IMO that's been a major issue of ours. We rely on these small forwards who don't contribute anywhere else.

We need to change our whole forward structure because what we have had has failed badly in big games or when we have really needed them. Overall, especially considering how often they are a major target their return has been poor.

The game has changed dramatically. Mids now fill the role around small forward, wing and HB. They can run longer, have a more consistent impact on the game, gather more possessions and add dramatically to the sides flexibility.

Our defence has been much better after adding the run and endurance of Walker & Simpson.

The sooner we add to Gibbs, Murphy, Judd, Graham, Carrazzo, McLean etc and have them pushing through the forward line the better we will be.

I am positive they will produce as many goals if not more than what we currently have as well as adding to our depth around the ground.

No fluke that Freo, Geelong, Hawthorn & Sydney all do this.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Garlett's stats are quite unbelievable in many key areas expectant of any forward. Pressure, tackles leading to turnovers, goal assists etc etc. Would be so much better without the personal issues.

Yarran has shown us nothing of what he's really capable of. He needs a mentor that can get through his head of what is required to play at this level. If Malthouse and Wiley can't do that then......
Yarran was always tabled for a mid-field rile but if he doesn't put in a Kreuzer or Curnow type pre-season, that won't be easy.

To be honest Psych, I don't care what combination we put together as long as we're willing to spill blood for one another and have the common goal.
We haven't been poor this year because of the talent we have. We've been poor because we haven't extracted the maximum from that talent.

Buckley and Menzel

In my opinion, only one of Betts, Garlett or Yarran will go. Look around the league and see how difficult it is to find one small forward ... let alone a combination of two that can feature in the top 5 goalkicking for a particular club.

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In WADA we trust

Agree

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Menzel should be our small forward whilst spending more and more time through the middle. Will take him another 2-3 seasons to really develop and engine. I see him as our Stevie J if he can.

As at the moment he is a bit limited and we need to play him how can we play the others?

Buckley IMO has the same issues as the three amigos.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Garlett is a must keep. For me he's the best of our small forwards and he appears to have the hunger and the fitness.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

This is the one area I really disagree with most. I have watched him carefully this year live on atleast 12 occassions. He workrate is actually greatly improved.

He is just NOT football smart. Ball in hand he looks good and especially in space but most times when he does he is fed the ball or got it on a turnover. Even then his efficiency is average.

He does NOT have the ability to find the ball himself. That is a major issue to make it in the AFL. It's not as if he's been improving and looks close. He is a long long way off the player we all hope he could be. He will NEVER be a midfielder.

I hope I'm wrong because he could be a player we really need. Unfortunately after more than 80 games I just don't like what I've seen.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Agreed Menzel should be our "small" with resting mids.

buckley was more tongue in cheek comment

Yarran was primed to take off after 2011. Ran around everything any anyone and was looked for when his teammates needed to dish the ball off.
That hasn't quite come about this year and I'm not really sure what role he's playing any more.

The guy has undoubted talent but is he coachable and has he the commitment?

Guess we'll find out what Mick thinks of him soon enough.

Sorry guys but Menzel is not a small.
He is a midsize forward and will probably be played as such.

Yeah thats why we say 'small' not small
Ge can crumb, mark, tackle etc then after a couple pre seasons go to chop out in the mid

I love Yarran but if his response to being challenged by the coach is to say "I don't need this shit, I want out" as is rumoured then he doesn't have the steel Carlton need. This goes across the entire playing list, I'm tired of promising draft picks turning into average players with no apparent drive to succeed.

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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

There were words said and there have been several versions of the same story.

That aside, the heat of the year is over and now is the time for reflection and introspection, by coach and by player.

It's a good time to sit down and have a comfortable chat and if that isn't good enough, then it's not and plan B comes into play.

LAND RIGHTS FOR AMIGOS!!

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

..more disagreeing with the idea that experience and fitness won't improve a player.. ..awareness and decision making, they will improve with experience and fitness.. ..experience to learn from mistakes, fitness to think clearly and not stumble thru fatigue.. .... ..how much they will improve is the question, but players do improve.... ..and this doesn't mean i'm for or against trading Robbo, more just the arguements that a player [any player] has no upside.. ..its just, how much the upside will be..

..i think calling him a spud is harsh... ..he's better than a spud..

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

You're cheeky but you make me laugh.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but the whole I want I need we should we will merry ground is a conundrum and we really have to wait and see.

What I see and think means jack shit at the club...easy tiger.....I know the club isn't the only one.

I just want a couple of big bodied mids TBH.

I wanted Hibberd afrom Frankston a couple years ago...he was just what we need. There must be more of them in the lower leagues.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Yep agree bondi a couple of big bodied mids

A couple of quality big bodied mids on the cheap like when Freo picked up Barlow from the VFL and/or Sydney getting Kennedy for a 3rd rounder.
We can only hope...

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There is no footy god

That still makes my head spin.
And here we are using a second rounder on Rowe.