Need him in if we are going to be able to tag their entire midfield.

Surprised that both AJ and Curnow are getting a game this week. With Brock there, thought one of those boys would be back in the Northern variety of Blues.

Seem to be quite tall this week in selections. Though the 3 ruckman seems to have forced Port to bring back Redden.

Will be very interested in seeing how Watson and the Boot goes this week. Hoping Brock can get himself fully up to speed (so to speak) this week so he is primed for the Cats game and even bigger game against the Weagles.

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I would like to thank Collingwood for helping me keep faith in my old man. He always told me that 'People are thick'.

I suspect we have selected a horses for courses team. If Watson plays back, he'll hopefully be able to kick over the press to our runners or long to a contest.
Yes, the team looks tall but if one of Hampson or Kreuzer sits in the square instead of trying to get kicks and marks outside 50, we will kick more goals. Hampson is starting to hold his marks and that has to be good. Kreuzer is the worry for mine. He is susceptible to the subtle push in the back that just sends him under the ball. The umps won't pay it if it's done with the hips. he cops it every time just as he leaves the ground.

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

Wondering if another rookie upgrade is available? Dale promoted for Rowe. Is a promotion availbale to cover Murphy?

I'd like to see Watson tried forward to begin with - preferably within 50m arc. Instructions to kick long to him with crumbers anticipating.

Kreuzer / Hampson to alternate there providing a decoy tall option. Maybe taking turns between playing deep or up the ground.

Walker looks to be coming into good form. Would like to see him start in midfleld - wing if not at the bounce.

Gibbs might benefit from starting as an attacking forward for a change.

Would like to see Yarran (assuming he plays) spending a bit of time forward as well.

Sub - has to be runner IMO.

Simpson has been firing in bursts but suffering from tags?

Garlett also - ball just not bouncing his way. Both terrific players when in form.

Coming on 10 mins into 3rd quarter might suit one of them - chance for maximum impact in game over say 40 minutes.

Fingers crossed that one of Buckley, Mitchell, McCarthy, Kerr, McInnes, and the promoted rookie Dale, can lift their football to another level.

Quite a lot of untried players there in reserve.

Can't try all of them this year so hopefully we get it right with the one or two that we might try out before the end of the home and away rounds.

Just one of these guys stepping up and demanding a spot in the 22 over the next few weeks would be good for the side. Just one.

Good to see another game for Bootsma. Green as anything but excellent kick on him.

Four points will be hard work this week. Try and get that before worrying about next week and the week after, etc.

Thursday night previews

League Teams
[youtube]WE2hoSz1xNU[/youtube]

The Footy Show
[youtube]VLDfO1aSiQM[/youtube]

The Game Plan
[youtube]cLBG4c8K_xE[/youtube]

Bonus: Yesterdays discussion about Travis Boak and Carlton on AFL 360
[youtube]B7OoBIXJYdc[/youtube]

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Navyblue95 -
my youtube channel tracking carlton news on television and paytv

Havent commented about Waite for a while. Be just happy for him to get on the park.

For the past month I have been strong on his selections. The reason is I believe he is giving mixed messages to the group. He constantly makes comment about lack of effort, need to improve midfield and quotes a million stats yet keeps picking the same average players.

As I said earlier about the definition of "Insanity"!

My frustration is that we are picking players that have not improved, not played at a level to help us improve and have had enough chances. As with what Geelong, St Kilda and Collingwood they are selecting Kids to keep their list improving and energetic. Its amazing what happenes when you give kids a go. Look at the excitement Bootsma has generated.

IMO there is more benefit in picking Bootsma, Watson, Dale, Buckley, Lucas, Collins etc than playing Armfield, Curnow & AJ both in contribution and development especially as we will be getting Laidler, Murphy, Carazzo, Waite, Henderson, Duigan back and they will take the roles.

Anyway if you don't like what i write, don't read it as I am fairly sure I am entitled to my opinion!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Interesting the Parkin is tipping Yazz as a withdrawal for Lucas


I think we will struggle this game.

Was expecting Thornton and Russell to get the easy merry-go-round selection, but really pleased the club has decided to test the new players instead.

Our injuries have created career opportunities for these younger players.

Last week, Lucas came on (as sub) for a quater, when the team had started to find it's mojo...and didn't get ONE KICK!!

Just 3 handpasses and 1 tackle - so, somebody else gets a go.

Compare this to Robbo & McLean who saw the chance to dominate the centre with over 65 possesions between them - welcome back!!

Good luck to Watson (and Collins, if he plays)...

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"...that's the thing about opinion - you don't have to know anything to have one..." Andre Agassi commenting on Pat Cash 2004
"...the less you know - the more you believe..." - Bono 2006

Depends on your definition of insane. I'd say its insane to turn up here every week predicting big changes to a side when you have about a 100th of the information those picking the side have.



Its your opinion they haven't improved and you don't know what their improvement is being measured against. Based on your criteria at Collingwood Ben Johnson would have been dropped a couple of seasons ago and Richmond, Jake King and Shane Tuck would have been delisted a couple of seasons ago. Now they're key parts of their resurgance.



Laidler - Bower
Murphy - McLean
Carrazzo - AJ
Waite - Warnock/Hampson
Duigan - Bootsma

Don't see anyone taking Curnow's role. Assuming everyone is healthy, two of Armfield, Curnow and AJ are probably in our best side anyway. They've certainly been getting regular games over the last 2 years.



Just as I'm entitled to challenge your opinion and Ratts is entitled to pick the side according to the criteria he's set and the information he has available, information we're nor privy too.

My issue's isn't really with you giving your opinion or being frustrated. We haven't been playing well so you're entitled to that, but labelling the coach gutless because he's selecting the team based on a different range of criteria and information to you is a little keyboard warriorish to me.

Without that comment I keep reading, like I normally do.

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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

..would be highly doubtful that Watto would be used up fwd.. ..3 rucks has 2 fwd for most of the game, sure as hell ain't gonna add a 3rd tall up there, especially one who's most likely slower and less agile than the rucks.. ..he'll be holding a kpd post down there in tandem with jamo, but more 'stay at home' type.. ..bower will act as 3rd tall man up for support, and be the rebounding hbf/wing prospect..

..ppl need to stop bagging Lucas out [so soon at least].. ..kid started this season still eligible for the RS, keep that in perspective folks, ditto Watto who being a kpd needs extra time as well..

..collins would still be sire you'd assume, not sure how fit yaz really is either..

..ppl sceptical regarding curnow, ellard and brock in the side shouldn't be.. ..we've got plenty of speed/outside run to cover them Provided the team works hard and cohesively.. ..all three are good inside and are also team orientated, they'll block and provide space to help clearances.. ..i'd be starting them inside with Judd and have our runners as the 'outer ring'..

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

My interpretation of the watson inclusion is that waite is not right and the mc desperately need to substitute someone for his role. Whether that is down back to release lachie or straight swap i am not sure, but it speaks volumes on where waite is really at with his injury in my opinion

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'‘He had an enormous capacity to pump himself up and get the best out of himself when it mattered. He had a fire in his belly – a passion for the contest like few other players’' -- D Parkin in reference to the dominator

That and how far back Thornton is from selection at the moment..

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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?

I'm not a fan of Watson and haven't seen him do anything (at VFL or Senior level) to show me that he'll make it as a footballer.

However...........
If your ever gonna give a player like him a chance it's in a game like this. - Against a low placed side with not that many larger style bodied players.

So whilst i'm not 100% sold on him............ let's at least Give him a chance.


Getting worried about Lucas though.

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

When he gets over Gluteal Strain he might be considered until then no he won't get selected

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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

I fully expect him to line up on Schultz, to allow Jamo to get free. Especially if Yarran's out, we'd need his run out of defence. Could get ugly..

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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?

I think people are a bit harsh on Watson. I know our NBs doyen River Rat has been underwhelmed but we need to give a top 20 draft choice a bit of time to come good and I am happy to give him a run in the 1s. He needs to get a few games too, to see where he is at.

I find the Collins omission disappointing. He was okay last week and he has waited a year for a game, give him a few games. He is tall, mobile and seems quick. Perhaps a bit like many others we have, but guys who are worth one game are surely worth two especially if they perform okay. (And with Grigg having a stellar year I really want Collins to come good to shut Tiger fans up).

Maybe Watson plays at the same level whether in the 1s or 2s. Best way to find out is to play him in a game we should win. He won't help our pace tho, and with three first ruckmen we look top heavy.

The problem is, despite so many good draft choices we have little depth when tested by injuries and Waite with hip and back complaints sounds like he won't be able to put lots of games together. Our decision to go after Robbie W when we had Sammy J Hammo and Big K on our list seems strange given our deficiencies elsewhere. Still maybe we can trade one next year and try and get a big forward. What did we do with the picks we got for Sammy J?

IIRC, we got Patty McCarthy at around pick 30 with one of them?

Ahhh .. Friday lunch time.

WOOKIE post time !!!

(Once again Wookie I'll say how much your efforts are appreciated).

Well said Brad, it seems the MC can't win no matter what they do, Ratts continually gets bashed over the head by posters, I think it is time that some people realized that we are in a bit of a difficult situation with injuries and form and accepted that the MC is trying to address the problem, we also need to understand that we don't know as much as those in the inner sanctum and if some of the guys on this forum were so talented in team selection they would be on the MC of an AFL club and not banging away here.

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We are the maybe blues

Good post, looked for something constructive rather than kicking the shit out of the coach and the MC

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We are the maybe blues

Bannister umpiring.

Hopefully he's not like my Dad who used to pay everything against me when we did sport at school. Easy to go too far the other way when you're showing that you're not favouring your own kid

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa