B: Grigg Jamison Waite
HB: Thornton Bower Johnson
C: Simpson Stevens Gibbs
HF: Walker Cloke Fisher
F: Kreuzer Fevola Betts
R: Warnock Judd Murphy
INT/EMG: Houlihan Hadley Yarran
Scotland Armfield Carrazzo
Robinson

I was just thinking about this tonight and didn't realise how difficult it was actually going to be. The concerns I have are 4 talls in the backline and forwardline, but Jamison, Bower and Thornton pick themselves and Ratts is committed to playing Waite as a defender. Fevola and Kreuzer pick themselves up forward, I think Fish will be valuable this year but I really don't want Kreuzer or Fish playing CHF. Would much rather squeeze Cloke out, move Waite forward and play either Houlihan, Scotland or Walker in defence. Otherwise I'd consider not playing a traditional CHF, you probably don't need one and adding either Houla or Scotland to the forward structure.

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"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

sure it will change by round 5,
bower jamison thornton
scotland waite grigg
simpson gibbs stevens
houlihan kreuzer walker
yarran fevola betts

warnock judd murphy

carrazzo, hadley, hampson, fisher.

I think Armfields good form makes it really intereseting in terms of balance.

We all know who the certainties are for selection for R1 but of the fringe players, Armfield is putting his hand up in a big way I reckon. He's looked very good.

Sounds like Walker should still have the match fitness for round 1 even though he won't play against the Cats:

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There is no footy god

This is very difficult but I'm going to have a go

Browne Jamison Thornton

Johnson Bower Grigg

Waite Stevens Simpson

Gibbs Walker Houlihan

Kreuzer Fev Betts

Hampson Judd Murphy

Hadley Russell Cloke Robinson

Emergencies - any of Armfield, Anderson, Bentley, Ellard, Carrots, Fisher, Garlett ,Scotland, Wiggins, Yarran

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I need some new conspiracy theories; all my others have come true.

Why am I not convinced about Walker.
I haven't seen every game he has played but he seems like an "in it - out of it" player when I have seen him.
Has he had too much injury to get it together?
I have been waiting for him to take a game by the scruff of the neck but he seems to play good moments and then disappears. Compared this to Grigg over the Nob Cup games, (and even Hadley last night against Geelong) for instance who go for a whole game ( and with less fanfare)
What am I missing?

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It's the jumper

To me the only flaw in his game is kicking, which is improving (ok he drops those speccies too). He is now a mature player with pace, power, aggression, fierce desire, athleticism, agility, excellent ball-handling, stamina, defensive ability and goal-kicking abillity. Alas this maturity has co-incided with serious shoulder injuries.

I'll say it: if he can stay injury-free from here (a big if), he will finish top 5 B&F and will be the difference that will take us from, say, 7th on the ladder to top 4. Absolute wildcard, the same age as Kouta was in 95....

FB) B Thornton - M Jamison - C Johnson
HB) H Scotland - J Waite - P Bower
C) K Simpson - M Murphy - N Stevens
HF) A Walker - C Cloke - R Houlihan
FF) E Betts - B Fevola - M Robinson
R) R Warnock - C Judd - B Gibbs

Int) M Kruezer - S Grigg - J Russell- A Carrazzo

Emg) B Fisher - S Hampson - R Hadley

Geez this is difficult. It feels strange putting Robinson in before Yarran, but Robbo has been really impressive, and Yarran not quite ready yet. But honestly they could both play round 1 and i'd have no complaints.
Hampson vs Warnock was a very tough choice. Ending up going with Warnock because he is a bit more advanced with his tap work. I think it is necessary to have 2 rucks and cloke. As 1 will always be playing in the forward line. Mostly cloke and kruezer.
Armfield or Browne could come into the back pocket, as the small players down there, CJ and Scotto, are not shut down players, and sometimes these types are necessary.
Always been a big fan of Brad Fisher. So i cant believe i haven't been able to fit him in. But its a sign of our depth. Hadley missing out is also very unlucky. Came down to Hads or Russell, and i went with Russell because he can play as a leading forward, or tagger. A bit more variety.

Very tough task this tho. And my team has changed a lot since i first tried in about December.

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@cecil_anderson

Good effort, Cecil.

I agree it is a pretty good effort but some of those are speculative for round one.
Carazzo is most unlikely as are Scotland and Warnock. I'm not sure about Walker either as we haven't seen him at all, although he is aparently training OK.
Here's mine for Rd one barring further injuries:

B. Thornton Jamison Johnson
HB. Stevens Waite Bower
C. Simpson Judd Grigg
HF. Wiggins Cloke Houlihan
F. Betts Fevola Russell
Fol: Hampson Murphy Gibbs

Int: Kreuzer Hadley Armfield Robinson (Walker for Robinson if available)

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

Unfortunately Stevens will be missing for round 1.......but otherwise I agree with this side. Walker played well for the Bullants on Friday and gets another hitout in Bunbury this week so he should be ready to go.
Fingers crossed both Walker and Robinson can play

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There is no footy god

Really difficult job - competition for spots is hot!

FB) B Thornton - M Jamison - C Johnson
HB) H Scotland - J Waite - P Bower
C) K Simpson - M Murphy - N Stevens
HF) A Walker - S wiggins - R Houlihan
FF) E Betts - B Fevola - M Robinson
R) M Kruezer - C Judd - B Gibbs

Int) S Hampson - S Grigg - J Russell - B Fisher

Emg) R Hadley, S Jacobs, R Garlett, D Armfield

Depth players that could easily be in the 25) A Carrazzo, C Cloke, C Yarran, R Warnock, A Joseph, S Browne

notes
warnock as depth due to exposed form (ie none atm due to injury)
Hampson in front of Jacobs was line ball though hampson included due to greater potential to click in a game and do damage
Based on the cats game, joseph, hadley, armfield, all deserve to be in the 22 - just cant find any room for them!

My Round 1 team based on preseason form and fitness
B. Thornton Jamison Armfield
HB. Johnson Waite Bower
C. Simpson Gibbs Grigg
HF. Houlihan Cloke Robinson
F. Betts Fevola Kreuzer
Fol: Jacobs Judd Murphy

Int: Hadley Russell Wiggins Yarran

If fit in time Walker in for Wiggins and Scotland in for Yarran

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The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Ronald Reagan

Thanks for that. I knew about Stevens but forgot about it at the critical moment. In that case, I'll include both Walker and Robinson.

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

I can't see us going that small up forward very often. However, it would certainly improve our defensive pressure against rebounding defenders!

Thing is with that forward six mentioned that each player can take an overhead contested mark despite size

Houla less than the others

Not sure about Betts' overhead marking abilities either...

Im a fan of Cloke...sure he's a bit slow but we need his other attributes such as being another option to Fev, he can kick straight and we need his contested marking or at least he has the capability to make a contest and bring the ball to ground for the Betts' and Robinsons' to crumb...the MC seem to think so considering he's playing forward a fair bit.

And i think with the likes of Betts, Robinson, Walker and even Fev chasing that they can cover Cloke, who should just put himself in a good defensive position rather than a 1 on 1 chase.

Although he got towelled up by Hodge against Hawks last yr...but i dont think that was entirely his fault and hopefully we can come up with a good strategy to combat those tactics.

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Carlton Premiers '10

My line up for rd 1 would be

Armfield ..... Jamison ...... Thornton
Johnson....... Bower ........ Grigg
Walker..........Gibbs..........Waite
Kreuzer..........Cloke..........Houlihan
Betts............Fevola..........Yarren
Hampson........Judd...........Murphy

Robinson, Simpson, Hadley, Jacobs


This is harder than expected !!!!!!!!!!!

Waite can be moved out of defence against the Tigers IMO as Richardson, their main weapon, will probably be played on the wing anyway. Move Waite out onto the wing to smother Richardson/run off him in attack. Add to this Walker on the other wing along with Johnson and Grigg rebounding off the half back line and Gibbs in the guts and you have some power coming out of defence.

I think Armfield has nudged ahead of Browne as a small defender ATM.

I would like to see Cloke, Fev and Kreuzer all played up forward. I know Cloke's for hasn't been in great form in the NAB cup, but if you are grooming him as a tall forward option he needs some time in the real stuff to show us what he has. I want to see Kreuzer out of the ruck as much as possible, so play him as the 3rd tall option and have him ruck inside 50 if need be. Fev should play out of the square, as usual, and I would like to see Betts, Houlihan and Yarren crumbing off the big men.

Hampson is my starting ruckmen, and have Jacobs coming off the bench. Hadley and Simpson will rotate through the midfield and Robinson has earnt a spot and can be played up back or forward as need be.

Can we really afford to have Cloke, Kreuzer, Hampson and Jacobs all in the same team?

I think one should be left out...probably either Hampson or Jacobs for the real stuff.

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Carlton Premiers '10

Why not ??? How would it really be any different than playing Fisher up front instead of Cloke or Kreuzer ???

Sure we could probably get away with one ruckman and use Kreuzer/Cloke as the back up ruck, but there goes our forward line set up once Hampson/Jacobs goes off for a rest............... Either our 3rd tall is gone or our CHF ..............

Our other forward line options would be who ??? Wiggins, Russel, Fisher, Hartlett, Edwards ??? Wiggins and Russel are more defensive forwards, used to trap the ball in the forward line, Fisher can't kick straight to save his life and Hartlett and Edwards couldn't come close to getting a game in the NAB cup ............... Kreuzer has a good mark, better kick for goal than Fisher, does the 1%'s as Russel and Wiggins does and can ruck in the forward 50. Waite could be used up forward, but il'd prefer to keep him on the wing to counter Richardson.