Yep. And it sucks to be McLean... but in the big scheme of things... not that much.
I guess this means that Tuohy and Hendo could go forward if needed.

I think Army was a bit lucky - we must be banking on run. (super sub for Army?)
The thing I like about the blues is that all our talls are pretty mobile.

EFA

T-Bird very unlucky, but it was always a choice between he & Bower with Jamo coming back. I was at the Gabba last week and thought T-Bird had an OK game + his ability to go forward (particularly with Walker still out) meant I thought he would survive the chop this week. It'll be interesting to see if he plays in the VFL on Saturday, or if he is the first rested under our new 'rotation policy'. Either way, a bit of pressure on Bower now (who also played fairly well last week), which isn't such a bad thing.

I can't say I agree with JR out for Duigan. As others have said, Duigan shouldn't be an automatic in our best 22 (although he is right in the mix when fit). Another week in the VFL wouldn't have hurt him and I would have liked to have seen the MC persist with JR for another week at least. I dare say Duigan has been brought in to do a specific job against Collingwood.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Surely Armfield or Lucas will be the sub?

Gibbs should play forward/midfield.

If that eventuates, then we might be able to spare Robinson to run with Ben Reid like he's done with Feltcher twice.

Or Shaw.

Robbo's fueled and ready to go...

Didn't this used to be a regular Carlton chant? I recall watching games as a kid at Princes Park with this echoing around the ground. But it was a lot slower at drawn out than Collingwoods. Sounded like a soccer match.

Agree we should get this going! But only if its in the bag.

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Yes it was a soccer chant of Come on you Blues

It was only a small group of a dozen or so and it never really took off with the masses.

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

Not so sure about Duigan for Thornton, reason being Duigan at 186 and Thronton at 192. Collingwood forward structure is tall. I know Duigan plays a little taller than 186 but i would prefer Thronton across Cloke as third up. Plus you can bet your bottom dollar that Jolly and Wood will play stints forward. Throw in Daws and I am just a little worried about our height down back.

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Go BLues

Couldn't agree more with JR out for Duigan. JR struggled with the pace and intensity in games against Richmond and Brisbane. He will be absolutely found out against Collingwood. This game is going to go up a few notches. Duigan is hard at it and reliable. He wins contests. Does the 1%ers.

We are in a position now where no one should get a game without deserving it. No point persisting with JR if there's others who can do a better job.
JR needs to go back to the 2's for a month at least. Find some form and fitness. Struggling in the seniors is not going to help his confidence.

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You have to leave Jammo at FB, but SOS did some special things in the forward line and as we all know he was more than an AA FB.
Lake, Merrett and even Boch are having a crack at it at the moment so we shouldn't discard anything.

Great Post Ponkstar.

This team is hot and we will continue to be undefeated after this round.

Psych is right that you can see this side grow and grow.

The listed team can only get better within and the continued drip feeding of our best players just makes it that much better by the week.

We're hot and I will not be surprised if we beat Hawks and Pies this year... every time...that's how I feel.
I feel like we're unbeatable, as I've said before.

Even if we put Kreuzer into the midfield given he's not named there and he wouldn't look at of place.
We are fast everywhere. Laidler and Thornton aren't as fast as Kreuzer and Hampson.
Warnock and Walker to come. Salivating. We're big fast and hungry. Middle east has done these guys wonders.
In the past we would've rushed Warnock back to replace Ackland, McLean, Cloke etc.
I'm loving the player management and I'm sure form displayed by everyone helps lots to do give us depth.

Ratts is just making this list versatile and spreading the load right under everyones noses (imo), and he's creating a team.
A versatile team. I don't care what anyone reckons but Jamo makes a great forward any day of the week.
I saw what he did when he did after he injured his knee and played forward against the Hawks. Unbeatable.
As for the blokes who haven't been named. I'd be happy to have selected any of Thornton, Russell, McLean, let alone whoever makes way for Walker and Warnock.
We have good depth when we aren't impaired from injjury.

Great team. I expect them to have lapses against the Pies, (every team does) but expect them to run over them by at least 5 goals.

Blues by 37 points with Cloke or without Cloke.
1 point victory will do me fine.

I can still smell what they're cooking. It looks and smells perfect.
We've got the best midfield group by far. Bring 'em on.
They know we're coming.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

eh?

Jamo for thornton. Duigan for Russell.

Jamo and Hendo key backs with bower, laidler, duigan to provide the chop out/3rd man up.
Jamo plays taller than Thornton and Duigan plays taller than Russell.

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I reckon they would go with jamo as the swing man before henda at this stage.

EFA, BB!

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2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

There is no logical reason for that, assuming all is well with both players. If Hendo cannot cope with playing forward, we don't have a star in the making, we have a head case.


I was waiting for the SOS example. Jamison is a career defender because he has the attributes to match the best FFs, but not the skill set to execute goal kicking like them. SOS was a once in a generation player we were so lucky to have, and I'm not sure there were many (if any) games he started forward once he was settled down back.

Merrett started his career up forward, Bock is a career swingman and can play in any of the key posts, while Lake has a horrid run of form. Bower was used up forward more last year than Jamison. It was all about protecting Hendo, who regressed back to his days at Brisbane, and it was disgusting to watch at times from a development perspective.

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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.

If Hendo plays well on Cloke, Jamo plays forward. If he doesn't, he'll play forward instead. Doubt it's much more complex than that.

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BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

Interesting choice dropping Thornton, particular given his ability to go forward if needed (Collingwood's backline looks pretty tall). But obviously the MC have a lot of faith in Waite/Hammer up front in the key posts (and our ability to run their off their feet) and Bower down back (Duigan is an obvious in for JR). The benefit of PB over Bret is the ability to rebound from defence and move the play.

Walker/Warnock aside, the strongest team we've had for years. There can be no excuses. We lose, we're not ready yet. Simple.

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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

No doubt Couttsy was our resident Steven Spielberg on that one

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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

Thanks Jake however you missed the point

Jamison in and no need to take out another tall. So Jamison for Russell makes more sense in my view because of the tall Collingwood forward structure. That puts Duigan in for Thornton out and thats not ideal....in my view

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Go BLues

Pretty obvious with Thornton being dropped and Duigan coming in that this will release Gibbs to play a more forward/midfield role this week. Most likely rotating with Judd.

Forward setup:

Betts Hampson Gibbs/Judd
Garlett Waite Armfield

Hmmm, I'm not sure I would agree that JR was 'struggling' exactly. He hasn't been setting the world on fire, but he didn't do a hell of a lot wrong against Richmond and only got 20 minutes against Brisbane. I would have backed him in a big game. If he played poorly against Collingwood, OK drop him then for Duigan (or even AJ?). Duigan is a good player, but I would have preferred the MC gave him another week in the VFL and have him primed for the Bombers game. Anyway, see how he goes - we know he'll give 100%.

But if they play Duigan as the Sub this week I'll be very confused...

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.