That club has a few members.

In:Jackson
Out Walker

^infinity.

Budzy you of all people know who I'm talking about!

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

After consideration, I believe I have a winning line up

A.Carrazzo S. O'hAilpin B. Thornton

P. Bower J.Waite H. Scotland

A.Walker N.Stevens K.Simpson

B.Fisher C.Cloke R.Houlihan

B. Gibbs B.Fevola E.Betts

Foll; S.Hampson C.Judd M.Murphy
Inter A.O'hAilpin R.Hadley R.Jackson M.Kreuzer
Apologies to Russell.
If Asakie is unfit, Cloke to ruck and Hartlett CHF
If Hadley is unfit, Russell onto the bench
If Walker unfit, Edwards or Russell into the team

Houla will play in the forwad line folks

We will play finals this year barring major injury

_________________
Bring on 2008

Oh, you mean Murph... yeah .. he should be learning the defensive side of his game down in the back pocket .. yeah?

_________________
There's so much I could say...

Houlahan Budzy...but I'm not aiming to start the circus in this thread.

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

You obviously never saw Bartlett play. The VFL changed the holding the ball rule so players could lay a tackle on him. As much as I hated him, I admired him. If Bartlett were availabe as a 17yo in next year's draft he would go top few.
By the way, Paul Hudson has no right to be mentioned in the same post as KB, let alone the same sentence, even less so with the word. 'even' separating them, implying that Hudson was a better goalsneak.

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I don't think we was comparing Hudson to Bartlett, and certianly wasn't saying he was a better goalsneak.

Having said that though, Hudson played a couple of hundred games, don't sell that short. He was a good player in his own right.

_________________
"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

I hadn't attempted this before and didn't realise how difficult it was.

FB Pfeiffer Jamieson Thornton
HB Gibbs S.O'hAilpin Walker
C Houlihan Stevens Simpson
HF Fisher Waite Scotland
FF Betts Fevola Kreuzer/Hampson
FOL Ackland/Cloke Judd Murphy

INT Bower Hadley Carrazzo Russell

I think Pfeiffer will play, but that spot could easily be Armfield, Browne or Anderson. Jamieson finished last season at Full Back and should start this season there.

Gibbs and Walker off half-back to provide drive and run. Stevens, Judd and Murphy should be our starting on ballers. Carrazzo is pretty stiff not to start on the ground.

Forwardline looks a bit top heavy with 4 marking players, although they're pretty mobile. You could interchange the resting ruckman off the bench and replace them with a smaller player. I don't like Scotland's unaccountability at half-back, Gibbs can provide the same drive while being more accountable. Scotland is a good shot for goal on the run, he kicked some nice ones at Princes Park in 2004 so I'd like to play him at half-forward, rotating on-ball.

I think we need one experienced ruckman to do the bulk of the work and one developing off the bench or forward pocket. What the makeup of that is may vary over the season. Ackland and Cloke both have their limitations, but one of them has to be there to protect Hampson/Kreuzer, who won't be physically ready for the demands of playing in the ruck full-time yet.

I don't really know what to do with Houlihan. He's still in our best 22 but could just as easily play off half-back or half-forward and rotate on-ball. His position will vary week to week.

I have no idea what Ratts wants to do with Gibbs and Walker, training watchers may be able to tell, but the lineup could be completely turned around based on that.

_________________
"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

good line up Brad, but I would expect Hadley to get a starting spot

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I'd expect Carrazzo to get one as well.

The only way I can think to have either of them starting is to have Hampson/Kreuzer starting on the bench.

I don't really see Houlihan or Scotland being moved out.

Depth, it's a good problem to have

_________________
"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

Grigg = under the radar.

Could be the real smoky of the year!








GRIGG

_________________
There's so much I could say...

I like Kruezer on the bench. It means he can have a run around without having the expectation of a full game. Part of the 'going easy on the new kid' theme Ratten alluded to.

_________________
Bring on 2008

My team is as follows

B. Thornton Saddington Armfield

H.B Scotland Ohailpin Hadley

C. Simpson Stevens Walker

H.F Houlihan Waite Gibbs

F. Fisher Fevola Murphy

R. Hampson Judd Carrazzo

Int. Cloke Betts Jackson Bower

Cant fit in Kreuzer at the moment, give him time. A lot wont like Saddo in the team, but at the moment as we all know we are very short on experienced key position players. He gets his spot because of the lack of size/ choice. Another controversial name will be Bannister this year at some time, depending on who we play. He did some stirling jobs on some big names this year namely B. Johnson and C. Cornes. Ackland may also get a place short term, again big body. With blokes like Bentick, Russell, Browne and Grigg not far away, and hopefully Jamison gets elevated at some time during the year. Hartlett has yet to convince me he can play at this level, and surely is a testing year for him. I dont believe Scotland can be taken away from th H.B line, as he is one of the best rebounders in the competition. Looking forward to seeing the blues in action in 08 ! Jeff

As has been pointed out by many posters picking a "Best 22" is quite difficult at this time of the year which is good to see in many ways...

I won't attempt it but I will say that the "Best 22" for this year (and that includes Round 1) MUST be significantly different in name and structure than what it has been - after all we have been in the bottom couple for 5 years now...

I would suggest that we should see at least 6 "new" names in the team. By that I mean those brand new to the club or those that have played less than 10-15 games of senior football. Those still listing Bannister, Saddington, Wiggins etc have to realise that we will not move forward playing these types who have had their chance but have not excelled. THey have been OK, they have been serviceable. But they have not and will not help us turn things around.

WE must take risks at the selection table....and right from round 1.

Couldn't agree with you more. Its time these types of players who were part of the disastrous Denis "im not making excuses" Pagan era were left at the Bullants as back up players only.

For me the most interesting thing about the first few games of the season will be how Ratts selects and structures the team. If he goes for the same old players and tries to beat a dead horse again i'll be very disappointed.

_________________
"what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger"!

If the game plan is significantly different, and we are told it will be, the roles of some existing players will change. I think we should be careful not to play untried players too soon unless they have excelled on the track. Most will know I am a Wiggo fan and he is consistently mentioned in dispatches as being one who trains the house down. He has the wherewithall to play several roles in a side that needs to make holes for runners like Judd and Simpson, just to mention two of several. I think he may be tried in this role maybe with Hadley. I have yet to post my best 22 but for round one, Wiggo will probably get a mention.
I think some tend to place the blame for the Pagan era more on the players than the coach. They did what they were told to do. If that didn't let them shine, it isn't their fault.
Ratts had the chance to trade players like Wiggo and Saddington but didn't. That may well mean he is still looking at a possible berth for them IMVHO.
We are all too willing to get caught up in the draft picks and trades but the statistical reality is that few of them will get a first-up game and some may not even play this year. I recall the hype over Hartlett this time last year. And others. The reality is that we will need to play players early that fit the gameplan and whom the coaches know are ready. If that means Wiggo and Saddo for a while, so be it.
I don't subscribe to the theory that new is always best.
Having said al that, I must try and find time to pick my best 22 for Rd 1 so others can have the same chance to criticise my choices as I have had theirs.

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Thought I would give this a crack.

B:- Jamo Carlos T-Bird

HBF:- Hadley Cloke Scotland

C:- Walker Carrazzo Simmo

HFF:- Houla Waite Gibbs

FF:- Fisher Fev Kruezer

R:- Ackland Stevens Judd

INT:- Murph Betts Jacko Saddo/Banno/??/??

Backline:-
Must find and play Carlos in 1 spot and leave him there. I thought he showed more as a back than he did in the ruck or up forward. Love to see Cloke at CHB, he is not ruck. He is hard at the footy and will hit bodies and packs hard. We haven't had a defender do that sort stuff in a long time and we really need some hard nuts coming off that backline.
He has a huge kick aswell, he could always be another option for a kickout. I hate seeing our runners ie:- Simmo, Houla and Stevo kicking out. Those guys need to be the 1's getting it in the center and driving it foward.

Middle:-
We have so many options now its hard to pick who should go where. Walker needs to moved into the middle, on a wing to start with and watch him run rings around anybody.
Murph on the bench for the first 10-15mins of the game, let abit of sting get taken out of the qtr then swap him for a Carrazoo. Chuck in Betts for Stevo and there is fresh legs into the guts for the next 10 - 15mins. Still leavs alot of options aswell, Gibbs, Houla, Scotland, Hadley, Jacko can all be rotated. We are going to run teams into the ground.

Judd.

Fowards:-
I like Houla up forward, knows how to kick a goal or wont miss Fev to often. His skills are waste down back. Waite at CHF, with him, Fisher and Fev up foward it just makes the foward line so dangerous. Also like to see Kruezer start on the ground and in the pocket and next to Fev every game. Fev will protect him from anybody who wants to rough up the No1 pick, he is one of the few guys who will.
Let Kruezer do the ruck work in the foward line and let teams try and find a good 4th tall to try and hold him down.

Rucks:-
As much as this hurts to say, i still think Ackland is our No1 ruckman for now. Cloke shoulders wont hold in the ruck, although Kruezer will be down the track, it's alot to put on a kid in his 1st year. Have Ackland going to the bench, Kreuzer into the guts and Betts in the pocket to give Ackland a rest, or just rest him up forward. Ackland wont need to worry about taking contests in the bak half with Cloke and Carlos down there and Kruezer up forward. That SHOULD mean he can run around alil bit more in the middle and become a link man in the middle of the ground or drop back to fill holes. Hampo and Aisake will both find it hard to stay in the team, having 1 of them in the side with Cloke, Ackland and Kreuzer gives us 4 ruck options and that maybe to top heavy.

INT:-
Murph, Betts and Jacko are musts. For the reasons I said befor, but the last spot is a ??. Was tossing up with Hampo and Asiake, but I thought 4 rucks was to top heavy.
Not sure on who to use, Bentick for that inside player and will he be better with the better players around him?
Banno, plays a good run with role and gives another option down back.
Saddo, another option down back or even up foward.
Russell or Wiggins play an ok lead up HFF and run with players. . . . Edwards, Harts, Benji, Anderson, Blackers.......the list goes on

Feels good to have so many options.

JUDD!!

_________________
Not so best of TheSexySquad


AWWWWWW STEVENS.

I don't subscribe to the theory of retaining mediocrity because of fear of further failure.

'In order to improve, you must change..'

_________________
There's so much I could say...

OK here we go

B: Setanta Jamison Anderson
HB: Pfieffer Waite Scotland
C: Walker Carrazzo Simpson
HF: Murphy Fisher Gibbs
F: Betts Fevola Kreuzer
RU: Hampson Stevens Judd

IT: Hadley Jackson Aisake Bower