I like your thinking here about Bannister and Watson. It may be worth a shot. Tag Watson out of business. That would be nice to see and Bannister is one of the better/more annoying taggers I have seen.


Whatever happens in the weeks leading up to the Essendon* game- I would like to see less pressure on Fev on the forward line. I think his pea-sized brain can't handle the pressure right now, so have an option b, c, d.


option b - get him to focus on defensive pressure not goals. 2 good defensive acts a quarter and he has done his job.

option c - give him 5 minute breaks on the bench to refresh when he gets the humps, put Kreuzer, Sentanta or Thornton in there instead for these breaks. (don't have fev on the backline- bench is better if needed.)

option d- have speedier players - Simpson, Betts as leading players...Fev as decoy etc etc.

mix it up. confuse the hell out of the opposition.

But just for reference, Carrots had played half an intra-club prior to the injury. Grigg's got some level of match fitness.

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

This is my first post on TC. Long have I resisted actually joining Talking Carlton as I knew that once I did, all my free time would disappear into a blue electronic world. I remember reading avidly on trade week trying to see what would happen, looking at team sheets and getting insights into the choice of players. I remember refreshing every 3.4 seconds during Judd week, getting no work done, and being so thankful for the gold plated information from those in the know. I remember marvelling at that time at the seemingly magical powers of ‘Opposite Man’ and laughing my arse off at the jokes and songs after we got Judd.

However, now that I’ve moved back to Australia (Perth), I can no longer resist the call of the blue forum. So, even though I live in Perth and don’t get to see the games, am not privy to insider info or insights, here are my few cents.

Out:
Russell
Wiggins (inj.)
Waite (inj.)
Hadley

In:
Bannister
Anderson/Grigg
Setanta
Scotland

Banno: Like the way he goes about it, and he was going well before his injury last year. I think having him in the middle will be important.
Grigg: is in our best 22, but has match fitness queries.
Ando: Never seen him play, but sounds good in the Bullants reviews. (Thanks to all for those match reports – always informative reading).
Fisher: If the MC thinks he really might be part of the future, play him for sure. Either Banno doesn’t get a run or Fisher comes in for Yarran. (if the MC thinks he should develop in the twos..)

Thornton: Don’t want to see him dropped. I would like to see how he’d go on the HFF or FP for a few weeks.
Browne: Definitely worth persisting with.
Army: Wouldn’t drop him either as he does try to break the lines and take it on. Let him get some games at AFL level. I liked him back at Swan Districts in the WAFL and think he’s worth a good run.

As for the outs: Shattered about Waite. I like Russell but would like to see him regain form before coming back. Hadley isn’t going well and would rather see Bannister in the middle, providing blocks and a bigger body for what will probably be a very physical contest.

I’m looking forward to seeing how well Kreuzer does against Cox this week, and showing all how much he has improved. Hope he does spend time up forward when Hampson is rucking though. Expecting to see a good match with Selwood and Kerr up against Judd and Murphy (or maybe even Joseph). Hopefully Murphy has the same level of aggression as he did in the Weagles match last year. Had to love him going toe-to-toe to help Juddy.

Thanks to all for a great forum. I’m looking forward to being able to cheer, scream, whimper, vent (and laugh at Collingwood) with everyone else.

_________________
I would like to thank Collingwood for helping me keep faith in my old man. He always told me that 'People are thick'.

I think the last three or so pages of this thread just display a large percentage of the reason why we are struggling. It reminds me of that old Devo song.

_________________
Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

I am still shattered about the Waite injury. I was so excited he was given a free reign by Ratts to move up and down the ground as needed. In other words Ratts trusted Waite's judgement and ability.

We've lost that now, and must move forward and continue to aim for finals.

Adversity will create opportunity. I'm hoping that with Waite out and Ratten declaring Setanta as the natural replacement due to his consistent form will give us a good idea about Setanta's value to the team...hopefully in a position.

In the Ants he has done really well around the ground and in boundary throw ins, but has been found wanting in the centre bounces.

So I'm thinking WCE and their tall forward Lynch. Is Jamo, Bower or tHornton the right match up for this gorilla? I'd give them a go, but I think they are too short and light for him. I do not want to play Lynch into form, which we have a knack of allowing. So, I thought Setanta is the only other player big enough to nullify him and maybe Thornton can go forward.

The problem I see with that is that Thornton has been playing Waite's role when Waite was further up the ground. I think he's the chosen one for this role because experience has given him the ability to read the game better than Jamo and Bower. Just a guess.

Jamo and Bower are great man on man with the right match up, and sure Bower has shown great judgement and effectiveness in leaving his man to be the third man up in recent weeks.

I like Bower on Kennedy as that duel has been going on since their TAC days and Bower has had the better of him. Both players have shown great improvement this year.

There's also the damaging and good marking Hunter who is in line for a comeback from a shoulder injury this week and I guess he's likely to play forward too.


I'm thinking:

B: Armfield Setanta Jamison
HB: Anderson Bower Scotland

Other options in the backliine are talls Austin, Thornton and smalls Browne and Joseph.

There's always Bannister and Grigg to consider as inclusions.

No one will be as good as Waite, but I believe we have the cattle in 2009 to cover for him.

We must play a more attacking game.

I would like to see Joseph take on Kerr with a more offensive mindset to make Kerr pay for his lapses of defensive awareness.

I'll hazard a guess that experienced players Fletcher and (forget name) will return to their midfield, but I honestly think if Kreuzer and Hammer nullify Cox's influence, then I'd go head to head in the midfield.

I'm expecting a 4 quarter effort and a huge improvement and commitment to atone from last week's effort from Judd Gibbs Murphy (and if selected) Hadley in the middle.

I like the idea of having bigger bodies in the midfield contest and so whilst Carrazzo is out injured, Scotland is a very good player in the middle with his aggression at the ball.

Please plear Ratts pick players in form. No passengers.

Go Blues.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Welcome aboard Koro !!

you are right , life as you knew it is now over

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

I don't know what the edited 'profanity' was that you seemingly threw at me but if that kind of thing makes you feel better, good luck to you.

You talk about players strengths and weaknesses and roles. Yes the 4 players i mentioned have certain strengths but they also have weaknesses that all opposition teams would know of and have no problem exploiting.
I'm not sure that their strengths can improve enough to counter their weaknesses, thus resulting in not enough improvement in their overall contribution to the team to lift us to the top of the ladder.

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

GO BLUES !!

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Assuming Jamison is fit and can play full back...

For me, it's about finding a centre half forward. One that plays there every week. That can be our permanent second key tall option going forward. I think Ratten was starting to lean towards using Waite there more permanently, and pinch hitting down back when needed (which was a change from playing back and pinch hitting forward), but we've lost him now.

So the question is who? I'd like to see them give Hartlett a go at CHF for 4 or 5 weeks, but they've been playing him back in the 2s, so maybe that's not their thinking. I think Fisher is only an option as THIRD tall, and even then, there are question marks.

For me then, it's a case of cometh the hour, cometh the man. It's time to play Kreuzer as a permanent CHF (which I think is where he will end up anyway), with a license to do a fair bit of roaming. Hampson is first ruck, with Setanta as buck up ruck. Tall in the back are Jamison, Thornton, Bower and Austin. I think Austin shows promise.

Forward line is Fevola and Kreuzer, and maybe Fish gets a chance as the third tall. If he doesn't perform, it's game over for him. Smalls are Betts, Houlihan and Robinson, with all three told their main key performance indicator is tackles. Judd and Murphy will also rotate through there.

Grigg comes into the midfield, probably at the expense of Hadley, who while good close in, can sometimes get burned for pace. Gibbs, Murphy and Grigg to be given the key in and under clearance responsibilities, to try and free up Judd to play a bit more outside (probably about 35% inside, 65$ outside balance). Judd, Scotland and Stevens become the key long-kick-inside 50 players. Stevens, Thornton and Bower, who all have an attacking capability, told to take the game on from half back, in the Waite mould.

So...

In: Scotland, Grigg, Fisher, Houlihan, O'hAilpin
OUt: Waite (inj), Wiggins (inj), Yarran, Russell (sorry, I have been a fan, but he just turns it over too much), probably Hadley

_________________
Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Most players have weaknesses.
But most players have strengths.
I dont get why players need to be played to their weaknesses and not their strengths?

Theyre not all going to chase and tackle like demons...or run like the wind.... but they do have other attributes...

Then you can begin to strengthen their weaknesses over time to make them more rounded footballers.

Milne was the weakest laziest @#$%&! in AFL footballer.. and somewhere i hear he is/was the most effective forward defensively ....
Jones cant kick.. Gilbert is that one sided it isnt funny....
Gwilt???Joke!!!


But they believe in what theyre doing and its giving them extra confidence to play and do whatever it takes to win...

Believe in the plan and alot of other things come good.. including intensity...

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

It's at Etihad. We've not been beaten there this year. It suits our style of play. Lock in the 4 points.

I'd suggest that a big guys Cloke and Fisher have an obvious pace deficiency to apply the type of forward pressure needed against the top 4 teams.

How in the hell do we make them faster?

We don't because we can't.

In the modern game, slow players are a liability.

I think they all should tackle like demons when their opponent is near them, and if they are not, then that's one weakness we can change for the better.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

budzy, there was no profanity and i cant see where my post has been edited. Not sure what you're talking about in that case but that's not my style.

Yes they have weaknesses but in a team of 22 players you can work out strategies to minimise those weaknesses in actual play. I loved the Wiggins mark to Houlihan goal in the Dogs game(?) as it utilised two strengths of two players who otherwise have weaknesses - any way if you need to play a Houlihan forward because your delivery aint there you need to have Robinson, betts, Yarran and maybe even Russell as his defensive HFF role to provide the other pressure. If you play Bannister you have to make sure you do the old 1-2 with him as him holding the ball is bound to happen. Playing Fisher as a deep marking forward is one thing but you'd want to have a few defensive forwards around him to limit the damage.

My point is just that if they are on the list and the season is alive, we should be working up ways to try and use them to best advantage.

because he has returned to Perth?

You know Ziggy, it just may be too obvious for Ratts and the MC.

With reasonable back-ups in Hammer and Carlos (for the time being), Jacobs and Warnock in the wings, surely there is some way they can work this!

They actually kick it too him as well - the playing group know he's a freak. He's ours, use him!

we have a ferris wheel now

what more could anyone want !!

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Go back to your original post on pg10 and tell me I'm not hallucinating.



Accentuating strengths and minimising weaknesses is coaching basics 101. No probs with that.

I just don't think that some weaknesses can be hidden to well in modern footy.

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

calm down guys it was a mild profanity that some found offensive - wasnt personal and wasnt directed at anyone in particular

back on topic

GO BLUES

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

If only we had a decent coach who had a plan for Lance ..knew we should've kept him


Look, it's every coaches job to get the best out of their players but some players can offer only so much, no matter what the game style or role their given.

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

Ok, which players do you believe are playing to the best of their capability?

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.