We need goals from half forward no matter who we play.
Austin/Hartlett/Fisher/whoever to CHF, Houlihan/Stevens to a flank, Hadley into the guts, Cloke and Wiggins to The Bullants.

I know exactly what's gonna happen.

Setanta will be dropped whilst the 'loved' players in Russell will again keep their spot.


What SHOULD happen:-

In:- Robbo, Bannister, Hampson.

Out:- Bently, Russell, Cloke.


Cloke, who's determination i love, might just need a resurgence of confidence, and WILL get this in the two's. Robbo would EASILLY have been a better selection than Bently - MY GOD! Bannister can play the tag too and seems to be finding form after a pretty upsetting injury. Hampson is gonna have to help out Kreuzer against Sandilands giving Kreuzer the opportunity to rest up forward.



what WILL happen:-

Out:- Setanta, Bently

In:- Hampson, Hadly

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Santy has the advantage that he can play as a tall defender. In last year's game against Freo, he played on both Pav and Sandilands and did well. Before the revisionists set about trying to establish that in fact he was our worst player on that day and he was saved because Pav wasn't able to maintain 100% accuracy with his goal shooting, Santy was our 6th best according to the B&F voting.

Sandilands hasn't troubled the scorers much in the past, but Harvey is challenging him to produce when he goes forward to give his game another dimension. And he did kick 2 against the Eagles. Santy was comfortable against him when Sandilands went forward last year. And I don't think we have anyone else who would be able to do that job, leaving aside Kruezer who would be wasted in that role.

Santy isn't the only option for Pav though. Bower and Waite are possibilities, though it has to be said that Waite has not been given the job in recent times. IIRC, there was a match a few years back when Pav kicked 9, and I think that Thornton had been on him early but was injured early and didn't take the ground after about quarter time. I think that Waite and Prenda were ineffectual and that may have marked Waite's card when it comes to Pav. But that's so long ago that it might be time to try him again, especially as Waite has done well on similar tall midfielder types such as Richo and Riewoldt. With Bower, I suppose the issue is whether he would be able to stay with Pav when Pav leaves F50. He probably could, but there's always the possibility of handing off to someone who would then tag him in the midfield before Bower taking over again when Pav goes forward.

Pav is a big reason for the Dockers' resurgence. It's hardly rocket science to suggest that he's the key to the match, but that obvious point has been lost a bit because a preseason injury limited his effect on early games. That led to the speculation in the media that he should have been traded for the long-term benefit of the Dockers. But he's over that injury now and is again a big threat. Even if Santy isn't given the job initially, it doesn't hurt his cause that he's taken Pav's scalp previously. But Ratts' reluctance to change his initial match up for the opposition's key players probably means that if Ratts gives the job to Waite or Bower, there's little chance of him being called on to take over.

OUT : Cloke, Bentley

IN : Austin, Hadley

But I doubt they'll bring in Austin just yet.

Cloke seems to be untouchable, can't recall the last time he was dropped.

Judging by the incompetence the MC have shown so far this year, they'll bring an under-performing Fisher in before Austin, and Cloke will play 22 senior games for the year.

_________________
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Thats because he hasn't. Only games he's missed while he's been with the Blues have been through injury.

_________________
"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

Yes, seems to be a bit of a protected species.

Understand they need another big lad up there, but surely the day will come where someone with more natural talent will take his spot.

Hampson
Warnock
Austin
Hartlett

_________________
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

_________________
“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.

can't play waite on Pav. Doesn't play to our strengths, and Waite has been his bitch to some extent in previous games.

_________________
"I had to eat"

You can around the ground where Pav has been spending alot of time this year.

Crowley is out with a foot injury also. He kills us every time we play Freo, as does Peake usually, in fact prior to last year every fringe player Freo has stars against Carlton. Maybe we are responsible for their poor list management?

Nearly all fans thought Bentley shouldn't have been picked and judging by his hapless effort they were right and the MC was wrong.

And I don't know about you but I thought we played Robbo one week too many and Garlett one week too many.

I reckon they have made 2 to 3 blunders this year, and believe me this is not the sort of claim I have ever made.

Not sure I would have dropped Scotland either BTW.

_________________
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Sorry, I don't really understand the protected species label on guys like Cloke, Wiggins and Russell....anyone for that matter. Without understanding his role and instructions, how can we judge his place in the team? Up until last season he was asked to play out of position in the ruck, this season he's had a few ok games and a few poorer games playing as a forward.

You say yourself the day will come when someone will replace him, so obviously you don't think its arrived yet.

Don't forget, there were people who wanted Paul Bower dropped a few weeks ago. They've gone suddenly quiet

_________________
"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

Freo will be without Palmer, Headland and Crowley.

Hopefully they will be "flat" after the Western Derby last weekend.

_________________
There is no footy god

Crowley out is a bonus, that's one less bloke constantly hanging onto Judd, Stevens or Murphy.

_________________
"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Peake is a danger - very quick , loves to run and bounce and can kick goals

Johnson i think will drop back infront of Fev and look to setup across halfback

Hill - Was impressive with run , carry and dash against the Eagles

Schammer and Haselby are playing pretty well in the middle

Pav - Well he kills us all the time and i wouldnt be suprised if he started head to head on Judd as Pav made a killing running off Judd in the Bunbury Match

We can not under estimate this team - They arent brilliant but they have some weapons

If we bring our A game we should win comfortably but we can not afford to be arrogant and take the Dockers lightly

I think their run,carry and pace will be their biggest threat - similar to the Bombers in a way

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

If any of the TCers who are going want to catch up for some pre-drinks or something shoot me a pm. Really looking forward to my first interstate game

Going by Docs training report there's quite a few sore boys following Saturdays battle.

Maybe quite a few changes needed to put a fresh and lively team out on the park...

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

Bring in Physco, Hammo and Browne/Anderson

Out goes: Cloke, Bentley and Simmo (may need a rest with corky)

Hammo can take on the giant and share the load with O'Hailpin and play Krooze up forward. All 3 are more mobile than Cloke so thats enough for me

I think we may need a more running side against Freo. Anderson/Browne and Physco could bring that to the table.

Must say I agree with Melvey for once ......................

Got "slammed" for saying to rest some players (but if you look at who I ended up saying should go out only Simmo was really due to "resting" him ...........) but I think there should be a no-risk policy for this game, esp considering the travel and the game against Collingwood the next week (even thought there is a 8 day break ................)

"Rest" Simpson if there is ANY doubt over his Corky (the fact he didn't train today would say there prob is at least a little doubt there). Grigg didn't play in the Ants so shouldn't/wont be in this week. Hadley/Anderson should be in the side IMO depending on which is desided to be more match-fit closer to the game (Anderson if there are ANY question marks over Hadley)

The Dockers are a younger/less rough and tumble side than the Hawks, so Bentley's "toughness" won't be needed (if he actually has any anyway .............). That said Robinson has shown plenty of toughness/grit anyway ....................

I have said before I wan't to see Hammer in the side for Cloke, and have Setanta play the CHF/backup ruck role Cloke does at times. There are some times when I am "happy" (not really, don't want him to do a Josh Fraser, but he will be played there ATM because he is our best option) to see Kreuzer ruck out most of the game (ala against the "ruck" devisions of the Tigers or Hawks ATM) but against Sandilands, NO WAY. Have Hammer take the honours, with Setanta to play back up, and have Kreuzer ruck in the forward line. Kreuzer as the 3rd tall option this week for me (too small to be a CHF option, and don't want to see him crash and bash for the same reason I don't want him rucking this week. Let the mad irishman do it this week, thats what he is made to do. CRASH AND BASH)

Call it a lack of confidence or what ever but i've made the Pav my dream team captain for this week no that Gazza jnr is out.

Their recruiters not allowed in Victoria Tommi?


And I almost hope Bentley stays in so I can watch this place go into meltdown

_________________