No way. Whether it's touch or fitness, he needs another week or 2.

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Gaga and The Hoff party hard in London

..didn't see the ressies game, but going by the reviews it seems that he needs another go in the ressies [possibly another after that?].. ..agreed, it's not his match fitness, but sounds more to be match intensity that he needs time to catch up on, as well as skills in a real match situation.. ..also, going by report he's not confident in his shoulder, another game or two in the ressies will give him belief and faith in his shoulder once more..

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

Good to see Andy get through unscathed. The smart thing to do would be to play him in the VFL again rather than rush him back, lets not put too much pressure on the guy.....

Footy, and sports in general, is 90% between the ears so it wil take a little bit of time to get him back to his instinctive best. Until then he will have his mind elsewhere and be reactive, and you can't play reactive footy in the one's.

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Excellent post!

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

x2

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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'.

So he'll just sharpen his skills against the Bendigo Bombers?

We're 6 weeks away from a finals tilt - and we're missing not only Jarrad Waite, but the third-man-up/run-and-carry role that he was playing off half back. Walker is the man to fill that role, but he hasn't played a real game in how long now?

We play three Friday night games in a row with an 8-day break after the third against Geelong (our last game on the MCG until September). Play one less forward this week and bring Walker back in with the aim to carry him through 50-60% game time with no particular role - just go out and get a kick.

We can carry him now and next week against the Kangas, but not against Geelong or thereafter. He would need to be in the role and settled by then which will give him Port, Melbourne and a likely final preview against Adelaide in the run home. I doubt we would want to show all our cards to the Crows in rd 22 - especially if we look like travelling to AAMI the following week.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Bring him back against the Kangas ... nuff said

quote]

You might be able to carry players in the lower leagues, but in the AFL one player can make all the difference. This Friday nights game is a 50/50 game and a perfect example.

I say bring him back up into the ones after Geelong, if form warrants selection.

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

..Thorny's been playing the 3rd man up role to perfection i reckon, he just needs someone to dish it off to nearby, or players upfield should burst into space when they see Thorny moving to intercept.. ..i think we need to give Walks another week in the ressies, and when he comes back in the side.. ..i'd be more inclined to use him up front, give him a license to create and pressure..

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

Can't wait to see him back. id prefer to play him in defence and let him get used to the pace for a bit. Just run one way and get back to the game in a position he's been a proven success.

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

Sounds like he needs another week in the two's to me. There's plenty of footy left in this season.

We will be a better team with him in but I want him coming into the one's fully confident and match fit.

If you're a team trying to make the finals you can't be carrying anyone.

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I support the Navy Blues whatever happens!

I think Walks will lack the versatility of old, at least in the remainder of this year, maybe beyond.

I'm guessing that Walks is going to continue to struggle to lift his arms above his head this year. This would preclude him from playing "third man up" in the backline, and would force him to take a primarily running role off half/back as an Armfield upgrade, playing on the smaller non-marking forwards. That would be the best fit given his assumed marking and spoiling limitations.

What I also assume would be the psychological effects on his confidence in playing his normal hard-nosed contested brand would also keep him out of the midfield.

He could also help give the forward line an attacking aggressive edge again playing "small" like he did a few times late last year.

Whenever he returns, I'm comfortable with the idea that Walks won't be the panacea this year. If he can take and hold his place in the side on merit and get past the demons that he'll surely have, that's good enough for me.

A pre-season getting used to his "new" shoulder should set him up for a long run of uninterrupted stardom