The thing that is in my head as we look to 07 is we have more depth and we should play the best available team. This means that possibly Lappin, Kouta, Bentick, Fisher Houihan and maybe even Lance may struggle to get a game or more time on the pine if the young kids progress quickly. This is unlikely though with Denis at the helm.

As I read again after 30 minutes I thought I missed Lappin.

I had him in a back pocket where Russell was as a creative Half Backer until I replaced him, then didn't find an automatic spot for him.

Though I have mixed feelings about him. Know what he can do, and have seen last season what he missed for a number of reasons.

If easily up and firing could slot in at Half Back, on the wing or a rotating roll say where I have placed Houla.

I will stand by who I picked and probably the thought process of Kouta, Lappin and one or two others playing less and less.

It's not as if Kouta and Lappin should be written off, it's just after a few years of more mindful recruiting I need to believe that we do have more upside from our in coming youngsters.

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Supporting the Blues No Matter What

True, but....

Hampson and Grigg will not be ready next year. They will not play or if they do it will be late in the year for a few games. They will need development time in the twos learning the CFC game plan and style of play. They'll need to be taught a defensive game and other key elements of ALF footy.

Bentick for me just isn't one of our top liners. I'd like to believe there is more development to come in him, but right now I'm not convinced. As it stands now he just isn't as good as Kouta, Lappin and co. His use of the ball is still mediocre and his decision making is slow.

Bannister, although being a super athlete, has poor aweness and decision making. I loved this guy in his first year at the blues. I liked his spead and height (remembering the game he was out marking Buckley) but he lacks strength in the contest and for his height isn't effective enough one of one. He is an outside runner... using his spead to take on opposition and run forward. But his defensive game is still sub standard and his use of the ball still average. He cant read the play like others.

Lappin, Kouta and Whitnall although being our older brigade use the ball very well, have excellent awareness (no one better in the leaugue than Lappin with that) and read the play extremely well. They can all kick goals and are leaders.

Blackers will move forward in the standings this year. As will will Russell. I see these two guys making the biggest strides from our young midfielders. On the defensive side Bower and O'Halpin will improve and become regulars in our best 22. Bower is a gun. In attack, its JK that we expect to do well, Fisher and Waitey to stay injury free and provide our marking half forward targets, and Fev, Betts kicking the majority of our goals.

Goal kicking predictions (if these players play 20 games or more):
Fev 80 goals
Waite 25 goals
Betts 25 goals
Kouta 20 goals
Murphy 15 goals
Fisher 15 goals
Kennedy 12 goals
Wiggins 12 goals
Stevens 10 goals
Simpson 10 goals

I'm not even going to attempt a "line up" for round 1 next year now, i think i may have earlier, but the more i think about it the harder it becomes, i think rather than a line up, i will make a list of certainties.

The following is a list of players who, unless injured, MUST play in round 1 2007:

Ackland
Blackwell
Betts
Bower
Fevola
Fisher
Gibbs
Kouta
Kennedy
Houlihan
Lappin
Murphy
O'hAilpin
Russel
Thornton
Stevens
Simpson
Waite
Walker
Whitnall

So there is 20......hmmm, a 21st player.....lets say....ANDERSON

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

You forgot Scotland

I think the definites are:
Ackland
Betts
Fevola
Fisher
Kouta
Houlihan
Lappin
Murphy
Thornton
Scotland
Stevens
Simpson
Waite
Walker
Whitnall

The probables are:
Wiggins
Bower
Gibbs
Kennedy
O'hAilpin
Russel
McLaren (if injury free)

The possibles are:
Blackwell
Bentick
Carazzo
Hartlett

i did forget scotland....sorry mate...


i also cannot see how you can put wiggins in a category above blackwell.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

Oh dont get me wrong, love Blackers, think he will be great. But a lot further behind in his development than Wiggins. Wiggins is a much stronger body that gives us more flexibility - can play forward, back and midfield. Blackers just a midfielder at the moment.

B: Carrazzo, Thornton, o'hAilpin,
HB: Scotland, Whitnall, Bower
C: Simpson, Stevens, Houlihan
HF: Waite, Kennedy, Gibbs
F: Koutoufides, Fevola, Lappin
FOLL: Ackland, Walker, Murphy
INT: Wiggins, Blackwell, Russell, McLaren
EMERG: Fisher, Betts, Bentick

My own personal opinion is that for us to move forward we must not have to rely on Whitnall forward no matter how good he was there the first half of this year.

Out of 6 backman ssurely we have enough on our list now to move Whitnall forward again.

No right or wrong just my thought.

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Supporting the Blues No Matter What

I'm confused. Do you want him forward or back?

I too would rather Whitnall forward than back, but remember that this is a Round 1 team. I just don't think that we have someone that can step up to CHB yet. Neither o'hAilpin, Bower, Hartlett or Austin are ready yet. Who else would you put there? I am assuming that Thornton will be stationed at FB.