Changes vs Bombers?

[blues4flag]

How many time's did you get mad watching the ball coming out of our forward line, so easily, I know it pissed me right off and has done for week's now. Seriously I knew we wouldn't do anything with Fisher, Hampson and Hendo being our Forward's, and for those that didn't know it are dreamer's.
Hendo, and Hampson average's under 10 touches every game, 1 tackle, so seriously how do people on here expect us to win, Thornton kicked more goal's than them when he floated into the forward line, and I for 1 am sick of seeing Hampson and Hendo in our forward line and don't get me started on Fisher. I'll let you get back to bagging the rest of the player's because they arn't to blame going by what is writen on BF.

What bullshit. Setanta got dropped because he was doing nothing. Was misreading the flight of the ball terribly, allowing the opposition to mark or rebound with ease.

28 touches, 6 marks, 2 goals and 4 tackles in his last three games. At least half of those in thumping vs Brisbane.

Compare that to Henderson's 42 touches, 20 marks, 5 goals and 6 tackles over the same period. You tell me who deserved to be dropped.

How about Hampson's last three games? 23 touches, 8 marks, 5 goals, 6 tackles and 43 hitouts. Mightn't be doing much but he's improving steadily, kicking goals and provides a chopout as the 2nd ruck. Also both he and Henderson average far more tackles than Setanta does.

 

[Shambolic]

Hampson has been out equal top kicker in 3 of the last few matches hasnt he...whilst spending half his time in the ruck! I dont think our current form is an indictment on him at all.

 

[zeeCFC]

IN: Austin, Robinson, Armfield
OUT: Carrazzo, Scotland, Joseph

FB: Austin, Jamison, Russell
HB: Armfield, Waite, Bower
C: Simpson, Grigg, Gibbs
HF: Yarran, Henderson, Walker
FF: Betts, Fisher, Garlett
Foll: Warnock, Judd, Ellard

I/C: Hampson, Murphy, Robinson, Johnson

VS

B: McVeigh Hurley Fletcher
HB: Dempsey Hooker Hocking
C: Zaharakis Watson Colyer
HF: Monfries Neagle Reimers
F: Davey Hille Hardingham
R: Ryder Winderlich Lonergan

IC: Stanton Prismall Houli Howlett

Armfield > Davey
Bower > Monfries
Jamo > Hille
Waite > Neagle
Russell > Riemers
Austin > Hardingham

Give Murphy a run with role and tell him to attack when needed (what his opponents have been doing as of late)

AND PLEASE RATTEN, GIVE OUR MIDFIELDERS/HF'ERS SOMEONE TO KICK TO INSIDE THE 50!!!! ISOLATE FISH IN THE SQUARE AND LET HIM CLUNK A FEW!!

p.s. Try not doing the same thing we've done the past few times

Backline would be a bit tall but I trust our talls more than our smalls to do a good job.

 

[blues4flag]

Need to stop their run through the corridor else it'll be more of the same.

 

[KnaveyBlue]

Need to stop their run through the corridor else it'll be more of the same.

Expect more of the same.

Essendon's list is far inferior talent-wise, but they always show more hunger and willingness to run and work hard. They're basically our polar opposite.

 

[Sin City]

Are we going to have another banter thread mods?

 

[zeeCFC]

Need to stop their run through the corridor else it'll be more of the same.

I'd give Grigg the job(e) on Watson, Murphy on Winderlich. In regards to the game style and application....lets pray it's a mental thing that will switch on this week

I think they'll go:

Fletcher/Hurley > Fish
McVeigh > Betts
Hocking > Garlett
Dempsey > Yarran
Hooker > Walker
Hurley/Fletcher > Henderson

McVeigh a chance to tag Judd with Welsh out? who else would have that job? possibly Stanton

 

[Silvagnis]

IN: Austin, Robinson, Armfield
OUT: Carrazzo, Scotland, Joseph

Give Murphy a run with role and tell him to attack when needed (what his opponents have been doing as of late)

AND PLEASE RATTEN, GIVE OUR MIDFIELDERS/HF'ERS SOMEONE TO KICK TO INSIDE THE 50!!!! ISOLATE FISH IN THE SQUARE AND LET HIM CLUNK A FEW!!

p.s. Try not doing the same thing we've done the past few times

Backline would be a bit tall but I trust our talls more than our smalls to do a good job.

Would consider Browne if Armfield doesn't come up.

Better overhead than Joseph who has been caught short by marking smalls this year.

Is Houlihan dead?

I expect Fletcher to take Fisher, Hurley to take Henderson and Hooker to take Waite.

With Gumbleton out, Waite can play forward.

Not sure who will replace Gumbleton.

We will need our midfielders and half forwards to kick a bag if we're to win.

Therefore we will need to move it in faster and with more direction than the last round.

 

[Sin City]

I'd give Grigg the job(e) on Watson

I'd much rather Ellard goes on him.

 

[blue_chick]

What bullshit. Setanta got dropped because he was doing nothing. Was misreading the flight of the ball terribly, allowing the opposition to mark or rebound with ease.

28 touches, 6 marks, 2 goals and 4 tackles in his last three games. At least half of those in thumping vs Brisbane.

Compare that to Henderson's 42 touches, 20 marks, 5 goals and 6 tackles over the same period. You tell me who deserved to be dropped.

How about Hampson's last three games? 23 touches, 8 marks, 5 goals, 6 tackles and 43 hitouts. Mightn't be doing much but he's improving steadily, kicking goals and provides a chopout as the 2nd ruck. Also both he and Henderson average far more tackles than Setanta does.

Oh really against what team's, the bottom of the ladder side

We saw what they can do against real opposition didn't we, and pls don't give me stat's because all that showed was they pulled their finger's out in the last qtr as per usual.

We forget what Setanta done, against real opposition before his calf strain, didn't he kick 5. then was playing injured.

The few game's he didn't get much stat's as you put it was because he was the main focus up forward attracking more than 1 defender, but that allowed the 3 little guy's to do what they do best, in the Brissy game, the only time I saw that with Hendo and Hampson was last week against the bottom side, after half time, so pls don't put ticket's on them, because they are useless in the forward line. Why don't you give me stat's of what they done in the first 3 qtrs, and how many goal's they kicked, and not only in this game, since Setanta has been out, bet you it's a different story to the stat's your putting up now.

If that is our forward line expect to be thumped from now on with them in it. That is what makes me very sad, that we pin our hope's on them.

 

[Shambolic]

Would consider Browne if Armfield doesn't come up.

Better overhead than Joseph who has been caught short by marking smalls this year.

Browne would be 5 metres behind????

 

[Silvagnis]

Did Johnson struggle to keep pace with one of our quicker players on the weekend?

Pace is overrated if you can read the play and get in the right position to spoil.

Oh really against what team's, the bottom of the ladder side

We saw what they can do against real opposition didn't we, and pls don't give me stat's because all that showed was they pulled their finger's out in the last qtr as per usual.

We forget what Setanta done, against real opposition before his calf strain, didn't he kick 5. then was playing injured.

The few game's he didn't get much stat's as you put it was because he was the main focus up forward attracking more than 1 defender, but that allowed the 3 little guy's to do what they do best, in the Brissy game, the only time I saw that with Hendo and Hampson was last week against the bottom side, after half time, so pls don't put ticket's on them, because they are useless in the forward line. Why don't you give me stat's of what they done in the first 3 qtrs, and how many goal's they kicked, and not only in this game, since Setanta has been out, bet you it's a different story to the stat's your putting up now.

If that is our forward line expect to be thumped from now on with them in it. That is what makes me very sad, that we pin our hope's on them.

Go back to Facebook.

 

[Shambolic]

Im not a member of Facebook.

Im allowed to question a statement about football made on a football forum.

The main reason why Browne is languishing in the reserves is his lack of speed. Would you really play him on small forwards? Even when played in the seniors this year, he was played as a half forward - he is not currently able to play on small forwards.

This is why Joseph continues to be picked ahead of Browne.

 

[Silvagnis]

That comment wasn't directed at you...

Couldn't be any worse than Joseph at the moment.

Hasn't had much of a go to prove himself in that position this year.

 

[Shambolic]

That comment wasn't directed at you...

Couldn't be any worse than Joseph at the moment.

Hasn't had much of a go to prove himself in that position this year.

Understood - you'd edited your post.

I think that's because they're saying he physically cant do it. I wouldnt want to see that change as I just dont think he can fill that role. Particularly not against Davey, Monfries etc.

 

[Bluebear]

OUTS:
Henderson(go back find form) - form? CAn we add Murphy, Gibbs, Russell, Jamison amongst many others that list? The sooner we get Hendo to 80 odd games the better. He stays unless there is some "gun forward" tearing it up in the two's.
Carrazzo(turns ball over too much) - again, how many players do we add to this list. Simpson high on my list as sus under pressure ATM. Gibbs and Murphy wouldn't survive this criteria either
Bower(still underdone) - in what sense? Surely if he is underdone after 3 weeks in the seniors, he is either still injured, or is on the verge of hitting form.
Fisher (too slow) - wow, so take out Hendo and Fisher......exactly who is going to take a mark at CHF or I50?
Ellard(doesn't deserve to be dropped but will be) - scapegoat? fair enough.

Lets get a structure built around Waite at Full Forward(staying put) - because prior to this week he'd shown so much at FF or CHF right?

Setanta(CHF at least will bring to ground and fight hard) - well his last month of senior footy would suggest otherwise which is why he was dropped
Hampson(FP right next to Waite out of square)
Wiggins(HF leading up wings) - won't play senior footy again. Move on.

Out: Ellard, ?too many options.
In: Robbo/Browne/Armfield (if fit) - all add some hardness to the contest

Unless form in the magoos has been so strong, I'm not sure finding a scapegoat here is the answer. They need to cop this as a group and lift.
If they can't, Ratten is in trouble. Not for game plan, structure, selections.........but if they don't respond to him this week then he has lost the group. The rest won't matter.

 

[Stamos]

Ellard should go to Watson. AJ to Davey.
And someone needs to make Fletcher accountable. Could be Fish, could be someone else, but it has to happen. Harry O'Brien has killed us in both games this year, being mismatched on Betts, and Fletcher is capable of something similar.

Other than these 3 match ups, we just need to be hard at the ball and give our players protection and we should be able to win. Wether or not that happens, who knows.

 

[The Toad]

If they can't, Ratten is in trouble. Not for game plan, structure, selections.........but if they don't respond to him this week then he has lost the group. The rest won't matter.

This is my main concern. If this is what is going on, then I think he may be in some serious shite. He shouldn't be, but.........

 

[blue_chick]

Did Johnson struggle to keep pace with one of our quicker players on the weekend?

Pace is overrated if you can read the play and get in the right position to spoil.

Go back to Facebook.

So Kouta, Wallsy and I should go back to facebook because you don't agree on Setanta, great logic there man.

Why is it they can see what I have been saying for awhile now, but the best you can come up with is go back to facebook that should really help our situation.
They know Hendo isn't ready yet, and Hampson you all know what I think of him by now.

Still waiting on the stat's and how many goal's have we kicked in the first qtr's since Setanta has been out of the side, he had a couple of bad game's with 2 or 3 opponent's on him, and we stick with those 2 in the forward line and have been belted by half time, and your all happy with that.

 

[CarlosSETANTA]

One way or another, our season ends on Friday night from my point of view. It's either our last respectable contribution to the AFL season by ensuring these ***** don't make the finals, and essentially booking our spot in making up the numbers.

I reckon we'll win this one, albeit in ugly fashion. Where I think we'll succeed where St Kilda didn't, is that we have the players to tag Essendon's midfielders en masse. St Kilda didn't pay Essendon that respect, instead preferring to play the likes of Hayes and Dal Santo head to head with Watson and Stanton, and paid the price for it. In fairness to the Saints, the loss of Jones and Baker would not have made that an easy task.

For mine, it's shut down Jobe Watson, beat Essendon. Jobe's performances are somewhat lower against Carlton than compared to his career averages, last time around, we were prepared to have Kade Simpson run head to head against him, and whilst Simmo was probably our best on the night, and kicked two going the other way, I reckon Watson got the three Brownlow votes on the night. In recent years, we've tried Gibbs on him without much luck, and Grigg did a serviceable job last year before Watson went off injured, and I'd like to see Grigga get the lockdown job here too.

Stanton is another one I'd like to apply a hard tag to. He runs hard and has a massive tank, he sets up a lot of their scoring chains, and is a smart player. On the other hand, he's shown he struggles to break a tag, and is quite inconsistent. I don't think Carrazzo has the motor to go with him, and got absolutely pantsed by him last year. I'd give the job to Walker. There's no obvious matchup for him in the Essendon forward line as such, he's got the mongrel in him to frustrate Stanton at the stoppages and also run with him.

A real probing question at the moment will also be how do we stop Michael Hurley's run out of the back half? Hurley managed to rack up 30 touches and 13 marks, running off Koschitzke on Friday night, and I get the feeling that this could quite easily be another Brian Lake scenario. It's also the first time he's ever played against the Blues ("gee, you don't see that very often, do you?"). Waite has to play forward here, and play deep. No excuses. As I've said a few times this year, rewatch the tape of the Saints match and see how well he managed to keep Gilbert accountable. This has to happen again, and we didn't have that luxury against Lake.

Heath Hocking is another bloke who consistently lifts against us. Will take either Murph or Judd, and has done alright this year on the opposition's best midfielder. Am hoping it's Murph, as I think the West Coast game showed, with LeCras tearing him a new one, he can struggle one out with a smaller quicker opponent in the forward 50, as he can be found to over-rely on his teammates to give him a chop out. If he goes to Murph, we need to be willing to send him forward, and try and create the necessary space to isolate them.

Houli was probably BOG for the Bombers on Friday night, but the flaws in his game are still fairly obvious, he doesn't man up, and his disposal by foot is questionable. Put Ryan Houlihan on him, as arguably our most damaging player in terms of, ahem, "scoreboard pressure", and test this out. HOULIhan on Houli you say? What an enticing prospect.......

The Ryder/Hille conundrum is one that will, if anything, highlight how big a hole Kreuzer leaves more than any other challenge this season. While I think Warnock will certainly hold his own around the ground, I simply can't see who mans them up when one goes forward, with Waite needed up forward. Bower presents the best option for Ryder at this point, and would keep his spot based on this alone, despite his absolute shocker of a game against the Pies. Thornton is well undersized, Austin doesn't quite look right to me playing deep in defense, and would probably give Jamo first crack at Neagle. Simon White would be very handy right about now. I reckon play the third ruck, and hope we can tire them.

Monfries is another that keeps me awake at night. The diving for free kicks, the junk time goals last year and so forth. Regardless, did a hell of a job on Sam Fisher as a defensive forward on Friday night, and I expect him to go to Russell (or perhaps vice-a-versa). Should be a decent battle between the two '04 draftees.

I expect Fisher to stay in, to reprise his role as a defensive forward on Fletcher from last year. Ratten still raves about that performance, which really wasn't THAT great, but seems to have kept him in a job, along with the convenience of having a one year deal that others did not at the time. Oh well, regardless, ton up for Fish.

Joseph did a decent enough job on Zaharakis last time around to probably replicate it this time around, did a respectable job on Davis yesterday, whilst Zaharakis copped a hiding from Goddard. Otherwise, perhaps a run with role with Davey?

Will be a decent challenge for Eddie to go up against McVeigh after he towelled up Milne last week. Betts does have one thing going for him in that McVeigh is a **** of a bloke, I suppose.

So my ins and outs? Not exactly set in concrete pending the VFL game today, butttttttt........

In: Thornton, Armfield, Robinson, Jacobs, Houlihan
Out: Carrazzo, Garlett, Henderson, Johnson, Ellard

B: Thornton Jamison (Neagle) Russell (Monfries)
HB: Joseph (Zaharakis) Bower (Ryder) Scotland (unaccountable)
C: Walker (Stanton) Judd (Prismall) Grigg (Watson)
HF: Houlihan (Houli) Waite (Hurley) Yarran (Reimers)
F: Betts (McVeigh) Hampson (Hooker) Fisher (Fletcher)
R: Warnock (Hille) Murphy (Hocking) Simpson (Lonergan)
INT: Armfield, Robinson, Jacobs, Gibbs (definitely 22nd man)

 

[Blue since 72]

IN: Thornton, Austin, Houlihan, Armfield
OUT: Gibbs, Johnson, Joseph, Carrazzo

Reckon this might actually happen. Played FF on the weekend on a crap day when the team kicked a total of two goals (he kicked one) so shouldn't be too tired.

I'd assume Hoops and Army will be automatic if ready but I'll take advice on the outs as I haven't seen the game and don't plan to.

One other thing though; I read that Davis out marked Joesph on a number of occasions. This has been happening a bit lately with Joseph and the opposition appear to have figured where to drag him; ie their forward line.

AJ did some good runs down the wing during the Eagles game, has pace and delivered the footy well. If he stays in the side maybe its time to release him somewhat and see if he can use his pace to attack.

 

[Bluebear]

This is my main concern. If this is what is going on, then I think he may be in some serious shite. He shouldn't be, but.........

My thoughts exactly.

First Pagan, now Ratten.

Should we just get the players to pick the next coach?

 

[Sin City]

66 hit outs?

whale oil beef hooked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jeremias]

66 hitouts? Fair effort, that!

If he does come in though, who goes out for him?

Surely not Warnock who played his best game for the club on the weekend.

Hampson was also quite good and doesn't deserve to be dropped on that performance.

And I certainly can't see us going in with 3 ruckmen against a team that has, of late, absolutely belted us with their run all over the park.

 

[Sin City]

Hope they all sit down and watch the '99 prelim during the week and see how far a team can go when they play with balls and heart.