My team would look something like this

B: Browne Jamison Austin
HB: Johnson Bower Grigg
C: Waite Gibbs Krueze
HF: Houlihan Cloke Hartlett
F: Betts Fevola Yarran
R; Hampson, Judd, Murphy
Int: Jacobs, Stevens, Robinson, Anderson, Russell, Armfield
Sub: Edwards, Hadley


I want to see Austin have a run in the backline, and we NEED to see Johnson coming out of defence and taking kick in's (Isn't that what we got him for ???)

Would LOVE to use this time to see Waite and Kreuzer unleashed on the wings !!!!!!!!

I think we need to see Houlihan have a decent run, and would like to see Cloke settle into a CHF role ASAP. Hartlett and Edwards will play a half each as the 3rd tall option, and Betts needs to get some game time under his belt IMO.

Hampson and Jacobs can take the ruck job, and Judd should play about 60% of game time so rest him for what, 5 minutes at the end of each quater, and 5 minutes at the start of the 3rd term (So 15 minutes on, 5 minutes off, 15 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 10 minutes on, 5 minutes off, 15 minutes on, 5 minutes off)

Stevens and Hadley needs some game time, so I would play Stevens in the first half then sub Hadley on in the second.

I think players like Wiggins, Fisher, Simpson, Thornton etc can have a rest so we can see some of the younger guys. I wouldn't play O'Keefe, Tiller or Gartlett yet, give them another year and then have a look at them (However Gartlett could play a diversionary role in defence, standing to the left of a Behind post. The opposition may mistake him for one himself and kick it out on the full)

like to see,

browne jamison thornton
johnson waite bower
simpson gibbs stevens
robinson cloke houla
yarran fevola betts

kreuzer judd murphy

i/c, hampson hartlett hadley russell jacobs austin
subs, anderson and armfield
i think that houla can turn into a player like steve johnson from the cats! float around the 50 mtr arc.
like to see austin rotate with the boys down back.
looking forward to friday

just seeing the title of this thread bought a smile to my face. finally a carlton game that will be played THIS week!

stoked.

all i ask for is no injuries.

+1

This Friday's game will provide a view on two very different training programs:

Carlton - where individuals are treated as such and have different training goals, objectives and measurement of these plans and
North Melbourne - who as a team have opted for a more group focused "gridiron" strength and conditioning program.

Will there be some run and carry of the ball to break the lines and kick to position (preferably to some one in a Navy top) or alternatively will there be a big push of bodies at stoppages to get control of the ball then move it foward slowly and steadly (bringing up the troops at each stoppage).

Is there an alternative to the moving zone that Hawthorn have developed?
Is it going to be a reversion to a rugby style of roving maul and flying V.

Personally I want to see the ball moved with speed and accuracy - either by hand or by foot by skillful players who have as their objective getting the ball into scoring areas on a regular basis.

While I make time to watch rugby (in both codes) and soccer, my heart lies with AFL as it can, when played well, show the best examples of skill, courage and team play.

I want to see the boys in blue display their best this week. They have trained hard and become fitter and more focused as a team.

This is a huge game, preseason or not. We haven't beaten this mob for far too long and we need to get on top of them, St Kilda and Sydney this year if possible.

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

this game is gonna go 1 of 2 ways

we win convincingly and the talk will be wow the blues have arrived , real deal , impressive etc etc

or

we will get pumped and it will be question marks and criticism galore

there will be no middle ground

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

I don't really care that much.

But it would be nice to beat them, just so I can hang some shit on my best mate. And hand the staging, diving, Oompa-Loompa a loss in his first match as captain.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

North have taken a different approach this preseason and are pretty advanced, from all reports.

_________________
I just want my old club back ... (edit) maybe I have!

+2

I won't be too fussed if we don't win, as long as we are competitive and don't lose anyone. After all, if we lose, the rest of our practice games are with actual AFL rules

But yes, if we can humiliate Harvey and stop the resting ruckman from kicking a bag for once, I'll be happy.

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

I remember last season someone organised a thing where posters would pick a player to follow and report on the players performance in the TalkingPlayers section. Would be nice to do something like that again this year and specifically in the NAB Cup where some players might not get a lot of the ball but do things that tend to go unnoticed.

Who's keen?

That was me Pklz.

l found that while a few did follow their designated player, most couldn't keep their eyes off the rest of the team, so tended to miss what their player was doing when the ball wasn't near him.

It's definitely worth revisiting as we have more skilful players now than ever before.

Here's the list guys. Anyone interested in taking a player to assess this Friday night? I have deleted Carrots and 206 as I know they won't be playing.

Anderson, Joe
Armfield, Dennis
Austin, Mark
Bannister, Jordan
Bentick, Adam
Betts, Eddie
Bower, Paul
Browne, Steven
Cloke, Cameron
Edwards, Jake
Fevola, Brendan
Fisher, Brad
Gibbs, Bryce
Grigg, Shaun
Hadley, Richard
Hampson, Shaun
Hartlett, Adam
Houlihan, Ryan
Jamison, Michael
Johnson, Chris
Judd, Chris
Kreuzer, Matthew
Murphy, Marc
O’Keeffe, Rhys
O'hAilpin, Setanta
Robinson, Mitch
Russell, Jordan
Scotland, Heath
Simpson, Kade
Stevens, Nick
Thornton, Bret
Tiller, Caleb
Waite, Jarrad
Walker, Andrew
Wiggins, Simon
Yarran, Christopher

_________________
“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Besides, if we don't win, then we play a praccy at Manuka the week after, which means a day trip down to Canberra for the KKs.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

And probably the Bondi crew too.

I never looked at the upshot of a loss...I still want to win though.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The Family Day provided us with some insight in which players will and will not get game time.

From reports Jacobs, Robinson, Yarran, Garlett should see some game time. Fev , Judd and Fisher are ready and willing for combat.

It seems that Warnock, Walker, Scotland, Carrazzo, O'hAlpin, Pfieffer and Bentick will not be considered for obvious reasons.

I expect players pressing for a spot in Rnd 1, Armfield, Russell, Johnson (hard to see left out) and Hadley to get some game time too, given their proven fitness, and to see where they are at in terms of what they have to offer the team. Very excited about Hadley being fully fit. I know what he brings to the table: toughness, skill, experience, class.

So the team I expect to play this Friday against the TALL Kangas:

B: Armfield Jamison Thornton
HB: Grigg Bower Johnson
C: Waite Gibbs Simpson
HF: Robinson Cloke Houlihan
F: Fisher Fevola Betts
R: Kreuzer Judd Murphy

SUB: Jacobs Garlett

IC: Hampson Stevens Hadley Russell Yarran...plus one of the following:

Austin Edwards Bannister Anderson Wiggins Browne ...and maybe Hartlett (if he's built up his fitness).

Without Carrazzo, Scotland and O'hAlpin, we're a very young team. Without the mature Stevens, Houla and Fev, we would have the youngest team on record (maybe not record) taking the field.

I can't wait for it to start...bring it on...roll out the Baby Blues.

GO BLUEBAGGERS.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Will the squad be released today?

_________________
Mjonc signing off at 8888

29 in the squad. I think 26 take the field.

Carlton
2 – Jordan Russell
3 – Marc Murphy
4 – Bryce Gibbs
5 – Chris Judd
6 – Kade Simpson
8 – Matthew Kreuzer
9 – Chris Johnson
10 – Richard Hadley
12 – Mitch Robinson
13 – Chris Yarran
14 – Brad Fisher
16 – Shaun Grigg
18 – Paul Bower
19 – Eddie Betts
21 – Mark Austin
24 – Nick Stevens
25 – Brendan Fevola
26 – Joe Anderson
27 – Dennis Armfield
28 – Cameron Cloke
30 – Jarrad Waite
32 – Bret Thornton
33 – Ryan Houlihan
34 – Simon Wiggins
38 – Jeffery Garlett
39 – Sam Jacobs
40 – Michael Jamison
45 – Arron Joseph
47 – Greg Bentley

_________________
Go Blues

Other mob

Liam Anthony (44)
Matt Campbell (33)
Michael Firrito (11)
Cruize Garlett (32)
Josh Gibson (38)
Todd Goldstein (22)
David Hale (31)
Lachlan Hansen (6)
Leigh Harding (39)
Daniel Harris (4)
Brent Harvey (29)
Corey Jones (21)
Ed Lower (2)
Hamish McIntosh (1)
Scott McMahon (42)
Drew Petrie (20)
Sam Power (5)
Daniel Pratt (30)
Ben Ross (15)
Brady Rawlings (3)
Adam Simpson (7)
Josh Smith (18)
Andrew Swallow (9)
Lindsay Thomas (12)
Scott Thompson (16)
Gavin Urquhart (14)
Benjamin Warren (26)
Daniel Wells (8)
Jack Ziebell (19)

_________________
Go Blues

Well i'm slightly shocked that Hampson isn't being played !!!!!!!!!!! Am I missing something ??? Does this mean Jacobs and Kreuzer will be taking the ruck work, or will Cloke be run through there too ???

Browne missing out is surprising too. Thought it would be better to play Browne than say Thornton ........

The other two graring omissions are Edwards and Hartlett ............ Any news/idea's why the two big boys arn't even given a run in the NAB cup ??? I know Hartlett had an injury concern, but I thought he was over it ........ Pretty bad sign IMO .........

interesting.

no bentick either?

1AW obviously rested, happy for him to stay in cotton wool for much of the preseason to be honest.

no hammer is a big surprise if he's fit