CRAP!!!!!!!!

(sorry Psych - but it is!)

Psych, whether this will be the team or not, you do appear the poster that understands that anything is possible these couple of months........new coach, invigorated players........who knows where players will be positioned and who'll get a gig!

Exciting times and I'm glad to see someone gets it.
eg Nick Duigan leading the team out this week

Thanks LB. I'm looking forward to a great year. It has been too long.

The odds are that what we put on the park will look nothing like I suggested. Too be honest I don't care. I trust the new regime to get it right.

My points were purely a discussion piece.

Always the same people quick to criticise but no reasoning why?

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Have no issues with those points Harker and your back 6 is more likely than mine.

The point of mine is to show a possibility and how that may improve the depth and flexibility of the side.

Imagine if Collins stood up and filled that role. It releases Tuohy and others into the midfield.

Watson the same. If he or McCarthy can stand up that releases Hendo forward giving us more key forward options.

Jamo & White fighting for FB is a good thing and given both their injury history a must.

To have 30 plus players competing for spots and being able to fill mutiple roles is a must and a huge advantage.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I feel much safer with Jamison at fullback than anyone else on out list. When writing up a hypothetical best 22, Jamison at fullback is pretty much the first position I'll pencil in.

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@cecil_anderson

I don't think Collins has the leg speed to play the role on the small forwards, I'd have Armfield, Tuohy and maybe down the track Temay ahead of him. I don't think his disposal is any better than Armfield either, it's a weakness for both of them.

It's interesting that Ratten wanted Collins off the HBF last year, which would have slowly released Yarran/Tuohy into the midfield as you say.
Ratten clearly had plans in mind, but situations conspired against us having any chance experimenting for the year.

I'd also be over the moon should Watson hold up a key post, releasing Henderson forward where I still think he belongs.
Kid has been injured for so much time it's easy to forget just how could he really can be.

White is certainly bigger bodied now, but I'd be worried that 190cm may not be tall enough for the beasts.

As you say though, there are plenty fighting for spots and from what I've heard: Don't lock anyone in just yet.

I agree we need someone to stand up as a small defender Psych, but I don't see it being Collins. He isn't strong enough over the ball or in the tackle, nor is he quick enough IMO. I also think his skills are inconsistent (particularly under real pressure). I like his courage and endurance, and he's said to be a terrific clubman etc, but I think he is strictly a HF/HB/Winger (if anything) at AFL level.

I'd be delighted to be proven wrong, but I think he'll battle to get games in 2013.

What qualities are we looking for in a small shutdown defender? Discipline, concentration, body strength, acceleration, agility, ability to spoil overhead, cool under pressure, sound skills.

Current candidates for the role-

Tuohy: has shown real promise, but needs to get better at strking the right balance between attacking and defending. Put in some ordinary defensive efforts at times last year and also lost his early season flair running out of defence. I'm not sure if it was his body or his mind, but the season seemed too long for him last year (as it often does with young players). As his game sense improves, and his body gets used to playing a full season, I reckon he'll become a good player. I'm not 100% sure that it will be as a small shutdown defender (he may develop into a Scotland-type player), but he's our best small defender option at the moment, IMO.

Armfield: is coming off his most consistent AFL season, playing as a defensive forward/mid. It wouldn't seem to make sense to move him back into defence (where he's had plenty of opportunities in the past with mixed results). It really depends whether there is a spot for him in his 2012 forward/mid role under MM's structure. He has a go and has nice pace, but he's not a player I would back one-on-one close to goal against a quality small forward.

Walker: did a decent job on Milne in the last game in 2012. Unlikely that's where we'll see him play regularly in the future, but he has the tools to do it if he embraces the role. I prefer him in attack personally (that's where he had his best season in 2011), but if he struggles early in the year as a forward/mid, I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to the backline in shutdown roles.

AJ: I admire him in some ways, but to be honest I think he's lucky to still be on an AFL list. He would need to have a major rebirth under MM to play regularly in 2013.

Davies: lucky to still be on the list too. Has some of the tools you want for the role, but I just don't think he's good enough quite frankly. I appreciate he's still fairly young and has had injuries etc, but I'm not seeing it from him at AFL or VFL level. He might be one of those guys who goes back to the state leagues for a couple of years and returns to the AFL in his mid/late 20s as a harder, smarter, fitter footballer. Another one who would have to make a big turnaround under the new coach. I have low expectations of him coming into 2013 (but I hope to be shown to be wrong!).

Temay: not this year, but maybe a longer-term answer. Will need time.

Duigan: not nimble enough for the role probably, in any event he seems to be being groomed for a loose man in defence role (which I'm dubious about - personally, I see him as a fringer player).

Yarran: no, needs to be used in more attacking roles.

Gibbs: see Yarran.

Bootsma: in a couple of years when he's AFL smart, fit and strong I can see him playing a variety of roles on different types of opponents. I think he'd get killed by a quality small forward at the moment though. For the timebeing, he looks more comfortable as a HB/Wing/HF to me.

McInnes: can play on taller and smaller types. Generally gets the job done with minimum fuss. More suited to the medium/taller types, but there will be some games (in the 2nd half of the year and beyond) where he might be a good match up for the opposition's small forward - as long as the knee injury doesn't rob him of mobility.

ROK: has played in the backline but made his mark at VFL level as a mid. Lacks the pace for the small defender role and he's another one who I think, if he makes it, will be playing further up the ground. Dare I say it, but I could see him playing a similar role to that which Grigg plays at Tigerland.

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

well said abns.

In regards to Collins I agree but with a bit of confidence and time who knows. It's amazing what happens to players when given confidence and a bit of time. I believe he has the basics. If he can do it it makes us a much better side. Depth!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Collins has a lot to prove imo.
He hasn't shown much other than flair.
Moves like Robbie Flower but just doesn't have the same 'positive' impact Robbie had.
Collins dances on a spot and gets tackled. Robbie dances and the opponent is wrong footed ala Rob Harvey.

Collins has a lot to prove and imo will be lucky to get a senior game this year if injuries aren't like 2012. Hope I'm wrong.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

hows watson looking for round 1? i missed the 1st game yesterday and didnt see him in the 2nd.

Watson was ordinary. Fumbled in the goal square for a cheap give-away goal, and did nothing to make you want to pencil him in for Round 1.

Plenty of positives however. Jamison looks fit and firing, and I think we're going to love the re-inclusion of Jeremy Laidler. White was okay. Henderson and Yarran a little rusty. In the midfield we seem to have plenty of options. Murphy, Carrazzo and Simpson remain all class. McLean is a lock in for starting. Betts in the middle worked okay. Hampson, Ellard, Bell, Dale, Robinson all worked hard in a scrappy, bustling type of game.

Up forward and there's a bit of work to do but much more to like than last year. Casboult's grabs are mighty fine (his kicking however isn't). Rowe looked good. Presented, took a couple of strong grabs and got the ball to the ground for the rovers. Loved his efforts. Hampson was flying around the park. Looked terrific. Gets a fair bit of air off the ground.

The biggest -ives for me are when Jamison isn't there. Patton regularly beat his opponent (White) for most of the day, and lots more work to go into the press, turn over and ball over the top that killed us last year. Happened a fair bit in Game 1.

Overall with no injuries, a couple of minor victories and some very positive signs, you had to be happy with the day.

Sydney look like a team who are a month behind in preparation.

Oh, and though he didn't do a great deal, Marcus Davies looks like a beast. I've been very tough on him, and willing to put it all in the past for a big 2013.

O'Keefe looked okay too. Got belted in one contest I noticed.

Garlett looked very rusty. He was one step ahead of where the ball was on more than one occassion. I still have belief in him. He'll click and be as good as ever.

agree with your observations techno

re garlett, would offer that he is probably adjusting to new roles. ie for the most part he was wing or HB (plus he seems to have added size).

mention should also go to Gibbs. 9 (game 1) and 11 (game 2) possesions were a positive and he was involved. he doesnt have an enormous presence, but i could see him definitely playing a role (i like the added 3 kgs he has added - tougher to move off the ball).

also thought Bell continued in his development.

Gibbs poor attempt at tackling Patton early on was embarrassing. Needs to get that crap out of his game.

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"I had to eat"

..at the very beginning of the game Watto fumbled the ball yes, but do did pretty much everyone [ball was slippery with the humidity].. ..he got better, outmarked an opponent during a one on one, ran fwd to provide a link-up [play didnt come off], and generally looks like a very young inexperienced kpp.. ..still think ppl are expecting too much right away..

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

no way is watson is in best 22 at moment. jamo and hendo will take the 2 KP down back and he cant play forward.

Get the feeling Gibbs won't be the last player to be embarrassed by Patton.

Round One against Richmond will be interesting:

B: Tuohy Jamison Laidler
HB: Yarran Henderson Lucas

C: Simpson McLean Gibbs
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy

HF: Robinson Casboult Waite
F: Betts Kruezer Walker

Int: Bell Carrazzo Ellard Duigan

Not easy.

Hammer for Kruezer or 206?
Armfield, Graham, OKeefe, Garlett, White, Collins, Curnow?
How can we leave Rowe out?
Kids in Bootsma, Watson, Menzel, McCarthy, Buckley, Dale pushing for spots.
Scotland still to come back as will McInnes

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015