Unless some of the young guys come on I still think our backline looks very brittle!

I have been playing around with Jimmaes board and no matter what combination I come up with we are lacking two disciplined spoilers that are going to come in over the top. The last few seasons we have been very poor at defending the quick counter attack or the ball pumped in from the mid field.

I suspect despite our ruck position that we will win more than we lose in the middle which should help. But where are the Peter Dean or Michael Sexton close checking spoilers to defend the marking forwards?

Centre half back is a big hole. I don't think any of the options put forward so far will cut it. I like Sentata at full back, I like Thornton on the third tall. Perhaps Jackson or Walker are going to step up and cut off the quick entry.

I think our backline is going to need to be very strategic in how it covers space. Our runners will need to be better at taking away space and slowing down leading forwards to help reduce the amount of quality ball that gets into opposition forward lines. This will need to be supported by better defensive efforts in the mid-field, which Judd will insist upon!

One part of our backline looks good and that is our sweepers. We will get plenty of run from half back and we should be able to attack from turnovers. We have plenty of pace down back and that certainly can be a weapon for us if our footskills and decision making ability progresses over he off season.


CB

Second that 1000%. A Jacko fan and in my best 22, but our B&F winner must be a starter. Only top 5 or 6 in AFL for disposals last year too

FB: Thornton Jamison Armfield

HB: Scotland S.O'Hailpin Hadley

C: Carrazzo Stevens Walker

HF: Gibbs Waite Fisher

FF: Betts Fevola Kreuzer

Foll: Hampson Judd Murphy

IC: Hartlett A.O'Hailpin Houlihan Simpson

Emer: Cloke Anderson Browne Bentick Russell Bower


Crikey ....... you know things are improving when you have to name 6 emergencies just to fit in the guys you want in the team.

This is a very good problem to have AND we still may pick up a worthy ready to go player in the PSD.

I've tried for balance in height on each line as well as speed and skill (IMO of course)

Think we should definitely be playing the Hampster and Aisake together as much as possible this year. We have really lacked genuine height in the ruck. Also best place to learn to cook is in the kitchen IMO.

KPP's gives us options with Setanta, Waitey, Harts and Special K for the odd pinch hitting.

Plenty of ability to rotate midfield off the bench and through half-forward.

Backline to me looks like 5 out of 6 would be tough and hard at it with some speed to boot. Also gets 1AW out of the backline which I really hope happens this year ....... for good.

Then again I could have easily made up about 20 versions of this team which I would be pretty happy with.

Bring on '08 ........ can't wait.






.

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^^^

Don't worry Essendon* ....... We still hate your guts

^^^

In modern football the midfield rotates on and off the bench constantly. If Carrazzo starts on the bench it doesn't mean he's going to stay their for long periods while the starting five do their thing.

Premiership Team 2009?

FB: Anderson Setanta Bower

HB: Browne Austin Walker

C: Simpson (VC) Murphy Grigg

HF: Fisher Hartlett Waite

FF: Betts Fevola Kreuzer

Foll: Hampson Judd (C) Stevens (VC)

IC from: Armfield Jackson Edwards Hadley Thornton Benjamin Carazzo Sheilds

For anyone that has not included Armfield .... go and take a look at the video clip ... this guy is ready to go ... he is a dynamo ... and should play straight up.

Let's just see how he goes in the NAB Cup first...

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There's so much I could say...

its called best 22 for a reason (not having a go at you), they shouldnt play him just coz he's irish. i also dont like the idea of putting rookies in the team (best 22) i didnt see craig flint and clinton benjamin getting a game last year

Aisake's been at the club for three years now

i wonder if they like you shuffagus??

yet he hasnt played a game

yeh...my bad..i mean i dont think they played great last year..dont hate them or nothing

for round 1:
FB: Thornton Jamison Armfield
HB: Scotland S.O'Hailpin Carrazzo
C: Simpson Stevens Walker
HF: Gibbs Waite Fisher
FF: Betts Fevola Houlihan
RR: Hampson Judd Murphy
IC: Cloke Kreuzer Hadley Russell

cloke to swap rucking duties with hampson with about 45% of time spent rucking for both players.

kreuzer to spend about 10% of the time rucking (expect this to increase to about 30% by finals time) and to switch with fisher/waite when it's their turn to have a rest.

i've got o'hailpin at chb and jamison at fb but that'll depend only on who they're matching up on.

hadley to rotate through the backline with armfield, carrazzo and scotland.

russell to have stints in the forward line swapping with betts, houlihan and gibbs.

carrazzo, scotland, walker and gibbs to have stints on the ball when judd, murphy and stevens are resting.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

Pretty good line up. Although I think I'd add one more runner instead of cloke... Grigg or Bower.

i was seriously considering jacko as that player and was actually upset i couldn't find a place for him. the reason i went with clokey is because as i said this is only a round 1 team and i don't think hampson and kreuzer will be able to carry out the rucking duties all by themselves so i opted for a bit of experience. if clokey plays good enough, i'd be more than happy to keep him in but i think it's more likely than not jacko will come into the team sooner rather than later (probably via an injury or suspension but i do rate him as the '23rd player'). i also expect grigg and bower to play 25+ games between them.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

And he'll play more games in the seniors than not next year.

Looking for a better running player than Cloke? ....Jackson!.

Want someone taller?.....


Aisake's a running player, and a ruckman, and one day may be a KP; he's got the height and the speed to be a KP. Does he have the dtregth and agro to be a KP?

Try and catch him, let alone stop him, as he's leading for the ball at CHF.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

so you dont rate Carrots? and you forgot our man BRYCE GIBBS..

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I stopped believing in God when I realised it was just dog backwards...

No Carrots , No Houla, and no Gibbs!!!

Back to the drawing board cj69

I think Thornton will have a better year in 2008, and is still our most experienced backman.aaand in 2009 will still be ahead of kids like Austin

Anderson, Hartlett, Austin, Grigg, Benjamin, Edwards haven't playeda game and haven't played or cemented a position yet; they might not even make it.

Armfield and Browne are very promising, but Shields is another one who might not make it.

Jamison's looking good, as is Aisake

It's more like an under 25 team (excluding Fev and Stevens) with Scotland and Houla missing

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Preferred round 1 line-up:

B: Armfield Jamison Thornton
HB: Walker Setanta Browne
C: Scotland Carrazzo Gibbs
HF: Houlihan Waite Murphy
F: Fisher Fevola Simpson
R: Hampson JUdd Stevens

Int: Russell Jackson Hadley Cloke

EMG: Krezuer Aisake Bower

Unlucky: Hartlett Austin

Development year: Anderson Shields Grigg Edwards Jacobs Benjamin

Seasoned backups: Bentick Saddington Bannister Ackland Blackwell Wiggins Betts

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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.