratts and co plan on using some no thrills players in close this year and the HBFer types are the ones who are going to be used as outside attacking players.

We have the list to pull it off this year. Just need a good run of luck and not to lose players when we play large clumps of games at etihad. That gets us every year.

Can you name the 12 ?

Quite interesting comment.
You raise doubts over our key forwards and then raise Hawkins. Geelong had those same doubts.

I agree mostly with what has been said Keogh.
I also think that with a good range of talls around them the smaller forward will be even harder to handle with the uncertainty of the taller structure.
The other recruit this year is the mature Rowe. He is there specifically at least for the short term void in the forward line and Kreuzer has got at least a year to find his feet.
His first few games back last year were very encouraging coming off a serious injury.
With a full preseason he will be a star for us this year.

Yes and it can be argued he played on a player who shouldnt have played because he was injured.
We havent seen anything yet from those 3 kids I have mentioned
Kreuzer could be the answer up forwad but the majority of his career has been as a mobile ruckman.
Hawkins showed enormous potential in his first few games before having a let down.
Mitchell may be the one down the track if he gets his body right.
Hampson has the artillary but he is more suited as a ruckman IMO.
Dont know enough about Rowe to comment. We definitely need someone to step up in this area

Easy
Tuohy
Russell
Bower
Laidler
McKiness
Armfield
Davies
Duigan
Yarran
Lucas
OKeefe
Scottland
White


,,,, forgot Bootsma...

Thatsalso inclusing the two boys that can step in for the two spots available , in case the 'dirty dozen' half back flankers get injured.....

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Armfield's not a HBF... you left out Gibbs, Lodge and perhaps Thornton. That being said, you can easily make a case for Lucas, Bower, Russell, Scotland, Gibbs, Tuohy, O'Keeffe, Thornton, McInnes and Yarran to be playing in other positions, which leaves about 4 as 'pure' back flankers of some variety (as opposed to back pocket).

The writing's on the wall for White with his contract up at the end of the season, as he's the most obvious surplus name on that list.

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why would i add Gibbs when he isnt a hbf and we have been just using him as a hbf.

Sure Yarran can play hff but his best footy is hbf atm... he draws people which makes pthers have more room and space on the spread.

Russell?? hmmmmmmmmmmm never seen him play meaningful except hbf and a lick down hff ... when he proves anything else we can discuss it.. same with Tuohy... Scotland possibly and yes Bower has to knock over our last years draft and Jameson Thirnton and Hendo.

Bottom line .. too many defenders.. not enough midfiders especially coal face midfielders.

Having said that Carrazzo is also a defensive player and add Joseph

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That argument on its own stands up, just not as much in the face of the validity in our recruitment.

O.K. it may be a bit of an ask, but two of our better track performers look likely to be involved early in the season at least, and with form warranting, thereafter.
They are again Lucas and Curnow and none of us like talking "ifs" but I can't see any reason why we shouldn't expect something of these two from this year onwards.

I really don't think any team has the absolute perfect balance, so it may just have to be for us to work to our strengths.

Having too many defenders and not as many midfielders means u r expecting to play the game in your defence.
thats a seige mentality.. never seen a war won on defence... never ever ever....

The game is played in the midfield and won in attack..
Saved in defence.. won in attack....

Saved doesnt mean won...

even if u keep the opposition down to 0 points.. u still must score 1 point to win.

MIDFIELD is where its at...forward thrusts into inside fifty via the midfield....

The rest is ludicrous when its where we have the list balanced

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Sakc everyone except the Save Fevola group and those loud supporters who ignore a valid point by ranting. If Lucas and Yarran are nothing but HBF, I'll go he. Walker was a flanker and defender prior to last season. Supporter spin is worse than what the clubs throw out. No early doors? Ain't nothing but subjective nonsense to support their narrow minded and belligerent view of football.