id be willing to board the eagles flight to melbourne with swine flu.

With Waite out I wouldnt mind seeing Austin have some game time at CHF and Setanta down back look ater the gorillas.
I also think Hartlett deserves another go and am not so sure Brad Fisher is offering what we need.
I'm keen to see the Betts, Yarran and Garlett trio back in action as well...I think Garlett allows Eddie to play up the ground and I just like the idea of the three indiginous boys running around the forward line doing some crumbing and they also chase and pressure. Brad Fisher is a fine mark but I dont think provides much defensive pressure and unless he plays very close to goal ie FF I dont think he is effective as a goalkicker.

With the pace of todays game I think Fishers role is limited....

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Come on guys, surely after a goal less first half, there needs to be more axe swingin', regardless of the fact the coach has taken some of the heat.

For me it'd be...

(OUTS in caps).

WAITE - Setanta
WIGGINS - Fisher (there's nobody else really, and Hartlett needs more time in VFL to truly build his confidence)
ARMFIELD - Anderson (Armfield's hands are shocking, and his kicking was exposed under pressure, so ta ta Mr Rugby)
HADLEY - Scotland (Hads is struggling, just doesn't get to enough contests/have enough impact)
RUSSELL - Grigg (Russell just makes too many errors, and I think as much as we all want to persevere with him because he does some nice things, I think nobody except the true guns should be bullet proof from the VFL)

Which of these groups of 4 would you prefer this Friday night...

Wiggins, Armfield, Hadley & Russell

OR

Anderson, Scotland, Grigg & Fisher

?

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

Like it VB

Hopefully line up like this:

B: Browne Jamison Bower
HB: Anderson Austin Grigg
C: Stevens Scotland Simpson
HF: Yarran Thornton Gibbs
F: Betts Kruezer Fevola
Foll: Hampson Judd Murphy
Int: Joseph Robinson Setanta Fisher
Emerg: Garlett Ellard Hartlett

Scotland to drop back as extra man in defence
Gibbs into midfield
Joseph & Robbo as part of midfield rotation
Hammer to do most of ruck with Setanta
Kruezer to stay at FF
Thornton at CHF
Fevola to lead from square.

_________________
#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Wow...it seems we all have a different idea about who should play!
I can't agree with some of the names there...and i believe there is a world of diff between Armfield and Russell..and they shouldn't be thrown in together. I believe Armfield is showing plenty of guts,grit and determination..and only just starting.He is entitled to a few clangers.
Of course Houli should be back..he is not 'old team'..he is only beginning to shine with a great mid field.
He hung in with tons of bgraders,and that is not his fault.
I also think Nick Stevens should be cut some slack,as he is capable of brilliance when the chips are down..and i think we all forgot about his neck.
and.....what about he of the perfect physique...Cameron Cloke?
He should be burning to play by now.
Grigg will be good.
Little Garlett is just toooo little yet.

_________________
That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Sounds like Setanta will play, but surely we wouldn't select Fisher as well?

Bringing in Wiggins for Scotland helped kill the run we had the week before, the run we needed. Get him out of there and bring back Scotland.

Bring in one tall for Jarrad, and address our run by bringing in players who will do what they are asked to do and/or execute.

Get out Russell, get out Hadley, get out Armfield (I've revised my position there). Come in Anderson (minds a man), Houlihan (executes) and Grigg (does both).

Summary:

OUT: Waite (inj), Wiggins, Russell, Hadley, Armfield (all omitted)
IN: Setanta, Scotland, Anderson, Houlihan, Grigg

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Doubt Army will be dropped ... if Ratts is talking about taking the game on more from defence, the last thing he'd want to do is drop Army. He's played some ripper games this year and wasn't alone in having shocker this week.

Some reason why Grigg wouldn't come back after 29 disposals in the Bullies? Straight back.

_________________
"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".

No change.

Waite to sit on the bench as 22nd man and provide moral support.

_________________
"I had to eat"

I like Fish.. I do .. but we've been down the fish path, and the Wiggo path, and the Houla path, and the banno path, etc, etc, ..and it hasn't worked for a number of years...

Can we do something different?? ....pleeeeaaaase?????

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

WE've got one relegated to playing in the Ants who more than fits that description. Seems we don't need that type of player.

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

Whilst convenient to write people off, that sort of thinking just wont get us anywhere at this stage in this season. We have 44 or so players to pick from, and unlike a few years ago we actually have a list where they all show something (as distinct from gap fillers).

In a team selection, like any corporate or high performance sports team, we have to be thinking about strengths and weaknesses and team roles. It serves no purpose to put a line through someone at this stage. For all of our negativity now those that remain at least have some strengths at this level:

- Wiggins: hands, lead-up marking ability
- Houlihan: kicking skills
- Bannister: all round coverage of opponents, particularly of mid to taller midfielders

Sure we might put a line through players names if the season is over at say Round 16, and Wiggins, Houlihan, Bannister, Fisher may be usurped by the need to try younger players to reshape a list. At that stage make a call for sure, but right now, someone like Bannister could potentially fill the breach that Hadley's struggles (and AB's injuries) have left open ie strong body to cover from others. Yes he makes massive mistakes when he thinks he's in the clear but for where we are now, we need to focus on the team plan and roles for that plan. I for one think bannister could be a key to beating Essendon*, by taking out Watson and stopping that feeding through the old traditional centreman.

Id hate to think we would say no to someone in 2009 because of 2008 deficiencies. If Cloke can get 7 games in 2009 then Fisher can be given a couple to see what he can add,

Well put VB.
I agree with those changes.
Even though I'm not a Setanta fan he would be a good matchup for either Lynch or Kennedy as they are very much "blue collar" types. It is the skilled/smarter forwards Santy seems to struggle with.

_________________
There is no footy god

Yep, lucky he's been able to do the job on dumb footballers like Pavlich, Cloke, Browny and Ottens.

Carrots had 41 touches his first game back and left in Ants.

Love Grigga, would be huge if he came back, but the guy hasn't played much footy lately. Still , could he give us anything less than Hadley, JR and Wiggo lately?

On reflection, PLEASE bring him back!!

in: Scottland and O'Hailpin

out: Waite and Yarran

i thought Thornton looked good up forward. T-bird and O'Hailpin can play either end of the ground

Scottlands experience and drive off half back is a must. Yarran doesn't desreve his spot in the side, we needs to work much harder

I wonder if Melvey knows about Fisher coming into the side yet...

I completely agree. I think a lot of people here merely follow the current trend of who's hot and who's not according to what others are saying.
So, why has everyone become so anti Houlihan all of a sudden? As I recall a lot of people were surprised at Houlihan's omission in the first place? Although he hasn't done anything spectacular in the Bullants to warrant a selection this week.. I think this season he has been a much better overall contributor then some other players currently in the team.

Also, Fisher's position in the team last season was the lead up role that Wiggins has been doing this season. Although it can be argued whether this role suits him or not, I think the real question is whether or not he can undertake this particular task according to the team structure better than Wiggins. Earlier in the season Wiggins was doing this particularly well and deserved his spot.. now his not, so why not give fish a go?

sad. just so sad

Thank God I'm not the only one that thinks Yarran isn't up to the standard!