counted two turnovers kicking across the ground in the back half that cost us a goal and was blinded by rage after that.

Duigan did some good things like cutting off a pass or 2 and did a good shepherd in the first, but he really fluffed his kicking and I thought he was clumsy too.

Kicking across from HB to CHF has to be accurate because its in a dangerous spot. Missed the pass and bang goal. Gave away that clumsy in the back to King in the 3rd...not a sign of a disciplined player.

I'm 50/50 with Duigan because I've been a long time fan. I prefer Laidler to Duigan.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Bootsma did a bit of ball watching when it was his turn to get the nut, and he got caught in the last piece of play.

I would have picked Laidler ahead of Bootsma, but I had Bootsma as one of my best 6-7 players in Q1,2 &3. He did some really nice things and did really well for a kid.

Needs further development and strength to be a bonafide AFL player imo, and that will happen.
I don't like experimenting too much during the H&A to see what they've got because there's 4 points up for grabs.

IMO it cost us not playing Laidler and Bell.
We got smashed in the clearances and if our rucks dominated in the ball ups the clearance count wouldn't have been so lopsided....imo. Throughout the first 3 quarters I missed Warnock. Loved Kreuzers ruck roving and marking. Best game from him ever imo. ...and Hammer did very well except for his kicking at goal.

So do we play Warnock as our first ruck. I don't want to risk another smashing in the clearances. We need a WEAPON in the ruck.

Bring in Warnock and drop Casboult...maybe.

Please select Laidler and Bell.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I thought his first half was good. Probably paying the price with the critics for the 50 metre penalty (that shouldn't have been) and the block free kick that was plain silly.

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"I had to eat"

Totally agree
On the balance, did we get beaten in clearances because Warnock wasn't there or because of other reasons? I argue the latter. Remember that you can always rove to an opposition ruckman if you're smart enough.
Warnock is not even one-dimensional. All he can do is tap...and yes, that's an advantage, but not enough in today's footy. Hampson has to be perservered with. Has a leap, can finally take a mark
and is more mobile. Kruezer = number 1 ruck. He seems like the sort of player who gets confused about his role when sharing it with 206.

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

I'd bring in Laidler and Bell for either Duigan or Boots and AJ. Boots will be a very good player but theres no point in rushing it.
Give him time to hone his game in the VFL and bring him in then.
Apart from that, I'm happy enough with the personnel.

The first thing is to sort out the midfield. Our set ups are atrocious and we're conceding the hit zones too much. If Wiley cant sort it out, we need to get someone in who can. ASAP.
Apart from that, we need to let the players take the game on if the opportunity presents. We were much better last night when we ditched kicking to a contest and ran and carried the ball.
FFS, its too hard to win the ball without giving up 50% of possession by continually kicking to contests. Simple mathematics will tell you that.

FWIW, I'm rapt to see Hammer continually improving and Kruez geting back to full fitness. Lets not forget they were the dominant ruck duo early last season before injury intervened. They took Jolley apart early last year. Lets hope the can do it again and ou rmidfield is set up to capitalise again.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

That's a fair call NBH.

All the same, I want Laidler in the team and the obvious swap is Duigan. I thought Duigan had a real crack last night, but I just think more highly of Laidler as a player and I'm not sure we can have Laidler & Duigan in the same back line. Could Duigan reinvent himself as a forward? Realistically, aside from the odd game or quarter when he can play a role (eg. last year vs Coll) and perhaps catch a team off guard, I don't see him making a career as a forward. MM seems keen on him but I don't see much of a future for Duigan at the moment. No disrespect to him because he sounds like a ripping bloke and clubman etc, but he might be heading towards an unofficial role as playing assistant coach for the Northern Blues, and depth player for Carlton, in the 2nd half of the season.

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

Warnock is a better all round ruckman then people give him credit for.
I fully expect that come mid season ... if hes fit.. (thats his main problem) he will be number 1 ruckman.. and with confidence up he will be giving our mids an armchair ride... and contributing around the ground.

He just needs continuity in AFL and some match hardness that will only come with playing.

The other thing id be doing is speedtracking Pat MacArthy to CHB ASAP... he doesnt have to smash it.. he just needs to spoil and use his height and mobility to do a basic holding of post .. id be giving him 6 weeks regardless.... and freeing up Henderson to CHF/FF
Happy with Bootsma in the side...but whoever thought and said he will become a midfielder is off-navigation ...stay on the cart...!!!

Daigan is a favourite because MAlthouse trusts in his personality ... but that has little to do with who Duigan is on the field.
Swap him for Laidler.. and please do not play both of them in the same side.

Joseph for Bell.

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Duigan had 6 critical errors, the most of any player on the ground.

You admire his courage dropping back in front of leading tall forwards but once he has the ball he coughs it up too much.

Laidler is one of the best intercept players not at Carlton...but in the competition! Staggering that he was not included. Not only does he cut off inside 50s but he also doesn't have rabbit in the headlight moments.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Im pretty sure Laidler isnt in the side cos you cant play both of them in the same team .

Malthouse is impressed with Duigans persona and probably sees him as the leader .
My guess is Malthouse will have to cut Duigs loose at some stage...

Laidler is a tremendous organiser down back.
Probably the captain of the defence.......

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Doesn't matter who plays. These players need to screw there heads on and start delivering on what MM is trying to teach them.

They can't just flick a switch when they are given the freedom to attack.

In: Laidler Bell White
Out: Duigan AJ McLean

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

We need a ruck who has a remote chance of smashing it in the ruck.
Hampson isnt that ruckman... and he isnt the type thats gunna ever be a Carey.

Warnock should come in for Hammer.

And McLean to be dropped?

Why McLean?Thought he was better than Carrazzo last night.. at least when the game was there to be won he did step it up a gear

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Bell if Robbo doesn't pass the concussion tests during the week, Menzel if Yarran gets rubbed out. Otherwise, no change for mine.

10 day break to 7 against a side with a lot of question marks over fitness of a lot of their players. We should run away with it in the second half.

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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'd be looking at giving Yarran a shake up with a stint in the magoos in a leadership/midfield role and instructions to make the play and leave nothing in the tank

<- has more durability than Warnock

Synbad, I agree with your comments about getting Laidler & Warnock into the side and pushing Hendo forward. Not sure we'll see it this week though.

And I think McCarthy is injured?

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

OUTS: bootsma
casboult

INS: laidler
rowe

FB: laidler jamison duigan
CHB: walker henderson armfield
C: simpson gibbs lucas
HF: yarran hampson robinson
FF: betts rowe garlett
RR: kreuzer judd murphy
INT: carrazzo mclean joseph tuohy (sub)

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

just my opinion,
laidler jamison bootsma
armfield henderson duigan
walker carrazzo yarran
gibbs rowe simpson
betts hampson garlett
kreuzer judd murphy
i/c; lucas bell robinson
sub; tuohy

laidler is the general down back
bell adds grunt
rowe at least makes a contest
need to persist with bootsma, will be a player

Yeah dunno Pats status currently... and i think its something we will need to do at some stage.
Get a dozen games into McCarthy this season... as a no frills Harry Taylor/Sam Reid type of defender

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.