Carlton Backline:

[Crippa#9]

Backline is starting to look a little settled, although the genuine back pocket and back flank positions is still up for debate. Ideally I guess i would like:

B: R.Hadley M.Jamison B.Thornton

HB: H.Scotland J.Waite D.Pfieffer

Ok, we have 4 genuine talls in Jamison, Thornton, Waite and O'Halipan which if we were playing a tall forward side like Hawthorn or St Kilda would be ideal. Others in the mix are

Anderson: Toss up between he and Hadley. I would choose Ando to play on the likes of the Milnes, Davis'. Farmer's etc. Perhaps would like to see Hadley off half back as he has strength, a penetrating and very accurate kick, however I have Pfieffer there at this stage

Bower: Does alot of nice things although still looks unsure of himself but is improving well and I was pretty impressed with his effort last night (I hate the 1950's handpass he has going!)

Grigg: Has shown in our last couple of hitouts good composure down back

Armfield: I like him, although Rodan taught him a lesson last night particularly at the stoppages in Port's forward line.

Browne: Big wrap on him, but perhaps needs 12 months

Austin - Needs more time but shows good KPP potential

Benjamin - Needs time but another that will be great to see tearing off the half back in years to come

Saddington & Bannister - will need to rely on injuries I suspect

p.s - my best 22 are as follows:

B: Hadley Jamison Thornton

HB: Scotland Waite Pfieffer

C: Simpson Stevens Walker

HF: Houlihan Fisher Gibbs

FF: Betts Fevola Kreuzer

Foll: Hampson, Judd, Murphy

Int: Carrazzo, S.O'Halipan, Cloke, Russell

emerg: Bower, Grigg, Anderson, Armfield.

no doubt this will change by Rd.1!

 

[Sam The Doc]

i want Thornton in the forward line for a few more matches to see how he goes.Seeing him kicking goals was odd and funny but maybe its time he explores a forward position??

 

[Blueinblood]

thornton for FP! or CHF

 

[marcmurphy3]

Grigg instead of Hadley in the BP. HAdley will play midfield if he plays. To slow to play back these days. Grigg is also better by foot and faster which will help us on the rebound.

 

[Beloved]

thornton for FP! or CHF

If anything, it would have to be forward pocket or acting full forward. When he had opportunities to get he ball while on the HF line, the opportunities went missing where as when while he was deep in the forward line, he got himself two goals.

 

[Sam The Doc]

If anything, it would have to be forward pocket or acting full forward. When he had opportunities to get he ball while on the HF line, the opportunities went missing where as when while he was deep in the forward line, he got himself two goals.

yea exactly,forward pocket it would have to be

 

[Will.B.Worth.Da.Waite]

Bower has to be in the starting line-up imo. Has all the makings of a star. Height, speed, and will bulk up even more. Just needs to be more accountable, and he showed good signs yesterday that he's improving in that area

 

[marcmurphy3]

Bower has to be in the starting line-up imo. Has all the makings of a star. Height, speed, and will bulk up even more. Just needs to be more accountable, and he showed good signs yesterday that he's improving in that area

I have Grigg ahead of him purely because Grigg has much better disposal and decision making

 

[HBF]

It's very heartening that we now have some options in the backline. Still pretty inexperienced, but there are some good signs there. Bower and Jamo did pretty well there yesterday, as did Waite, and Thornton is also well and truly in the mix. Carlos was injured, and Austin is an up-and-comer. And that's just the talls.

We have a plethora of smalls that can play back as well. All good signs for the football club.

 

[BahrBlue25]

Setanta is in the starting 18. Too valuable to be wasted on the bench. I also agree with WBWDWaite that Bower is going to be a very decent long term prospect. He has more courage than most and we need him in our backline.

 

[Dominator68]

Err - Carrots on the bench? I don't think so.

 

[Crippa#9]

you underrate the interchange. It was eithr Murph or Carrazzo starting on the ball.

Every midfielder is rotated on and off the bench about twice a quarter remember....

 

[XXX KINGS]

My starting back 6:

B Thornton S O'hailpin M Jamison
A Walker J Waite H Scotland

Bower to start on the bench and rotate with the other talls, Grigg and probably a few others to rotate with the two half backs.

 

[Blue Dawn]

My starting back 6:

B Thornton S O'hailpin M Jamison
A Walker J Waite H Scotland

Bower to start on the bench and rotate with the other talls, Grigg and probably a few others to rotate with the two half backs.

That FB line is too big. Nearly every week we'll have to man up on a small in a pocket. We'll rarely be able to get away with playing all four of Waite, T-Bird, Jammo AND Setanta down back at once. Overall, it is definitely starting to reach the stage where we might actually have a few selection headaches down back - who'd have thunk it!?

 

[Blueinblood]

BP: Setanta Jamison Grigg
HB: Scotland Waite Walker

To be honest there is no such thing as a designated FB anymore..... basically u have 3 talls 1 medium and 2 smalls.. The backline will vary each week depending on the opponent.... i mean if we play dogs we wont have 4 talls in defence

 

[XXX KINGS]

That FB line is too big. Nearly every week we'll have to man up on a small in a pocket. We'll rarely be able to get away with playing all four of Waite, T-Bird, Jammo AND Setanta down back at once. Overall, it is definitely starting to reach the stage where we might actually have a few selection headaches down back - who'd have thunk it!?

It is pretty difficult and the only reason I suggested the 4 talls is because I think Jamison and Thornton are quite versatile in being able to play on the smaller forwards like Didak and Medhurst succesfully etc.

It begs the question of what we should do with someone like Mark Austin. Would it be out of the question to try and develop him to play CHF because the few times I saw him play up in the forward line last year for the bullants he was quite impressive.

I'm very happy to see Waite permanently at CHB also as I was campaigning to have him play there for a while, he has all the tools to be a gun for us there.

 

[Blue Dawn]

It is pretty difficult and the only reason I suggested the 4 talls is because I think Jamison and Thornton are quite versatile in being able to play on the smaller forwards like Didak and Medhurst succesfully etc.

It begs the question of what we should do with someone like Mark Austin. Would it be out of the question to try and develop him to play CHF because the few times I saw him play up in the forward line last year for the bullants he was quite impressive.

I'm very happy to see Waite permanently at CHB also as I was campaigning to have him play there for a while, he has all the tools to be a gun for us there.

We definitely need to maintain our versatility and run from the backline. Hartlett's lack of fitness does possibly put a new slant on what was otherwise looking like another development year for Austin. You're right, he did play well up forward on a couple of occasions that i saw last year for the Bullants, but his lack of intensity when i've seen at training has left me undewhelmed!

 

[Bluebear]

B: S. Grigg S. O'hAilpin M.Jamison

HB: H.Scotland J.Waite P. Bower


I think having Grigg instead of Hadley and Bower instead of Pfieffer will add a lot of pace which we will need with Scotty down there. Armfield a smoky for BP on the small forwads.
Would like to see more of Thornton at CHF in the NAB cup but he looked quite good.......jury still out.

C: Simpson Stevens Murphy

HF: Fisher Thornton Gibbs

FF: Betts Fevola Houlihan

Foll: Cloke, Judd, Carrazzo

Int: Walker, Kreuzer, Hampson, Pfieffer

emerg: Russell, Hadley, Anderson, Armfield.