Agree with those saying play him forward, if hes a reciever and a finisher put him here he can recieve and finish. If we have to hide him somewhere at least if he's forward of centre his weak turnovers are less likely to lead directly to goals.

Houla does add value to the team. The things he does well are what we're lacking.

The difference between he and Craig Bradley is that while neither of them go looking for the contested ball and might be soft as butter, when it was his turn, Bradley would out his body on the line.

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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

Surely there are others more deserving of the criticism being dished out here - sure there were times he was outpaced and bustled off the ball but he was hardly the only one on Saturday night. At least he managed to find a bit of the ball and deliver it into the forward line with a little bit of purpose and accuracy, something 75% of our players just can't do.

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In WADA we trust

Sheik, by taking your one-dimensional ‘boner’ approach to the extreme we would end up with a team of Wiggos! – a team with fantastic heart and application but such little talent…..

I thought I could see Houla try, on a couple of occasions to put his body on the line, there was a 1 on 2 where he kind of put himself over the ball, the problem is that its 1/2 hearted and almost a concession, kind of a making amends approach. If you watch Bentick go at the ball, it's almost like he doesnt even recognise there are other players there, he wants it so hard that he's taking no prisoners!!!

Dont get me wrong, full marks to Houla for trying to toughen up his game but we have to decide whether we are, as a club in this for the emotional reassurance of appreciating a player trying hard or whether we are about winning at all costs. I for one am of the latter persuasion. Pick up your game in the Bullants and when you are tougher than Diesel Williams, then you can come and have a crack in the 1's.

Overall though I thought the boys scragged well on the night. Caused the cats to turn it over loads of times with the added pressure, plenty of it on the 1/2 forward line, leading to interceptions at 1/2 back.

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

I was wondering why we lost and now I know it was Houlihan's fault I feel much better. One change and we'll be back on the winner's list.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

'

Check the stats. He had 9 contested possessions. (2nd most of all players from both teams).

You couldn't hold back could ya BW. 4 pages you held on but ya just couldn't hold it in

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There's so much I could say...

Bradley got it 30+ times every week and had three yards of pace on Houlihan and could run all day...a contested possession is how Riccuito, Glen Archer etc get the footy.....not how Ryan got his 9..lets gets serious and realistic..what Houlihan does best is kick goals and hit blokes like Fev with the ball..we need to get him the ball down forward not rely on him getting it especially when the heats on...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Agreed - but after the first quarter I thought we managed to give him the ball in more advanced positions and he used it quite well.

Maybe I was watching a different game to many of the others ...

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In WADA we trust

Yep, one-dimensional post there too !!

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

a contested possession this season means a "slight jumper hold"

I'm still struggling to understand one of Kingsley's free kicks in the goalsquare. He got a free kick off Hartlett for something, I dont know what, watched it a couple of times in slo-mo, didnt even look to be holding him.

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

Mrs Houlihan......

Please accept my apologies on the crap that gets directed at your son by certain supporters that have no idea. It seems they want Ryan to hit Fev on the chest with each kick and at the same time be a pack breaker like Archer or Riccuito.

They do not see where he DOES put his body on the line. 9 contested possesions and he still gets bagged. Maybe they need glasses..... Maybe they can't accept that he wont ever be as tough as a Fraser Brown but he certainly aint weak... no one that plays AFL is weak. But some will see that as a moot point.

Another case of taking a player from a position where he is strong (HFF, HBF) in the never-ending quest to turn every bastard into a flower midfielder.

We'll do it to Eddie next - fantastic crumbing forward that we have been screaming out for since god knows when, and we'll turn him into a mediocre midfielder.

One thing about that modern footy that really shits me...

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

What really shits me is all the negativity on this site.

Anyone notice how good Hartlett looked in his first game? Anyone notice the little ball magnet in the number 13 gurnsey.... what about that kid wearing number 3?

There was also an Irishman who looks like he can play the game....

How about some positive topics for a change?

and it even showed he had a hold on hartletts jumper !

while a few minutes later stevens flew for a mark in our forward line and had his jumper held .. but no free

Agree........Entirely.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Alright then,
I was at the Game
HOULA is positively the worst 100-200 gamer going around
Carlos really is a 2nds player maybe a little bit more
Hartlett is ok but unfortunately another Collingwood 6 footer playing against big guys.
Murph was good but wasn't out there for long enough

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Stay tuned We're in for a BUMPY ride

I agree. Always bag Houla when we lose. Don't know how to bag anyone else. Ridiculous really.

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Karma

Loyal & Proud