No it's an opinion of how he'd like them to line up!

The starting line up for tonite i think will be as follows...


b ohailpin thornton scotland

h.b Walker Waite Houlihan

c Gibbs stevens Simpson

hf fisher Kennedy murphy

f Whitnall Fevola lappin

r Ackland Russell Betts

inter. Kouta Young Saddington cloke Carazzo Jackson

If they leave Bower out.........

Hartlett is definitely out too which is bullshit....

Italian styles wrote



Just out of curiosity, why should he be in the statrting 24?

So, his inclusion will cost someone else a position in the 24.

Who should be making room for him in the 24? Why?

I like Hartlett, and I see him as a long term prospect, not a player playing for his career, but IMO he hasn't set the world on fire this preseason, to make him a compelling choice in the first 24. What about others to miss out like Edwards, Wiggins...

I just hope that Hartlett becomes our FB (by earning the position) one day.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

has the starting line up been actually released?

If we play Russell as a run with player in our first hitout, Denis has learnt nothing.
We should be putting ball winners through the middle and playing attacking football.
It will interesting to see.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I'm looking forward to JR having a decent run. I agree I don't want him to be a run with player, but if it can build his confidence by taking a couple of scalps in the NAB Cup then I'm all for it.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Can't see Pagan changing his ways that much over an off season

I cannot wait until tonight, but am also a bit scared. So excited dont want to be let down.

Does anyone know who is NOT playing tonight ?

So far I have heard Bentick & Hartlett..............

I don't want to put the mockers on the Blues tonight, but I'm looking forward to a really exciting performance from our youngsters.

I think the training focus for certain players and comments in the media have signalled some already established intentions e.g. Setanta at FB, Wait at HB, Gibbs into the mid field, Russell to get more opportunities, Saddington fit and in form, Thornton released to HB, Bower rapidly proving his worth as an attacking backman and Kouta playing on and off the bench.

It's really tempting to go too tall in defence because we have so many options now. Just think back a couple of years and we had a real shortage of big men in defence.

I'd start with the following line up.

FB: Scotland, O'Hailpin, Saddington
HB: Thornton, Waite, Walker
CF: Houlihan, Gibbs, Simpson
HF: Whitnall, Kennedy, Lappin
FF: Betts, Fevola, Fisher
FOL: Ackland, Murphy, Stevens

INT: Kouta, Carrots, Bower, Hartlett, Cloke, Russell

Res: Young, Jackson, Anderson, Bentick

I believe they need to play Hartlett. It's a crucial year for the big man. Why not play him early and build up his confidence before the season starts proper. He has the capability to play forward and back and loves busting packs. He could be a really useful player for us this year.

I don't know why they persist with carrots in the mid filed. He was playing beautifully in defence early on and his disposal is not good enough to hit forward targets regularly. Maybe throw him into the centre, as a pinch hitting extractor, when other mids are resting.

Bentick will probably be a regular starter when the season commences, but we know what he is capable of. Lets play another kid instead.

I must admit I was surprised Blackwell wasn't named in the squad, but no doubt he will get a run next time.

I think it's really important for the Blues to win tonight, so the players can get some early confidence. Go Blues!!