I'd love it if we didn't have to throw Kreuzer in the deep end, and for Hartlett to take his opportunity. But moreso, I'd love to have opposition coaches pissing themselves about what to do about Fev/Fish/Edwards/Hartlett/Kreuzer just like we pissed ourselves over what to do about St Kilda's forward line tonight.

I want a forward line of
- Fev and Fisher as our key targets
- Edwards (who is showing he can make it) and Hartlett lurking around the perimeter
- Cloke and Kreuzer rotating in and out to keep the opposition guessing, or to cover injured/out of form players

_________________
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

We may be jumping the gun a little, re: the game plan.

Tonight I thought we controlled the ball well enough from our defencive 50. Skill errors were not as apparent as last weeks. Seems as though the guys are understanding the need to maintain possesion rather than bombing to a contest 40 to 50 meters up the ground.

The downside with tonights game was that the transition from defensive 50 through the middle into our forward 50 was too slow, allowing St Kilda to push numbers back choking our forwards.

In a clear comparison, StKilda were just as unsuccessful as we were when their transition was slow, but were able to capitalise when they moved it quickly.

Ratts possible approach to the new game plan could be in stages.
1. Stop kicking long and hoping for the best.
2. Improve your short game skills to allow the team to move the ball without risking a turnover.
3. Increase the tempo.

Personnaly I can see some significant changes, and do believe by around round 6-7, we should see the forward line operating a lot more effectively.

My two cents before I hit the sack and wake up to hopefully a Leeds win.

The game plan tonight looked awful, slow, stuttering, sideways. No fluidity. Whether that is the game plan, or an inability to execute it properly, I don't know.

Clearly the issue is that we don't have a CHF. As I have said previously, I don't believe that Fisher is the answer there. IMHO, we must play Waite at CHF. I know he has been good down back, and in fact I argued for him to be played back last year, but with no Whitnall / Kennedy / Lappin forward, we simply need him there. I cannot see us kicking a winning score without him at CHF.

St Kilda are unique in that they have the three very good talls. Other teams have 1 or 2, so Jamison, Thornton and O'hAilpin can take them. I still think O'hAilpin would make a very good CHB.

A forward line of Fev, Fish and others is impotent. A forward line of Fev, Waite and Fish as the third tall, suddenly has other sides worried, and has the potential to kick a winning score. When Waite was played forward last year, he kicked 4, 3, 4, 1 and 5 goals in consecutive weeks, a great return from CHF.

The alternatives for CHF are Hartlett and Cloke. I would like to see them try Cloke there, he moved well and looked good tonight. At one stage, when he went forward, he gave 3 leads back-to-back, and was ignored on all of them. I think we should look to play through him more, wherever he is played.

_________________
Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Kreuzer should be CHF. 200cm, can run, mobile, take a pack mark and reasonable kick. Would be very hard to match up on if we develop him into a CHF. Could be as good as franklin. Different yes, but just as good at CHF. We should be playing him there, and having a Cloke/Hampson ruck combination.

If any of you think Fisher or Edwards or Hartlett can play CHF in the way a Jonathan Brown or Franklin or Riewoldt play it, you're dreaming. Kreuzer is the one.

Gee, I thought Kreuzer was "just another Josh Fraser"

_________________
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

When have I ever said that?

For once this isn't a swipe at you BO. But certain others who have made that outlandish comment in the past. Got you mixed up, my fault.

_________________
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

How can a forward line function when 18 opposition players are given time to flood the space while we "hold the ball and wait for options"????

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

I thought someone compared him to Honeybun???

Kruezer is the future and I feel sorry for this kid. He has not played one game and he is our answer to CHF. From what people tell me he can read the play well, has footy smarts, is agile and good as his feet. I know why people get excited.

G-Train, Rewoldt & Kosi didn't work when they were on the ground together. Will Fev, Kruezer, Harlett or Edwards work, I don't think so. We need two big targets (maximum) with quick skillful players around the packs ready to get the ball when it goes to ground.

_________________
Delulio is a member of TISM

Kreuzer may be ready to play CHF in 2-3 years time. MAY. But he sure as hell isn't ready to do it this season.

I just people are realistic about the output you're going to see from Krezuer this season.

_________________
"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

Elevate Jacobs to work in tandem with Hampson in ruck\
Play Cloke at CHF
Edwards to be the leadup man becayse he has pace. Played too deep last night
Fisher within 40 m of goal. Best overhead mark. Too slow to be up the ground
Betts to run around forward line. not to lead up and take marks. he is the crumber
Fevola Just dont know anymore

This is very true. Don't know about the approach scenario but the rest is pretty spot on.
We need to get another ruckman into the team to support Hampson, ie. Ackland or Aisake/Jacobs. Doesn't matter who as long as we have 2 ruckman other than Cloke. Then put the big fella @ CHF and tell him to use his "bulk" to create opportunities and demand us going through him using the corridor. This will do 2 things make opposition defenders aware we have a "big body forward" to negate and allow Fev, Fisher and Edwards the luxury of playing correctly. Kruezer should only be used as a replacement for Edwards not CHF right now. Last night my decision was made that Cloke is the man for this job right now. His endevour is right, don't know about his footy nouse. Setanta is the other but again ...

you're wrong Donspewie, he is another Brad Ottens

Well seeing as Fev has 3 guys on him all the time and has the yips as well, he would be more use to us as a dummy forward. Get him to lead hard to the boundry and leave the corridor free for other forwards to lead into.

Please keep the personal insults to a minimum cos I don't know much I can take and I'm gonna have a cry

_________________
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

Fev cannot play up the ground, he is not up to it. If he doesn't get the ball on the lead he is stuffed.

I do offer my sincere apologies. Not nice of me to take advantage of the weak.

Nice post this:



I'll address them in number order.


1.) Round 1 against Richmond, when we had the momentum in the first 5-8 minutes of the last quarter - this is exactly what we did. Bombing long into the forward line with in and under hospital kicks in Fev's general direction that did nothing... even Juddy did it!! Controlled short passing to options in the forward line would have been a lot more effective.

2.)The only time we were effective last night against St Kilda was when we were using our short passing game. St Kilda are VERY VERY good at man on man tight marking. You need to be a very good possession keeping team to be on top of them.

3.) Agreed. Stop start football gives the opposition way to much time...

It was BO's buddy and armageddon friend Melvey who did the comparison.

_________________
“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

_________________
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