WIGGINS

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

If you can find where I've said this....

"If you think that Wiggins and Bannister are long term players at the club you either overrated them heavily or you don't think our future is particularly bright"

I'd be interested.....no....I wouldn't.... because I've never said it.

I've given my opinion.......finito!

If they're not long term players, and are just fringe players, then there is zero point in playing them when we're a bottom four side. To do so is to condemn ourselves to another long stay in the bottom four.

Do you realise you're repeating yourself ?....I'm not a Selector......

Your responses implied you didn't really understand by point.

This question could have been asked off season for the past 3 years and the answers would be close to as they are now.

These guys just havent continued their development as required.

Unfortunately it appears that both are just short of the level required to make the grade.

Both are in their mid 20's, so they should be at their peak in 2008.

Maybe ' sticky fingers' Wiggo has found an extra yard over the preseason; that will help jis cause.

Maybe the tough Bannister has finally gained the awareness that let him doen over the last few years. If so, there's hope for him too.

Personally, I don't expect huge improvement, given I'm hearing the same old stuff about them in the preseason. At their age, they should be leaders in such a young club...and I mean on field leaders who demand a spot in the 22.

I hope they do well...I'm a JB fan, but am not expecting them to set the world on fire. If they deserve a spot in the first 22, it's because they've improved, because we do have some depth there and competition for the same spots they're after.

Good luck to everyone in the Dark Navy Blue...I expect them all to step up a bit from last year with the inclusion of Judd and Stevens, as well as Kreuzer to the list.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

there's more to a squad than just ability.. personality goes a long way.. whether they are determined, ambitious, balanced, run-on-the-mill etc...if the overall personality of the squad is determined then a squad member that posesses lowly skills but has a determined personality that fits in well with the rest of the group usually do very well and a welcomed fringe squad member..it's all about keeping good morale within a playing group if they all have the same personalities..it also helps with onfield understanding

blue4 wrote



Excellent post. Shows great insight into the fabric of team.

...and I'm sure you're not dismissing or questioning the virtues of ability and the cost of clangers.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Firstly, crap players don't play even one game of AFL.
Secondly, you are not taking into account the gamplan changes, coaching ability of the specialist coaches or improvement in playing personnel when you say we won't have improved. How the hell would you know all that any more than I would?
And if they do play, I also guarantee you won't eat your words.
I hope they do play as I want all players on the list to be successful. I don't believe in wishing badly on any player is in the spirit of being a good supporter but that is just MVHO.
If they don't play because some other player has pushed them out of the side I will be conent but to just write them off from a distance based on subjectivity is rubbish.

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

Wiggins should have been dismissed 3 years ago. Would have like to see Bannister get the opportunities Wiggo was given.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

If you have not made it in 6 years then you are not going to.

Many great young players don't make it in the AFL and are simply not good enough for the AFL. Wiggo and Bannister are not. Simple as that. You change the game plans all you want.

I know enough after watching them for 6 years to know they are not good enough.

You can have the best personality, character, whatever. That aint going to win us matches.

They are servicable, and may be called up in the 1sts for experience because we may have no one else, but this is our problem.

Bannister has had the chances but he blows it everytime. He has some many attributes that are required except the big one - awareness.

How many times have we seen him do something good only to dawdle out of the backline and get run down from behind because he had no idea he needed some urgency.

what he said

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

Fan of the Coreymeister eh, Deano?

So is it your opinion (not the MC's opinion) that Wiggo & Banno are Carltons 'good honest soldiers' that should be in the starting 22?

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There's so much I could say...

At the risk of repeating myself.....which apparently I have to.....

I wasn't backing Bannister just saying I wish others were given half the amount of chances Wiggles got.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Yes, Bannister and Wiggins have to be looked at at the end of 2008.

But so does Betts, Bentick, Russell, Cloke, Edwards, Hartlett, Saddington, Blackwell and Ackland. (some may be under contract)

I hope Wiggins can get to his 100 games, needs 11, but if he doesn't get it this year, then I doubt he will.

Betts will step up this year, I am almost certain of that. He has more talent than 95% of our list.