3 changes for mine

FF: C. Yarran - B. Fevola - S. O'hAilpin
HF: A. Walker - M. Kreuzer - H. Scotland
C: N. Stevens - B. Gibbs - K. Simpson
HB: J. Russell - P. Bower - R. Houlihan
FB: A. Joseph - B. Thornton - D. Armfield
RU: S. Hampson - M. Murphy - C. Judd
IC: R. Hadley - A. Carrazzo - M. Robinson - R. Warnock
EM: C. Cloke - S. Wiggins - S. Grigg

In: NEW: R. Warnock (Fremantle) - C. Yarran - S. Hampson
Out: E. Betts (rest/inj) - S. Wiggins (omit) - C. Cloke (omit)

However, both Wiggo and Cloke could easily keep their positions (especially Wiggo) if someone whose been playing injured were to miss.

I'm actually really enjoying watching Ratts grow as coach as the team grows with him. Any chance he has really been focusing on really understanding what he has rather than implementing the winning formula this season? I'm beginning to think that way. It's the little things such as the move of Jordan Russell to the backline against Stevie J that are pointing in that direction in my opinion.

Now that we really understand what we have going forward we can go out and get the pieces we need to take the next step after this year. Truly happy for the guys right now - they seem to be loving their footy which is something that wont happen if you don't get along with the coaches.

Any key players feeling sore or carrying a niggle should be rested.
I'd like to see Yarran and Browne in the side.

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There is no footy god

I'm inclined to agree that Eddie could do with a rest, and maybe even Kreuzer and AJ as well.

I think Ando is a better option down back than Wiggo.

Let's face it, Melbourne do not want to win this so we're a lock in.

Bring in Hammer Yarran Ando and Browney.

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There's so much I could say...

Don't mess around with a team that has done so well in the last 2 games . Coming back just before the finals after 6 weeks or so of very ordinary form .
Hammer in if he's fit , and Cloke out . That should be the only change unless there is anybody injured or very sore .
As for Warnock . . . . no way at this stage . A Carlton jumper should be earned , not given out because you're 206cm tall and are costing the club plenty of money .
At this stage RW has not done anything to justify senior selection . If Hammer isn't fit and we need another ruckman , it should be Jacobs . His form in the Ants has been good since he came back from injury .

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Get the facts first.
Then you can distort them at your leisure.

How do you know Melbourne doesn't want to win?

Ask any player that goes out onto the ground whether or not they want to win and they will say they WILL want to win. The coaches might not to win, but the players do.

To take this game lightly will be a huge mistake. I have seen a few Melbourne games on tv this year and they are better than their win/loss record indicates. This is an important game...keep the speed going.

No one has ever accused players of not wanting to win. Have a look at the interchange numbers and where some Melbourne players line up next week to see how they'll manage it.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Two things i want to see from this match...................

#1. Judd to get BOG
Hopefully giving him 3 points and keep him in the hunt for the Brownlow (of which i think he is a massive favourite)

#2. Give the ball to Fevola.
Keeping him in the hunt for the Coleman.


Suprisingly, we haven't played Melbourne since round 5 of last year But in that game, Fevola kicked 7 and Judd collected 26 possesions and 3 goals earning him 3 points for the Brownlow.

What a year it would be if Judd got the brownlow, Fevola won the coleman and we played finals for the first time since 2001?

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Here's all you need to know about this game:

After Melbourne beat Fremantle yesterday, Jim Stynes said to the media "we got three top 20 draft picks last year, and we'll get three top 20 draft picks this year..."

So there you have it. Their stricken president, their lifeblood, their saviour, has come and said they'll be getting 3 top 20 picks this year. And we all know that to get those, Melbourne need to win less than five game, and they're on four right now.

I wonder if the bookies will even give us $1.01.

There is no chance of us losing this game but I am worried. Not about losing but about losing form. They will be so crap, they will bring our intensity down, ala the Richmond game. I would rest judd if he has any sorenessbut otherwise keep a full list. I don't want to flirt with form this close to finals.m

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T E A M

At least we've got Adelaide in Round 22 for a good high-intensity hitout before the finals.

Didn't hear you say that about Walker?
And if Warnock turns out to be a great choice - then now is the time to see.

End of the day, Warnock will be twice the player Hampson is and will easily work the ruck to the quality Kruezer is delivering at present. His height will be the one dimension Kruezer struggles with against rucks like Jolly and Cox. They'll be a dynamic combo in the middle and going forward. Now is the time to slip him into the side - if fit.

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No matter how long it takes Carlton to rebuild, they will still win a premiership before Essendon* and Collingwood.

I wonder whether they will tag Judd this week or just let him roam free.

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There is no footy god

This is a slight danger game - according to Dean Bailey, "Beating Carlton is Demons' No.1 priority"
http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/be ... 83697.html

I would think Hampson will be straight in if he is right?
In terms of Walker's selection he brings qualities to the team that not too many on our list can provide so he was always going to get in once he got games under his belt.
Right now I don't see Warnock bringing anything to the team that Hampson won't provide with less of a risk.
In the long term I think all 3 will play, Kreuzer forward with Warnock and Hampson in the ruck.

..should be a good win, but we can't go in too lightly.. ..even if we play poorly i reckon we'll still win, but like many others have said, we don't wanna lose the good form we're running into.. ..be interesting to see who we put on the Jurrah'cane.. ..maybe Bower..?..

..as for ins/outs.. ..if the Hammer is good to go, he should come right back in.. ..he and the Krooz have become a v.good ruck combo, and from what i saw of the vfl game on tv i think Knockers still still a couple of games away.. ..not enough time left to get him right for finals.. ..best we continue with krooz/hammer..

..cloke tried manfully, but i think our team's best 22 is beyond him now.. ..good heart, but primarily a depth player now.. ..and wiggo looks to be struggling as well, is he 100%..?..

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

And that friend is exactly what I believe will happen too.

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No matter how long it takes Carlton to rebuild, they will still win a premiership before Essendon* and Collingwood.

..maybe, though i reckon that's quite a few years away, especially if the big Setant has a proper pre-season and holds down chf.. ..can see all three rotating thru ruck, fp and bench..

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

They're getting a settled lineup in place now with an even contribution coming from across the 22 ... need to keep this group together over last 2 weeks coming in to finals. Max 2 changes for mine. If they make wholesale changes they run the risk of destabilising the team. No resting players.

We looked a bit short down back this week, need to bring the 3rd tall defender that we plan to use in September to give them a run together before the finals. With Jammo and Waite out, that's going to be Austin. Should be in for Wiggo.

Other IN would be either:
1. Hammer for Cloke if he's fit OR
2. Yarran for Betts if Eddie's carrying an injury.

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

While I have no doubt Melbourne will tank the game ( with which I have no issues) I would not suprised if the unexpected happens and we get rolled. That said we should win by a minimum of 50 points.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Eddie looks to be struggling, and after Yarran's first half last week (well 2nd quater anyway), I would like to see him on for Betts to freshen him up

Hammer should come back in if fit. Sorry Cloke

I think people have underestimated the amount of work which Kreuzer does. God in 2 seasons, as a 19/20 yr old ruckman, he has NOT MISSED A GAME SINCE HE STARTED IN RD 3 2008 !!!!!!! If ANYONE said that they expected Kreuzer to play 40 games in 2 seasons then they would need their head read. Give the kid a rest (he is looking a little tired) and bring in either Jacobs or 206 to give them some game time before the finals so IF Hammer goes down again then we don't need to bring in Cloke again to help out in the ruck (he had 4 HO for 0% for the game ...............)

Wiggins would be the other who's position may be looked at, but don't want too many changes after a big win.