dropping army

[Dikfeld]

I'll give you all a tip. Better players than Armfield have been dropped in the past and will be in the future.

Yeah thats true but how can they drop army and keep joseph in? Joseph got absolutely r*ped by his man on the wkend! and hes been beaten by his opponent several times this year... Don't thik you could find many times where army has been beaten... He played on several players on the wkend and spent a shitload of time on campbell who got 5 touches....

 

[Salaryman]

this is one theory...just a theory (independent of lasts weeks performances).....that with Walker, JR, Gibbs and PB back (all providing run out of D50), there was only one spot for a small stopper to go to Ballantyne. frodo is small and nippy with dancing feet and can turn on a dime....with the sort of jobs AJ has done on Ablett in the past (and his following agility), they might see him as a better match up on Ballantyne.

 

[blueboy25]

it's an interesting one, I thought he should have at least played a game in the two's last week to get some touch back before pressing for selection this week.

The blokes coming in are not too shabby either

 

[Dikfeld]

this is one theory...just a theory (independent of lasts weeks performances).....that with Walker, JR, Gibbs and PB back, there was only one spot for a small stopper to go to Ballantyne. frodo is small and nippy with dancing feet and can turn on a dime....with the sort of jobs AJ has done on Ablett in the past (and his following agility), they might see him as a better match up on Ballantyne.

Last game in perth where they against freo ballantyne ran rings around jospeh several times and with the form ballantyne is in i can see that happening this week... and if this does happen then who are they going to move to him?

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

^ Haha I swear this guy is Armfield's manager (Do they get a cut from match fees?!)

But I totally agree, Armfield isn't necessarily a stopper - the more games we get into him, the more dimensions he will add to his play - this is very very rare to find a player who is so willing to take on new responsibilities and really evolve his game.

 

[Bluebear]

I'd like to know the MCs reasoning... I struggle to believe it's due to some imbalance he causes - he is solid defensively and has really developed an offensive side to his game, he is becoming a weapon in his own right off of HBF.

I'll say off the bat that I love Army and would have him in my best 22 anyday, however, I'm not shocked that he was dropped.

On SEN on Tuesday Ratts spoke about our turnovers from the backline costing us early, and our confidence to run from the backline was down.

Unfortunately for Army he is not the most reliable kick (yes, neither is Walker or Russell) and he struggled to run off his man Friday night.
While he wasn't alone, he did just come back from injury. Maybe the MC felt he needed a week in the two's to get back into top form.

Lucas was always coming in for Browne, and Thornton is lucky Setanta is out because Bower would have squeezed him out this week IMO.

Lets see how he responds.

Just another take on this as well.
It's possible the MC have dropped a player they feel can do much better and will respond to being dropped. They could have dropped Thornton, but there's little point unless we have a long term replacement ready, as he clearly didn't respond to being dropped, and is unlikely to improve this late in his career.
Army might just be getting a tiny kick in the bum to say we need 100% every week, and coming off an injury is no excuse.
You could argue this for a number of players, but maybe not all are capable of producing better results with such a kick in the bum.

Just a thought.

 

[TOPBLUE_25]

Last game in perth where they against freo ballantyne ran rings around jospeh several times and with the form ballantyne is in i can see that happening this week... and if this does happen then who are they going to move to him?

Walker, Jamo I guess.

 

[Salaryman]

Last game in perth where they against freo ballantyne ran rings around jospeh several times and with the form ballantyne is in i can see that happening this week... and if this does happen then who are they going to move to him?

I don't recall the game, but If he was playing that well whose to say he wouldn't have run rings around Army too? You can't really plan for a game with plan B's for every eventuality, at some stage you have to worry about your relative advantages and playing to those. Don't get me wrong, I'm an Army fan, I was just proposing a theory

 

[blue gunslinger]

Last game in perth where they against freo ballantyne ran rings around jospeh several times and with the form ballantyne is in i can see that happening this week... and if this does happen then who are they going to move to him?

Austin was reported for striking Frodo- I think he had him most of the time at Subi

 

[starchamber]

I mean, they are good in's so its not like Army is making way for a spud, but still.....you would think that on form Joseph should have been dropped before him.

I'm willing to give Joseph another go but he better perform a bit better.I think Armfield was put in far too early.I don't think his a player who can just get in the side after several weeks out.The only players are like that are key players.I still have a doubt on Bower only because his missed a lot of games.Paul Bower is a great player but his missed a lot of games in a row.

 

[Dikfeld]

Austin was reported for striking Frodo- I think he had him most of the time at Subi

Ah ok well jospeh still definitely spent some time on him... unless my memory is very bad but i dont think it is lol however I guess we have to hope joseph does the job I spose and if not then he has to be dropped next week no question about it... gonna have to play our best to win though considering freo are coming off a loss...

 

[starchamber]

He's right

Out: O'hAilpin (calf), Browne, Robinson, Armfield
In: Bower, Henderson, Lucas, Yarran

Robinson is probably the biggest lost when he plays good he does well just inconsistent at the moment.

 

[starchamber]

Ah ok well jospeh still definitely spent some time on him... unless my memory is very bad but i dont think it is lol however I guess we have to hope joseph does the job I spose and if not then he has to be dropped next week no question about it... gonna have to play our best to win though considering freo are coming off a loss...

Joseph won't get dropped as we have a bye next week.He might get a game for the bullants if they play next week and probably play for us the week after.I think he have to play poor after the break now to get dropped.

 

[Canyouhearthedrums]

this is one theory...just a theory (independent of lasts weeks performances).....that with Walker, JR, Gibbs and PB back (all providing run out of D50), there was only one spot for a small stopper to go to Ballantyne. frodo is small and nippy with dancing feet and can turn on a dime....with the sort of jobs AJ has done on Ablett in the past (and his following agility), they might see him as a better match up on Ballantyne.

Surely Gibbs goes back to the midfield full time now though? Don't need him back there with the other three you've mentioned...Unless we're planning on playing some form of mighty ducks flying V out of the backline.

 

[Blue since 72]

this is one theory...just a theory (independent of lasts weeks performances).....that with Walker, JR, Gibbs and PB back (all providing run out of D50), there was only one spot for a small stopper to go to Ballantyne. frodo is small and nippy with dancing feet and can turn on a dime....with the sort of jobs AJ has done on Ablett in the past (and his following agility), they might see him as a better match up on Ballantyne.

AJ has proven he's a quality tagger but you would concede that tagging in the midfield and negating a nippy small forward require somewhat different skills. Thomas turned AJ inside out last week and Ballantyne is another nippy little shit so for mine I would have preferred Army doing the job. Reckon he's proven himself in this posi and if guns says he's fit he'll be fit.

If AJ is being put on the small forwards for development or maybe a rest from running all over the ground then fine but the last game before the break being a must win is not the time to do it.

Probably will never know but would love to hear the mc's reasoning behind picking AJ over Army.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Ah ok well jospeh still definitely spent some time on him... unless my memory is very bad but i dont think it is lol however I guess we have to hope joseph does the job I spose and if not then he has to be dropped next week no question about it... gonna have to play our best to win though considering freo are coming off a loss...

considering all the beers EBIAC poured down my throat - but we spent most of the day abusing Frodo and Aussie did get reported for striking him. They were at it for most of the day

 

[Blue Dimension]

I didn't get to watch the game against North as I was away for the weekend, but was his game seriously THAT bad to warrant being dropped. Considering the strides forward Armfield has taken this year I am absolutely bewildered as to why he has been dropped. Terrible decision imo. He's in the best 22 and deserves his place.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Just beat Freo and all is forgiven!

 

[Blue since 72]

Surely Gibbs goes back to the midfield full time now though? Don't need him back there with the other three you've mentioned...Unless we're planning on playing some form of mighty ducks flying V out of the backline.

This is gold.

And agreed, Hopefully Gibbs back to the midfield where Jacobs can give him some more silver service.... oh thats right, I forgot we're playing Sandi. However Ratts did say the same re Gibbs so lets see if he's true to his word.

 

[The_JUDDERNAUT]

I can tell you the lad is one unhappy person at the moment
and I am talking Army

Then he should learn to deal with it. Its the Carlton football club and to get a game you have to be playing at 100%, i really like army but if hes dissapointed at being dropped he shouldnt run his mouth off, he should go back to the 2's and focus his dissapointment and get the best out of himself. no ones bigger than the club and no one should expect to play week in week out.

 

[Blue since 72]

Then he should learn to deal with it. Its the Carlton football club and to get a game you have to be playing at 100%, i really like army but if hes dissapointed at being dropped he shouldnt run his mouth off, he should go back to the 2's and focus his dissapointment and get the best out of himself. no ones bigger than the club and no one should expect to play week in week out.

I'm sure guns will come back to you on this but Army wouldn't be shooting his mouth off, this has come from another source. Having said that I'm sure he's not the first player to be disappointed at being dropped but there is hardly any inference that he's sulking and has thrown his toys out of the cot.

 

[starchamber]

I didn't get to watch the game against North as I was away for the weekend, but was his game seriously THAT bad to warrant being dropped. Considering the strides forward Armfield has taken this year I am absolutely bewildered as to why he has been dropped. Terrible decision imo. He's in the best 22 and deserves his place.

Some players need to be drop for players to come in.Henderson had to come in for The Irish.Yarran for another small forward,Bower for defence.Lucas is a top 10 pick or near it should be getting games as much.Lucas has height to play down back,the middle up forward.Armfield didn't play that bad but the only option is to replace Carrazzo,Scotland who are doing not too bad or drop Joseph.They all may play a few quiet ones but for not long.

 

[The_JUDDERNAUT]

I'm sure guns will come back to you on this but Army wouldn't be shooting his mouth off, this has come from another source. Having said that I'm sure he's not the first player to be disappointed at being dropped but there is hardly any inference that he's sulking and has thrown his toys out of the cot.

yeah fair enough, i just think we shouldnt act as if a player is above the club and hopefully dennis can put his head down and become a better player.

 

[Salaryman]

AJ has proven he's a quality tagger but you would concede that tagging in the midfield and negating a nippy small forward require somewhat different skills. Thomas turned AJ inside out last week and Ballantyne is another nippy little shit so for mine I would have preferred Army doing the job. Reckon he's proven himself in this posi and if guns says he's fit he'll be fit.

If AJ is being put on the small forwards for development or maybe a rest from running all over the ground then fine but the last game before the break being a must win is not the time to do it.

Probably will never know but would love to hear the mc's reasoning behind picking AJ over Army.

I don't see why it should, other than any difficulties matching up with somebody who is stronger overhead, and perhaps being more conscious of being goal side of your opponent...otherwise I don't see massive differences. Perhaps Carrazzo is doing such a good job week-in, week-out the MC see AJ's future down back...which might push Army out to competing with Bower, JR and Gibbs for a spot. While our midfield is strong I still see the advantages of using Bryce's decision making and ball use off HB

 

[Harcourt]

I watched the game on tv and reckon that Army suffered a few moments when his hearing was very acute.Seemed to hear footsteps that weren't even there.I have liked Army this year but reckon he may be having a run in the Bullys to regain his intensity and composure.