TC, I don't have a problem with that theory but we haven't been winning lately with the side we have.

True cj, but then again we don't play against the same team every week either.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

People need to get over Aisake. He won't be getting a game this year (if at all). I doubt he's ever even been seriously discussed at Match Committee, given his apparent struggles in the VFL/VFL Reserves. He's certainly not going to play as long as Cloke, Kreuzer and Hampson are in the one team, as you can't go in with 4 talls like that. Cloke isn't going to be dropped. Sometimes you just need to accept reality. This way you won't be disappointed when reality strikes again. You don't have to like it, but there's nothing anyone on here can do about it. Just move on.

cj, of the players you mentioned, and going from the VFL reports, the only player on that list who could justifiably call himself unlucky not to be playing is Blackwell. Hadley would probably be playing if he wasn't recovering from injuries which have killed his season. Austin and Anderson have had a taste, there is more to come from them, no rush. Jacobs and Joseph are rookies, which I think you well-know, so they couldn't be playing even if we wanted them to be playing. Jackson and Pfieffer aren't playing well enough to be picked. Aisake I discussed above.

We have had a pretty good season, remembering from where we have come, without most of the players you mentioned above playing. We must have been doing something right.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

...honestly, ppl are dreaming if they reckon throwing in a couple of kids will show us what the kids have got.. ..it's very much the 2nd last round, playing away/interstate vs a big bodied team, and said big bodied team has a chance to make finals (must win last 2 games to be a chance, 1st of these two vs us)..

..also, my intuition makes me think that the club wants to finish the year as strongly as possible, finals or no finals.. ..our last few yr's have been terrible come end of season, and instead of starting the next yr on a low, they'd rather us start next yr with a winning streak..

..a bit of form in the ants might look good, but it's amateur league and i'm not sure if some of the kid's are ready for afl.. ..work on 'em over the pre-season.. ..bower and houla's are good in'sm and the outs make sense as well..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

The question for me Blues is there people ahead of them more deserving of spots?

I am certainly not questioning the season, I reckon we have made great inroads, but have some missed out?

For me there is a couple of doubts. Pfieffer has been good lately and has to be unlucky, he is as good as Russell defensively and gets more of the ball and I would think his skills are slightly better. Austin was very good last week yet Bower gets picked ahead of him and Thornton holds his spot.

I am just not sure about Aisake, bits I have seen of him he has been pretty good but seems to be out of favour, same could go for Blackwell. I am actually going on Saturday to have a look myself.

I understand your point but I still think a couple of players are very lucky.

Yep. Ratts said so earlier in the week.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 62,00.html

Just on Pfeiff. I too think he may have been a tad unlucky to lose his spot earlier in the year & that he will be a good player for us, but it's not like he's all of a sudden going to lose his talent & skill over the pre-season.

If he's good enough & I think he is or will be, then he will push for selection next year & those that already have a spot in the current side are going to need to show on a continuous basis that they too have it or have improved enough to warrant selection.

Just a question to those that wanted a couple of the kids in for the next 2 weeks. What happens if they were given the 2 remaining games & showed absolutely nothing & we get smashed? What's 2 games going to give them in that scenario?

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

Did it hurt last year?

Wasn't exactly our best year last year cj & we didn't have many positives to work on over the pre-season, as opposed to this year. I see where Ratts is coming from in that he has achieved success beyond what most thought he would & would be a crying shame if it was all undone in the next 2 games with heavy beatings.

It may well be he is "hedging" his bets so to speak & is, at this stage, a tad reluctant to let what he has achieved slip away in the blink of 2 games. I for one wouldn't blame him for that, as he's a 1st year coach & I can guarantee you Sticks & co have already been in his ear to let him know they want a strong finish to the year.

Another question for you cj (or anyone). If you were one of the kids, playing all or most of the year in the Ants & then you get called up for the remaining 2 games with nothing left to play for, how would that make you feel?

I'd be thinking, Gee thanks for that. Throw me to the wolves why don't you. I've got nothing really to play for because come the start of next year, even if I perform in these 2 games I am still not guaranteed a place in the starting 22.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

B. Ratten. Debut, Round 22 1990.

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php? ... ett+Ratten

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|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

its only mathematically possible. we will need an absolute MIRACLE if we are to make it from here. With only two matches to go i think we should be playing a younger side. guys like aisake, jackson and blackers wont get much of a chance in the senior side to prove themselves. if some of those guys are picked before the seasons end it will be too late and we will be playing the 2nd team in the league.
don't know how austin missed out on selection

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

Maybe Ratts recalls feeling like a lamb to the slaughter at the time Jars, & didn't want to do the same to his young charges.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

My point was that guys like Murph & Gibbs played in a lot of thrashings and seemed to have come through it okay. In my opinion there is no substitute for playing and to get some game time into some kids and give them a taste before the end of the season would be beneficial.

I know if I had been busting my backside off all year in the Ants and I was given the last few games I would be rapt.

My other point is that it is just not about playing kids but in MY opinion there are a couple of players that probably DESERVE a spot ahead of some of the current players.

Winning 3 of our last 8 isn't exactly great form.

Some of you posters are as conservative as the MC.

Give them a go .

They are on an AFL list for christs sake. How long do you want them on a list before playing them.

Aisake is early 20s
Anderson 2 years in the system
Austin was terrific last week

Whilst other teams like Collingwood dare I say back young kids far more we go the conservative approach.

Personally it shits me

Con so what if we can mathematically make the eight.

Its almost impossible
Give these guys a go

Its not as if Thornton, Russell and Fisher are starring

Thornton has been pathetic the last 2 weeks when he has the ball

Indecisive, chippy chippy kicks, lets Hansen lead him to ball by 30m. The week before was the same

Russell say no more
Anderson or Pfeifer to get a gig

Aisake is worth the risk.

Thats the key word risk

Fisher tries but has been found out.
Cant kick

hopeless below his knees
no pace

Then to top it off we select Houlihan a guy who doesnt chase ,pulls out of contests and just lopes along .

Cant afford one guy like that in your team

Definitely not two

I am not a total pessimist

We have improved
Bower in for Saddington is a no brainer even the MC could see.

The fact is Saddington shouldnt have played.
Last week proved Austin in Saddington out


Personally I am disappointed in the MC
and I have no interest in Sat nights game.

Next time there is a Mike and Dan interview with Ratten on the CFC site I will ask molsey to include a question about his first game and how it shaped his whole career.

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As I said earlier cj, just cos you or anyone for that matter including me, think someone deserves a go, doesn't mean it's right or they are the right person.

Our specific views on players are all biased by what we want to see. Some people think JR, Army, Browney etc all deserve their spot & then some people don't.

Just cos it doesn't happen the way you want it does not mean it is wrong.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

Great to see one of our most promising kids back in the team. He has had an awesome year before injury.

It's been a bloody good development year for our kids this year.

Next year is going to be exciting!

Another question.

How many on TC have actually played footy at AFL level?

Cos I haven't. But those on the MC have (all of em) & I would be pretty confident in backing their judgement as to what is required.

Who are you going to take advice from? A real lawyer (for instance) or some bloke standing next to you at the bbq giving you his 2 cents worth?

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

I hear you Keogh, I really do. You like many on TC want to see these kids given a go & I do as well, but maybe the last 2 games of the season is not the time.

In relation to T-Bird & Carrots for that matter, I too get very frustrated when they chip, stutter & piss fart around with the ball in the back half & it was (for me) one of the reasons we got belted last week, becuase we didn't take risks & try to run the ball out against their zone, but how about changing the tactics not the personnel?

If these guys you want to see are good enough the MC will see it over the pre-season & practice matches & we will hopefully get to see them strut their stuff.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

What?! No Saddo? Mustn't be playing to win any more

Ahh crap - and no Carlos


But there's an in I wasn't expecting this year

HOOPS!!!!Yaay! Just not in defence, please!



Only if that lawyer is a member of TC

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[Sam Jacobs] looks like a 7' Lance Whitnall, and [Mitch Robinson] looks like a 4' Lance Whitnall
(The SEN team during the Carlton v Cats 2009 pre-season match)