Ansett Cup

[Grendel]

Should we be using this comp to play the young guys that have been around for a little while now (Nicholls,Hazzell,Coxy) thay havent really had much exposure to senior footy. Or stick to the tried and true and play a close to strongest line up as possible and try and win the thing?

I ask as after winning in 98 it seemed like a bit of a let down for the first half of that seasons proper comp. Maybe by just trying a few new moves (Hay to CHF, Thommo at FB, McCabe on the ball etc) to just see what could come from a bit of a new type of
'radiclisation' to the side. You know, just try to mix it up for a bit.

Id love to win it, but long term id also like to know what some players might be capable of doing if required through injurys/form loss of others.

Thoughts?

[BUBBALOUIS]

Think your on the right track with using the kids, who knows with their enthusiasm might let us go all the way!

[goatmaster]

IMHO the Ansett cup should be used to confirm the "edges" of the team. By this I mean the fringe players & experiments should be tried & the frontliners given match practice only. To demonstrate my meaning I use our midfield as the example- we know that Crawford, Chick & Harford are going to be in there in the season so leave them out of midfield during the Ansett Cup so the other fringe players get the go- Piccioane, Johnson , Joel Smith, Bateman should all get a start in midfield for all 3 games if they handle it we have suddenly got flexability with the use of the guns. I do also like Grendels ideas of tossing the side around a bit.

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Goatmaster
the prime minister of the principality of Mooball

[Hawkforce]

Thommo at Full Back?!

Boy you don't **** around when you throw the team about!

I agree, there is a very fine line between experimenting and going all out to win it.

I wouldn't play any "certainties" who have niggles, and given the increased bench, we should be able to give some of the Box Hill boys a run.

I'd like to see Smith starting in the middle for whole competition - sink or swim!

McPharlin also needs games although I am afraid that Johnson and Nicholls might be fighting for the same spot unless one of the more experienced midfielders needs a rest.

If we can win our first two games and assure moving through to the finals, perhaps we could use the last round-robin game to blood all of the talent at Box Hill.

I'd also think of playing Thommo in the Ruck and Croad at Full-Forward, to see how the structure would look should Rehn go don with injury.

[Aussie_Roo]

It is a difficult situation, as history has shown in the past couple of years, that the teams that get through to the semi finals / grand final, usually have a pretty good season (usually fielding strongest possible line up). But then again, everyone wants to see their new recruits and try players out in different positions.

I prefer to see the strongest possible team, put on the field to hopefully win the thing..