Much talk about the Murphys and co and how they are the future which they are but even the best 1st year players struggle at times in the first season so heres some guys who may finally have a impact in 2006
Houlihan best skills at the club .It has been mentioned many times he sleeps with the light on.I tend to turn a bit of a blind eye to it.Houlihan has been played in the wrong possie since Pagan arrived and i think Denis has stuffed up on this one.Play him on a wing or even on the ball.his pre season training seems to suggest his aerobic capacity has improved.

Livingston Final chance .Seems to lack footy awareness.I get the feeling he never has fully had the confidence except in the Wizard last year.
Have a view he wont make it.


Wiggins Courage alone has got him to 50 + games.His future lies as an on ball tagger which was his roll in 2004 and when he played his best until he stuffed his shoulder.Has shocking disposal and decision making skills so a tagger is his only chance.Doubtful

Prendergast Has not develop since showing promise in 2001.I believe he could have a roll in defence as a tagger on big forwards like Ottens etc
Cant play an attacking roll because his skills are so shit.Last chance.

Bannister Apparently looks like Hulk Hogan on steriods at the moment.Is an excellent overhead mark and can run all day.The problem is where to play him.He is too slow to play on quick small forwards.Probably stiil not big enough to play a key position.Maybe could play CHB but unlikely.

Teague Have included him because like Wiggins I think he is a limited player who gets by on courage alone.Too short and slow
Longmuir+Chambers handy backups but just cant cut it with the big boys on a consistent basis.

Justin Davies
Too slow and a lazy undisciplined player.You would have an absolute gun player if you combined Wiggin's heart with Davies skill.Has been training the house down which he will continue to do until round 5.
Deluca The fry needs support.Deluca can provide it but needs to become more aggressive.Have my doubts

Sporn Only possible roll is a tagger on no robust key players like Hird who Sporn does well on.Very limited player who I dont think will have an impact in 2006.

With the exception of Houlihan I cant see these guys improving much which means another long year for the navy blue.Maybe we should play the youngsters regardless of how they peform amd keep most of these guys in permanent Bullant uniform

Even Teague? I rate Teague alot.

Houla will come good and I have hope Davies and Teague will have a much better year. The others are right offs IMO.

I've made no secret of my admiration for david teague. never gives up. he will benefit from the additions of bower and saddington. When teague has the opportunity to play on the same size forward each week rather than trying to adjust his game from aaron davey one week to scott lucas another week, stick with him, he'll be right.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

There is a football player waiting in Babysteps Deluca. Can take a mark. Could make a difference as a ruckman / forward. Agree with the original summation of Houla. Like Justin Murphy when he was still with us under Pagan, played in the wrong position. Some players you just have to let play a handball behind the play by themselves. Not everyone is Brett Ratten.

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Carlton need to tackle. When we tackle, we win.

There is a football player waiting in Babysteps Deluca. Can take a mark. Could make a difference as a ruckman / forward. Agree with the original summation of Houla. Like Justin Murphy when he was still with us under Pagan, played in the wrong position. Some players you just have to let play a handball behind the play by themselves. Not everyone is Brett Ratten.

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Carlton need to tackle. When we tackle, we win.

Deluca, Teague and Bannister i'm expecting to be solid contributers in 06. the others are a less than 50/50 proposition to stay on the list

I agree with what The Game said. I don't think De Luca will make it. No right side and drops too many marks for a big bloke.

Would love to see Houla have a good year.

Davies is a talent - he just has to realise it. Does anyone know if the NAB games will count towards his suspesion or does he have to sit it out until round 5?

Wrighting off DeLuca ? Its a joke,right ? 200 cm,good pace and mobility,and very good shot for goal.Flat hands ? Yep ! But they are working on it bigtime.Caught Dempsey doing an intense one on one marking session with Arch.Dont worry,he will improve in this area.When he gets it right,he will be very damaging resting on the half forward flank,not the pocket.Reckon Archie is great bloke to have on our list and like all big men,will only improve withtime.

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All my dangerous friends

Archie breaks open packs when he jumps for those marks. Think he may be more useful to us than some expect.

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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!

TD was drilling it into him as well last Monday, one grab, one grab!!

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The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Ronald Reagan

Everyone forgets for some reason that he as a first year player played every single game in 2004.

He also won our Best New Player Award that year.

His season last year was wrecked by injury; and people seem to be judging him on a handful of underdone games he managed to play.(11)

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

I think Deluca's mobility for size is great but if he doesn't learn how to ruck or do things players of his height are supposed to do then he is useless.

Correct "The Game".But the coaching staff are very aware of Archie's deficincies.They have honed in on them and are giving him intense remedial training.Even though the AFL attracts the elite talent,most come to there respective clubs with faults,sometimes glaring.And Archie aint any different.
I have attended training just once.I might be imagining things,but i got the feeling that the assistant coaches are having a whole lot more to say.The assistants seem far more vocal,and are seeking out individuals to hammer home little things.I got a feeling our coaching panel may be more astute than i thought.They seem to have pinpointed precisely what each individual is lacking and targeted the percieved weakness.

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All my dangerous friends

Get rid of Davies, he is pox, cant stand watching him anymore.

Suspension will be premiership games I believe. NAB Cup games don't count anymore.

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

I think Deluca can make a difference, has good nous for a big man and when he gets its right you can see he can play and be effective. He wont be a No 1 ruckman, more of a relief ruck but its as a forward I think he can make a difference and be part of a successful team down the track.

Davies is on his last chance, has some ability but unlike Deluca I dont see him as having real football nous and see him as a cameo performer only and I dont think their is room on the list for cameo performers..

Houlihan...has skills but was a turn over merchant last season and while he can deliver well especially to Fev when on song I think he needs a lot of coaching pressure to KEEP putting himself in...maybe if we could get a very good list together with a couple of Glen Archers in the lineup you could carry him and let him do his thing and he could help win you a GF by serving it up to Fev and co but its a big ask to carry a player who wont consistently put his body on the line and who can let you dont at crunch time...I think his future will be determined by the makeup of the list and I think his value to the team is less than it was as we start to recruit players who have good skills...no longer an he rely on the fact that he was one of few players on the list who can dispose of the ball well...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I'm with the De Luca backers. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't make it. His marking is certainly a weakness at the moment, but hopefully that will improve, and he has a stack of other strengths.

Long term, it'll be interesting to see where he ends up. He might even end up down back as a tall defender. (I think from memory, he made the VFL Team of the Year playing CHB.)