Yeah, I had Murphy in the centre but as a rover would be better.

What about Jammo at Full Back and Setanta as CHF?

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Bring on 2008

Fair enough..I would expect Houlihan to be in the team in rnd1...I'm not a fan of his though and tried to pick a more physical lineup that attacked the footy well and did more of the 1%ers....hence Bentick getting a game.
Armfield has a reputation for attacking the footy and chasing hard and I want that type of player in my lineup...being 21 and WAFL trained I think he is ready to go.
Anderson fits my criteria but needs to refine his disposal and get some more nous and I think he needs another season in the Bullants but is a player I have high hopes for and he is a goer..
Jamison or Bower was my dilemma but I went for Bower on the basis that our track watchers say he has grown and has been training well.
Bower like Anderson can lack some awareness but this has to be the year for Bower to show something and I think he deserves to get a start in rdn1 and settle....

Russell is a kid with good chararacter and a good clubman but I think he turns the ball over with some poor decisions and his spot has gone to Jackson who did little wrong in the last games of the previous season...

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

No Fisher in that team?

there will be players who may get dropped this year. The players who need to watch their asses are players like Thornton, Walker, Houlihan and even Big Fev. Pagan may have put up with Fevs antics on the ground but Ratts wont - he will treat all players equally and knowing the way he played he wont tolerate players who;

1. Refuse to sacrifice their game for the team
2. Have poor 1% stats - tackling, chansing ect
3. Are Jibes and supreme receivers

And if the players dont like it, then they can enjoy themsleves at the Bullants with David Teague as captain coach - he will fix them up.

You need players to run and receive and float around the packs like braddles, campo and the master Nathan Buckley BUT I have always felt that this role should be rotated for several reasons.

One, it avoids predictablility and two by rotating all the roles the individual and team gets better and has more flexibility. Otherwise you end up with the ancient scenario of players like Kevin Bartlett who played for over 3 centuries and laid 4 effective tackles. Or Braddles who could run like the wind all day has superb skills and yet in 17 years managed to have a very poor 1% stat record. I am a fan of braddles but I cant ignore this poor part of his game - he made up for it though with his run and skills and leadership.

These days you cannot have players like Bartlett or even goal sneaks like Paul Hudson - ALL must harrash and chase and tackle. Otherwise you end up with a draw full of wooden spoons and perpetual non-appearance in finals

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The Wisdom of a Fool is Profound

If the Kruz is fit he will be playing round 1

Yeah LA. I am pretty sure I had him in mine. He looks ready for a big one this year.

Forgot to mention, I saw Banno at a wedding I was at the other weekend. Left him be though. I figure since it wasn't a footy affair, he deserved some room. Would have loved have wished him luck though.

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Bring on 2008

As you........

WAVED him good-byyyyyyye.................!


kindest regards tommi






























well it WAS a wedding...............!











work with me here people...................!












i mean........it is Christmas day and all..............!













do you know how much it would cost to get someone
funny to work today...........?














don't arnswer that.............!

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

I reckon those 4 are safe.

If Fev throws a tantrum he may be in trouble.

Houlihan has his weaknesses, but he's still a class above anyone pushing for his spot.

Thornton is still our best defender.

The boy Walker is pretty safe

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"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

This was tough but enjoyable as well. I split the team into 4 areas
Mids Through the centre line and on ball and 3 spots on the bench rotating 8 players
They are

Scotland, Carrazzo Kreuzer Judd Murphy Gibbs Jackson Stevens
Jackson goes past a few(Walker etc) because of his ability to run all day and good decision making. Gibbs should play in the rotation. Is brilliant in close. His first year was good. I expect him to turn it up a notch in 08. Kreuzer can run. I expect this kid to play from round 1. He is not really a ruckman. Plays more like a runner but having him in the team means Ratten has the flexibility to have 3 ruckman or an extra tall to play down forward or back.

Ruckman
Aisake and Hampson
They are young and will get monstered at times by guys like Ottens. Play them. No other alternative. They also provide run and carry. With Kreuzer an exciting 3 man rotation.

Forwards Fisher Waite Houlihan Simpson Betts Fevola
Waite is best up forward. Does the freaky things.Houlihan is a forward. Is brilliant below his knees provides another crumbing option to Betts. Is also good overhead. Has a lot of downside as we know but his skill will be an asset down forward. Simpson gets in as a 9th rotation for the mids.

Backs
Hartlett O'hailpin Bower Walker Thornton Armfield

We need a big mother down back We have been crying out for one for years. Hartletts the man if he gets his hammies right.
Armfield wins a spot over Anderson and Browne because of his age. Maybe more ready even though Anderson has had a year of AFL Walker provides run as well out of defence as does Bower.


Couldnt find a spot for Hadley and a few others.

ROLL ON 08

Not being critical, but it's naive to think that the mc would recruit a guy through the trade week for a particular need and not want to play him.

A midfield of Judd, Stevens, Hadley is dangerous enough.
Add Scotland and Carrazzo and it's right up there.
Throw in Murphy, Simpson and Gibbs and it becomes very handy indeed and is sure to cause headaches.

People seem to forget that Hadley is a premiership player as well and was highly regarded by Lethal.
By adding Judd, Stevens and Hadley to the '07 midfield that effectively moves Carrazzo, Murphy and Gibbs 3 spots down the tagging order.
You can't tag everyone.

Players such as Murphy, Carrazzo, Gibbs, Simpson, Bentick, Blackwell, Russell, Grigg, etc will be able to play with a freedom that they have never had before.

By adding Hadley to a wing for example, you are able to move Simpson to a HFF.
His long kicking/sprints would be pretty well suited there don't you think?
Also allows for a few dark horses to come through from the younger guys.

IMHO, Hartlett should be CHF if he can get in a good pre-season.
His marking and long kicking would do more damage at CHF than CHB.
Play Carlos at CHB as a rebounding defender.

Don't forget Cloke for CHF. He gave us a bit of mongruel there early last year.

'08 - year of the dark horse.

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Cleanliness is next to Juddliness!

So of the 22 players I have mentioned which player gets the arse for Hadley?

This is a good problem particularly when I havent mentioned Russell or bentick in the 22 either(and blackwell for that matter)
maybe Armfield?

Kreuzer or Hartlett would be the dropped to make way for Hadley imo. Probably Hartlett when push comes to shove.

Awesome problem to have for a change!
In answer to the question though, I think it will be a case of the young guys plus fringe players like Bannister, Wiggo, Saddington, etc having to run through brick walls to earn the RIGHT to line up in Carlton's best 22.

PS - Add Ackland to that list as well.

_________________
Cleanliness is next to Juddliness!

B 40 Michael Jamison 32 Bret Thornton 33 Ryan Houlihan

HB 29 Heath Scotland 17 Setanta O'hAilpin 18 Paul Bower

C 1 Andrew Walker 24 Nick Stevens 6 Kade Simpson

HF 14 Brad Fisher 30 Jarrad Waite 4 Bryce Gibbs

F 44 Andrew Carrazzo 25 Brendan Fevola 8 MatthewKreuzer

R 28 Cameron Cloke 5 Chris Judd 3 Marc Murphy

INT 10 Richard Hadley 22 Shaun Hampson
38 Ryan Jackson 2 Jordan Russell

It's time to make some courageouss decisions for the sake of team development and balance.

There has been a lot of talk about Aisake's unbelievable potential as a tall. Why not follow the same path the Blues adopted for Setanta and throw him into the FB position? He has the physical attibutes and it's well and truely time he cut his teeth at senior level. Wouldn't it be intriguing to see how Aisake and Setanta combine in the backline?

I would also play Armfield in the back pocket because he offers a combination of attributes that is quite different to the alternatives, i.e. speed, tackling, marking and disposal.

The other decision I think they need to make early is to give Hammer the number 1 ruck responsibilities. Talk about players that could be anything. Hammer has the height, leap and speed to cut opposition ruckmen to pieces.

I've read heaps of people on this site bucketing Hartlett, but the games he's actually played I think he has really shown something. Check out the game where Carlton was flogged by Freo in 2007. Hartlett dragged in mark after mark in the forward line and his mobility was really something to behold. Unfortunately he did a hamstring, but if they can get on top of his soft tissue injuries I think the Blues have a gun centre half forward ready to go.

If Hartlett does succum to injury I would play Edwards as the CHF. His lead up speed and making ability remind me of Fevola at his age. They could even alternate the two between FF and CHF.

Every other player, in my opinion, picks themselves.... So here goes

FB Armfield Aisake Thornton
HB Waite Setanta Scotland
CF Simmo Walker Stevens
HF Gibbs Hartlett Houlihan
FF Betts Fevola Fisher
FOL Hampson Judd Murphy

INT Hadley Carrazzo Cloke Krezuer

One thing that is very apparent is the depth of talent Carlton now has. Any one of the these players named above can be replaced with a backup player who has the talent to do a job.

That team looks good. My best 22 would alter slightly from yours.

OUT: Russell and Hampson
IN: Betts and Ackland.

I have no doubt that Hamo will be in our best 22 down the track a couple of years but at this stage you have to go with ackland for this year at least. Russell on the other hand in my opinion will not make it. I would also not discount Pfieffer!!!!!

I don't think any of these players are a remote chance of missing out. They are imbedded in the team, and are well above fringe players. The guys who were getting games who are now in trouble are:

Bentick, Saddington, Cloke, Ackland, Bannister, Wiggins, Russell and Betts (yes Betts). At the moment they are all out of my best 22. Unfortunately for Betts he provides no versatility, and with the injection of Judd, Hadley, Browne and Armfield it will mean guys like Gibbs and Murphy play a bit forward. As will Hoops this year I think. All those guys can push into midfield and some even backline. Betts is a one position player and will struggle now I think.

I disagree - when ratts pushed Eddie into the midfield for short stints I thought he actually provided some spark with his pace and aggressive tackling. Would be a handy rotation thru the middle whilst providing some crumbing up forward.

Walker in danger??? For f$#$s sake!

His kicking efficiency is up there with the best, despite being continually refered to as having bad disposal! His speed (bullet-like) and tackling are unbelievable to watch.

How many of his turnovers/mistakes result in goals??? At his worst, he's still extracting the ball, chasing and tackling, but possibly not racking up as many posessions. Yet at his best he is electric...There are others that continually get the blind eye treatment when they make far graver mistakes, but are justified with being played out of position. Walker, well he can play back, midfield, and snap seemingly bullshit goals up when up forward. At 190cm and 95kg's, with how he reads the play and his closing speed he probably the most versatile player we have.

Watch Carlton v Port Adelaide - Superstar in the making, yet for me already.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

who?

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There's so much I could say...