2011 AFL & Crows Crystal Ball

[Mismatched]

Duck's ability to run back with the flight and instinctively take chest marks was something that you can't teach either. In fact you wouldn't teach it, because players are taught to take the ball in their hands whenever possible. Carey's aerial technique was just due to an incredible amount of natural talent. A talent so great that the Paddock was borne out of it.

One thing you didn't mention was how much of a weapon his kicking was. He frequently bombed goals from outside 50. He was a better kick than any of those players you mentioned, including Brown and Pavlich.

Oh no doubt, I just didn't want to go too over the top with the Carey love, but if one needs some proof of how well he can kick, or just how good he was, watch a few of the youtube vids. Not only could he slot a drop punt from 60, he could slot snap shots the likes of Jarman would have been proud of.

The way opposing teams manned up on him reminded me of this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Rules

Rutten has always been able to comfortably take care of guys like Brown, Hall and Tredrea by wearing them like a glove and matching them in the body on body.

That style of defence wouldn't have worked on Carey. He was far too mobile and had way too many tricks up his sleeve. I'm afraid The Truck would have been in trouble.

Yeah, whilst Rutten has the strength to go with Carey, he would have struggled to go with him.

Bock's probably one of the few who might have been able to consistently go with Carey, he would also have made Carey accountable by running off him, which was one of the reasons why Caven was so successful in the second half of the 98 GF.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Oh no doubt, I just didn't want to go too over the top with the Carey love, but if one needs some proof of how well he can kick, or just how good he was, watch a few of the youtube vids. Not only could he slot a drop punt from 60, he could slot snap shots the likes of Jarman would have been proud of.



Yeah, whilst Rutten has the strength to go with Carey, he would have struggled to go with him.

Bock's probably one of the few who might have been able to consistently go with Carey, he would also have made Carey accountable by running off him, which was one of the reasons why Caven was so successful in the second half of the 98 GF.

He had a lot of help off half back that day too. Hart, Brett James, Ricciuto - outstanding.

 

[KUNG FU]

There are definitely star players who would not have been as dominant in a different era and place, but Carey was not one of them. If anything he was a player before his time. Now Tony Lockett; that is one heated discussion I think I've engaged in before.

Admittedly, this story is probably biased, but alas: When Stan Alves went to Souths he said that he had lost the faith of St Kilda board almost as soon as he got there because he complained about Lockett's diet of pie & Coke in the locker room and didn't tolerate Winmar missing weeks of training mid-season. Would be hard to imagine Lockett taking any shit in the 360-feedback circle under the Leading Teams regime. Probably would have disappeared into the country after a couple seasons.

Liberatore Jnr's career will be interesting to watch. Fortunately for him he has about 20cm on his dad, who I can help but think would been little more than a VFL scragger in 2011.

 

[Slippery Pete]

There are definitely star players who would not have been as dominant in a different era and place, but Carey was not one of them. If anything he was a player before his time. Now Tony Lockett; that is one heated discussion I think I've engaged in before.

Admittedly, this story is probably biased, but alas: When Stan Alves went to Souths he said that he had lost the faith of St Kilda board almost as soon as he got there because he complained about Lockett's diet of pie & Coke in the locker room and didn't tolerate Winmar missing weeks of training mid-season. Would be hard to imagine Lockett taking any shit in the 360-feedback circle under the Leading Teams regime. Probably would have disappeared into the country after a couple seasons..

I think I'm with you on that one. If you look at old footage of Plugger, especially in the St Kilda days, he was at least 10kg overweight. You could stand in the goalsquare all day then. Not now.

 

[Allefgib]

There are definitely star players who would not have been as dominant in a different era and place, but Carey was not one of them. If anything he was a player before his time. Now Tony Lockett; that is one heated discussion I think I've engaged in before.

Admittedly, this story is probably biased, but alas: When Stan Alves went to Souths he said that he had lost the faith of St Kilda board almost as soon as he got there because he complained about Lockett's diet of pie & Coke in the locker room and didn't tolerate Winmar missing weeks of training mid-season. Would be hard to imagine Lockett taking any shit in the 360-feedback circle under the Leading Teams regime. Probably would have disappeared into the country after a couple seasons.

Liberatore Jnr's career will be interesting to watch. Fortunately for him he has about 20cm on his dad, who I can help but think would been little more than a VFL scragger in 2011.

When did Plugger retire? 2002 (really 1999)
How long have Swans been doing leading teams? 2005 (aka no crossover which I was curious about - move along nothing to see here)

 

[KUNG FU]

When did Plugger retire? 2002 (really 1999)
How long have Swans been doing leading teams? 2005 (aka no crossover which I was curious about - move along nothing to see here)

Quoting for my own amusement

 

[AFC979810]

Are James Sellar, Myke Cook and Tony Armstrong on their last chance? Yes to all three. I would expect those three are the closest in our squad to delisting.

Just curious Stabby as to why you think Jimmy is in that group of delisting on our list? I realise that many people on here wanted him traded / delisted this year, but i wanted to see what your reasons are since you are pretty measured....

The more I look at it - the more it occurs to me that Jimmy suffers from the Tambling syndrome at Richmond - cursed by his high draft position (and by the fact that he was one of the youngest in his draft class + a key position prospect).

I am very interested to hear what others have seen in the players listed below to put them easily ahead of Jimmy at this stage of their careers? I have only compared young Key Position / utility players on our list and left out the Walker / Tippett for obvious reasons:

Jimmy Sellar - 21 - 196cm - 98kg - 17 games - 16th Pick 2006 draft

Shaun McKernan - 20 - 196cm - 98kg - 1 game - 28th pick 2008 draft

Brad Moran - 24 - 200cm - 99kg - 17 games - 58th Pick 2004 draft

Will Young - 20 - 192cm - 88kg - 2 games - 72nd pick 2008 draft

Phil Davis - 20 - 195cm - 90cm - 15 games - 8th pick 2008 draft

Surely if Jimmy is in danger of being delisted - McKernan / Moran / Young would be on equal footing if not out of the door before him?

I do think that that Phil Davis showed a lot this year and was very impressive, however just cannot understand why people assume he is so much closer to delisting than McKernan? Yes, I understand Sellar has been in the system 2 years longer, but he is just 6 months older than McKernan and has showed alot more on AFL level.....

I am not saying Jimmy doesn't need to have a good season, but surely there is just as much pressure on all of the above for a solid season.

 

[KUNG FU]

Just curious Stabby as to why you think Jimmy is in that group of delisting on our list? I realise that many people on here wanted him traded / delisted this year, but i wanted to see what your reasons are since you are pretty measured....

The more I look at it - the more it occurs to me that Jimmy suffers from the Tambling syndrome at Richmond - cursed by his high draft position (and by the fact that he was one of the youngest in his draft class + a key position prospect).

I am very interested to hear what others have seen in the players listed below to put them easily ahead of Jimmy at this stage of their careers? I have only compared young Key Position / utility players on our list and left out the Walker / Tippett for obvious reasons:

Jimmy Sellar - 21 - 196cm - 98kg - 17 games - 16th Pick 2006 draft

Shaun McKernan - 20 - 196cm - 98kg - 1 game - 28th pick 2008 draft

Brad Moran - 24 - 200cm - 99kg - 17 games - 58th Pick 2004 draft

Will Young - 20 - 192cm - 88kg - 2 games - 72nd pick 2008 draft

Phil Davis - 20 - 195cm - 90cm - 15 games - 8th pick 2008 draft

Surely if Jimmy is in danger of being delisted - McKernan / Moran / Young would be on equal footing if not out of the door before him?

I do think that that Phil Davis showed a lot this year and was very impressive, however just cannot understand why people assume he is so much closer to delisting than McKernan? Yes, I understand Sellar has been in the system 2 years longer, but he is just 6 months older than McKernan and has showed alot more on AFL level.....

I am not saying Jimmy doesn't need to have a good season, but surely there is just as much pressure on all of the above for a solid season.

A very limited picture there.

Moran could also be on that list on par with Sellar, I agree, by virtue of age. They both may hold a free pass because of the new sub-rule & ruck scenario. Moran might just get a nose ahead of Sellar because of his ceiling, having actually won a game once off his own boot and extended time out of the game. But if you disagree, I won't argue.

However, all of those other players listed have shown a lot more promising and consistent form in the SANFL than Jimmy has, or at least had by the same time.

Age is important to note with Jimmy. He was under-aged in his draft year, and with the current rules he would have been ineligible for the 2006 draft. However, he is still 17-18 months older than the last three and still has been in the AFL system for 2 years longer. He has not developed a great reputation on the training track, despite repeated statements of him 'turning it around'.

A lot of the AFL games he played were only because there was no other option. Also he barely showed a glimmer of upside in that time, rather just going through the motions and not giving fans or selectors much to note.

 

[cmndstab]

Just curious Stabby as to why you think Jimmy is in that group of delisting on our list? I realise that many people on here wanted him traded / delisted this year, but i wanted to see what your reasons are since you are pretty measured....

Sellar has a few things counting for him - firstly, he's still very young for a player of his height. Secondly, he's got versatility. Thirdly, his training ethic, while originally a weakness, is now a strength and he gives the impression of giving it all.


However, I just don't see Sellar making it, at least not at the Crows. I don't think he's athletic or talented enough to play KPP primarily, particularly with the likes of Tippett, Walker, Davis, etc in front of him. I don't think he offers enough in terms of height, strength, or work around the ground to play as a ruck, primarily. Therefore, the only position I see for him at AFL level is a backup ruck who rotates either end (for mine, this would be in defence for Sellar).

I certainly don't think he's ready to go for this role at the moment. This will be the issue - assuming our ruckmen stay fit, we have Maric, Moran and most likely Jacobs ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment (I'm stretching on Moran, but he was selected ahead of Sellar until he got injured in 2009 and hasn't been fit since, so I'll assume that still holds). We also have Shaun McKernan coming up to play the exact same role I've just outlined for Sellar, with additional athleticism, most notably his leap. You'd assume that, given similar SANFL performances, the Crows would favour McKernan over Sellar.

Short of some phenominal SANFL form (and really, if he hasn't been dominating the SANFL with his size to this point, I can't see why he would start to in 2011), Sellar will be relying on injury or form lapses to even get a look-in at AFL level in 2011 - and on the off-chance he gets in, he'll need to very quickly solidify his spot or he'll be back out of the team pretty quickly. I just don't see it coming together for Sellar at the Crows. I'll be 100% honest - I just don't think he has the skill set necessary for a player of his physical attributes to thrive at AFL level.

I'd be delighted if he was to prove me wrong, however.

 

[footy4ever]

Premiers: Collingwood
Runners Up: Adelaide
Brownlow: Goddard
Coleman: Tippett (if crows always play 2 ruckmen)
Rising Star: Newbie from GC - to keep the natives happy about their shit first year.
Bolter/s of 2011: Adelaide, Melbourne
Decline/s of 2011: Freo (again), Bulldogs,

Adelaide:

Position: 2
Wins: H&A 16

Which Adelaide player/s will have a break-out year? Tex, Sloane, Jaensch, Hendo
Danger, Tambling

Adelaide's 1st Ruck Jacobs or Maric? Moran eventually.

Where will Tambling finish in our B&F? 8

Out of the new recruits (Smith and Lyons) who will play the most games? pass

Ian Callinan - How many Games and Goals? 3gms 2 gs

Best position for SMACK and how many games? Sub. 3

Will Sam Shaw or Talia debut in 2011, what round and how many games? Talia rnd 17 agnst Essendon 2 games

Are James Sellar, Myle Cook and Tony Armstrong on their last chance? Sellar & Cook will be on their bikes.

Will Doughty play in season 2012? No

For Tex Walker to have a good season, how many goals does he have to kick? 40

How many goals will the Tippett / Walker combination contribute? 115

Biggest Crows News story for 2011? Crows back in the black after stellar season.

Biggest Winning Margin? Against? 89pts GC at aami

Biggest Losing Margin? Against? 25 pts St Kilda rnd 6 Etihad

B&F? Scott Thompson

Leading Goal Kicker? Tippett

Coaches Award? Otten

Best Team Man? NVBerlo

AA? Thompson, Knights, Stiffy

 

[SydCrow]

AFL:

Premiers: Collingwood
Runners Up: St Kilda
Brownlow: Pendlebury
Coleman: N Riewoldt
Rising Star: D Swallow
Bolter/s of 2011: Adelaide
Decline/s of 2011: Geelong

Adelaide:

Position: 4th
Wins: 16

Which Adelaide player/s will have a break-out year? Brodie Martin

Adelaide's 1st Ruck Jacobs or Maric? Jacobs

Where will Tambling finish in our B&F? 7th

Out of the new recruits (Smith and Lyons) who will play the most games? Smith/2

Ian Callinan - How many Games and Goals? 3/5

Best position for SMACK and how many games? CHB/0

Will Sam Shaw or Talia debut in 2011, what round and how many games? Shaw Round 12 - 2 games

Are James Sellar, Myle Cook and Tony Armstrong on their last chance? Yes

Will Doughty play in season 2012? No

For Tex Walker to have a good season, how many goals does he have to kick? 50

How many goals will the Tippett / Walker combination contribute? 100

Biggest Crows News story for 2011? Armstrong sacked for drink driving

Biggest Winning Margin? Against? 84pts, GC R8

Biggest Losing Margin? Against? 37pts, NM R11

B&F? Douglas

Leading Goal Kicker? Tippett

Coaches Award? B Martin

Best Team Man? Otten

AA? Stiffy, Knights

 

[Danoz]

AFL:

Premiers: Pies
Runners Up: Dockers
Brownlow: Swan
Coleman: Pavlich
Rising Star: David Swallow
Bolter/s of 2011: Dockers
Decline/s of 2011: Cats

Adelaide:

Position: 4th
Wins: 14

Which Adelaide player/s will have a break-out year? Sloane

Adelaide's 1st Ruck Jacobs or Maric? Jacobs

Where will Tambling finish in our B&F? ~10th

Out of the new recruits (Smith and Lyons) who will play the most games? Smith

Ian Callinan - How many Games and Goals? 17 games 25 goals

Best position for SMACK and how many games? Mobile ruck 13 games

Will Sam Shaw or Talia debut in 2011, what round and how many games? Shaw rd 6 5 games, Talia rd 2 14 games
Are James Sellar, Myle Cook and Tony Armstrong on their last chance? None of these players will be on our 2012 list

Will Doughty play in season 2012? No

For Tex Walker to have a good season, how many goals does he have to kick? Over 40

How many goals will the Tippett / Walker combination contribute? 120 (KT 70, TW 50)

Biggest Crows News story for 2011? Tex stays, NC re-signs and Bernie Vince goes to GWS

Biggest Winning Margin? Against? 65 v WCE

Biggest Losing Margin? Against? 45 v Pies

B&F? KT even when he plays bad he gets votes
Leading Goal Kicker? KT

Coaches Award? Jacobs

Best Team Man? Doughty

AA? KT

 

[DJ75]

Premiers: Collingwood
Runners Up: St. Kilda
Brownlow: Swan
Coleman: Reiwoldt, N
Rising Star: Swallow (GC)
Bolter/s of 2011: Adelaide, Melbourne, Nth Melbourne
Decline/s of 2011: Freo (again), Bulldogs, Geelong

Adelaide:

Position: 6
Wins: H&A 14

Which Adelaide player/s will have a break-out year? L Thompson, Martin

Adelaide's 1st Ruck Jacobs or Maric? Maric to start then Jacobs.

Where will Tambling finish in our B&F? 15-20

Out of the new recruits (Smith and Lyons) who will play the most games? Nil all draw

Ian Callinan - How many Games and Goals? 3 games 2 goals - he is on the rookie list people, he isn't going to play 20 games!

Best position for SMACK and how many games? Sub. 5

Will Sam Shaw or Talia debut in 2011, what round and how many games? Shaw Round 11, 3 games total, Talia round 15 4 games total

Are James Sellar, Myle Cook and Tony Armstrong on their last chance? Armstrong yes for of field reasons. Other two no - as long as they keep training hard.

Will Doughty play in season 2012? No

For Tex Walker to have a good season, how many goals does he have to kick? 40

How many goals will the Tippett / Walker combination contribute? 110

Biggest Crows News story for 2011? Crows join forces with Nth Adel for reserves team

Biggest Winning Margin? Against? 110 points V GC

Biggest Losing Margin? Against? 40 points V Melbourne

B&F? Vince

Leading Goal Kicker? Tippett

Coaches Award? Doughty - then goodbye

Best Team Man? NVBerlo

AA? Stiffy should be in every year, but doesn't play in Vic. Two to make the squad - Tippett & Vince. Neither make team.

 

[Mismatched]

Ian Callinan - How many Games and Goals? 3 games 2 goals - he is on the rookie list people, he isn't going to play 20 games!

Really? Henderson played 12 games off the Rookie list last year, Jaensch played 11, Schmidt 13. Podsiadly, who probably compares the best to Callinan's situation played 19, Barlow played 13 before doing his knee.

We haven't picked Callinan to just sit on the rookie list to develop. Thanks to our only having 1 Veteran listed player, we already have one spot in the list open for a rookie promotion and I believe each club is allowed to promote one mid year. If Callinan impresses over the preseason and then impresses during the NAB cup, its quite conceivable that he would play 20 games and if he doesn't, it won't be because "he's a rookie", its because he's not good enough.

 

[Slippery Pete]

We haven't picked Callinan to just sit on the rookie list to develop. Thanks to our only having 1 Veteran listed player, we already have one spot in the list open for a rookie promotion and I believe each club is allowed to promote one mid year. If Callinan impresses over the preseason and then impresses during the NAB cup, its quite conceivable that he would play 20 games and if he doesn't, it won't be because "he's a rookie", its because he's not good enough.

I'll be very angry if he doesn't get a go right from the outset.

 

[AFC979810]

I'll be very angry if he doesn't get a go right from the outset.

Of course you will....

My opinion is that he was brought in as insurance not to be in our best 22 right away.... The crows are risking nothing in having him sit on the rookie list.

Yes, we gave Henderson 12 games, Jaensch 11, and Schmidt 13 games but (fingers crossed) we wont have the same injury list as last year...

To say that the Crows didn't draft him not to play him is ridiculous... There are 40 odd spots on the list and not everyone is brought in to play... In my opinion he is there as a insurance policy in case we suffer some injuries through the midfield / Half Forward line and we need a more mature body to come in....

I would love to see him succeed as I would any Crows player however, we cant expect a fairytale story like Barlow or Pods as these guys are the exception not the rule...

 

[crow_fish]

AFL:

Premiers: Collingwood
Runners Up: Hawthorn
Brownlow: Swan
Coleman: Brown (if fev don't play)
Rising Star: Harley Bennell
Bolter/s of 2011: Hawthorn top 4, Adelaide back in 8
Decline/s of 2011: Port, Geelong (still make 8, not top 4)

Adelaide:

Position: 7th
Wins: 13

(if we have injury free preason would expect could go 4th-5th)

Which Adelaide player/s will have a break-out year? Martin biggest, then Dangerfield

Adelaide's 1st Ruck Jacobs or Maric? This forum will still be having that argument come finals.

Where will Tambling finish in our B&F? 15th (when he plays he does well but be thinking he will have few injury niggles)

Out of the new recruits (Smith and Lyons) who will play the most games? Smith 12 games

Ian Callinan - How many Games and Goals? 7 games 12 goals

Best position for SMACK and how many games? bench rotating the ruck and forward time, be very suprised if got in double figures with games.

Will Sam Shaw or Talia debut in 2011, what round and how many games? Both debut but opportunities limited unless we see injuries which will see further opportunites.

Are James Sellar, Myle Cook and Tony Armstrong on their last chance? Sellar yes on field needs to become multi position or could see him moved on end of the year. Armstrong off field

Will Doughty play in season 2012? No

For Tex Walker to have a good season, how many goals does he have to kick? No number for me as see him continue to play higher, would like see avg around 9 marks a game with 3-4 goal assist's each game plus his own.

How many goals will the Tippett / Walker combination contribute? 100 plus if we are to make finals

Biggest Crows News story for 2011? GWS steal another Crow, Crows again are active in trade week.

Biggest Winning Margin? Against? West Coast Round 12, 87 pts

Biggest Losing Margin? Against? St Kilda Round 18, 56pts

B&F? Johncock
Leading Goal Kicker? Tippett
Coaches Award? Martin
Best Team Man? Reilly

AA? Johncock (Knights & Dangerfield make the squad after good years )

 

[Ferris_rules]

IF we can get through a season with minimum injuries then a Top 6 finish is not unreasonable expectation.

We lack depth, so injuries to key personnel will hit us hard.

2010 was a sad and depressing year for the AFC.

The retirement of champions and legends at the club coupled with a horrible season, makes me never want to look back at 2010.

It will be strange to go through a season with no Macca, Goodwin or Edwards at the club.

 

[DJ75]

IF we can get through a season with minimum injuries then a Top 6 finish is not unreasonable expectation.

We lack depth, so injuries to key personnel will hit us hard.

2010 was a sad and depressing year for the AFC.

The retirement of champions and legends at the club coupled with a horrible season, makes me never want to look back at 2010.

It will be strange to go through a season with no Macca, Goodwin or Edwards at the club.

I'm not so sure I buy in to the 'we lack depth' argument. We lack experienced depth, but I think we have every position well covered with guys who look to have a lot of talent. Yes it isn't proven talent, but I'm convinced we have a lot of talent outside our best 21/22.

 

[crow_fish]

Agree with the above sentiments that we have depth of talent, yet not proven talent. I can't remember looking at a crows list such which it is atm that it has so many individual's which on have potential for lot of upside.

I had look at Career Games (excluding rookies)
0-5 games (10 Players) Craig, Gunston, Lyons, Martin, Mckernan, Shaw, Smith, Talia, Thompson.L, Young.
5-25 games (9 Players) Armstrong, Cook, Davis, Henderson, Jacobs, Jaensch, Moran, Petrenko, Sellar
25-75 games (7) Mackay, Maric, Otten, Symes(67),Tippett (65), Vince (71), Walker
75-150 games (8) Douglas, Knights, Porps, Reilly, Rutten (148), Stevens, Tambling, Van Berlo
150+ (3) Doughty, Johncock, Thompson.S

 

[crow_fish]

My concern would be if lost couple of wiser heads in midfield or in backline prior to Round 1.

I thought an downfall last year early in year was fact we had to play Schmidt, Jaensch, Davis in backline in the absence of Johncock & Bock.

Towards the end of year the younger players starting to perform at higher level but can't expect the guys who have less the 25 games experience to step right in and make an impact although yes it can happen.

Looking at squad approx half AFC squad is 25 games or under mark (19 Players not counting rookies). While this is a positive for the future of club, not going to find to many like Andy Otten who can slot straight in and perform so well.

Just hoping that more experienced players such as Thompson.S, Johncock, Douglas, Knights, Reilly etc can be fit and firing come Round 1 to help guide the younger brigade. This is the depth that concerns me, as can't get away when exposing all the youth at one time.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I'm not so sure I buy in to the 'we lack depth' argument. We lack experienced depth, but I think we have every position well covered with guys who look to have a lot of talent. Yes it isn't proven talent, but I'm convinced we have a lot of talent outside our best 21/22.

How many of our players would command a spot in Collingwood's 22?

Johncock
Thompson
Knights
Porplyzia
Tippett
Vince

Maybe Rutten.

Only those wearing the rosiest pair of rose coloured glasses would even consider any others.

We're all struggling to pick a Best 22 and bemoan the players we have to leave out. We equate that with us having this talent-laden, depth-filled squad with healthy competition for spots.

We're having trouble picking a Best 22 because our squad is so even. Unfortunately it is not because they're all equally good. It's because they're equally bad/bland/inexperienced or all three.

 

[icrow32]

How many of our players would command a spot in Collingwood's 22?

Johncock
Thompson
Knights
Porplyzia
Tippett
Vince

Maybe Rutten.

Only those wearing the rosiest pair of rose coloured glasses would even consider any others.

We're all struggling to pick a Best 22 and bemoan the players we have to leave out. We equate that with us having this talent-laden, depth-filled squad with healthy competition for spots.

We're having trouble picking a Best 22 because our squad is so even. Unfortunately it is not because they're all equally good. It's because they're equally bad/bland/inexperienced or all three.

Thats pre season for you, a lot of people are fooled by the puff pieces in the meadia. Suddenly our squad is flying, training the house down etc and overladen with superbly fit talent, competition for spots in rd 1 is really tough and we have 30 first 22 players to squeeze in and the ones that miss out are desperately unlucky blah blah blah.

Just wait to reality sets in and Scott Stevens is shanking them across half back costing us goals, Symes is lollipopping the pill all over the place, Dogga has the backward handball/kick in overdrivbe and the coach has implemented a game plan that cannot be executed by anyone lower than an Olympic standard 10km runner. Most people tunes will change by Rd 3.

 

[Vader]

How many of our players would command a spot in Collingwood's 22?

Johncock
Thompson
Knights
Porplyzia
Tippett
Vince

Maybe Rutten.

Only those wearing the rosiest pair of rose coloured glasses would even consider any others.

We're all struggling to pick a Best 22 and bemoan the players we have to leave out. We equate that with us having this talent-laden, depth-filled squad with healthy competition for spots.

We're having trouble picking a Best 22 because our squad is so even. Unfortunately it is not because they're all equally good. It's because they're equally bad/bland/inexperienced or all three.

I think you can probably add Doughty to that list, but not Stevens. I'm not sure that some of our players are as talented as people on this board seem to think they are, but overall I'd have to say that inexperience is the most significant of the bad/bland/inexperienced factors you mentioned.

 

[AFC979810]

Just wait to reality sets in and Scott Stevens is shanking them across half back costing us goals, Symes is lollipopping the pill all over the place, Dogga has the backward handball/kick in overdrivbe and the coach has implemented a game plan that cannot be executed by anyone lower than an Olympic standard 10km runner. Most people tunes will change by Rd 3.

So we get rid of Steven, Symes and Dogga in addition to replacing Craigy and you will believe the preseason hype?