From everything I have heard and read on the subject of Tutt and the Blues ... it would seem he will get a very good run early in the season. I reckon it is almost guaranteed both Tutt and Jones will be in the side to play Richmond come April 2.

_________________
I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

Thinking about A grade to D grade players would rate our list for 2015 (expected output, NOT 2014 output)

A Grade
Gibbs - stepped up last year and should continue that way
Murphy - full pre-season will show his best
Daisy - Ditto with Murphy

B+ Grade better than B grade but not a consistent gun
Judd - past his best but will still influence games
Simo - not quite an A grader, but consistently good
Yarran - stepped up last year, with major influence on games, also was stuffed in most quarters so really putting in - could go A grade or back to B grade this year
Hendo - not an A grader, but will be better than last year - main problem is can't get decent separation so always has to take contested marks, if could change that could be an A grader

B Grade
Walker - dodgy knee needs to improve, but think a solid B grader
Menzel - still too young to be rated higher, but will have good games with an improved tank
Kreuzer - fingers crossed
Docherty - fast, hard at it and pretty good delivery - chance to improve even more significantly
Rowe - dependable, Carrots same, Jamo same, Everitt same, Curnow same - not much scope for improvement for any of these
Jacksch - bit of a guess, but has the potential

So that's 17 players I rate at AFL standard Don't even have a side yet !!

C Grade
Buckely - could improve significantly
Cripps - same
Touhy - can kick long, but watched too many turnovers live to rate him and doesn't get enough of it
Sheehan - has vision and great kick - more upside than Touhy for mine
Casboult - role player forward and ruck relief so need in side
Bell - needs to get more of it and deliver to the next player, scope for good improvement
White - know what you get but limited upside
Jones - Don't know what you get, but plenty of upside
Wood - insurance
Graham - has to improve markedly, lots of competition for his spot
Whiley - will improve, but lots of competition for spot
Tutt - Will get opportunities, so could be good upside

D Grade
Watson, Warnock, Ellard, Holman, Giles, Armfield, Johnson, Byrnes - Like the boy with the barrow - all in front of them

New Recruits can't rate, but some should at least challenge C graders straight away

So maybe in the mix for the 8, but would need 2 or 3 A graders to emerge - possibles for me: Yarran, Hendo, Doc and possibly Kreuzer
To go top 4 some B grader to be B+ such as Menzel and Cripps from C garder to B+ and some C graders to get to B grade, lots of possibilities there, but who knows

Some hope but don't think I'll book my finals tickets yet

Just quietly, you may be going early on Judd. A grade is all he will ever be, watch him explode again in 2015 after a full preseason.

I reckon Casboult has a lot of up side. It should be a big year for him.

Hopeful that Henderson will improve ... but don't see him as a B+.

Kreuzer still has a lot to prove ... don't see him as a B grader ... but lots of potential.

Daisy at his best would be an A Grader ... certainly don't see him in that class based on 2014.

Expecting a huge year from Buckley.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

Based on the list above and who I think is capable of achieving it, we'd need Henderson (as a forward), Kreuzer, Yarran and Menzel to become A Grade players - giving us 6 or 7 overall - to have any shot at winning a flag in the near future.

Obviously to supplement that a number would need to become solid B Grade players as well.

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Audere est Facere

The club is in the dogs house of field.
But there are one hundred and twenty odd pages about the best twenty two. Ultimately prior don't really care about club policy or off field. They're only interested in football wins to losses ledgers...
However your club will perform as well as it has set itself up right throughout the club.
This will translate into a winning forty player squad...
A twenty two is very simplistic

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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.

Judd is and always will be a better player than Dale Thomas.
Dual brownlow medallist, premiership captain, multiple B&Fs v a bloke yet to win a club best and fairest.
Even at 30+, Chris Judd is easily an A grade player.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I don't subscribe to ," always " bv.
To me Judd has not been elite for three and a half years four except a game here and there
It's been a long time since Judd has consistently had am elite season. Is also been three seasons for Daisy..
We need both of them near their best next season if we're to have a great season.

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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.

Synners I love your heart and I know what you are trying to instigate change but sometimes you are a tosser.

In 2011, Judd was awarded the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the second time in his career, as well as the AFLPA's Best Captain Award for the first time. He was named vice-captain and ruck-rover of the All-Australian team, his fourth consecutive selection. He had entered the Brownlow Medal count as an unbackable favourite, with TAB Sportsbet electing to pay out early after Round 20, but he ultimately finished fifth. He played his 200th AFL game during the season.

Judd = new whipping boy

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

He's no sacred cow.

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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.

2011 he went down hill after the Geelong game. That was mid season.
He never recovered his dynamic football self.
We need him to be a real contributor this year same as walker and daisy. We need improvement from other key players.
The others will follow in the slipsteam..

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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.

..proper fit, new team work ethos, real responsibility put on the new brigade.. ....he should be back to early 2011 form.. ..only thing to hold him back will be soft tissue injuries.. ..he is the sort t churn out high quality footy, until he breaks down.. ..I thin he has a few years left easy, physical side.. ..mentally is another question, but a few there too with everyone buying not the MM way..

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

Any updates on player numbers?

I have this so far:

Confirmed

9 - Patrick Cripps
14 - Liam Jones
18 - Kristian Jaksch
21 - Ciaran Sheehan
24 - Mark Whiley
31 - Matthew Dick
38 - Ciaran Byrne
-----------------------------
Unconfirmed

12 - Blaine Boekhorst?
16 - Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
25 - Clem Smith
26 - Jayden Foster
?? - Jason Tutt
?? - Billy Gowers
?? - Bradley Walsh
?? - Tom Fields
?? - Fraser Russell

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Rainbow's was confirmed in an article last week

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/west ... 0c800668d7

Confirmed

9 - Patrick Cripps
14 - Liam Jones
16 - Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
18 - Kristian Jaksch
21 - Ciaran Sheehan
24 - Mark Whiley
25 - Clem Smith
26 - Jayden Foster
29 - Billy Gowers
30 - Blaine Johnson
31 - Matthew Dick
38 - Ciaran Byrne
-----------------------------
Unconfirmed

12?? - Blaine Boekhorst
22?? - Jason Tutt
34?? - Bradley Walsh
37?? - Tom Fields
45?? - Fraser Russell

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

..can't see how if we have the fit list we should be getting..

....if we have a fit list, locked in psd and 3rd round picks for a starting team would imply our list is very, very average.... ..I don't think we are that bad, and those two certainly arent that good..

..i'd be shocked to be sitting here, watching them run on vs tuggers..

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

Teamboard updated!

First 22:
FB: Tuohy Jamison Sheehan
HB: Yarran Rowe Docherty
CC: Gibbs Murphy Simpson
HF: Walker Henderson Thomas
FF: Buckley Casboult Menzel

RR: Kreuzer Cripps Judd

Int: Boekhorst Everitt Bell Curnow

Second 22:

FB: Fields White Smith
HB: Viojo-Rainbow Jaksch Dick
CC: Russell Carrazzo Armfield
HF: Johnson Watson Byrne
FF: Tutt Jones Foster

RR: Wood Whiley Graham

Int: Walsh Gowers Giles Holman

Harsh on Ellard there but given he's basically a slow small forward, we've recruited a bunch of players intended to either leapfrog his list position or to allow others to move into the small forward rotation. Byrne and Smith could easily swap spots but Smith looks impressive 1v1 and thus the more natural defender of the two. Warnock was the other leftover player.

I would say the second 22 would beat the first for pace in more positions, but the first 22 is more dynamic.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Jimmae.
It's you talking about Ellard.
No need to explain.

_________________
dane's trolling again

Russell picked ahead of Ellard?

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

If he can kick accurately over 25 m, he's got Ellard beat IMO.

Taller, faster, solid tank; outside run.

Ellard would be competing with Johnson, Tutt and Byrne for a spot.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.