Ok, I'm putting my coaches hat on and looking through at what we need to do this week to win:

Firstly, we've been exposed around the ground by opposition ruckman all season and one of the better exponents of pushing forward from the ruck is David Hille. Therefore, after the centre square bounce, I reckon Kouta should be the man to run with him and ruck around the grounds. It's been done before against Jeff White and it has two advantages. Firstly, gets Kouta more involved in the clearances around the ground and should negate Hille more effectively than French could. Also, I'd drop French in our attacking goalsquare and tell him not to go further than 20m out. He's a strong mark and if nothing else would provide a contest and a target for midfielders to just bomb long to. If he doesn't take the mark, should provide crumbs for Eddie. Also means that for once, we'd be stretching the opposition for tall defenders if we also have Fev, Waite, Fisher, Kennedy and maybe even Whitnall down there. Try and stop that forward line!

Lucas/Thornton - T-Bird really stepped up last week and should be given the big job again. He's a good match up for Lucas, as Lucas isn't particularly quick on the lead or too strong in the one-on-one contests.

Walker/Hird - took a bit of time thinking about who AW should match up on. The reason I've gone for Hird is that I reckon AW could follow him regardless of whether he plays down forward or in the centre. Also, reckon AW will be able to exploit Hird more with his run off half back than other potential Essendon* forwards.

Carazzo/Lovett - Big job, as Lovett is skilful and quick. Worried that Carazzo might be a little exposed for pace, but hopefully can read the game a bit better - and may be good for him to have a defined defensive role. Also, hoping his disposal out of defence is a plus for us.

Watson vs ?? - Jobe Watson has been having a good season and personally, I'd love to see Prender get a game to match up on him. He's got the fitness and endurance to run with him all game and the phyiscal presence to man up on him. Plus, I just like the idea of having Prender's big body in the centre square to put a bit of hurt into the Essendon* midfielders.

Kade Simpson - has to play through the midfield, has good disposal that we need to get some better delivery to the forwards.

Most of all, I want the guys to realise their limitations. I dont mind the fact that some of the guys don't have the Luke Hodge like disposal by foot, but if thats the case, dont try and pinpoint a pass over 15 metres to a contest. Give the forwards a chance, kick it long and quickly and give them a one-out contest. We have the guys up there who can compete, just give them at least a chance to do so.

Have more comments and ideas, but I'll leave it at that for now. Would love to hear what people think.

STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE!

saddington, thornton, wiggy

scotland, Waite, houlihan

walker, murphy, simpson

whitnall, kennedy, russell

fisher, Fevola, betts

foll: french, stevens, kouta

I/C: carrazzo, mclaren, lappin, longmuir


of course these are just the starting players, positions would shift as the game unfolds. walker and simpson on the wings to give us run. saddington at the back, guarding whoever essendons second tall would be. mclaren to go back when hille goes forward (loved mclarens game on stafford), russell on a flank, lets see his pace, lets give him the ball, let him run, attack the goals, kennedy and whitnall would interchange througout the match, id probably rather kennedy close to goals at this stage, let whitnall create. give murph a red hot go in the middle, make houla not only accountable (which could be a bad thing) but much more attacking. no more loping casually through the middle, be attack minded, and positive houla. carrazzo on the bench for some hardness, he could take a back pocket or clean up job (i dont usually like him as a BP, but if it suits in this case may as well use him). wiggy, i know is a contentious one, but i thought he battled hard on sunday, deserves another go. of the guys battling for that roster spot (bannister, sporn, wiggy, davies) id go wiggy. now the big ones.

waite. CHB. he has the size, can mark, run, isnt a bad kick (usually) is prepared to back himself and take his man on. chad cornes was a strange decsion many yrs ago and look at that. this gives kennedy the chance to be a major target going forward. was hopeful of this move many yrs ago, but itll probably never happen, i feel its worth a try.

lappin. just holds on, has been terrible so far this year, no excuses matty, could have possibly gone back into the twos to allow bentick a go but i feel longmuirs form has been great and he deserves a red hot crack. not sure if troy would be off a half forward or half back flank, but he deserves the chance.

unlucky ones: mcgrath, bentick, livo and blackwell. blackwell seems to be getting the ball but unfortunetly i havent seen enough of him. bentick has been solid and is unlucky, as has mcgrath. bannister is another. whilst they have all performed well we need to change a few things. its only for one week.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

I would post someting on game plan and the like but you have to ask yourself why bother?

We all know that we will flood and play negatively from the outset - last year we were apparently worked out by other teams post wizard cup - this year they dont even need to bother to try to work us out - everytime our players push back to flood it creates an extra free man for the opposition to work their way into forward 50 through

At the very least, we had a forward structure to kick to last season (and no I didnt buy the arguement that we were worked out)

Well the Karate Kid Fletcher won't play at least.

Lance up forward against the Bombers, he is in some of the best form in his career, needs to play up forward with Fev, we need to crack 100 this week, i don't think we have done it yet this year.

OK my team for this week:

B Bannister Crow McGrath
HB Bower Teague Russell
C Blackwell Sporn Chambers
HF Morrell S. O'hAilpin F. Raso
F Prendergast Deluca J. Houlihan
R Bryan Harford Longmuir
Int Clarke Flint Jackson Higgs

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Congratulations CK95

would they wear the bullants jumper as well? if so they might need a clash strip.

ud be proud of the hammers wouldnt u? benayouns goal was quite good, a team goal.

_________________
"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

Superb - though at risk of pissing the non-EPL fans off in this thread most of my gloating is done over in the EPL thread

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Congratulations CK95