Thrilled with these decisions. They couldn't have got it more right.

Anyone defending Houlihan needs to get a reality check. The guy has been a soft, slow coaster for years, who just gets by on a bit of top end talent. But now the list is full of depth and kids with talent pushing up (who need games into them), it is time to make these sorts of changes. Players shouldn't feel as though they have a birth right to be in the seniors week in week out. Anyone see Open Mike with Harley last night? Harley talked about a turning point in the recent Geelong history when players were being dropped, how it sent a message nobody is guaranteed a spot as the team starts to seriously improve and move forwards. Bottom line is Houlihan had the fumbles early last week and I reckon (and looks like the MC agree) it was because he sheeted himself with the tough likes of Hodge and Sewell nearby.

Bentley is a no brainer. His game last week would be up there with the worst debuts from an experienced player.

Setanta maybe a bit unlucky given he was OK against the Dogs, but I reckon Cloke (rightly or wrongly) has been given the same sort of we'll-persist-with-him pass that Russell has been given, and therefore it was always going to be Santy who got dropped (ahead of Cloke). Mind you, if Cloke doesn't find some form soon, surely the MC must lose patience with him and drop him, and like most Blues fans I too believe he is not the long term future. Once Warnock and Hampson get going, Cloke will be out the back door. Maybe they can leave him in Gold Coast this weekend.

Austin is a bit of a no brainer too. How many good games and promise can a lad show before he gets another go at senior level. KPP who did so well both back and forward last week, just has to get his chance. And it makes even more sense when you consider our backline is still conceding goals most weeks and the forwardline is lacking another option - Aussie gives us options in both regards. At the end of the day he looms as one our best young KPP prospects, so he had to come into the side at some point or another. Some people might not like this, but the reality is he has more natural nous and skill than Setanta.

The Yarran one is interesting. Hasn't played consecutive gun games at VFL level, but there's also a need to make sure you don't delay his debut too long (I'm thinking about the lad's mindset here - having seen the rookie pick Garlett get his go earlier, and seen so many of his rival top ten draftees do well at other clubs, at some point you need to give him his taste).

Also Hammer is a no brainer. Has dominated hit outs the past few weeks, GC is his home turf, and the still very young Kruezer has worked tirelessly in ruck and needs some proper assistance in ruck (not a Cloke or Santy type).

IMO The MC have set a minimum baseline for performances: Hard at the ball and Hard at the contest! If we're going to be any sort of serious threat for the flag in the coming years this is the minimum standard, the benchmark, that MUST be expected of every player across the board.

If you can't do that then don't expect to get regular senior games... it doesnt matter what other skills you bring to the table. It's the reason why players with average skills but are hard at it, like Wiggins, are still getting games. I reckon it's a good message to our whole playing group.

If you meet these minimum requirements you stay in the side. If you're not in the side, then you must meet these benchmarks as a prerequisite, as well as bring other skills to the mix, and ONLY THEN will you start to get picked ahead of guys like Wiggins and Russell. You only need to have a look at someone like Fisher.. he is a prime example where these standards have already been applied.

The Hawks match was a HUGE test to see who can stand up in a high intensity contest. This is just the sort of game that shows which players can be relied upon when we play Finals Footy. As one of our senior players Houla got a Big Fail from me in this match. Every time he was in a contest I just knew hawthorn would end up with the ball. Not good enough!! These are the sort of plays we need to weed out of the side if we're going to improve to become serious contenders. No more passengers! I hope the omission will spur Houla on to improve himself.

BEST POST EVER !!!!!!

Totally spot on in every regard.

This is the new benchmark, and this is why the Russells keep getting a game.

And this is why Yarran finally gets a crack, cause he laid 10 tackles in his last VFL game.

And this is why Houlihan was dropped, because he was poor last week. But some would argue he should get a reprieve. But WHY I ask? Nobody is above the law now at this club, esp those who are NOT among our top 10 most valuable players (which Houlihan is NOT).

Hawks game was a TEST alright, without doubt. And some failed that test. Reckon club would have been disappointed an experienced player failed it (but at the same time they probably deep down wouldn't have been surprised).

Houlihan and Bentley failed because their skills welted under the pressure of an intense game where the ball was hot and the opposition were renowned for their hardness.

Any idiot could see that these two were not up to the demands required to match it against the best in September.

And some think Houlihan and September correlate with each other

BEST POST EVER !!!!!!

Totally spot on in every regard.

This is the new benchmark, and this is why the Russells keep getting a game.

And this is why Yarran finally gets a crack, cause he laid 10 tackles in his last VFL game.

And this is why Houlihan was dropped, because he was poor last week. But some would argue he should get a reprieve. But WHY I ask? Nobody is above the law now at this club, esp those who are NOT among our top 10 most valuable players (which Houlihan is NOT).

Hawks game was a TEST alright, without doubt. And some failed that test. Reckon club would have been disappointed an experienced player failed it (but at the same time they probably deep down wouldn't have been surprised).

Houlihan and Bentley failed because their skills welted under the pressure of an intense game where the ball was hot and the opposition were renowned for their hardness.

Any idiot could see that these two were not up to the demands required to match it against the best in September.

And some think Houlihan and September correlate with each other

Good post VB

I think you've missed the point re Houlihan though.

I'm all for dropping players out of form for many good reasons...the message it sends, gives them an opportunity to work on a weakness, to find form, they are taking up development time of kids (in a development year?), are not the future etc.

I thought we were playing for a Finals spot. Some of the selections made this year do not suggest this imo, and that of many other posters. I accept mistakes are made, but FFS I hope that the MC would improve in this area and show some consistency with selection policy which is condusive to earning a spot in the 8.

Personally, I want and believe we can earn a spot in the 4, which would give our kids at least 2 Finals games experience. I like our list. A lot.

This discussion isn't about Houla being dropped, it's about why Setanta and Houla were dropped ahead of out of form players such as Cloke and Wiggins, assuming form is the reason for their ommission. Cloke and Wigglers form over the last 3 weeks has been below par, in fact, their output was far less than Setanta and Houla over the last 2 weeks.

It's a point of discussion, not player bashing which you just did again suggesting Houlihan" "... has been a soft, slow coaster for years, who just gets by on a bit of top end talent. But now the list is full of depth and kids with talent pushing up (who need games into them)".

You're using your perception of Houla over the last 8 years and applying it to his 'actual' output in 2009. I think most posters would acknowledge that he has toughened up, is doing more 1%ers this year than ever before and his 131 disposals and 6 gaols 1 this year, playing as a rotating midfielder from the bench is not something you can just discount just like that.

Yes he is a "top end talent" and we shouldn't forget his value to this team in terms of class and experience. Those goals he's kicked are a bit better than either of Cloke's and Wiggler's goals in 2009 and are an essential ingredient if we are going to develop different avenues to goal. Houla is a bona fide forward who is playing more of a midfield role than Cloke and Wiggler.

Sure drop him as it sends a message, but on the flip side, I believe it's the turn of Cloke and Wiggins who should be under such scrutiny this week. What sort of a message is being delivered by retaining Cloke and Wiggins this week when their form doesn't warrant selection.

There are a lot of public forums debating this very issue and consensus is that Houla and Setanta are very unlucky to be dropped and Cloke and a couple of others, including Wiggins, are damn lucky the MC has turned a blind eye to their present form. I'm not alone with this 'gut' feel.

Oh for goodness sakes bondiblue and others who are heartbroken at Houlas ommission. Grab a tissue and control yourselves ffs! ..it's embarrassing seeing all the tears flowing here.

Cloke Wiggo and one or two are most definitely lucky to retain their spots IMO. But you can't make 6 or 7 changes in one week so I dare say a few would be on their last chance this week.

Good to see the MC setting standards on certain things and i like the fresh additions to the team this week.

We SHOULD win well IMO.