And Blues supporters everywhere do nudie runs

I'll take that.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

- Back page, Feral Sun Friday March 25, "Bolton's Baby Blues go BANG!"

If we only win a few games for the year I hope this is one of them.

The Tiger melts would be epic. I may not be seen on TC for a week as I'll be too busy lurking on the Tigers boards.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

We COULD win if we play our best and Bolts's game plan works. After all, this is Richmond we're talking about. Pressure ALL on them. And when there's pressure, they turn to tiger poo usually.

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

As Frank says, the best walk in football. Love the Thursday night opener on a balmy early autumn evening. Will need to buy a football record for this one to look up who half our players are. Go blues.

Richmond is one team that has done really well against Hawthorn.

I hope Bolton improves on the Hawthorn game plan.

I'm pumped ... we will beat them.

Thomas kicks 4
Casboult kicks 3
Walker kicks 3
Jaksch kicks 2
Sumner kicks 2
Murphy kicks 2
Gibbs kicks 2

Cripps BOG
Weitering stars in the backline.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Over 3 weeks away, but I'll have a crack at our 22 for round 1 (assuming for now that we have a full list available - except for Plowman, Sumner, Sheehan & Armfield):

B: Dick Jamo Weitering
HB: Tuohy Rowe Simmo
C: Thomas Cripps Docherty
HF: Boekhorst Casboult Kerridge
F: Murphy Jaksch Walker

R: Kreuzer Gibbs E Curnow

Inter: Graham, Lamb, White, Wood.


* Wood & Jaksch are two players we haven't seen yet, but they are not named on the injury list. If they can get through the Swans game + a VFL practice match, I would have them both in my team for round 1. I haven't seen anything from Gorringe or Phillips yet to convince me either are a better 2nd ruck option than Wood. What I'm not sure of is whether he is a nominated rookie (I struggle to keep up with the ever changing rookie list rules!). If Wood is not eligible to play round 1, then I'd probably lean towards Gorringe.
* Jaksch looked more comfortable as a forward than a defender last season and we certainly have a need for another target. If the club is determined to make him a defender, then I'd consider him at CHB and moving Rowe into the 2nd ruck/forward role.
* Everitt has played himself out of the round 1 team as far as I'm concerned. He only gets a game if Jaksch or Walker don't come up (noting rumours Jaksch is recovering from illness).
* White & Lamb's spots in the team could easily go to Buckley, Tutt or Wright (& Byrne or Gallucci if they are eligible to play round 1?) depending on what happens in the Swans game, particulalry if the club is willing to sacrifice a bit of hardness for pace.
* unless we're decimated by injuries, I don't want Jones or Whiley in the team.
* hard to see us troubling the Tigers in round 1, to be honest.

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

we'll win.
at least one quarter for sure.
maybe more.
just make it a great contest and all will be well.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

ABNS, given that we have no LTIs, you realise you're elevating Wood ahead of Byrne, and for at least half the season, yes?

My pick:

FB: Weitering Jamison Byrne
HB: Docherty Rowe Tuohy
C: Thomas Murphy Simpson
HF: Boekhorst Everitt Armfield
FF: Wright Casboult Walker

RR: Kreuzer Cripps Gibbs

Int: Graham, Kerridge, E. Curnow, Buckley

If our talls aren't up to it right now, we need to have more faith in our smalls and mids. There's enough talent there to fill a 22. Cripps and Everitt can take stoppage ruck duties against whoever relief rucks for Maric.

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

Yep good team.

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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/

Isn't Wood already our nominated rookie (or one of)? Happy to be corrected on that. I've already said I'm probably not entirely across the current rookie list situation.

What mechanism allows Byrne to play round 1 with no LTIs?

I can't back it up with any links at the moment, but I somehow had the impression that Wood & Sheehan are our nominated rookies currently.

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

We've only got the one nominated rookie slot this season, as we've got a primary list of 39. No one's been nominated.

By elevating Wood, you're giving him that spot despite having Kreuzer, Casboult Gorringe, Phillips and Rowe on the senior list. On balance I'd suggest we'd need Byrne's run more than Wood's tapwork.

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

Fair enough. Thanks. I thought the nomination(s) had to be made with the final list lodgement and that all subsequent promotions could only be done if a player from the primary list moves to the LTI. I'm not sure why I thought Wood had already been nominated.

Assuming you're right and we have until round 1 to select our nominated rookie, I agree that Byrne is the front runner. However, if BB thinks it's more important to our structure to have the best available 2nd ruckman/forward in our side, then it has to be Wood. Phillips has been underwhelming so far and Gorringe not much better. I understand the club wants to keep Casboult out of the ruck and spend all his energies forward. Rowe could potentially move to that role if Jaksch (or White?) holds down CHB, but Rowe is the worst tap ruckman of the ones you've named.

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

I agree that Wood is the leading 2nd ruck right now, but he's just so slow and he panics up forward.

Phillips is definitely rusty and needs work on his awareness of how to tackle ground stoppages and marking contests where he can't use his leap, but right now he's probably delivering about what we'd get out of Hampson (slightly less really), so the hope is he'll kick on more.

Gorringe will provide a lead up target up forward, but he does need to work on his set shot kicking because his kicking is otherwise fine. He's also a somewhat like-for-like substitute for Kreuzer's ruck work, though obviously not as physically imposing. They both need a chance to embed themselves in what we're doing here, but in the mean time, against Maric and Vickery (maybe Griffiths or Hampson as well), we really can use a brigade of Kreuzer, Casboult, Cripps, Rowe, Everitt and Gibbs going up third man to wear down their ruck rotation.

We shouldn't be expecting Kreuzer to win much first advantage over Maric anyway (nor Hampson for that matter, he generally outpointed him with his leap).

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

You'd probably have to play at least one of CCurnow or Harry each week given the lack of other tallish forwards.

You could rotate them in and out depending on form and workload.

Walker's good enough to create a mismatch on most third tall defenders.

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

On what we've seen so far, Casboult is easily our best 2nd ruck/forward option.
The others still have a loooong way to go.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I wouldn't say 'easily'.

I don't think they want to use him as a second ruck. I tend to agree with them.

Still confident we'll play a straight out ruckman + Krooz.

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I hope Essendon* folds.