Dropping Betts. Good luck with that.

Did it in my earlier team too.

The way I see it, we can swing a bunch of blokes forward with that line-up, even Armfield. I suppose he could come in for Russell at a pinch.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

First post long time reader... you know the drill...

FB: Thornton Jamison Armfield

Thorthon give a bit of expierience down back and take 3rd tall, while Jamo is given every opportunity at FB. Armfield walks in uncontested to take Milne type foward IMHO.

CHB: Scottland Setanta Gibbs

Scottlands run from HB is invaluble and grossly under rated. Setanta should now have the kowledge of the game (we know he has the size) to hold down CHB, swapping with Jamison if required (ie: Buddy Franklin). Gibbs will be a star and should be rotated through the midfield, but with all that competition, doesnt cement a spot yet.

C: Walker Stevens Simpson

This is the line that i find easiest to pick. Some people have guys like Carrazzo & Murph on the wing which i disagree with. Simo and Walks are genuine running wingers. Walker especially has earned a permenant midfield spot. Stevens (fully fit) is a gun and should be the midfield 'General'.

CHF: Fisher Waite Houlihan

Another ease choise. Fisher is almost a second CHF the way he presents and marks. Waite needs to be given the opportunity to make CHF his own while Houla on a flank will be a star. He is a natural forward expect him to do some damage.

FF: Betts Fevola Kruezer

Betts walks into the crumbing forward roll uncontested. Fev ditto as FF. The Krueze at FP will ease him into senior footy and give him the chance to do some light ruck work in the forward line. He will also add another marking target up forward.

R: Hampson Judd Murphy

Hampson needs to be played and IMHO is a better RUCK prospect then Kruezer. The other two speak for themselves.

IC: Carazzo Hadley Cloke Russel

Jeeez it hurts to put Carrots on the bench but with Stevo and Judd walking into the midfield i cant find a starting position for him. I dont think he is a forward or a backman so midfield rotation is the best i can do. Hadley (If fit) is definately in our best 22 adding much needed depth. I was a big fan of Clokes efforts last year after many profanities the day we picked him up. Nice player to have to share rucking responsibilities with Hampson for now. Russel needs to be played. He has shown glimpses but we need to have some faith and play him all year if possible.

Emergencies: Bower Grigg Jackson Saddington Aisake

Bower & Grigg are victims of an improved midfield list forcing better players into the backline. They are young and will have their chance. Jackson is raw and deserves a few games but doesnt have a place yet either. Saddo tries hard but i would prefer to see younger guys played ahead of him. Nice back up defender none the less. Aisake is a very good chance to be one half of the future ruck pairing and look for him to edge Cloke out during the season.

Never to play again:
Ackland
Wiggens
Bentick
Blackwell
Bannister

Unfortunately for some (ie Wiggens, Bentick, Blackwell, Bannister even Ackla...... lol... nah going a bit far i think) i fail to see a place for these guys in our next premiership team. They will add depth at most.

well thats what I think anyway


Bottom line: BRING ON '08

We tanking already Jimmy?

Armfield and Browne in the side ahead of Bower Whilst we all hope they have a huge future expecting them both to debut in round 1 in the weakest backline in the competition is crazy.

I didnt mind losing Josh because at the end of the day we have forwards in abundance compared to backmen. Had we lost Bower I would have been seriously pissed - he is going to be a star in the future for us.

We're playing Richmond round 1 right? The team that is littered with pesky small forwards right?

Think about it.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I think you have the team on the money. Although I don't necessary agree that Blackers is gone.

------------------fb thornton------------------

shortfb browne-------------------------tallfb bower


-----------hb sweeper scotland----------

---------------------chb austin--------------------

runhb carrots-----------------------runhb simpson

--------------------ruckrover gibbs-------------------

wing stevens---------center judd-----------wing grigg

------------------rover murphy.......ruck hampson----

chf/w houlihan----------------------------chf/wing waite

--------------------------chf hartlett---------------------

-----------------------power fwd fevola---------------

---------------------------small fwd walker-------------

bench: ohailpin, jamison, jackson, fisher.




betts
edwards
saddington
bannister
russell
wiggins

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

The response to this will be interesting

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

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

seems reasonable enough to me in fact my team is almost identical to Juddanaught09 1

FB: Thornton Jamison Austin
CHF: Scottland Setanta Walker
C: Gibbs Stevens Simpson
CHF: Fisher Waite Houlihan
FF: Betts Fevola Kruezer
R: Hampson Judd Murphy
IC: Carazzo Hadley Aisake Russell

I want to drop Thornton but on his game he really adds to team. Houlihan is also in trouble if some of last years crop/ or PSD player can fill role. Team might struggle against fast small forwards doh

_________________
Setanta Ó hAilpín 64 AFL Games 45 Goals

Up the Rebels All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2004/2005

that's a work of art jimmae!
top stuff

Thornton Jamieson Armfield
Walker Carlos Gibbs
Simmo JUDD Stevens
Houlihan Hartlett Waite
Betts Fevola Fisher

Hampson Scotland Murphy

Krueser Carrazzo Hadley Jackson

Rotate Scotland, Gibbs and Hadley from midfield, bench, half back.
Rotate Judd with Jesus (or run Walker in the middle for 5 minutes whilst the great man rests)
Rotate Murphy, Betts and Carrazz from midfield, bench to FP.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Like to see Thornton and Setanta rotating between FB and CHB. Both are mobile enough and can attack. Jamison or Bower can take the third tall if required.

Then it is lottery for the pockets and flanks between Anderson Browne Grigg Scotland Walker Armfield Houlihan Gibbs Carrazzo Hadley etc who can all play on the ball as well.

Been a long while since we had these options.

If we can turn the ball over in defence and run it out no-one will catch us.

Fev Fisher Waite will be licking their chops with the speed the ball should go into the forward line!!

I think the right balance is Waite forward and Setanta back.

Setanta is our great white hope down back. And Waite is capable of kicking 50 goals a year. He kicked 30-35 this year and played half the year down back.

Setanta will be into his 3rd real year of seniors, so he should start to step up. Throw in Thornton who is solid, and all you need is to blood another key back. Probably Jamison, with Bower as a quasi tall/runner.

I think the club mucked around with switching Setanta and Waite all over the shop in 2007, and really need to settle the side and give players like Setanta and Jamison full years down back and hope they make the grade.

Setanta really is the key. He has the height, strength, speed, competitiveness, and agro to be a dynamic key defender, one who can hold the gorillas while also providing run when he gets it. He really is the most important figure in our side, from a structural point of view.

So you have Setanta, Thornton and Jamison down back, and Fevola, Waite and Fisher up forward. Other than the ruck which is a toss up between Ackland and one or two of Cloke/Hampson/Aisake/Kreuzer, the other spots are really made up of the better credentialed mids/flankers, and I count around 10...

Judd
Stevens
Carrazzo
Scotland
Simpson
Gibbs
Murphy
Walker
Hadley
Betts

It's taking shape quite rapidly, however the key really is down back and with Setanta. He's the player I will be most eager to see next year, other than Judd of course. If Setanta can become a 8-9/10 key defender, then suddenly the bookends are in place and the team really starts to take shape. All we need then is a year or two for Kreuzuer and Hampson to mature, and for a few additional mids/flankers to come on (and here I am thinking Grigg, Browne, Anderson etc).

Virgin Blue wrote



Ackland... ... plus 1 or 2...? Who is Ackland better than? Even Jacobs in his present condition seems a better prospect. I reckon you're hoping Ackland finds a bit of heart and height...somehow I think he's got his work cut out for him.



How long do we wait for Ackland to mature?

Wishful thinking VB, but I hope he steps up because as it stands amongst most supporters of the club and those close to the team, Ackland was dropped last year and replaced by a kid playing footy in his 3rd year...basically, they gave up on him. You're living in hope.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

FB: Thornton Setanta Jamison
HB: Scotland Waite Browne
C: Murphy Simpson Walker
HF: Kreuzer Fisher Houlihan
FF: Betts Fevola Russell
Foll: Hampson Judd Stevens
Interchange: Gibbs Hadley Cloke Carrazzo
Emerg: Bannister Bentick Jackson Aisake




its so hard to fit everyone in!

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

jez4Blues wrote



That's an interesting one, and quite common in posters' teams below to have 3 talls on the FB line.

I just wonder why we would have a tall on a small FP; which is not the norm, in fact would be considered a mismatch. Am I missing something? Curious.

Whilst I'm convinced Carrazzo is our BP specialist, I do prefer him to use his negating skills whilst being a ball magnet in the midfield. This is why we' hope that Anderson, Armfield or Browne could take this spot on in 08 albeit young and inexperienced; although we know Ando can do it and that Armfield being the oldest, also have had senior footy exposure with much success.

I should add that Anderson and Armfield are both around 186-188 cm, which means 4-5cms shorter than Thornton, but I think their size is a better match for typical FP agility and still have an advantage in height over the smaller FP.

I know Sheedy and Wallace would throw 3 talls down there in the past 3 years to stretch us, but I find these days it's not really a height issue we have in our first 22, Sheedy's gone, and Wallace's team is slipping especially in the talls.

Just curious.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Like your side BV however would like to see Bower fitted in somehow.

_________________
There is no footy god

BV wrote



Geez BV, you may as well put Blackwell in the team if Jackson's just gonna be sitting on the pine. Jackson needs to run. so he may as well run all game in the Bullants; it'll be more enjoyable.

There's a bit of experience in that team; it's a good one.

I agree that Bower should be in the team and takes Hartlett's spot, but then again, I'd like to see Hartlett given some time, say 4-6 weeks at CHF (if the MC think he's good enough) to see if he can pick up the tempo, confidence and his role as a CHF. The rest of the team have to also adjust to him too. It will take time, if we really want him.

Bloody tough for selectors.

There's nothing wrong with your team BV.Looking at your team sheet, you can feel the introduction of Kreuzer, Armfield, Hartlett, Hadley and Jackson to the team increase the pressure on for spots.

It's brewing.

I too haven't included Cloke, and I really want to see Aisake as the 2nd ruck to Hamson (with Kreuzer in too).

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Nah, Jackos the shut down player Bondi.
With a midfield of Judd and co. you'd be pretty happy to go head to head but if one of the opposition gets off the leash, you need a plan B.
Jackos the man for that job.

If we dont need to shut anyone down, he can get experience all over the field.....giving Armfield a rest, giving the half backs a rest, going for a blast on the wing etc.
Development.

BTW, I'd be surprised to see Blackers get much AFL exposure. Players like Hadley and Judd, the reappearance of Stevo and the continued development of Gibbs will make it even harder for him to find a spot.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.