Pump games into Betts Murphy Simpson Bentick Carrazzo Walker Russell and Kennedy - continue to prefer them to wiggins sporn bannister livo prenda Teague chambers and longmuir
Give Blackwell Hartlett Setanta Bower a taste of AFL football and selection should be done in preference to list above
Give Wiggins Sporn Bannister Livo Prenda Bryant one last chance to determine whether they are on the list next year - and after that chance if they dont grab it - even if they get 35 possessions in the vfl dont play them -this last chance should not be at the expense of development of other players and last chance shouldnt be at the same time in the senior team
If the decision has already been made on chambers and longmuir dont play them if not give them a chance
Teague Saddington De Luca all should only get games if their vfl form warrants it
Experiment in the forward line to determine best set up amongst fisher Waite Kennedy fev betts - obviously cant play too many talls at once
Add murphy walker blackwell to midfield rotation
Backline - thorton Lance walker Carrazzo - saddington and teague only to be added if form warrants it - Mclaren included in backline sometimes to play on monsters - lappin to be put and kept on backline - hartlett and livo tried down back to see whether they can play on third tall
Training on skills -HITTING TARGETS - PRESSURE ON BALL CARRIER - BLOCKING SHEPHERD FOR BALL CARRIER - EFFICIENT SHOOTING FOR GOAL - centre square work -ruck work - kick outs
After 16 weeks cut deep into list and eschew quick fixes and draft young kids with speed and skill

good post, i agree on most points. i think that longmuir and sporn are still capable of giving us somthing. longmuir is lively and if used in the right capacity could be damaging. he has a good leap and awareness and is willing to back himself. wiggy is professional and does the job (whatever job he is given) most times he plays. i agree unconditionally on sporn. livo is like the other 2, id like to see him given a game in the ants at CHF, he was all australian in that position after all. prender, ive met and talked to prender, hes a really nice guy, but they, as harford said on SEN, really need to find him a position. there is hope for him, but it is slim.

as u said about all the new guys: we just gotta play them, in their preferred positions, see what they can do. put them 'incharge' of their own games, tell them to run, carry, back themselves, itd be great to see what they can all do.

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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.

If we pumped games into those kids we might get thrashed...

Cant get thrashed.. if you get thrashed you lose memberships..

Lets be safe and bring in Prenda for Kennedy... Prenda seems to have found his niche in the forward line....
Id drop Fish and bring in Longmuir...

Thats the kind of thing i expect from those clowns.

The only 3 retreads that have any future are Bannister McGrath and Scotland...

Im interested to know if Denis stays which other hack ruckman were going to trade for / entice over...


There are only so many bandages you can put on a pussy sore ....

Why couldnt we just have drafted Cam Wood and had a ruckman next year???

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

good post frank. right on the money as far as i'm concerned.

and no more trading for second rate hacks with 3rd/4th round picks. Get Gibbs (or selwood) with first round pick next year if possible. We have enough talls.

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Go Blues

bannister, good, competent footballer...unfortunently this is at VFL level. he is probably too good at VFL level. he is just not what we need to take us forward, he seemed realistic about this the other week in the ants post match when he accpeted his MOTM.

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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.

frank (and other training watchers) - just curious as to how our skills are at training relative to game day (especially given the number of clangers or kicks that miss the mark when we are under little pressure at times)

Good post Frank. What's killing me is the concern that Pagan is not intending to pump games into the kids.

If Kennedy, Russell, O Hailpin et al don't have 10 - 15 games under the belt by end of year, we've wasted development time and can expect the same shite over again in 2007.

It is time football dept management realised their dreams of a good season are shot and made radical change.

"If they keep doing what they've always done, they'll keep getting what they always got" - with due respect to those who turned Harley Davidson around.

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

Me too!!
Is it that bad during the week also?
If so, thank God work prevents me from getting there!!

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Happy Days Are Here Again!!

Fabian DeLuca???

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

OMG!!! another DeLuca!!!!!

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Happy Days Are Here Again!!

I'd like some honest and frank assessments for starters.

I want our football club to come out and tell us what they are expecting to achieve in 2006.
Development? Wins? self preservation?
They are'nt necessarily mutually exclusive but the emphasis must be applied in one direction.
I feel for Denis and he was obviously a shattered man in his media conference but as he says, "we're all big boys". He has made honest assessments on 100s of football careers over the years and ended plenty.
Does he really believe he is the best man for the job?

As for going forward, I want rotations.
Expose more kids to the midfield.
It makes me sick to see Gary Lyon having a go at Nick Stevens after Dane Swan kicked a goal on Sunday.
Stevens was 1 metre behind Swan.
A supposed football expert didnt appreciate that Collingwood were running 10 minute rotations on Stevens and Holland was about to come on as the 5th rotation.

Stevens should have no more than 10 minute stints on the ball without a rest.
He'd just completed about 40.
If our MC do not have the courage and belief in other players to fill the void for 5 minutes, they should walk away.
Stevens should have 10 minutes in the midfield, maybe 5 minutes up forward, 5 minutes on the bench and the remaining 5+ minutes on the ball.
Kouta should have 5 minute stints on ball with 10 minutes up forward and a rest on the bench.
Instead we are expecting a 33 year old to play a midfield role that our opponents dont expect of 25 year olds.
Kade Simpson should be part of the midfield rotation every quarter.
Heath Scotland should be part of our midfield rotation every quarter.
So should Andrew Carrazzo, so should Andrew Walker.
No, we prefer to use them as stoppers on Didak, Thomas and Johnson.
I would like to see pre determined rotations and a willingness to stick to them.

Kouta, Stevens, Bentick, Houlihan, Simpson, Walker, Carrazzo, Scotland.
They should all play a role, every quarter.
Not 20 minutes on for Stevens and then move him to the wing!

Forward structure.
What are we trying to achieve and is it working?
The facts are that we are competitive at clearances.
On average, we win more clearances and more first possessions than our opposition.
Yet we continue to offer no forward structure for our midfielders to kick to.

In the Sydney game, the Sydney defenders took more uncontested marks in the first quarter than our entire team!
We continued to win the ball and continued to have no targets up field.

It's fine to try different set ups but assessments must be made on their viability.
We busted our arse to get the ball inside 50 on 47 occasions on Sunday.
We kicked 9 goals.
Collingwood kicked 8 goals from defensive rebounds!
Yes folks, for all the effort that went in to getting the ball inside 50, we were 1 goal in credit.
Have you ever seen a more condemning statistic?

So that's what I want.
A forward structure which retains targets.

A full midfield rotation with the courage to stick with it.

Play Jordan Russell on Dale Thomas or Ben Johnson instead of putting all your creative players in defensive roles.

Play Livo when he's fit.
Have faith in him for 6 games. He will have goals kicked on him but I saw SOS give up 8+ goal hauls on numerous occasions.
It's going to happen.

Give the players license to create and make decisions. If errors are made, big deal.
Play Lance as a floating forward. He will create more goals than he saves.

Bring Hartlett in when he's fit.

But mostly I want courage.
I want the MC to have the courage to develop the players.
Playing defensive football and riding Nick Stevens into premature retirement is just saving face.
Have faith in the kids.

I'm happy to judge the coaches by their actions and having the courage to take a risk, not results.
That's what I want for the next 16 weeks.

BTW, some stimulating and relevant drills at training would be a good start.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Great post Blue Vain...BOG for me...

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I stole Sheedy's Gatorade...

Agree with Frank..its time to embrace youth fully and give them priority much like Hawthorn have done....blokes like Blackwell, Russell have to get priority over Sporn, Wiggins etc...
Agree with Synbad on Mcgrath, Bannister and Scotland...only three retreds I would be considering retaining....McGrath has deserved better treatment..his form has been ok...

Re: BV 'comments Russell v Thomas..I suggested that last week and couldnt believe Russel was dropped...the yo yo policy isnt correct...you give a youngster a series of games regardless of form.....credit to Clarkson for playing Dawson week in week out....Russell played well in the twos but that form was probably a result of some grounding in the ones from previous weeks and he should have been given the opportunity to play in such a big match and build on what he learned....Thomas would have been a good opponent for him....so annoying the lack of faith...
It wont happen though because Pagan and Smorgan both want wins for self preservation at the expense of development...

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

That's applause you're hearing from me BV.

Trouble is, I don't beleive Pagan and Elshaugh can change their ways sufficiently to do this.

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

Agree with many of your thoughts and suggestions BV.
With regards to Longmuir, I haven't seen a lot of him. Is he strictly a forward pocket/ half forward flanker? Can he be used elsewhere?
If not why did we recruit him? I understand he's had injuries, but he doesn't appear to get an opportunity to cement a position.
I agree with Frank a few of the players he's mentioned need to be told, barring injury, your in for the next 4-6 weeks.
Indicate to them some form of confidence.
Regards Pedro.

I believe that there is a problem with the game plan, and due to the fact that DP has made changes to the long bomb plan, I believe that he can again make changes, and he will have to change once again because of necessity (as the plan in it's current format is not working).

BV your post is a beauty. The message is clear and I hope TC readers understand that the lack of rotations is not benefiting our best midfielders in Stevens (or Kouta at 33), in fact, by fatiguing him is not only to the team's detriment but also to the detriment of his reputation.

Fresh legs and enthusiasm can only come from rotations. Every rotatable player BV mentions has done something positive, incredible, courageous, and won in the middle. So the talent is there; the stamina is not. We have to become a little more unpredictable. Rotations will solve the problem with tiring legs. Peak performance in the middle is required for 100 minutes, and burn out does not help.

If we had a ploicy to bring in a kid or two for 4 week blocks that would help with their development. Most posters would love to see Walker unleashed from the backline, even if it was for a 10 minute burst.

We have depth in our midfield. We need to use it.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I agree with most of what is being said, & something has to be done. At least for the development of our younger players & to give us some hope going forward.

Spot on BV.
I would be happy enough if the football department came out & told us that;
1) the team will be going full out to win every game this year & if that means we cop some losses (even floggings) striving for a win, then so be it.
2) kids will enjoy not only supported senior selection (ie more than one game), but actual game time when they are promoted
3) Players who do not perform, follow team instructions, give it their all, support & do the TEAM THINGS will be dropped – ANY PLAYER. There are no untouchables no matter what sort of credit they think they have built up over the years.

I just want the side I support to have a fair dinkum crack week in week out. No matter the result.

I’m concerned that constant negative tactics & lack of faith in the kids will hinder their development going forward. I also understand that regular big losses could also have the same effect, but I’m not asking for every kid to be played just because they are kids. Selection still has to be warranted. However, when selected, show some faith. Don’t select somebody, give them limited ground time & then drop them again the next week (Setanta last year against the Tigers, more than likely Kennedy this week). It p*ssed me off.

Why is it that when I look at the time on ground stat in the paper that it’s the same old few that play nearly every minute & the kids get limited time? I’m sure this is also a factor in why we get beaten in the centre clearance & through the middle in the second half. What about some midfield rotations?

Also, why is it that 3 of the most senior coaches in the caper are coaching the sides sitting 14, 15 & 16? Has the game passed them by?

In addition, I will preface this by saying that its second hand & therefore I cannot confirm it as fact, but a work colleague of mine is a very good friend with a senior player. This player stated to him that;

1) he personally does not get on with Pagan
2) during the Tigers game, a few of the players were astounded that Whitnall went back onto Richo & were heard to say as much out on the ground during the game
3) there is a growing concern amongst the players that the coaches are seeking self preservation by trying to limit the amount of the loss than actually trying to win, & that this thought process is becoming apparent in some players.

Its concerning

Give me some passion. Run somebody down from behind, lay the big shepherd, leave your man to spoil, smother, support each other (even after somebody has missed a set shot at goals Stevens).

Give me something to hang my hat on & to look forward too. That will satisfy me at the moment.

Just as much as it has passed by Mick Malthouse who is the 4th senior coach. His team is 1st.
Since 1999 which is not that long ago those 3 coaches have won 5 of the 7 premierships on offer. Perhaps the game has passed them by, perhaps it has not.
We can all use stats to back up our thoughts.

Winning is secondary to me.

I'd rather lose every game having a go and laying down foundations than win 5 games as we are.
Let the players have a set structure in place, capable of consistent scoring and give them licence to evaluate the game as it goes.
A good player can sense momentum. When the opposition are getting on a roll, let the players squeeze the play and restrict the game. Then let them revert to an attacking mindset.

It's pointless having control of a game and denying yourself scoring potential.
In the second quarter on Sunday we dominated play, controlled the clearances and the hitouts.
We had 8 contested marks to zero.
Yet our strategy remained the same.
We should have put our foot on their throat whilst the opportunity existed.

Have an offensive structure and mindset.
Give players opportunities and offer them the chance to make mistakes.
Good coaches acknowledge that players make mistakes because they are initiating, improvising and trying something different.
As long as it's within team rules, players should be encouraged to take risks.
Dragging and dropping players is not encouragement.

Forget the wins, give me a consistent message based on development of gamestyle and players and the rebuild will truly begin.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I hear you concerning the premierships Woof (although I reckon I could probably have coached Brisbane to a 3 peat with that list). However, let’s not forget that Malthouse had a pretty good list that was cut down by injuries to key personnel last year, & as a result of this, obtained early draft picks. Now the team is injury free (besides Rusling) & those that missed big chunks of last year are back, fit & keen.