And then clubs and the AFL wonder why no one is going to the footy anymore .

If this thread's any indication, it's going to be a long year.

We played our kids. In regional WA. In February. In difficult conditions.

And unfortunately still our best option

*hums to himself maniacally while tipping oil drums over inside CFC headquarters*

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

It was slim pickings last year by all reports, though I think there were a few rookie opportunities (some of whom were completely passed over).

In fact here you go:

8, 50, 57, 61 (pre-selected), 71, 74, R9, R14, R15, R17, R42, R49 (int pre-selected), R60 (int pre-selected), R65 (re-rookie), R68 (Cat B)

That's every pick used on either a ruckman or someone seen as a genuine AFL ruck/forward or ruck/defender last year. There's probably a few more with ruck/forward, ruck/defender potential but they weren't drafted on the back of it as far as I can tell.

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

Don't care about anything else apart from the topic..
Jaksch, future key defender/key forward, Henderson mould....
Cripps, another future key player for our club, has the mind set and work ethic..
Boekhorst, showed enough signs to sugest he will make an impact this year and beyond..
Smith, see above, love the aggression...
Will welcome back,
Jamison, Gibbs, Thomas, Menzel, Judd, Everitt, Carrazzo and Henderson...
With Murphy the following week..

When u look at that list of players:

Our entire midfield. Our best key forward. Our best key back. Our best tagger. Arguably one of our best Wingmen.

I still copped it from my Bummers mates: "You guys suck, can't wait to play you, even our top-ups will beat you". Just when u think they can't get any more dense.. *bam*

_________________
O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

Don't make friends with Kool Aid drinking scum is the moral of this story.

_________________
dane's trolling again

Because the bulk of our experienced leaders weren't playing.

Throughout the season, injury or even suspension may cost a few leaders to miss at the same time. Never basically all of them.

Let's hypothetically say that the team we fielded versus West Coast was our best 22. Who would you choose as captain? Name the leadership group.

That side was glaringly bereft of natural born leaders, especially ones with experience. Hence the lack of spirit on display. Hell, not even the coach was there and in truth, these guys had nobody there at the ground to truly prove themselves to. Particularly given that it was only the NAB cup.

Yeah, maybe it highlighted some deficiencies to work on but I for one was happy to see us get through the game unscathed whilst giving the new players a rough idea of what is required.

An excellent result and one to build on.

For once we are approaching the season as a marathon.

I like it.

_________________
We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion.

One more point to consider, that I haven't seen brought up:

We play WCE in Round 2, and they had close to a full 22. You can't ask the players to play dumb, but you can manipulate the structures and rotate heavily enough to create the slack for the opposition to have them show their hand a little bit.

It's a small consideration, but I suspect it may have been an element in the mix.

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

Absolutely.

We are talking Malthouse v Simpson here.

That's not to say it's a tactic that would payoff but it is certainly a possibility.

_________________
We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion.

Or conversely you could play a team that will hardly resemble the team you will field in round 2.

No big deal. Plenty of players out. A few of the kids were thrown in the deep end which is exactly what was required.
A few stepped up and a couple will be better for the hit out. Whatever, the case, the result is totally irrelevant with the team we put on the park. Give me that over a bunch of experienced players running around in the NAB Cup every time.

The key is to get a healthy list out on the park Round 1.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I agree ... but it still does not address the game plan issue.

There are three possibilities.

1. The Game Plan was poorly executed because of inexperienced players ... and no matter how much they have been drilled in the pre-season, either the message was poorly received and badly implemented or poorly communicated.

2. The Game Plan was terrible ... (you have to love that Bomb).

3. There is no Game Plan ...

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

Group of kids playing together for the first time against a seasoned AFL outfit.

I didn't even watch, totally 0 care factor for that game.

His whole family are Carlton, he just decided Essendon* one day . As kids, his mum used to drop him off to my place and we'd go to Carlton Essendon* games together. She'd say: "you have your jacket, your lunch, your train money. Have fun and I hope you lose". Inspiration woman.

_________________
O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

Very sad indeed. I think someone must have dropped him as a baby.

_________________
dane's trolling again

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

You don't even know how right you are.

_________________
O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

The commentators at the game suggested something similar. Don't want to show our hand early.