He had a very good year and came 6th in the best and fairest. Highly unlikely his form will warrant dropping. Better to ask the coach why he allowed him to be taken out of play to the dead back pocket by his opponent in some games.

FB:- Carraz T-Bird Bower
HBF:- Scotland Lacne Houla
C:- Simmo Murphy Walker
HFF:- Fisher Kennedy Gibbs
FF:- Betts Fev Waite
R:- Cain AWWWWWW Stevens Bentick

Int:- Kouta Dilbert Blackwell Lappin

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Not so best of TheSexySquad


AWWWWWW STEVENS.

bower hartlet russel
tbird carlos scotland
bentick blackwell murphy
gibbs whits fish
betts fev wiggins
ackland stevens walker
kouta
houla
lappin
waite

hampson
bannister
carraz

Andrew walker?

ummm............. im going to remember this.

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dane's trolling again

here is my team

B: Zantuck Setanta Bower
HB: Scotland Whitnall Thornton
C: Walks Stevo Simmo
HF: Waite Kennedy Fisher
F: Betts FEVOLA Kouta
R: Ackers Murph Gibbs
I/C: Hampson, Bentick, Houla and Benji or Joey A

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"I can't wait to win a premiership with this club" - Fev

shit i forgot bannister

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"I can't wait to win a premiership with this club" - Fev

B: Carazzo, Thornton, S O'hAilpin
HB: Scotland, Whitnall, Walker,
C: Simpson, Bentick, Lappin
HF: Fisher, Kennedy, Waite
F: Betts, Fevola, Koutoufides
Foll: Ackland, Stevens, Murphy
Int: Bower, Gibbs, Houlihan, Wiggins

I think Russell will be given a number of games in bullants until he starts dominating their - i think it would be detrimental to throw russell into seniors before he gets his confidence up.

Unless blackwell dominates the pre-season comp, i dont think he will be a starter in round 1, although i do think he has more upside than bentick.

I think houla and lappin will be in the round 1 team, however, both will be dropped i believe if they dont perform.

I am not sure if kennedy will start at chf in round 1 - they may try to take it a bit slower with him, and let him get his confidence with the bullants.

Wiggins will be in the round 1 team - he has shown enough last year to justify it.

One thing I wouldnt mind seeing is waite being put on a wing, especially if he is not getting near it while in the forward line -waite played as a wingman when first at carlton, and i think it would do him good not to always be a marking target.

lastly, now that kouta isnt captain, we may now start playing him on the bench a bit more, especially if his dance moves havent increased his mobility and chasing abilities.

Carrazzo Thornton Saddington
Lappin O'hAilpin Russell
Murphy Scotland Waite
Houlihan Whitnall Fisher
Kennedy Fevola Blackwell
Ackland Walker Stevens
McLaren (Koutoufides Simpson Gibbs = rotations, rotations, rotations)
Emerg: Bower Bentick Betts

PS. Spots are getting harder to get.

Here's my attempt...

B Russell O'Hailpin Bower
HB Gibbs Thornton Scotland
C Walker Murphy Simpson
HF Whitnal Kennedy Lappin
F Betts Fevola Fisher
R Ackland Stevens Bentick
Int Wiggins, Kouta, Houlihan, Waite

Emerg: Blackwell, Saddington, McLaren

IMHO a farily balanced side - 3 tall backs, many mid-sized runners, possibly 1 too many talls up forward, but...

Russell HAS to play round 1 - we need to try and instil come confidence in the kid after what happened last year. I'd be suprised if promises werent made to him.

I feel we are far better off (less likely to be exploited) with Lance at/around CHF - we can always send him into defence if/when requried.

Kennedy needs to be left alone at CHF for the whole season to develop into the leading target across the wongs e so sorely miss coming out of defence - can also ruck across the fwd 50.

Midfield rotations consisting of Stevens, Bentick, Scotland, Walker, Gibbs, Murphy, Hoilihan, Simpson, Betts and Kouta are starting to look much healthier...

We also need the interchange to be used more proactively for rotations, not just for punishment adn rookies!

Walker to be set free and play attacking footy accross the midfield - was dragged back deep into defence too ofter last season.

Lappin to start up forward where he can be damaging on the scoreboard - we have enough others to create play coming out of defence. However, I can see him rotating from HB to HF as requried

Gibbs to have the pressure eased off him and start off HB - can also see him playing on ball and forward.

My only concern is no assistance for Bentick in the in-an-under role (maybe wiggins can play this role???) or for Ackland in the ruck (Kennedy to ruck in the fwd50 and Setanta can always cover in an emergency)...

Without having seen any of the new recruits in action, and unsure as to who our 2nd pick in the PSD will be, i think this is a good starting point.

Its getting harder and harder to pick a side nowadays... the list is stating to get deeper, and competition for spots can only be fantastic going forward.

I can see good times ahead!

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Those of you who think you know everything, are annoying to those of us who really do!

Here's my attempt...

B Russell O'Hailpin Bower
HB Gibbs Thornton Scotland
C Walker Murphy Simpson
HF Whitnal Kennedy Lappin
F Betts Fevola Fisher
R Ackland Stevens Bentick
Int Wiggins, Kouta, Houlihan, Waite

Emerg: Blackwell, Saddington, McLaren

IMHO a farily balanced side - 3 tall backs, many mid-sized runners, possibly 1 too many talls up forward, but...

Russell HAS to play round 1 - we need to try and instil come confidence in the kid after what happened last year. I'd be suprised if promises werent made to him.

I feel we are far better off (less likely to be exploited) with Lance at/around CHF - we can always send him into defence if/when requried.

Kennedy needs to be left alone at CHF for the whole season to develop into the leading target across the wongs e so sorely miss coming out of defence - can also ruck across the fwd 50.

Midfield rotations consisting of Stevens, Bentick, Scotland, Walker, Gibbs, Murphy, Hoilihan, Simpson, Betts and Kouta are starting to look much healthier...

We also need the interchange to be used more proactively for rotations, not just for punishment adn rookies!

Walker to be set free and play attacking footy accross the midfield - was dragged back deep into defence too ofter last season.

Lappin to start up forward where he can be damaging on the scoreboard - we have enough others to create play coming out of defence. However, I can see him rotating from HB to HF as requried

Gibbs to have the pressure eased off him and start off HB - can also see him playing on ball and forward.

My only concern is no assistance for Bentick in the in-an-under role (maybe wiggins can play this role???) or for Ackland in the ruck (Kennedy to ruck in the fwd50 and Setanta can always cover in an emergency)...

Without having seen any of the new recruits in action, and unsure as to who our 2nd pick in the PSD will be, i think this is a good starting point.

Its getting harder and harder to pick a side nowadays... the list is stating to get deeper, and competition for spots can only be fantastic going forward.

I can see good times ahead!

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Those of you who think you know everything, are annoying to those of us who really do!

Sorry i agree he is and will be a great player but i think last year he was to inconsistent with his form.

i've been thinking of this for a while now and here's what i've come up with:

FB- carrazzo thornton o'hailpin
HB-lappin whitnall russell
C-simpson bentick walker
HF-GIBBS waite fisher
FF-betts fevola kouta
RR-ackland stevens murphy
INT-kennedy mclaren bower houlihan
EMG- hartlett saddington blackwell

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

Not having a go at you tb24 but what's your theory for having JK on the pine?

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There's so much I could say...

this is just my team for round 1, so far i dont think he's proven anything more than fisher and waite and i had to have gibbs on the ground. but by the end of the season (injuries permitting) i expect him to have cemented a spot on a HFF if not CHF.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

Tubbs, I think you have it just about right. The only one I really disagree with is Bentick. I just don't think he is in our best 22. Great tenacity and work ethic, just not classy enough. He's decision making is a little slow and his skills just not crisp enough. Great tackler and hard at it. Love the guy, just don't think he is in the same class as many of our other onballers. So Carlton's best team at the moment is:

FB O'Hailpin Thornton Bower

HB Lappin Whitnall Houlihan

C Walker Stevens Simpson

HF Kouta Waite Fisher

FF Betts Fevola Wiggins

Followers Ackland Scotland Murphy

Inter Gibbs Kennedy Russell McLaren

Rotations on the ball via Walker, Stevens, Houlihan, Simpson, Kouta, Russell, Gibbs, Murphy, Betts and Scotland.

Don't necessarily think this is how they will line up in Round 1 - way too early to tell, with injuries and form from the pre-season comp, but right now this is our best team.

In all honesty though, what an awesome team on paper. If we can stay injury free I see us being competitive in all our games and winning at least 7-8. Weaknesses are still in the Ruck and defence. Ruck we are just too short and will struggle against the big ruckman in the comp. Also not deep enough if we get hit with injuries. A defence needs some extra bodies. I think Bower will be a huge addition. The first time I say him, I was 100% confident he will make it. It was 2 minutes in the practice game last year against Port when we got flogged. His endevour and commitment to the ball was SOSish. A real goer and has the skills to match - when he finally settles into AFL they will really come through.

Hope Hartlett comes good too and presses for a spot to free up Thornton to move to half back and Whitnall to spend the odd game time up the ground. I think this will also be key to us taking the next step.

Need a lot more out of Waite this year. I really think he is the key to Carlton's improvement. We all know he has a huge amount of potential, its now time for him to show it on the field and be more consistent. He is a match winner when fit and on his game. A real barometer for the success of the team. When he is up, it takes pressure off Fev, Lance and the other talls. I remember the days when Madden was the barometer, now its Waite. Anyone else have any thoughts as to the barometer of our team?

That could well be the most unaccountable half back line in the history of Australian rules football Nytdog!

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Fair point. Although I wouldnt worry too much about the positions. Its more about the match ups so you'll find Walker, Bower, Russell, etc on the half back line depending on the opponent and match ups required. The distinction between midfield, half back, onball and even half forward line these days is so blurred. They are effectively all onballers. But the key is that we'll see Thornton, Whitnall and O'Hailpin on the talls, with assistance from Bower (and hopefully Hartlett soon), and Lapping, Walker, Houla (whos become more accountable these days), Russell, Scotland on the mids and shorts.

fair enough...just thinking that we might need the big monster that is JK out on the ground excerting some much needed presence

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There's so much I could say...

Can I have a go:

FB - Russell Ohailpin Bower

HB - Walker Thornton Scotland

C- Simpson Blackwell Grigg

HF - Betts Kennedy Whitnall

FF - Houlihan Fevola Waite

RR - Ackland Stevens Murphy

Interchange -

Bannister Bentick Hampson Fisher

That was hard and of course apologies to Wiggins, Kouta, Gibbs, Flint, Hartlett etc.......

I could pick this side again and be slightly different.

I think in defense Ohailpin and Thornton will hold the bigger bodies, Bower will add a tall rebounding defending backmen, while Scotland and Walker will use the ball well enough and run the lines out of defense. Russell will give enough but can be interchanged with Bannister.

Across the middle Simpson showed more than enough last season, while Blackers got in there hard, ran well enough and can use the ball ok, and after a another pre season should be up for round one after the NAB cup.

I have made a calculated risk here and picked Grigg. 190 cm player, who can run well and quick with a great left foot and is over 80 kgs may just be able to give us something early on. I place him in ahead of Gibbs purely as I felt I saw more strength in his lower body than Gibbs (particularly the calves) and I think with Gibbs once we get over the romance of who he is we maybe better served waiting three or four rounds to play him.

In the forward half Kennedy must be there, a towering player who can run well, mark well and kick. Whitnall must be there beside him to teach him and add another demension while Betts can rove off them.

Naturally our coleman medalist Fev will be there, Waite can help out beside him and after training I would whack Houla in up forward to help out, alot bigger and looks fitter.

Ackland will ruck and Murph and Stevens looked the good at training.

I will select Hampson as our back up, purely because our options at this stage a short, with Fisher to rotate up front, Bannister down back, and Bentick in the guts.

I just don't see a place for Kouta at the moment, Wiggins is behing in pre season and Mclaren could hardly move.

Scotland, Walker etc will rotate through the middle.

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Supporting the Blues No Matter What

Well thought out and fair assessment. Two things though. Where is Matty Lappin? He's still one of our most creative players and is a match turner at either end of the field. Also I wouldn't be writing Kouta off just yet. More than handy in the midfield and tends to take one of the oppositions best defenders/taggers. Still a very difficult match up for opposition teams and I wouldn't be surprised if he has a stella year pinch hitting. I see his game time being reduced to 75% at most to keep him injury free. He's still a 1-2 goal a game, 20 posession player. As well as all the intangibles he proves the youngsters in the team - leadership, direction, confidence, etc. Lappin much the same.