Ackland, Cain
Anderson, Joe
Armfield, Dennis
Austin, Mark
Bannister, Jordan
Benjamin, Clint
Bentick, Adam
Betts, Eddie
Blackwell, Luke
Bower, Paul
Browne, Steven
Carrazzo, Andrew
Cloke, Cameron
Edwards, Jake
Fevola, Brendan
Fisher, Brad
Gibbs, Bryce
Grigg, Shaun
Hadley, Richard
Hampson, Shaun
Hartlett, Adam
Houlihan, Ryan
Jackson, Ryan
Judd, Chris
Kreuzer, Matthew
Murphy, Marc
O'hAilpin, Aisake
O'hAilpin, Setanta
Pfeiffer, Darren
Russell, Jordan
Saddington, Jason
Scotland, Heath
Simpson, Kade
Stevens, Nick
Thornton, Bret
Waite, Jarrad
Walker, Andrew
Wiggins, Simon

The ones marked in Yellow are possibilities, the others a GAWNS!

Really interested to see how Clint goes this year, cause i think he is an amazing athlete, but perhaps that's just it.........all athlete but no footballer. But i'm really hoping he'll make it.

Jordan Russell i'd rather just not comment on.

Bentick has heart and i love him and could see him being a very good player for a VFL side, but maybe the big leauge has gotten to fast for him.

Hartlett i'm really hoping could be our Aaron Hamill type player circa 2000. I think he's got the balls, the toughness and the skills to do it.

Oh,..... and this Chris Judd fella better deliver or i'll cut him too!

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

IMHO this is the first year that marginal players have REAL pressure on them to perform.
When I say Marginal I am not talking about dead wood that no other AFL club would dare have on their list (as we have had buckets of in the past). No I am talking about players with real potential if all goes right for them. I believe that most that have been highlighted by the OP fit into this category. this is the first time this has happened to our club in a very long time.
This vastly changes the dynamics of the playing group's attitude during the year. These players are under the pump from round one, they will know that they have to put their best foot forward this year or they are gone. They know that every year the club will be bringing in another 4-5 players and that there are virtually no retirements on the horizon. this breeds a "its me or him" mentality.

How much pressure is there? Lets look at the list breakdown.

Certain selections

Carazzo
Fevola
Fisher
Gibbs
Hadley
Hampson
Houlihan
Judd
Kreuzer
Murphy
Setanta
Scotland
Simpson
Stevens
Thornton
Waite
Walker

That is 17 players that I believe baring dramatic changes in trend form, should be selected on a weekly basis. This leaves 7 spots to fill

Out of those 7 spots I believe that

Betts will probably fill one (size specialist role)
Armfield will fill another (pace and intensity)
A fit Cloke another (versatility, intensity and size)

So 7 spots becomes 4 spots to fit in the following players...

Ackland
Anderson
Austin
Bannister
Benjamin
Bentick
Blackwell
Bower
Browne
Edwards
Grigg
Hartlett
Jackson
Jacobs
Jamison
Aisake
Russel
Saddington
Wiggins
Pfiefer

The ones highlighted in bold I believe will given another chance regardless due to age/opportunity

There is some real competition there!

This 'Judd' character would want to impress me quickly... I dont trust recycled players.

Seriously though great post trn2, i wouldnt argue with too much that you said. I would however have Bower, Jackon and Jamison in bold, they are still young and very raw. Even though the haters can go on about how we still finished 15th last year blah blah blah, its great to have so much competition for so few spots in the team.

I wouldnt be surprised if one or two (ie russel? Bannister?) out of that danger group REALLY step up this year. Its amazing what a few wins and a different game plan can do.

We keep mentioning how tough it would be to break into our midfield, but spare a thought for the ruckman/giants in the team;

Kruezer
Setanta
Hampson
Aiksake
Cloke

and to a lesser extent
Ackland
Jacobs

Granted, Setanta isnt really a ruckman and will probably hold down a defensive position, but I still only see room for 2 other big men in the team. You could argue that Kruezer would play forward, but i think that Setanta + Kruezer (forward) + Hampson (ruck) + Interchange (Cloke/Aisake) MAY be too much.

That said, it would create some headaches

Yes you're probably right you could easily add a few more bolds but if you add Bower then edwards I think has to be in bold as well. I didnt add the rookies because I think it is a far easier decision to cut a rookie if he is not showing signs after 1 year than a senior list player that has taken a real spot up. By all accounts Jackson and Jamieson have shown signs already so if they go backwards at a million miles an hour this season, they may be under scrutiny.

Good to see you're taking the conservative approach in giving the arse to a quarter of the list. Young blokes like Benj and Russell will stay on the list as long as they're showing development and improvement - which they both have up to this point. Guys who have stagnated or gone backwards will be in the frame.

Only if Melvey started this thread...

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Congratulations CK95

Russell is safe unless a good trade offer is on the table - #1 draft picks generally get more time.

Saddo, Wiggins, Ackland, Bannister and Bentick are unlikely to stay unless they are fairly regular senior players in 2008. If they play at least 50% of the games they might be retained for depth.

Its Edwards' 3rd year so he had better show something. Also Blackwell's 3rd year - its now or never.

Benjamin showed nothing in his first year but will probably get at least a third unless his 2nd year is as unproductive as the first.

Cloke and Hartlett need to stay sound AND make some good senior contributions. More significant shoulder and hamstring issues would be more than a little unhelpful.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Who's Melvey?!