Having an opinion that he should never have been put in that situation is 100% OK.

At the start of this year we were in a development situation. Let me ask you this Budzy.

Were we in development "mode" when we were all talking about being in the finals or were we looking for the best possible line up we had in order to win games? Were we still in development mode before last weeks game, because last time I checked if we had won last week, we would be a far better chance of playing finals than now.

What would you have said if we were a big chance to play finals & all of a sudden Ratts brings in kids to take on men, with not much chance of success.?

Development is not only about developing the players' skills (etc) it is also about developing their bodies & minds, which includes protecting young bodies & minds to a certain degree from being absolutely smashed & causing these kids to have bigger fears about playing at AFL level than they had beforehand.

Who in the team has the required attitude, training form, the ability to follow instructions and perform designated roles etc? Who is a team player and who can accept criticism without sooking up and being a destructive influence?
Who can play only one role in the team and who struggles to understand set plays and their role at stoppages? Who is carrying an injury and who struggles to perform with the slightest niggle? Who has been diligent in their rehab and who is taking shortcuts and leading others astray?

Those criteria are all important factors in the make up of a team yet they are the questions that only the MC would have the answers to.
By all means have an opinion on selection but lets also realise that the MC are armed with far more knowledge than the average punter.

I would suggest that if anyone "deserved" a game, they would be getting one!

I still find it amazing some are so insistent they know better than the MC when it comes to picking a side, how the players are performing and how to build a list.

That's Denis Pagan 101..

We're in the business of winning flags not finishing 8th.. Saddo aint gonna play in a Carlton premiership side .. Aussie Bower Ando might .. they need game time and they're not skinny 18 year olds anymore are they??

I still find it amazing some are so insistent they know better than the MC when it comes to picking a side, how the players are performing and how to build a list.

Budzy, what surgery are you talking about for Jamo? I thought the shoulder was good.

Well if you have no interest in the game stop filling the boards with negative posts about it.

I would of picked Austin to play on Brown this week (replacing Thornton) and Pfieffer to replace Russell. I would of also changed Hadley for Fisher but probably needs another run. Add that to the ins of Bower and Houlihan and reckon its a pretty handy side.

hey brad, didn't you know that keogh is Chairman of selectors in conjunction with the Sailor Man and the team physch in cj.

Budzy, what surgery are you talking about for Jamo? I thought the shoulder was good.

He still needs surgery, apperently cannot get his arm above shoulder height. I hope it does not interrupt his pre-season, you would assume the powers at the club would take this into account.

He has done remarkably well since his injury but many teams know about it and have tried to exploit it with the high ball into his opponent on his weak side.

I thought our tanking days were over?!!?..

Putting Austin on Brown would almost end the young mans career.
Waite is the only man available who may be able to do a decent job.

No need for that stormin, its all healthy discussion.

One point I would make is that all the discussion so far has been about who should be in and who should be out.

I would much prefer us to try a few positional and game plan changes. You never know what may come off and if some do they will advantage us leading into next year.

How often do you really get to experiment in a real game situation.

Maybe:

Walker as a CHB on Brown, certainly big and athletic enough.

Thornton as a mobile CHF, it was his spot in U18's.

Play Fev up the ground so we have to look at other options. Even play a rotating 4 man forward line of Fev, Cloke/Kruezer, Houlihan, Waite/Thornton.

Play Waite midfield ala Richo.

Bower on Bradshaw. Hampson most of ruck.

Russell run with Black, take him to ball.

Browne permanant back pocket.

Ratts coach from boundary and let Riley run box.

You never know?

hey brad, didn't you know that keogh is Chairman of selectors in conjunction with the Sailor Man and the team physch in cj.

Budzy, what surgery are you talking about for Jamo? I thought the shoulder was good.

Well if you have no interest in the game stop filling the boards with negative posts about it.

We have our 3 draftees from last year playing this week, Hampson - a very raw ruckman and an incredibly young defence lead by Jamo/ Bower, Grigg - a youngster performing well after being given a go and Russell who is being given the season to show what he can do.

Not to mention Murph and Gibbs who are still young kids too.

You can't give them all a go, they will be slaughtered + we will be trying for team balance for nxt year.

Saddington was given his last chance to see what he can do. The MC now know where he is at and he will probs be cut.

The MC are not complete fools. Austin got his ass handed to him by that Moran bloke from Adelaide!!! What the hell do you think Jonathon Brown would do to him. Aisake struggles to get a gig in the VFL reserves - he is not ready for AFL. Anderson is a good mover and perhaps should get a go, however Browne and Dangles are competing for the same spot whilst Anderson also still has very scratchy disposal.

Also Thornton has played some fantastic games this year, he has 2 bad ones and you suggest Aisake who played alot of bad ones in the 3rds to take his spot?

Fisher battled hard last week, he tried a hell of alot harder than some others out there - snagged 2 and should have kicked more. He is one of our few marking targets - when we are trying to provide more forward options other than Fev. Why would you drop him - instead work on our FWD structure. Who would replace him anyway? Hartlett who can't get on the field or Edwards who rarely works hard on the pitch and is just as one dimentional.

Collingwood have played alot of kids this year, but guess what?! So have we! We are coming from a long way back - at the start of the year most of us would be very happy with 8 wins. We have also had a very tough run home so it is perfectly understandable that we have only won 3/8 or whatever.

I would say the MC have had a decent year + I am a supporter, I want to see our team win, I want to see the players develop so I have interest in this weeks game.

Yeah ..it's a proven FACT that all MCs over the years never made blunders..

If that is the case, then he sure as hell shouldn't be playing.

WTF are we thinking to play someone who clearly shouldn't be playing and is carrying an injury.

That is bad form and whilst I appreciate that most players tend to play with a niggle, the ability to NOT to raise your arm when playing in defence is just plain stoopid.