In the cold light of day and with a eye to the future, NOW is the time for the MC to make some very tough decisions. Decisions that will determine the outcome of a number of players seasons, if not futures at PP!

If the rhetoric of the previous Boards preferences to recruit and run with youth is to be enacted, then it is time to demote those players who constantly show little matchday willingness to put their bodies on the line for our famous old jumper. Likewise it is time to roll the dice and reward those who are knocking on the door. Let's see what the kids have got!

One poster said a couple of years ago that he was sick of the "Wavey wavey arms stuff that was masked as attempted tackles". Another said "Having a football brain just doesn't cut it in todays footy. The speed of the modern game is what it is all about".
And again another who said "It is almost embarrasing to see the unwillingness of some who just won't put their heads over the pill and coast along like it is normal". And yet another who said "He might have silky skills when he is in possession, but what about chasing sometime"? And of course this: "The friggin passenger who stands around like a stale bottle of piss directing traffic whilst expecting his teammates to put in".

It is way past time to stop covering up for and make an example of these culprits, by rewarding kids who lead by example with greater responsibility as well as elevate a couple more that have been knocking on that friggin door!

OK, so who should make way, who should be given more responsibility and who should be elevated?


Make Way:

1. Lance Whitnall: 2-3 weeks off completely to rest his knee and resolve personal issues.

2. Matthew Lappin: A spell in the magoos should give him some time to find the fire again. His body language suggests that he doesn't give a stuff ATM.

3. Ryan Houlihan: Bullants as well. He needs a specific defensive role. He has to learn to chase and be accountable.

4. Simon Wiggins: Bullants also to hone his decision making and polish his skills under pressure. Might make it back into the seniors, might!

Some of you will think that these 4 will leave a hole to fill, but if you study the tapes of the games to date this season, you will clearly see that these 4 have been little more than passengers/liabilities. Wiggo is posssibly the exception for his courage, but his execution has been surpassed by at least 10 kids on our list. I don't think that it is all over for the Chief, but I reckon that Whittas, Skinny and Houla are as good as gone in my view!

Some of you will argue that kids will get killed playing in these 4 players positions/roles. Crap! Tell me that JR as an example isn't playing better than Skinny. He has speed, new strength, confidence, sacrifices for his teammates, and follows instructions. Wouldn't Tex or Simmo, chase, harrass and counter attack? We all know they do and will, but Houla as an example just doesn't. We have plenty of options for Lance and Wiggos spots. Plenty of flankers at Carlton.


Who should come into the 22 to replace these 4?

1. Paul Bower: Can play back or forward. Creates run, can spoil and act as a linkman off back flank better than Skinny or Houla. Good to see that Joe Anderson is settling in. Will make the grade.

2. Adam Hartlett: Can take a grab and kicks it a mile. He has to be a better option up forward than Whittas or Wiggo. Jake Edwards would be another with a claim, but Harts must be in front ATM.

3. Ryan Jackson: Was unlucky not to be elevated to main list at end of last season. Impressive against Swans. Should now be elavated for LTI (Shaun Grigg). We need another bluecollar mid who can also drift forward. Very fit and all guts! Just pips Blacky for a spot ATM.

4. Shaun Hampson: Surprised, but in weeks coming we are gunna get killed in the ruck. The Hammer will at least be able to provide a contest at the centre clearances with his height and vertical leap. Clokey/Ackland can freshen up to play around the ground for the throw ins and rest on the bench or up forward. We can afford to experiment with 3 players who can Ruck in the 22 at this early stage of the season.


So how would our 22 look with these changes?

Backs:.. Scotland.......S O'hAilpin.....Thornton

HBack:.. Walker.........Waite...........Bower

Centre:.. Simpson......Stevens........Russell

HForw:.. Fisher..........Kennedy.......Carrazzo

Forws:.. Betts...........Fevola..........Ackland

Follow:.. Hampson....Bentick.........Murphy

Interc:.. Cloke....Gibbs...Hartlett....Jackson

Emerg:.. Blackwell....Anderson......Edwards


I reckon we would have a better back 6, a better forward line, a better ruck and better rotations in the midfield. Certainly a better bench.

Thoughts, my Blue Brethren?

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Good post BB, my only thought that strays from yours is that I think Lappin is actually playing well, WHEN HE IS ON THE GROUND, the problem is that Dennis doesn't seem to think so, I'd have him in the forward line.

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

If he hasn't learn this yet, he never will. A stint in the Bullants won't fix it.

4 changes would be over the top. I'd like to see Bower and Edwards in particular get an opportunity though.

You couldn't include Hampson without omitting either Ackland or Cloke, some are suggesting we're too top heavy as it is.

Agreed

the 3 rucks thing is only bit I disagree with..... So I would save Hampson for now and bring JAKE EDWARDS in in his place to play beside Fevola (instead of Ackland)....

If Ackland and Cloke get killed in the coming weeks then one of them can make way for Hampson or McLaren....

The Jackson one I would not make straight way... but it'd be a close call. I would prefer to see Grigg get a go... but if Grigg is injured then Jackson definitely is worth the punt

_________________
Love Cricket? Love me

i agree also.

don't know why he is spending so little time on the ground. all class when he comes on and has a fantastic footy brain as well. i want him out there teaching the youngsters bc he is the smartest player we've got (sorry lance, but this is the view ive always held). i would hazard a guess and say that DP is giving the youngsters maximum time while they are still fresh at the beginning of the season. i would be bitterly disappointed if Lappin were dropped. it would be to the detriment to the development of the team for mine.

I don't think there is any logic (regarding lappin), just DP being his usual spiteful self. To not start him on the ground is just bizarre

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Funny, isn't it, that everybody likes to make a global claim that young players aren't being played enough. But it's simple mathematics - if you want to blood or develop younger players, it has to be at the expense of older players.

If Lappin doesn't make a big impact in whatever time he has on the ground, he is a logical one to make way. He's had 6 games so far, and hasn't had much impact at all. Scotland is the preferred sweeper, having displaced Lappin from that role. He seemed to be interchanging with Eddie but had no impact in attack at all.

Why not play Anderson/Bower/Edwards/Jacko/Young instead of Lappin? Isn't that a youth policy? Or is a youth policy more of a motherhood-and-apple-pie concept that we all like but don't have the courage to implement?

So obviously you'd be looking to drop Lance under the same philosophy?

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Absolutely. I'd like to see both Lappin and Whitnall making way.

Bower will provide run and he's had a bit of time at both ends so should add flexibility. If Waite starts having a shocker, move him forward, have Thornton or Walker take Lucas while Bower takes the 3rd forward and runs off him.

i'd almost go for Edwards. His self-confidence is just this side of arrogance, so he should be able to rise to the occasion. And he's fast and smart.

Otherwise, go for a bit of toe from Anderson, Young or Jacko.

Pity he is injured but i think Benjamin will be one to watch sometime this year if we want speed we need to look no further than Benjamin will be good when he is over his injuries and see how he goes in the Bullants

_________________
CFC TAC Squad everyone over 25 must be traded sounds like Loguns Run

great post brizzy....though i think our problem (or one of many) has been that our forward line is too top heavy and disfunctional...would bringing hampson in really help this situation (with the resting ackland/cloke situation) having eddie and joe in the forward pockets would be my preferred option....

_________________
R A D I C A L B R O T H E R S

Inspired by the One-Minute Sculptures of Erwin Wurm

"All in all is all we are..."

I think there is no love lost between Lappin & Pagan

OUT: Whitnall (inj), Lappin
IN: Edwards, Bower

Thin-ice but retained: Houlihan

_________________
Love Cricket? Love me

Houlihan has to go......cant keep going with players who are half arsed and cant make a genuine contest everytime and chase like their life depends on it.
Agree on Whitnall and Lappin.......the ins can be out of Edwards, Hartlett, Bower, Anderson and Blackwell..I want players who can give 110%....Wiggins stays in the team because he fits that criteria.
You can teach skills, you cant teach desperation and attitude...I dont care if Wiggins or Anderson turn it over just give me some players who have balls ands wont turn it up like last week....

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

Well it is obvious that most of you agree with the philosophy, but not necessarily the personnel. Thats fine, democracy at work. There is no doubt that there should be changes. Whether there will be is another matter entirely though.

It would interesting to know the MC's thoughts on the pecking order, prior to injuries: I'll have a crack:

Grigg, Hartlett, Blackwell, Bower, Jackson, Edwards, Young, Anderson, Benjamin, Hampson....

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Is it possible the Lappin is just not adapting to his new role of coming off the bench? Only the very best players can play in spurts and it seems that lappin is a guy the needs more time on the ground to find his way again. The 2's might give him that.

Also, reading the Bullants reports, it seemed that Blackwell was tagged out of the game last weekend to the point of being ineffective, would be a shame to give him a run now. You'd ideally like to see the kids set the world on fire in the 2's before giving them a run.

_________________
"our guest is dressed by hand-me-downs, hair designed by pillow"

Some hypocracy in this post if you ask me. You say we should reward players that put in, put their heads over the ball and do all the team things. Yet you want to drop Wiggins. We've invested 5 years into him and he's playing good footy at the moment, yet we want to get rid of him. Makes no sense.

Good post Brizzy. I agree with what you've written except wouldn't want to rush Hampson just yet.

_________________
There is no footy god

you play these four players at the same time for the whole year and you might as well say not a Wooden Spoon again.

you need more strong bodies added to the side not taking them away.