Oh .. this is so tough ...

B: Browne Jamison Bower
HB: Scotland Waite Thornton
C: Simpson Stevens Robinson
HF: Gibbs Kreuzer Houlihan
F: Walker Fevola Betts

R: Warnock Judd Murphy

I: Carazzo Yarran Grigg Hadley

Appologies: Fisher Johnson Russell Austin Cloke Hampson Armfield Anderson

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

FB: Bret Thornton - Michael Jamison - Shaun Grigg
CHB: Heath Scotland - Paul Bower - Kade Simpson
C: Jordan Russell - Bryce Gibbs - Nick Stevens
CHF: Ryan Houlihan - Jarrad Waite - Andrew Walker
FF: Eddie Betts - Brendan Fevola - Matthew Kreuzer

FOL: Robert Warnock - Chris Judd - Marc Murphy

INT: Andrew Carrazzo - Richard Hadley - Chris Yarran - Shaun Hampson

EM: - Setanta - Browny

Back on Dec 2nd I had the above team.

On current form and considering injury, solid preseason and brain fades I have some minor changes.

I'm leaning more towards this for Rd1.........I don't believe it is our best 22 if all players were up and going but it's solid. There should be some good run and carry out of defense. Skill in the middle and some tough match-ups up forward. There's also abit of versatility to be had if required (i.e forwards who can go back) but little in the way of quality onballers coming off the bench. Maybe Hadley onto the bench for either Yarran, Robinson or Wiggo might fix that problem.

FB: Bret Thornton - Michael Jamison - Shaun Grigg

CHB: Chris Johnson- Paul Bower - Kade Simpson

C: Jordan Russell - Bryce Gibbs - Nick Stevens

CHF: Ryan Houlihan - Jarrad Waite - Andrew Walker

FF: Eddie Betts - Brendan Fevola - Matthew Kreuzer

FOL: Shaun Hampson - Chris Judd - Marc Murphy

INT: Chris Yarran - Cam Cloke - Mitch Robinson - Simon Wiggins

EM: - Richard Hadley - Dennis Armfield

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Not the best 22 but possibly the best 22 for round 1.

FB: Thornton - Jamison - Armfield

CHB: Bower - Waite - Simpson

C: Russell - Gibbs - Stevens

CHF: Houlihan - Walker - Yarran (or Fisher)

FF: Betts - Fevola - Robinson

FOL: Kreuzer - Judd - Murphy

INT: Hampson (or Cloke) - Hadley - Grigg - Bannister
(interchange selected mainly for midfield rotation)

Scotland to be considered if available

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Isn't Steven out Round 1 due to suspension?

Stop confusing the issue with facts

You'll never last on TC relying on fact SG.

If that's the case then Robinson to the wing and Hadley to the bench. All fixed

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

@cazzesman

That team will be pretty close .
Given Stevens won't be there , I would replace him , Johnson and Russell with Armfield , Bannister and Fisher .
Bannister to take Nathan Brown .
Maybe Hadley for Wiggo .

Still a few weeks to go yet though . Probably be changes after the NAB cup is over .
Scotland have to be considered if he is fit .

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Get the facts first.
Then you can distort them at your leisure.

Grigg showed a lot in 2008, and from training reports has really stepped up.

I thought he looked fantastic on a wing last year...has pace and can sneak forward.

Whilst developing I would like to have him in defense because he is a tough nut and sticks to his defensive task very well.

He was good playing on the small forward too, and whilst I'd like to have him playing on a small forward on the last line because of his height advantage (say over a Medhurst, Stokes...) my concern is that he is one sided, and on the last line, the better opposition FP's would try and force him to his right side when they can. That spells danger to me.

I might be wrong, but does Grigg have a right side?

If not, does this raise any concerns for any posters in playing him in the last line?

Cazz obviously is very comfortable with the option of Grigg on the last line, and he's seen a hell of a lot more of him than most, let alone me.

Cazz?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

It's great to see Russell is on the radar for some of the track watchers.

Admitedly, the training reports do influence ones perception, and I'm surprised to see his name on a wing.

I can see the positives, which include his strength, fitness, defensive pressure, pace and games under his belt, but there's a lot players vying for his spot too: Robinson, Hadley, Bannster, Armfield, Johnson, Grigg, Wiggins, Anderson.

Yeah I know you can't have them all in the 22, but my perception is that Hadley is a class above him, Robinson has already shown all we desire to include him, and Bannister is similar but a better kick. Then there's Yarran as a HF to consider. Whilst we can take our time with him, and he hasn't proven anything for a first year player, nor should he have to, I can't help but think he's another one who will overtake Russell in the pecking order sooner rather than later...yeah I know they're different players.

I may be wrong, but those training reports are not painting a great picture of Russell in comparion to many others.

I'd like to hear some more positives about Russell from those who have selected him in their 22, because I think he's a good prospect, who just needs some polish with his kicking before he's a given in the first 22. We can apply the same criticism with Carrots, but I wouldn't call Russell a ball magnet, whereas Carrots can at least find the pill, and is a great link up player.

The more vying for a spot the better...bring it on!

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I like Bannister, and think he's got a role to play. But whatever Russell's deficiencies might be, I don't think they lie with his disposal by foot. Despite a recent training report, and his kicking for goal, I would argue he's got very good foot skills (on both sides). Certainly better than Bannister's.

Thanks stefchook.

I think Jordie is a very good pass by hand and foot, but I think the evidence from games and from recent training reports is that Russell does have a serious problem when kicking for goal. There's not much evidence I've seen, heard or read to suggest otherwise. Has this changed recently?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

JR worries me. Watched him closely at training and he gives his all but he is not 'clean' with his disposal and it always takes him that extra second to dispose of it.

He trains hard and is as fit as anyone. Last year Ratts gave him every opportunity to get his confidence up and apart from a few good cameo's here and there he didn't do much. He will not get those opportunities this season. He also spent most of the time playing as a lead up forward which says to me they have given up on him as a midfielder. He is also not a natural goalkicker which makes it even harder.

As the side improves I find it hard to find a space for him. I really like his attack on the ball and his attitude BUT he needs to do more to cement a spot in our best 22.

IMO there are a number of players they may push past him.

Feint praise.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

JR has made slow and steady progress over the years but my biggest concern has been his tendency to go missing for lengthy periods of a game. In the two intra-club games so far he has been consistently prominent, which gives me hope that he now has the experience to keep his head in the game.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

He went from strength to strength with each game last year and by all accounts his work ethic, attitude and maturity have been excellent in this preseason. He continues to show more and more mongrel as he gains confidence and experience. He did some great jobs down back last year and I think it's a good place for him to do his apprenticeship until he can progress to the midfield.

I would be happy to see any of Armfield, Anderson or Browney in the BP but I'm also happy to give Grigga the 1st crack at it.

He is the tallest of the 4 and is just as quick as them. His left foot is solid and he can take a good mark.

Maybe a run up on the wing would also suit if they put 1 of the other 3 in the BP.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

grigg >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the world

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Thanks Cazz

I knew Grigg had pace when we recruited him, but didn't know he's as fast as Armfield; that's fantastic pace.

I love the mongrel he displays.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I expect Grigg to be one of those players that takes us to the next level this year. His pre season has been excellent. I see him as almost a third tall in defence ala Campbell Brown. He is tough and works hard and his kicking is improving. He gives us tremendous flexibilty and can do a number of roles.

In our best 22 he could be part of a defence such as:

Browne Jamison Grigg
Anderson Bower Johnson

That is a very quick defence, a couple of left footers that attack and can match up to anyone. Add Waite or Walker dropping back we can confidently keep sides under 10-12 goals.

Against Hawthorn it could easily be:

Jamo on Roughead
Bower on Buddy
Grigg on Williams
Anderson on Rioli
Browne on Stokes

I back us in especially with our midfield!!!

Grigg is one guy who should push in the midfield....


He is one player who is ready to push beyond 20+ Disposals a game this year

We have enough players running through the midfield IMO. Il'd prefer him to settle in the backline, bring the ball out of defence.