I keep reading about our depth, and see the jockeying for spots when posters put their best team forward.

When weighing up the changing of the guard, I can see the following new 2008 guys filling the void retired players have left rather than existing players filling in that void; a direct swap:

Kouta.......Judd
Lappin......Stevens
Whitnall....Hadley
Kennedy...Kreuzer

They're all wins as far as I'm concerned. Just that alone should give as an extra 10% in pace (at least) and 10% in class.

I also see the following new players on our 2008 list displacing many of those who played in our first 22 in 2007:

Pfieffer....Anderson, Russell and Grigg
Jackson...Blackwell, Bentick, Bannister and Wiggins
Aisake.....Hampson
Cloke......Ackland
Jamison...Bower and Saddo (given Ratts is grooming Thornton, Waite and Setanta as the big backmen)

They're wins in the main, or at the very least break even (with Ando) as far as I'm concerned. I expect that it gives us another 5% more KP and ruck height and 5% more pace than last year.

Hartlett (who has yet to play a game), along with those I identify as 'pushed out' in Anderson, Russell, Grigg, Blackwell, Bentick, Wiggins, Hampson, Ackland and Bower will be fighting to break into the side.

Does this list imply depth of talent?

Then there's the kids Browne and Armfield who will want to mark their mark in 2008 too (albeit a bit young and inexperienced); also competing with those who have lost their positions to the new brigade.

If the above 12 is the peripheral group, then we are a very different team in 2008. I reckon we are at least a 20% better team with the changes; Judd alone imakes up 19% of that. I reckon the new guys make a huge difference in class and pace, and with the improvement in fitness levels and better coaching in 2008, the it all points out to a much better year with the new inclusions.

My biggest punt on new guys getting straight into the team are on Hadley and Pfieffer; the others are a shoe in. If those 2 are selected (and there's good reason why they would), they really put a lot of pressure on everyline in one way or another.

Will the new guys make it in round 1 or later in 2008? Why or why not?

Will the new guys push out the 2007 players to the periphery in 2008?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Should set us up nicely for some honorable losses.

It's all about Natinui and Hurley now

ban plz?

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

freedom of speech

Freedom to be annoying you mean. Maybe you can add some value with a post rather than saying the same tripe over and over.

Good post Bondi. My money is on Jamison, Aisaki, Grigg and Russell to make some real progress this year. We already know that Gibbs, Murph and Setanta will improve with the added depth around them.

we are going to be an improved side but not a finals side yet. i'd obviously like to be proved wrong..
jamo, gibbs, kreuzer, aisake, austin, santy, grigga and many others need another full year of football under their belts. i am not expecting improvement towards the end of the season either as many of the young guns will get tired..no we dont really need #1 pick...but i do think we will pick up pick 5-8 & 21-24...

I'm not sure the maths of 5 newbys replacing 11 existing players stacks up but I get the gist.
I am hoping for something from Benjamin. He is apparently a super athlete with good skills but suffered from injuries last year that stopped him getting a game.
And Armfield is 21 so he should have his body developed by now and will get a game according to Parko.

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

Good post Bondi. Kouta, Lappin, Whitnall and Kennedy played quite a few games last year and it was of no benefit to guys like Murphy. I expect the improvement to come from the fact that if Judd and Stevens stay healthy Murphy and Carrazzo are 3 and 4 in the pecking order and not 1 and 2. It has to help.

Blue Sombrero wrote



I consider Stevens and Cloke who were both missing for most of 2007 as newbies (although not new), as many posters and commentators have mentioned before.

Aisake and jackson have been elevated rookies to the senior list. Jamison was the nominated rookie who again is one, but I think this year he's the NR because we can have him there and play him as if he were on the senior list.

I think Benji would not be peripheral this year. This year is his last year of a 2 year contract. Whilst he's a super athlete with express pace, he skills are wanting. If he can adapt to the guidance of his kicking coaches and show improvement with his foot disposal by the second half year, I think he'll be retained as a 'project' player.

Who knows with another preseason his disposal may become consistent and most important reliable. He has the pace to create space and steady...he can be anything.

The upside I see for him is when he's playing finals for us on a HB or wing in 2010. I expect him to break into the team in 2009 and can't see him overtaking all the 'peripheral' players this year.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I am hopeful that Anderson, Russell, Grigg, Hampson and Bower will all improve considerably and push for senior selection this year.

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There is no footy god

nytdog wrote



Jamison as FB or BP is almost a certainty. With his pace, he could be CHB, but I don't know if he has the stamina in only his 2nd year of AFL.

Aisake, I have said since before he was injured that he's the best proposition we have for our first ruck; not the best ruckman in the world, just our best bet. He was about to be promoted last year when OP got to him, and as a result Hampson got his chance a few weeks later when it came to a crux that Ackland isn't a ruckman.

Russell, Grigg, Anderson (when fit) and Bower are the players I believe will be pressing for senior selection for round 1, and certainly for season 2008.

If Bentick has found some extra pace having shed a bit of weight, then he too should be pressing for selection. Hampson should also play some in the seniors if form or injury hampers the bigmen.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

There is also the need to include the across the board improvement of the young kids in our team. The replacement will definitely improve our squad but it is the continued development of our kids that will see us start to climb towards the 8.

Every time I think of this I get really excited. Cant wait!

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C'mon Blueboys!

woof wrote



And I expect that situation will have a flow on effect with the rest of the mids in our team. Imagine letting Simmo cut loose to do his own thing. I don't think we've seen the best of Simmo yet. He was awesome as captain in 2007.

It's in the middle where we have to dominate.

The midfield/ centreline class is incredible (if they stay fit)

1. Judd
2. Stevens
3. Carrazzo
4. Murphy
5. Simpson


What if we can afford to mix it up in the middle with the likes of:

1. Walker
2. Gibbs
3. Scotland
4. Betts
5. Hadley

Good luck to the opposition coaches' tagging tactics, especially when ruckmen like...

Aisake and
Kreuzer
(and even Hampson)

...play as hard running midfielders too.

The engine room looks very strong, with some depth/ redundancy built in there. There are numerous players we can also throw in the middle to support the above when injury takes its toll:

Jackson
Houlihan
Bentick
Grigg
Russell
Pfieffer
Anderson

If we are going to have a good season, it's paramount that Judd and Stevens in particular stay fit all season...just like you suggest woof.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

What a coincidence Humpers. At 8.50 these 2 posts were entered:

Humpers



Bondi wrote



Welcome to the Navy Blue Twilight Zone.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Judd in for Kouta
Matty K in for Lance
Cloke in for Ackland
Stevens in for Houlihan
Hadley in for Lappin

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There's so much I could say...

Get a room!

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2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Do not right off Houlihan just yet! Could be the X factor!

I agree. Houlihan is very inconsistent. But when he turns it on, he is silky smooth. Frustrating that he can't improve his consistency. Will be awesome if he can. Bloody classy player.

No one should be really written off until we see what they've got for season 2008; there's not long to go.

Sure there's question marks on some, but anything can happen.

Port, North and Geelong lists didn't change much post 2006 and both played finals in 2007.

Having said that, I still have a big question mark on Ackland holding a KP position ahead of Fevola, Waite, Setanta, Cloke, Saddo, Jamison, Kreuzer, Hampson, Aisake, Hartlett, Bower, Austin and Jacobs.

But stranger things have happened.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Houlihan will play every game this year bar injury so I'm not sure what you're on about here budzy