Why should Stevens get picked if he is not training as hard as someone like Bentley? Sure Stevens at his best is a better player then a lot of the team but its not fair to someone like Bentley who probably had been training a lot harder and showing a lot more commitment than Stevo.

Remember Camporealie in his last year or two? He was a sook but they kept playing him and his bad attitude spread through the team on gameday. I would rather play barney and friends ahead of Stevens if they are the ones putting in the effort.

In regards to Garlett, his defensive pressure has not been anywhere near what it should be for a guy who gets 5 or 6 touches a game. He needed to get involved in the play a lot more.

Joseph to play on Shaw. Please.

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Koperek.

Agree. Garlett is easily the fastest and freakiest bloke we've had for ages. Just needs to mature and add say another 5-6kg of muscle (he'll never be big). There is definitely a spot for him in our 17th premiership side.

He's a ripper.

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

Getting carried away methinks. Pretty talented kid, but he is not really quick and his defensive pressure is handy nuisance value at the moment. One of many players this year that have a long way to go before being a quality AFL player. He'll be twenty in a couple of weeks, by the way.

I'm all for garlett in the future, he could be something. Right now, however, hes clsoe to inneffectual. He tried to lay a tackle on Newman (I think) last week, and was don't argued - with contempt.

He needs bulk to be truly effective in what he's doing.

Armfield deserves to be dropped. Until he gets his skills right he shouldn't be playing.

I'm just happy we brought in a KPP and two blokes who can use the pill.

this might sound stupid to some but I would have kept Armfield in the team this week and played him in the forward line ... Sydney like to run the ball out of defence and we are going to need players that can create the pressure so they kick the ball instead and create turnovers, where by the way, many games our won nowadays.

Not stupid at all. I don't rate Army all that highly, but the logic is ok.

From what i've heard Stevens may not be back anytime soon.

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"I will rejoice in their anguish, delight in their failure and revel in our success"

We are Carlton, @#$%&! the rest !!!!!!

Hartlett would be unlucky to lose his spot based on last weeks effort - can see him come in for Jamo

Wouldn't be surprised to see cloke in for the Hamster - i understood he'd be rested after coping a number of beltings last week (and we cant afford to go solo with Kruez)

All in all, I'm quite happy with the ins and outs, considering Carlos is still not available. There are probably another 3-4 players that some people would like to see out, but let’s face reality you can't simply drop 6-7 players unless there are some really exceptional circumstances.

Bower in, Harts out - Adds stability. No brainer if Bower is fit, a defender had to make way and to be honest Austin will probably be back in the side sooner than Hartlett (more upside).

Yarran in, Garlett out - Good time to give Yarran a go, one developing small forward for another. I would expect Yarran gets a couple of games.

Scotland in, Armfield out - Not really similar players, but assuming Scotland has earnt a call up and the fact that Armfield hasn't really been that great of late... this again adds stability in what is a very young team.

All in all I would say that this is a more settled line up and to be honest I just can't see the upside of bringing Stevens straight back in if his form is not warranting it. If Walker comes good any time soon, I can only see it becoming even harder for Stevo to squeeze back in for the short term. In the meantime, perhaps there is more to be gained by pursuing with (some much maligned) guys like Johnson, Bentley, Anderson to see what they can offer.

I would remain hopeful that Stevo really finds some form and hunger in time for the business end of the season... at his best there is no doubt he is our best 22, but at the moment he is a liability more than anything else.

Fisher probably the lucky one, but you would think he would have to make way for Carlos eventually.

Pumped for this week!!

Phil Krakoer didn't look quick either but he turned out OK even though he stayed skinny. Don't forget Garlett backed himself last week and ran away from a Freo player even though he bounced the footy once. Once Garlett gets used to the fact he is allowed to have a ping, he'll play every week. His chasing is good and when he gets it he is getting better. He's too inclined to look for someone even when he, himself is in range. Next year he'll be twenty! Almost time to superannuate him. IMO he is the player most likely to turn into a nightmare for other coaches.

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

That just about sums up this week's selections in a nutshell.

I am a BIG Armfield fan. It is really his pace that does it for me. I do believe we don't have much choice for pace and that's why he's been in, despite his inability to steady before he kicks. He's a good one to pick for pace against the Rioli types, but I'd agree it is time to settle him down and focus on his disposal before any recall for finals takes place...especially against the slower Swans. Good timing, and I think he'll struggle once Walker's genuine pace is reintroduced into the first 22.

Against the Swans, we seem to still have a pace advantage for the fast Dome surface. I hope we play our game rather than focus on theirs:

Who is going to tag Judd? Murphy? Gibbs? Fevola? Simmo?

I look forward to another huge game for Russell. His improvement, gut running, strength, stamina and durability are important ingredients to add to our midfield....something I have to say Stevens doesn't...but he is being encouraged to do so if he wants to play finals for the Blues. Great tactic on Stevens.

My only question mark is over Fisher and our depth for KP forward roles with the injury to Setanta, Waite and Walker. There's no doubt imo that Fisher is not the KP you'd want in your finals teams, but given injury, he's all we've got, so there is a depth issue there. I guess the only way we can find out if Austin is a KP forward is playing him there, so I think that is a wasted opportunity, but then again we've got a game to win too.

Go Blues....by 40 points.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I have a feeling that Stevens has come back to training with his skin fold tests coming back badly. And he needs to work extremely hard to get them back to where they are meant to be.

I agree that Bentley is a hack, and I don't see a future with him, but I do hope he surprises me. Johnson doesn't do much either, so I would want Stevens back anyday over those guys

Im really jacked off that Yarran was selected. Who does he think he is? its not like he's getting 40 touches in the Bullants every week, kicking miracle goals, waltzing and pirouetting out of packs, blind turning, and baulking his way to the firsts. Not to mention his lack of tackles, pack marking and failure to get a rising star nomination. Crikey what a hack not like that nice boy Rich at the Lions.

As a Blues supporters for 3 decades I've always been proud of how our supporters by and large dont turn on the players in the same way Richmond and other clubs do but fair dinkum, the lack of success has had a some very negative effect on some Blues supporters.

Leave the boy alone and support him when he plays.

You only had to hear Bradley on the radio last week to know that the coaching staff have a major issue with Steven's weight. Pretty hard to fathom how a professional athlete can ever get overweight though

That it is!

Up the mighty Bluebaggers!

Yep ..the end may be nigh

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There's so much I could say...

Can anyone confirm that Jamo did have his appendix out or this a rumour. If trur surely he will not play.

..C.Johnson needs to be played as named, off a wing.. ..he can drift back to help out the HalfBack line but he shouldn't be manning a half forward.. ..i reckon he'll be better for us off the wing..

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

..hey, quick question.. ..with Stevo out for close of half the season now [early suspensions, dropped form].. ..who's been our VC on matchday..??.. ..has it been the same player, or different..?.. ..or with Stevo out haven't we bothered with appointing a matchday VC..??..

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