I'm banging my head into the keyboard regarding the Cloke selection, but y'know what, at least they kick it to him.

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STURDYISM!!

I dont understand why Warnock would even be considered. He has not played one game this year and is still a very raw and inexperienced ruckman. I think they hype of recruiting him and his height (206cm for those who are not sure) is shadowing what he is actually capable of right now.

Cloke can be frustrating to watch and is as slow as cooking a tulant but at least he has played 9 games. He has proven he can take a mark and be a some sort of a threat up forward. Thats more than what Warnock can provide at this stage.

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Koperek.

Setanta has been ordinary the last few weeks.

Cloke is no star but is a good mark, a long kick and can be dangerous on his day. If I had to bet on one of Setanta and Cloke to bob up and kick 3+ goals in a final I would put that money on Cloke.

We do look thin down back.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

Really disappointed with Setanta's omission. Hasn't been that great last couple of weeks, but has done just as much as Cloke... except he is more flexible, hasn't broken teams rules and over the years has put in a lot more hard work towards the Carlton cause than you can say Cloke has.

Imagine how the big bloke must feel, worked so hard to get into the team only to be omitted for a player who should barely be on our list, let alone best 22 and has had to be disciplined after celebrating a decent game.... against Melbourne.

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The AFL equalisation policy (designed with StKilda firmly in mind) is the only reason they exist.

Grigg or Pfeiffer or Bentick had to be picked. We have started to lose the contested ball since hadley broke his arm. It is a risk

Cloke baffles a bit. Clearly Kreuzer is going to play forward

I reckon the outs are fair except Carlos
He is handy as a swing man. I thought he was ordinary on the weekend with some of his efforts
In saying that Cloke is not as good a footballer. He is too slow. Carlos would be a better option. Time will tell.
Grigg can count himself lucky. Hasnt set the world on fire with the ants. Pfeiffer or Bentick I would have included and I would play Warnock.
He only has to play 50% changing with Hammer.


Walker at CHB doesnt worry me.
I reckon he has played some of his best footy there.

With Carlos out we look really thin down back.
Our clearance set up needs a major overall
and we need another marking option down forward


Cloke and Grigg can count themsleves lucky

I would say they have a perticular job for Grigg, given he has sort of come from nowhere and hopefully its got to do with contested possesion but I would rather see Walker play that role.

Kreuzer has played all year in the ruck and pinched up forward so I cant see that changing. Cloke will be the one to set up as a forward. He is basically playing for his career.

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Koperek.

You gotta be kidding. And if I had put 2 bob on an opponent running off the half backline and kicking 3 goals I would put my money on him running off cloke rather than O'hailpin. How many goals did cloke kick in 7 games as a permanent forward this year -about 3. The only way the cloke move works is if Kreuzer plays CHF and Cloke 2nd rucks. Cloke is probably a better ruck than O'hailpin. The only problem is O'hailpin can also play back where we got absolutely wacke last week and in the second half against melbourne

The MC may have cost us another game at the selection table. Where is our cover for Brown or Bradshaw? How can we bring in such a slow treacle like Cloke in a fast, pressure final? At least Setanta could offer the flexibility and athleticism that we might need. Once again risky selection relying on luck to pull it off!!!

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C'mon Blueboys!

I actually thought the Hawthorn loss was our most instructive for the year because we gave it our all and we still came up short. What it showed was that our bottom 6-8 players weren't up to it.

So what have our changes been from then until now?

Out:
Waite
Jamison
O'Hailpin
Bentley

In:
Grigg
Hampson
Garlett
Walker

So in the end, we've lost two blokes involuntarily from round 6, and of the 6-8 players who weren't up to it then we are saying that O'Hailpin and Bentley are the only ones who would hold us back in a Gabba Final.

I guess what we need to hope is that Robinson, Yarran, and Browne have been developing nicely in the reserves. But I can't help but think that when it has come to the overall effort in developing depth this year that we still have a long, long way to go.

You could see it in his beady little eyes.

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Happy with the changes. That`s probably our most in form 22, although Yarran unlucky. It`s a Final, unlikely players will lift and fill holes seen as weaknesses. Go Blueboys.

The backline is worrying me a little, but the fact we have Kruez and Hammer in this time means that Cloke can stay away from the ruck and play closer to goals, and anyone who has seen him play in the 2nds will tell you that he can be very dangerous and has safe hands to take pack marks and he can hopefully chip in with 3 or 4 goals, or more and stretch the Lions defense a bit.

Geez some people on this board seem like they were just waiting for a chance to leap in and abuse the MC !

First of all: It's just a squad, whoever is listed as emergency might be just as much chance to play as those listed. Surely we can give Ratts enough cred to believe that he might be able to play cloack and dagger just as much as Voss??? He is just not rabbiting on about it in the media. Wait till they take the ground on Saturday

Second: All those ins are fair enough. If Johnson stayed in the team, people would be moaning and groaning, so instead they lament Grigg being underdone. Who cares! a half-baked Grigg is no worse then a floundering Johnson - much more potential upside in my opinion. Yarran is stiff, but Garlett has more form on the board this season, and to me seems a tad more consistent at this stage. Browne was average, and still lacks confidence which would be a liability in a final, and Eddie is a cool customer in any situation. No worries there. Cloke for Setanta: Cloke has been in as good a form if not better than Setanta. I don't think Cloke is ideal, but as a swap i think there's merit in it. Obviously Cloke cannot play down back as well as Setants, but Bradshaw may very well not play, or Setants might come in - either way both teams are keeping something up their sleeve. Don't stress!!!!

Third: People were so ready to believe that all these players would play on Monday when Voss said they wouldn't, so why are you all running around like terrified chooks now that Voss has named them in the squad??? Surely if he is trying to mess with our heads on purpose, he had to keep messing with our heads right up to game day. I still expect at least 2 out of the 4 to not play. And if they do. more the better for us because we have a fit team and we can smash them.

Fourth: I'm glad they didn't take Warnock. You cannot draft someone, have him sit on the sidelines for a year, then play his first game for the club in a final - that is just NOT going to happen. People need to really step back and regain some perspective on reality. Whether you like it or not, Hammer is just as much a part of our future. I assume if he is named then he is relatively fit and at least a good to very good chance to play.


I know everyone is nervous, playing the first final in years, but beyond recalling Waite and Jammo from their hospital beds, there wasn't a lot of decision making for the MC to do. The ins speak for themselves, the naughty players have served their time (its not like they glassed someone and crashed their cars while dealing drugs), and people should give the MC some latitude to figure out the exact matchups re: Cloke/vs/Setanta up until the match day.

We are going in fit, we are going in confident, we are going in with an enthusiastic young team, we have the wood on them, and they are spending all their time playing chinese whispers with injuries to their best players. Let them be nervous - we are coming !!

Let's wait and see who actually lines up for both teams.
Gotta feeling Setant will...and one or 2 of those Lions won't.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

I can't think of any reason Cloke should play instead of Setanta. He can't play back and can barely move. The other changes no real issue with. Maybe we don't expect Bradshaw to come up, so less need for Setanta (so I guess that is my one reason)

Last time we played Brisbane Grigg played on Black didn't he? I think he'll go to him again. Joseph/Carrazzo/Russell to play on either or Power/Sherman/Johnson?? Is there an obvious match up for Russell? Brisbane dont have a mid sized creative forward do they?

Cheers, Tommy

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Cheers, Tommy

QFT Bluegirl!
We should be confident !!!

Voss is foxing by naming those guys.

Carlton will have a fair idea who is going to play. Private investigators on the job.

We are a chance this week but will have to be on our game.

WTF Cloke???

Yazz and Santy very unlucky to miss! Would've preferred Garlett to serve extra penance in the VFL this week and kept Yarran in. And I really think we'll miss the flexibility Setanta provides to our structure - have a really bad feeling we'll get burnt by his omisson!! On the flip side it's great to see Grigga back!

@#$%&! I still can't work it out! Cloke

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When Dick became President, it was as if everyone at Carlton came out of the hailstorm and into the sunshine - Stephen Kernahan

YARRAN!!





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