Is it just me, or is anyone else finding it difficult to leave people out of their Round 1 side? I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not, as our depth has been a shallow as a toddlers pool for many years now.

A. I decided to write down a bunch of senior player's names, and then highlighted those who are in my opinion automatic selections if they are fit and availiable:

Kouta, Whitnall, Thornton, Stevens, Lappin, Scotland, Murphy, Houlihan, Ackland, Simpson, Fevola, Waite, Fisher, Bentick, Walker, Betts = 16

B. Those on the fringe:

O'hAilpin, Cloke, Saddington, Kennedy, Wiggins, Carrazzo, Blackwell = 7

C. Outside chance:

Russell, Bower, Hartlett, Gibbs = 4

D. Out of favour/injured:

Teague, McLaren = 2

TOTAL: 29

It would be safe to assume the starting 22 will be selected from the above 29, with the 16 players from A all being selected and a further 6 from B & C.

Apart from Gibbs, I can't imagine any of the kids drafted (other than Hampson perhaps?) would be in with a realistic chance of playing round 1. Would Flint or Edwards be able to sneak into the outside chance group?

This is based on everyone being fit for round 1.

I think Gibbs would be a near certainty to play Round 1.

Otherwise you're probably close. Bower and Russell would also be closer to on the fringe, Edwards and Flint outside chances. It'll probably come down to a choice between Bower, Flint or Hartlett.

My smokey would be Anderson to get a game. Jackson if we have a LTI.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

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DEPTH !!

i agree that your 16 will be in

others it is very tough - kennedy, ohailpin, carazzo , russell , bower, cloke

wow - shit i forgot about gibbs

gibbs in
um um russell out

man thats tough !

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Verbs...I'm sure you're not the only one having the problem fitting all possibles into the first 22 come round 1.

I'd suggest Gibbs, Carrazzo, Setanta and Bower in. Hampson may just sneak in as a genuine tall ruck, given his preseason competitive form.

I can't find a spot for Betts...yeah I know in the FP...but as you have experienced...how do you fit them all in? Bloody hard as I'd love to have the pace of Anderson, Benjamin and Grigg ready to go...but doubt it this year unless we have a repeat crap year, ala 2006, and we become fatigued/ disinterested.

Here's mine for now:

B: Carrazzo Setanta Bower
HB: Walker Thornton Scotland
C: Simpson Stevens Waite
HF: Lappin Whitnall Houlihan
F: Gibbs Fevola Kennedy

R: Ackland Kouta Murphy

INT: Hampson/ Cloke, Fisher, Bentick, Blackwell

EMERG: Russell, Betts, Wiggins, Saddo

WILDCARD: Flint, Grigg, Anderson, Hartlett (and Jackson as the LT1)

...and not necassrarily in all the above positions; Carrots may be in the middle (my pref) with Walker and Waite in the HBF

WHO Misses out?

Teague, McLaren, Bannister, Raso, Edwards, and the rest of the new kids and rookies.

Aisakie may be the LT1 if it happens in the second half, or if 2 are injured.

Any way you look at it...there are no skinny kids in the first 22 other than Hampson and naturally, Lappin...but he's a freak anyway.

Tell me I'm not dreaming.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

edit

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Always hard to come up with a best 22 when everyone is flying in pre-season. Same thing happens every year (even in the years after we traded & drafted all the recycled/mature players - go and look at the similar threads from previous years).

It's not so hard after a few losses - and even gets hard to find anyone worth bringing in.

Main difference this year is that 'playing the kids' or not won't be an issue as we'll have to play plenty to get 22 on the park.

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It's easier to do if you have an opposition to match up on. Get the starting line from richmond's last game of 2006 and pick a side to play them.

i'm not sure that bentick is an automatic inclusion .. due to recent injuries and competition for spots in the middle

My First Round 22 v Richmond:

B: Bower, O'hAilpin, Carrazzo
HB: Scotland, Thornton, Houlihan
C: Waite. Stevens, Simpson
HF: Lappin, Whitnall, Fisher
F: Koutoufides, Fevola, Betts
R: Ackland, Walker, Murphy

IC: Kennedy, Gibbs, Saddington, Bentick
,
EMG: Cloke, Hartlett, Russell, Wiggins, Bannister, Blackwell

Any chance that JR could compete for Houlihans spot? Just a question, I don't intend for this to be a thread about Houla.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I forgot about Bannister. He'd be in group C I suppose. He's an interesting one. Not sure where he fits in.

i think you'll find bannister fitting in very nicely wearing a red and white guernsey this year.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

Will be picked each week and are either at their best or finishing up

Whitnall
Lappin
Stevens
Fevola
Scotland
Houlihan
Kouta

Have shown enough to be picked most weeks but massive upside

Walker
Murphy
Gibbs
Kennedy
Simpson
Fisher
O'hAilpin
Betts
Waite
Thornton
Wiggins (mainly based on a few of his games mid last year)

Should establish themselves this year

Russell
Blackwell (almost makes group above)
Bower (ditto)

Potential surprise packets

Hartlett
Edwards
Grigg
Flint
Hampson
Austin
Benjamin
Anderson
Raso

Establish themselves as good honest players

Carrazzo
Bentick

Plodders but will get a game due to height

Ackland
McLaren
Cloke

Strugglers - but can't discount

Teague
Saddington
Bannister

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Get comfortable being uncomfortable

Thornton and Russell should be omitted in the first round as punishment for their trade week shenanigans.

Fev should sit it out for, well, making Warney look like a SNAG.

Forget winning. We want to be known as the team that takes the moral high ground!!

this is my list of guys who SHOULD play every game when available:

blackwell
bower
fevola
fisher
gibbs
hartlett
kennedy
murphy
o'hAilpin
russell
scotland
simpson
stevens
thornton
waite
walker
whitnall

the others will obviously be selected as a result of injury, fitness and form.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

INT: Hampson, i doubt he would get a game this year or next,but i like to see him although.

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Bang Bang.

Houlihan is knowhere near deserving of automatic selection IMO. Waite needs to deliver early in the season to cement his place.
I reckon O'hAilpin Kennedy Gibbs Bower are certainties for Rnd 1.

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There's so much I could say...

What's the bet I'm right re Houlihan?

IMO

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There's so much I could say...

Yeah, but what's the bet I'm right?

My first 16 was based basically on historical data. Bentick for example didn't miss a game until he did his shoulder very late in the season. Ackland is a direct replacement for French who was No1 ahead of the others. Waite and Fisher both seem to be straight into the side as soon as they are fit. etc.

In my opinion, I think O'hAilpin should be in every game. Same for Gibbs.

The above 16 seem to be automatically in if fit & in form.