With Bower coming along nicely, is it realistic to think we could play Waite more as a permanent forward or wingman, as opposed to defence? I think this was beginning to happen this year, but with a fit Warnock as well we could place Waitey and the Kreuz man up forward for longer periods.

At the moment I am not bothered we go to Fev as much as we do, I mean he presents so well, if we can get him one out, in a good position I think go to him every time, considering how good he is in relation to the rest of our forward line targets. He is a strength we have which worries other sides, and after the Adelaide debacle I think Ratts has realised we shouldn't be worried about using him in a traditional full forward role and being bagged as being 'one dimensional'.

By the same logic we should be concerned Juddy wins so much of our clearances and instruct him to stay out of the centre square and ball up situations.

We seem to have the tall back situation under control.

Jamo FB
Thornton 3rd tall / 3rd man up / playmaker
Austin 3rd tall / CHB / CHF
Bower CHB
Hartlett backup CHB or CHF

With Thornton able to play as the "loosie", Waite can go forward no problem. Depends on his recovery whether he's capable of taking a key forward slot, but he'll really be a versatile forward rather than a true CHF.

Then there's the much-fantasized freeing up of Kreuz with Warnock's return. This is logical but highly theoretical - Kreuz might become a gun forward, Warnock might come up as a quality ruck. The huge plus for this season is Hammer's emergence allows us to "dream the dream"

In our best "theory" team, Setanta and Fisher come out for Warnock and Waite, while Walks will take one of 1/2 dozen mid-sizers' spots. Austin probably overtakes Setanta as the 1st tall reserve, with his ability to slot in forward and back.

As for recruiting, despite us looking like having options, we're short of PURE forwards. Naturals. Kreuz, Waite, Austin have some forward ability, but a Le Cras, M Morton, Ebert, Mckinley, Porpoise small marking forward would be perfect. T Walker is a natural, J Anthony has surprised everyone, but he's got the forward's instincts.

Walks might become that medium forward for us, but from our first 6 picks I'd draft 3 goalkickers and 3 zipzipzippy line-breakers. That'll flower 'em

yarran will be that forward - just give him time.

And I wonder about Hammer at CHF - not yet, let him develop but he could be even more of a headache than Kruise.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

In theory, yes Waitey and Kreuz up forward with Fev is potent, BUT, unfortunately injuries can derail the perfect team setup.

The interesting one is Harts at the moment. If he can continue to build match fitness and gain more touch he could be the big bonus in terms of KP options at either end of the ground.

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There's so much I could say...

If 0 injuries we have options back and forward

what we lack though is a player like Medhurst/McKinley/LeCras/Walker who can take a grab but be creative at ground level - not including Yarran as he's not that type of player.

Those players aren't impossible to find and rarely spring up from a first round pick.

I would just stay the course and use the draft to try and fill our gaps - both current and future when Fevola's gone

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Love Cricket? Love me

What we need to finish top 4 next season:
Fevola: 80
Waite: 35
Walker: 35
Betts: 30
Kreuzer: 25
Judd, Houlihan, Gibbs, Stevens & Murph to get up around 15 - 20 Goals.

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Better late than Cerra

Hammer's pace on Saturday night in the 4th qtr was a sight to behold.

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“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.

why do you say Yarran is not that type of player - I think Yarran can be a leading forward, (thats how he played in the excerpts I've seen of his junior stuff) is excellent on the ground and strong in the air. In fact when watching him (before we chose him) Medhurst was exactly who came to mind.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

..not just that, but add in his huge leap and already big frame and he'd be unstoppable (especially with the chopping of the arms rule)..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

WE are lacking that player atm, but maybe he's on the list.

Walker?

And IMO Yarran will be better than Betts on the scoreboard after he turns 20yo.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I think Walker could do it. Unfettered, he will be free to fly for the big marks and we all know he has great pace nd is a pretty good kick.
IMO Yarran will never be a marking option like le Cras if his highligts reel is any guide. He's more of a space maker and pickpocket in the Eddie mould but a bit bigger. If he, Eddie and Garlett all come good we will have plenty of small forwards who can play a bit in the mids while The talls do their stuff as well.

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

Forget highlight reels...I've seen it with my own eyes - Chris Yarran is an excellent mark of the footy.

Yup

In that case I'll defer to your collective knowledge. I hope I get to see it with my eyes.
He'll have to get agame first of course


I seen it but i dooooon't believe it. (Vince Moretti)

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

Have a bit of a fish around on youtube for pre-2008 highlights.

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

Thanks, I'll try but I AM almost 59 and not that great at some of this so called 'white-man's magic'.
It's taken me about 4 years to work out how to past a url into this forum

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

[youtube]XbaJnH5R0Rw[/youtube]

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

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

Surely Real Madrid would offer $70mil for Fev? Rebuild Princes Park into a boutique stadium and charge every other club $0.10 less per head than ES or the MCG.

Any money left over we can buy Taylor Walker.

His only touch before getting injured in his first NAB cup game, Yazz took a very impressive mark on the lead near the boundary. There's no question in my mind that Chris has fantastic all round skills.