If you think I think the sun shines out of Ratts' backside you'd be mistaken.

Very few of our players are currently playing 'to the best of their capability'

No doubt Ratts needs to identify the potentially best cattle we've got and get them going with strategies they 'get'!

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There's so much I could say...

Ratts needs to pick a fight

His team need to see there leader have some grunt about him

With who?

John Worsfold, The Eagles coach?

I mean , that is who we are playing this week after all, and this is the Pre Match Discussion Thread

right ?

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Sooo...a face-off between the 2 coaches? Before they toss the coin? Godd for Friday night TV ratings!

Teague thinks that Grigg will spend another week playing for the Bullants:

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/season2008/ ... fault.aspx

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There is no footy god

Bring back Percy Jones.

Priddis, Jones & Cockie out. Stenglein, Hunter, Lecras, McNamara & Huey in according to Perth Ch 7 & 10 News tonight.

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We are on our way back...

out's; waite [hurts] wiggins and russell
in's; fisher [last chance] scotland and grigg
browne jamison thornton
bower austin scotland
simpson gibbs stevens
robinson kreuzer grigg
betts fevola yarran

hampson judd murphy

hadley fisher armfield joseph

gee we really lack a tall forward or two!
think austin has been fantastic so far.

Hi All, first post of any length as well. Maybe its the pain of the 1st half last week that's bringing out all of us lurkers.

I'd like to propose that we try soemthing a little different this week.

Out's; Waite, Wiggins, Russell and Hadley
In's; Anderson, Scotland, Grigg and Setanta

Browne Jamison Bower
Grigg Austin Scotland
Judd Joseph Stevens
Robinson Kreuzer Thorton
Betts Fevola Yarran

Hampson Gibbs Murphy

Setanta Armfield ,Simpson, Anderson

The outs Jarrad injured, Wiggo, Russell and hadley .... nuf said. They are all seriously out of form and could benefit from some time in the 2's.

Backline, I think that the backline has actually been pretty good this year, but we have been lacking a bit of run and carry from that line. Thorton has been whipped so many times during the dark years that he 2nd guesses himself and simply won't take the game on. I also think Austin has been great since coming in, we just need to get games into him, and he and jamo could be the start of a great spine. Hopefully the injuction of Grigg and Scoto will provide some much needed drive.

Midfield, everytime I see Juddy in the middle of a pack, with 3 guys hanging all over him, getting a handball out I see a victory for the opposition, we simply need to get the great man some space to work in .... So Juddy onto the wing. Now for one of my smokeys, I think young Joseph could make a sensational centre. He has the body, strong through the legs and hips with a good upper body, close to the ground and hard to tackle (very Deisel like). He has pretty good skills and the speed to hurt an opponent by linking up and to also get to more contests around the ground (which Hadley does not). More than that he has the drive, he just wants to win EVERY contest he is in and brings some hardness and tackling accountability to the midfield.

Forwards, I think its time to get Kruze to CHF, we are nt fooling anyone, the whole world knows that where he will end up, and we go to him more and more often when we are in trouble up forward anyway. So lets get him there and get games into hime learning how to play the role. Thorton .. as I said I think hesetation is now ingrained into his game when playing down back, BUT I think he could turn into a more than useful HFF. He's reasonably quick, reads the play well strong at the contest and a good mark with Kruze and Robbo he provides a Half forward line worth kicking to and also a hard line that will have some defensive accountability when we don't have the ball.


Anyway let em know what you think

bagger, welcome.

And i dont mind some of that.
I do agree with you on Joseph.
I cant believe all our fast players are taggers or have 3 blokes hanging off them
on Kreuzer he still has to ruck for a bit cos there is only Hampson too.
T Bird was a forward for Oakleigh.Reads the ball better than most but hates to work hard.

I think Simmo and Russell should be tried as wingbacks.
Simmo used to do this really well under Denis.
Under Ratts he has the stalling disease

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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.

Many people say OUT: Russell, how many actually believe it'll happen.

Makes me laugh to think of the hysteria that'll go on come tomorrow night if they actually DO drop Russell ... they'll be needing to close Lygon Street!!

Personally, I'll fall off my keyboard.

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

Each week Russ is the first name called....

Its just noone understands anything about the game and therefore the little minds cant fathom his worth.

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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.

Oh and for what its worth Army will be the 3rd name dropped i reckon.
Probably Bannister in..

I dont agree with it though...

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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.

if so i give up

Bigger Body - Ratts is putting development on hold going for wins the masses are getting restless again- It could be argued that if Fisher - Bannister Ohalpin Bentley Harlett-Houlihan and Scotland - Bentick if fit had all been playing we would have won a couple more games - But he has gone down the youth track and thats why Hampson - Yarren Garlett - Joseph - Brown - Robbo- Austin Jacobs Armfield and Hampson have all been played .

You could easily mount a case that the sides selected each week so far this year were not the best possible sides that could have been selected to win the game

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I understand exactly his worth Synners, and have been a supporter of Russell. He plays a hugely undervalued role. However, he is turning the ball over more and more, and it hurts us. In this age of zone football, turn the ball over and more times than not you are scored against. He won't make it until he gets that out of his game.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Shackles are off this week it is all out attack addording to the website

The Blues will welease Wussell

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I'd have to say that I don't want Army dropped. He gives it a go. It wasn't entirely his fault he had nothing to kick to last week.

I would be happy seeing Bannister in though for Russell.

And Bagger, i know what you mean re Judd. He is getting mauled out there (still gets the handball away) now he's not getting the blocks he was at the Weagles. I'd like to see someone else extracting the ball at least sometimes so we can see more of Judd on the burst.

Does show his class though.. the way he is still quality even though he has changed to more of an inside mid.

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

... no, strike that, welease Wobbo!!

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

Thanks for the Welcome Synbad

And points taken.

With Kruze I think it's a hard call, but I still think that he really needs to be given a run at CHF, so he can learn to play the position and we can learn to play with him in the position. I see Setants providing backup for Hammer until 206 gets back.

Regarding JR I am a Huge fan, but for some reason JR doesn't seem to realise himself how good he can be, and I worry that playing him in the form he is in at the moment can only be damaging. So I think that he needs a run in the 2's, put him on the ball, let him rack up the touches and regain some form and confidence .... then straight back in.