re: Bannister...is what we need vs Melbourne in terms of speed and size...
Its players like Roberston and Bruce that destroy us....both are that odd matchup in terms of pace size and marking power.
Roberston is too strong in the air for your average size defender but too quick for a bigger player....Bruce is also a very smart mover for a player of his size and they both know where the goals are....players like Teague, McGrath cant cope...I would have played Bannister vs Port and also vs West Coast and tried to get some confidence into him...we have to find out if he can make it as a senior player and this season.
I just dont get the selection policy sometimes with certain players..

My team for round 1:
B. CARRAZZO LIVINGSTON TEAGUE
HB. LAPPIN THORNTON McGRATH
C. WALKER STEVENS SIMPSON
HF. WAITE WHITNALL HOULIHAN
F. FISHER FEVOLA BETTS
FOLL. FRENCH KOUTOUFIDES SCOTLAND
INT. McCLAREN MURPHY BENTICK BANNISTER
EMERG: RUSSELL DELUCA BRYAN


I have released Whitnall & Walker out of the backline.
I just think we need to become more attacking and not be so defensive in our game plan. With Whitnall, Lappin & Walker all in the backline it just sends out an very negative message that we are there just to defend and stop our opposition from kicking a big score.
We need to put faith in Livingston and Thornton that they can do the job.
Obviously Saddington I have left out due to injury.
I have left out O Hailpin & Hartlett as I really do not think they are ready for the big time. Blackwell I could not include given that Bentick is in the side. We cannot afford to have too many slow runners playing at Telstra Dome.
Bannister is an interesting one. I know most people have scratched his name out, I just think that we need a player that can run all day and at the same time can put a tag on the opposition star midfielder.
We do not have a specialised tagger like every other side and I think he deserves another go. He had limited opportunity last year after finishing top 10 in the B&F in 2004. He is versatile also so if need be we can put him in the back half.
As long as Prenda, Wiggins, Longmuir and Davies are not in the side I will be happy.

I can't help feeling that something are issues between Bannister and the selection panel.

What compels me to feel this is that Bannister couldn't be tackled during the early (3 weeks ago) intra club games. He was ferocious attacking the ball, the man and ran through the lines. He showed the young fellas what it takes to be an AFL player. He has put on more muscle and was eyeing the CHB role....well that's what I have seen and heard.

He has tagged Buckley and others successfully and we all know he can run all day. He always does well in the PP time trials...in fact, he's been impressive. He can mark, and he can kick too.

I have always had him thereabouts on the team list, not completely left out as he seems to be at the moment. I always hoped he would be the good marking, tall running 190cm HB.

There may be a good reason for his ommission at present....I hope so...anyone know anything about the Bannister situation?

Fair call Bondi...I'm a Bannister fan and if he could cement a spot then Andrew Walker could be used in more positive role and we might start getting somewhere...Bannister deserves better treatment and the only bloke getting a worse deal is Brad Hodge....