List breakdown

[Silvagnis]

I hope you have boomarked all the Walker is a dud threads ready for his much improved 2006 season Cypher?
Stanton>>>Walker
Sylvia>>Walker
Ray>>Walker
Trotter>>Walker
Walker is the worst number 2 pick ever.

I'm still amusing myself by reading Tambling>Murphy and Who was better:1995 v 2000?

The Walker bashing will start on February 25 and Denis's head will be called for when Lance is moved back because he can't mark or kick.

TheHeatleyStand's idea for Lance, Fev and Houla is an interesting one.

 

[mojo31]

I'm still amusing myself by reading Tambling>Murphy and Who was better:1995 v 2000?

The Walker bashing will start on February 25 and Denis's head will be called for when Lance is moved back because he can't mark or kick.

TheHeatleyStand's idea for Lance, Fev and Houla is an interesting one.

Like I have said a few times now its really hard to see where Lance fits into the long term plan.
Has to be moved back to find a spot for him and then Kennedy is to come in and Bower next year and Hartlett (maybe).
Fev is a bit different with no real contender yet for the FF spot but Fisher/Hartlett and Setanta all get goes at training and in macthes so maybe 1 of those will develop in a long term FF. Hartlett for me has the physcial size and skills to play the position.
Then if we get another likely KPP in the first pick of the next draft only adds to it. Edwards also to come in maybe at the end of the year.
To many talls and not enough pace and skills.
Lopsided list that needs to be addressed in the trade/draft.

Anyway whats your point about Tambling? He is better than Murph.
Murphy is soft and unaccountable and a flat track bully.

You are talking about Justin Murphy right?

 

[OZBomb]

Anyway whats your point about Tambling? He is better than Murph.
Murphy is soft and unaccountable and a flat track bully.

You are talking about Justin Murphy right?

I think it's Richard Tambling versus Murphy Brown... She probably had better hamstrings...

 

[Silvagnis]

Like I have said a few times now its really hard to see where Lance fits into the long term plan.
Has to be moved back to find a spot for him and then Kennedy is to come in and Bower next year and Hartlett (maybe).
Fev is a bit different with no real contender yet for the FF spot but Fisher/Hartlett and Setanta all get goes at training and in macthes so maybe 1 of those will develop in a long term FF. Hartlett for me has the physcial size and skills to play the position.
Then if we get another likely KPP in the first pick of the next draft only adds to it. Edwards also to come in maybe at the end of the year.
To many talls and not enough pace and skills.
Lopsided list that needs to be addressed in the trade/draft.

Is Gibbs super quick?

I remember hearing Dwayne Russell comparing him to Bradley.

Anyway whats your point about Tambling? He is better than Murph.
Murphy is soft and unaccountable and a flat track bully.

You are talking about Justin Murphy right?

No, I was being racist and talking about Chris Egan.

 

[mojo31]

Is Gibbs super quick?

I remember hearing Dwayne Russell comparing him to Bradley.

No, I was being racist and talking about Chris Egan.

Gibbs is not really quick. One query I have on him is that his body is pretty well devloped and the "16 year old playing senior football tag" keeps getting thrown around. He looks like he is 18 or so and might not have as much physical improvement in him as others.
A bit like a Whitnall who when he came in was ready to play but never really improved. Now Gibbs is a pretty decent athlete but is not a freak like Tambling/Walker/Deledio/Judd with there athleticism.

Cypher>>>Dwayne Russell.

I think he meant that Gibbs is playing senior football at a young age like Bradley was.

For whats its worth

Sammy Sheldon>>>Gibbs

 

[mojo31]

I think it's Richard Tambling versus Murphy Brown... She probably had better hamstrings...

Murphy Brown (aka Candice Bergen) is on that Boston Legal show.

Rhona Mitra>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Richard Tambling.

 

[Silvagnis]

Gibbs is not really quick. One query I have on him is that his body is pretty well devloped and the "16 year old playing senior football tag" keeps getting thrown around. He looks like he is 18 or so and might not have as much physical improvement in him as others.

Gibbs simply has to be the best available because he's playing senior SANFL footy even though Hansen doesn't have this option.

Didn't Murray Vance play senior footy when he was 16?

He really kicked on once the others caught up to him.

Cypher>>>Dwayne Russell.

Is Dwayne Russell Toots Hibbert or JUBJUB?

I think he meant that Gibbs is playing senior football at a young age like Bradley was.

For whats its worth

Sammy Sheldon>>>Gibbs

Tommi Johnston>>>Gibbs

 

[TheHeatleyStand]

To me Hartlett will show his worth when he plays FF.

I dont agree with turning Hartlett into a defender...

I just think Daniher should teach him where to lead and he will take his 5 or 6 marks.. with his kicking prowess he will convert most of those.

Then you can look at what to do with the Fev.(at the end of the year for a good pick... if Hartlett shows promise at FF)

 

[Blue70]

I am quite happy about Walker being earmarked for a HBF position. Up until now he has been all over the place and has had no consistency. This gives him some surety about where he will play each week, will give him more game time, will allow him to use his marking strength and rebound from defence. I believe that players need to go through an education process first and then move into the more difficult positions. Consider Brett Ratten and Kouta they both played defense before playing their best football.

 

[WTTF]

I am quite happy about Walker being earmarked for a HBF position. Up until now he has been all over the place and has had no consistency. This gives him some surety about where he will play each week, will give him more game time, will allow him to use his marking strength and rebound from defence. I believe that players need to go through an education process first and then move into the more difficult positions. Consider Brett Ratten and Kouta they both played defense before playing their best football.

FWIT, Kouta was tried at CHB post '95, where he was All Australian on the Wing. From memory, it was around the time his old man passed away and his form slumped as a result, so they slotted him in at CHB to try and turn his form around.

Agree that we need to settle Walker down into a position and leave him there. Whilst not unhappy with him on a HBF, think I'd prefer him on a Wing full time.

I really do hope that we can settle down the back 6 week in week out, instead of having a couple of different faces there each week, as has been the case for the past few years. The basis of any good team is a settled defense.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I dont disagree with you Surrey. For me Lance should be played forward and Andrew is a natural wing who is physically ready for that role now.
If they want some run back there then play Jordan Russell back or McGrath who can give some rebound. Carrazzo can also do the job and then move into the midfield and McGrath/Russell brought off the bench as a rebounding defender for the roatation.

Exactly Mojo.

 

[mojo31]

Brendan Fevola

Key Forward

25 years old. 102 AFL games.
19 games in 2005.

Strengths: Brendan Fevola is a match winner on his day. He has very good speed for a full forward and is extremely quick over the first few steps. Has a huge body and is strong and powerful. Good hands and is a 1 grab player on the lead. Enormous kick of the ball and under pressure his kicking technique and set shot holds up (unlike Tarrant for example).
Accuracy is improving and is a magnificent field kick and at least the equal of anybody at Carlton. Averaged 60 goals the last 3 year despite being in a bottom side and with the best defender assigned to him every week. Pretty decent when the ball is below his knees when the mood takes him. Naturally aggressive player who loves to knock players over.

Weaknesses: Attitude is the problem with Fevola. To hot and cold and sucked in by opponents and his chasing and pressure can be non existent at times.
Short for a key position player at 188cms (don’t believe the website figure) and means when the ball is bombed onto his head he struggles to take an overhead mark. Not a great contested mark and mainly goals from the lead. So he needs the ball to advantage to really shine and needs space to lead. Something opposition teams will not allow and will play a loose man or drop the ruck back to clog things up. The Wizard Cup of 2005 with 1 on 1 football and open space for Fevola (and Lance) will never be allowed and an alternative needs to be found.

Comment: Had a great 2003 and 2004 and won many games for the Blues. 2005 saw him in the headlines all year for the wrong reasons. Contract negotiations and wanting a 3 year deal. The ‘public face” of Carlton, gouging, John Nicolls comments, Peter Schwab/tribunal controversy, Footy Show clown show, poor preparation and a groin injury. Brendan did not prepare himself well and was more interested in the limelight and going up to Sydney to watch boxing rather than do the recovery sessions. Pretty obvious early on he a groin problem and was constantly flexing and stretching it in games. Was forced to pass off a number of times and to kick the ball very low instead of his usual post high plus kicks for goal. Anything over 40m was a real struggle and he lost pace, had no second efforts and opponents ran off him at will.
Prior to getting injured he actually looked quite good and may have advanced his game some. His pressure and tackling looked better and a game in Adelaide against Rutten he chased and pressurized to great effect. Kicked 4 in a low scoring contest and beat the AA fullback easily. Then gave Scarlett a bath in the Geelong game and should have kicked 7 or 8 with more accuracy. The Darwin game against WB and Harriss he kicked 5 on 1 leg and against at least 2 opponents and sometimes 3.
Basically showed he was capable of more than matching it with the better full backs when he actually was interested, was reasonable fit and the midfield actually won its fair share of ball.
After that Carltons form only got worse, Brendan’s attitude also did and his injury became chronic.
He was determined to play on and embarrassed himself and the Blues by doing so. Maybe Denis was trying to win the battle of wills with him and teach him a lesson or the match committee wanted to use him as a decoy. Either way it did not work well and we ruined his trade value, tarnished his marketability and have set him behind in 2006 by not getting the groin and hand operations earlier.

He is a natural full forward and is a quick and hard leading player. Capable of zig zagging his leads as well as leading his opponent under the ball and taking advantage. Developed the ability to stop and prop and take a contested mark 1 on 1. Strong enough to hold onto a mark when his arms are punched. Smooth over the ground and one of the few players we have who genuinely looks to hurt players. Capable of picking the ball up with clean hands and snapping a goal as well as pinpointing a field kick with a low bullet. Magnificent touch with his kicking and can really make the ball ‘talk” depending on what he wants to do with it.
Limited by his lack of aerobic capacity and his height to really being a leading forward. If he is having a bad day there is not really much that can be done with him. Needs a better team to keep him interested. When his confidence is up and he is “the man’ he is as an exciting and flamboyant player as there is in the AFL. When things don’t go his way he is just about the worst player to watch on the flipside.
So what can be done with Brendan? Give him this year and let him be judged then. Try Hartlett, Setanta and Fisher in the full forward spots in the pre season and see how the team functions without him. Keep the media on Brendan inhouse and make no comment on him and ask Fev to do the same when he is asked.
Measure his output by his pressure and his effort rather than his goals. Use him as a decoy at times like how was done at the end of the year. When a particular player has a good match up then ask Fev to lead away from the ball. We need 3 or 4 targets in the forward line. The pressure needs to be taken off Fev and not allow teams to have players zoning off and making it impossible for him to lead in space.
When its his day then clear everyone out and let him dominate. When its not his day then look to others. If Fev wont accept this then place him on the bench. If this is repeated to often then let him play reserves. Team comes first.
Do not under any circumstances play him again when he is really struggling. Its unfair and is detrimental to all concerned.
Watching him at training he still looks the same to me. Still the larrikin and still taking short cuts. Nothing seems to change with him despite getting married and all the talk in the media from Brendan about new ways. He is a long way behind and might be ready by round 1. The operations should have all taken place straight after the season and not after getting married. Not sure who had the say in all that.

Brendan has shown he is an elite player when he wants to be. All the talent in the world wont save him at the end of the year if his attitude does not improve. Contract or not the board has had enough and only Denis saved him last time and Fev not wanting to go. A repeat will see him traded at the end of this year regardless of whether its value for money or not.


2006 : return to 60 plus goals.
Future : any more problems and he will struggle to stay at Carlton.

 

[Silvagnis]

Even though it's a bit early ,if we managed to score pick 6-10 for Fevola who would you take?

You've noted that we're stocked up on talls and ruck prospects, but is Fevola really worth a small like Jetta?

A lot of the midfielders available next year all seem to be around the 178-181 cm mark unlike Gibbs who has the size we lack in the middle. With Murphy, Bentick and Blackwell on our list we might rival Wallace's side for short people in future years!

And there seems to be plenty of tall available next year including Alex Lee! (hint, hint )

 

[mojo31]

Even though it's a bit early ,if we managed to score pick 6-10 for Fevola who would you take?

You've noted that we're stocked up on talls and ruck prospects, but is Fevola really worth a small like Jetta?

A lot of the midfielders available next year all seem to be around the 178-181 cm mark unlike Gibbs who has the size we lack in the middle. With Murphy, Bentick and Blackwell on our list we might rival Wallace's side for short people in future years!

And there seems to be plenty of tall available next year including Alex Lee! (hint, hint )

Fev would have to kick 60 and basically have no off field problems to get us a pick 6 to 10. In which case I would not trade him. I would trade Fev for pick 15 to 20 if he has a year like 2005 though and disrupts the whole team again.

Lance plus a second round pick might score us a good pick in that range. I think the value for the 2006 draft is in the 15 to 30 range. Clubs keep there 1st pick and might be preapred to trade there second round pick.
So a team like Melb and WB if they miss the finals or are not quite as good as they hope to be this year might trade a pick in that range for Lance outright.
Or if we wanted we add the second rounder to it to get a higher pick.

The only reason to do that would be (in my opinion) to get access to Leunberger and take him. If Aisake does not imrpove this year and Batson is not promoted then that might be a legitimate option.
But at this stage I really dont see any player in that range that we must have.

I see this

pick 2 Lachlan Hansen
Pick 18 Clayton Collard/O'Brien/Proud/Sherringham
Pick 34 Sammy Sheldon

as not being enough

This is not really much better

2)Hansen/Thorp
8)Leunberger or Selwood (depending on the need for a ruck)
34) Sheldon

Lance plus 2nd rounder gets us pick 8.

this is optimal

2) Hansen/Thorp
18) Proud/O'Brien
20) Sherringham/Collard
25) Urquhardt/Boak
34) Sheldon

Lance gets us pick 20. Deluca plus pick 50 gets us pick 25 (if he plays like 2004 form and Setanta shows that he is a long term AFL player this year and surpasses Deluca.

That would be how I would balance up the list. 2 talls traded for midifielders in the draft. I gun KPP (best available) and 3 midfielders plus Sheldon for Lance and Deluca.

The height problem is that they all would be taken off the start of 2005 and there clubs. For the U18s Champs they would not be measured so really most of them are 16 for the figures. In November this year those 179/81 mids are likely to be a fair bit taller almost 2 years later.

This implies that Deluca and Lance have decent seasons but are surpassed by younger players causing a glut of talls. So that would be Kenndy at CHF and Bower at CHB meaning Lance does not really have a spot to justify his wage in the future. Setanta/Hartlett take Delucas forward pocket position. Aisake or Batson improve mean Deluca cant be of much use as a ruck either.

Other possibles would be Edwards taking full back in the VFL (where Livo is likely to be) and Livo might get us a pick (more likely just a delisting for him if he does not step up)
Bryan as a possible pick (unlikely with his lack of height)

Houlihan for a pick in the 25 to 30 range perhaps (would have to have a pretty good year to get this). To attacking and not a complete game for a struggling side who need accountable hard players as well as skillful.
Teague surplus to needs and traded (more likely delisted) with development of Russell.

I would not trade Fisher or Thornton or guys like that who have never given a problem on field or off it and are fine young men.

Something like that would be what I would do.

 

[Silvagnis]

2) Hansen/Thorp
18) Proud/O'Brien
20) Sherringham/Collard
25) Urquhardt/Boak
34) Sheldon

Good scenarios there which would definitely balance out the list.

It's ridiculous to trade away Fev for an early pick unless we're after Leuenberger.

I forgot that Sheldon, etc will hopefully be taller despite Johnson_26's insistence that he hasn't grown. But I still think we have enough short players on our list and we need to find a midfielder as tall as Bartel, Dal Santo, Ricciuto or Ball.

 

[gandaal]

Mojo, from what little I saw during the u/18 championship last year I doubt Proud will be slipping down the order to 18 in this years national draft. The kid looks like genuine star material and if he isn't in the top five selected then this years group would have to be even better then what people are suggesting or Proud would have to suffer some kind of serious career threatening injury.


I reserve the right to be entirely wrong.

 

[Blue70]

FWIT, Kouta was tried at CHB post '95, where he was All Australian on the Wing. From memory, it was around the time his old man passed away and his form slumped as a result, so they slotted him in at CHB to try and turn his form around.

Agree that we need to settle Walker down into a position and leave him there. Whilst not unhappy with him on a HBF, think I'd prefer him on a Wing full time.

I really do hope that we can settle down the back 6 week in week out, instead of having a couple of different faces there each week, as has been the case for the past few years. The basis of any good team is a settled defense.

Whats with the FWIT buddy - the vocab must be limited?

Kouta's best footy came in 99 & 2000 - after he had spent time playing a key defensive role (he played most of 99 at CHB).

Ratten spent the first 4 years playing in the backline.

Houlihan has spent the past 3 years in the backline and is now considered a midfield option.

Carrazzo has played backline up until now and is being considered for a midfield position.

Jordan Russell is considered a long term midfield option and up until now has been played HBF.

Brett Delidio was played HBF last season and is considered a future midfield champion.

Akermanis spent the early part of his career playing back pocket.

Nigel Lappin spent his early days playing HBF.

Ryan Griffen was played HBF last year and he will be a midfielder.

The list goes on.... I rest my case!

 

[Funkalicous]

I like the idea of playing Walker on a half back flank. It sounds like a position. He's never had one of those before.

Ps: This is completely off-topic, but I read through that "St Kilda salary cap cheats" thread this morning, and I have to apologise for not being around yesterday. Those Saint supporters took a lot of cheap shots, and I should of been there to defend the club. Anyway, carry on.

 

[Pivot]

cant tell anything about walker's kicking with a picture, did he have pressure on him there? in a game is where he needs to be judged as with all others.

why are we even talking about trading fev? leave him there as no-one can replace him at ff. hartlett could be in time, also setanta but they havent showed enuff yet.

i agree we need more midfielders but we have a good crop of kpp which are hard to find. we'll get our chance to get 2 or 3 quicks next year. we really need to give russell, walker, simpson, carrazzo, bentick, blackwell, murphy, betts, etc a chance to develop this year.

 

[WTTF]

Whats with the FWIT buddy - the vocab must be limited?

Kouta's best footy came in 99 & 2000 - after he had spent time playing a key defensive role (he played most of 99 at CHB).

Ratten spent the first 4 years playing in the backline.

Houlihan has spent the past 3 years in the backline and is now considered a midfield option.

Carrazzo has played backline up until now and is being considered for a midfield position.

Jordan Russell is considered a long term midfield option and up until now has been played HBF.

Brett Delidio was played HBF last season and is considered a future midfield champion.

Akermanis spent the early part of his career playing back pocket.

Nigel Lappin spent his early days playing HBF.

Ryan Griffen was played HBF last year and he will be a midfielder.

The list goes on.... I rest my case!

For What It's Worth (FWIT)...........vocab is fine, thanks for asking.

Did you get up on the wrong side of bed this morning?

I wasn't disagreeing with you, just merely pointing out the fact that Kouta did play some very good footy on the wing in 1995, prior to playing in defense a few years later.

I'm well aware of the education process some players through by playing in defense early in their careers.

 

[mojo31]

Mojo, from what little I saw during the u/18 championship last year I doubt Proud will be slipping down the order to 18 in this years national draft. The kid looks like genuine star material and if he isn't in the top five selected then this years group would have to be even better then what people are suggesting or Proud would have to suffer some kind of serious career threatening injury.


I reserve the right to be entirely wrong.

Your not wrong at all Gandaal and I really rate Albert Proud as well. Just a bit confusing and what should be in the "2006 Crop" thread is now in this one.

I had Proud at 10 to 20 when I wrote him up. Next years draft is very deep but he is exactly the type we need. 18 on my hand was a tad optimistic and thats why I put up 2 players for each draft pick as a guide.
Have a look through that thread for a run down on some of the players if you like.

Cheers

 

[mojo31]

cant tell anything about walker's kicking with a picture, did he have pressure on him there? in a game is where he needs to be judged as with all others.

why are we even talking about trading fev? leave him there as no-one can replace him at ff. hartlett could be in time, also setanta but they havent showed enuff yet.

i agree we need more midfielders but we have a good crop of kpp which are hard to find. we'll get our chance to get 2 or 3 quicks next year. we really need to give russell, walker, simpson, carrazzo, bentick, blackwell, murphy, betts, etc a chance to develop this year.

- People are making comments on Walkers technique who have watched him at training and in the first practise match where it was noticable better in space and under pressure. The pic had nothing to do with it.

-We are talking about Fev because I wrote a long profile on him in this thread. Cypher then asked about trading him and another poster suggested for a top 10 pick (theHeatleyStand) and I answered as best as I could.

-Nobody can replace Fev at full foward because Brendan has played there for almost every minute of every game for the last 3 years. Maybe in the NAB cup where Fev will not be playing an alternative can start to be groomed.

- We dont have a good crop of key postion players. We have a bunch of unproven kids from the last 2 years draft. Bower, Edwards, Hartlett, Kennedy and the 2 Irish boys are just young men who we dont know how they are going to go. They could all turn out well or not.
The point being made is that when I make a senior and reserves team up (with no injuries) it is almost impossible to fit in all the talls in positions they should be playing.

For example

Talls for seniors

Forwards: Fev, Fisher, Waite and 1 of Deluca/Setanta (likely on the bench)
Backs: Thornton, Lance, Saddington
Rucks: Mclaren, French

VFL team

Forwards :Morrell (Bullants player), Deluca/Setanta, Raso, Kennedy
Backs:Bower, Livo,Flint, Edwards
Rucks:Bryan, Aisake, Batson (? or VFL reserves)

2 many talls (without injuries)

then players like Bannister cant really play as a tall. Bryan might want to develop as a forward in the VFL but where do they fit him in?

Players will only develop if they get game time in seniors or VFL and play where they need to in order to develop. It is looking hard to fit in all tall players hence my repeated theme to trade a tall or 2 to stock up on midfielders in the 2006 draft.

- Again the draft this year is exactly that Novemeber. Until then people will ask questions and specualte on what might happen. If I was not interested in discussion then I would not be on an internet sports forum.
We could all just go away and wait until the draft and discuss things after and the same thing with the season but most of us on here like to talk about football and make a few predictions.

 

[Silvagnis]

- People are making comments on Walkers technique who have watched him at training and in the first practise match where it was noticable better in space and under pressure. The pic had nothing to do with it.

-We are talking about Fev because I wrote a long profile on him in this thread. Cypher then asked about trading him and another poster suggested for a top 10 pick (theHeatleyStand) and I answered as best as I could.

-Nobody can replace Fev at full foward because Brendan has played there for almost every minute of every game for the last 3 years. Maybe in the NAB cup where Fev will not be playing an alternative can start to be groomed.

- We dont have a good crop of key postion players. We have a bunch of unproven kids from the last 2 years draft. Bower, Edwards, Hartlett, Kennedy and the 2 Irish boys are just young men who we dont know how they are going to go. They could all turn out well or not.
The point being made is that when I make a senior and reserves team up (with no injuries) it is almost impossible to fit in all the talls in positions they should be playing.

For example

Talls for seniors

Forwards: Fev, Fisher, Waite and 1 of Deluca/Setanta (likely on the bench)
Backs: Thornton, Lance, Saddington
Rucks: Mclaren, French

VFL team

Forwards :Morrell (Bullants player), Deluca/Setanta, Raso, Kennedy
Backs:Bower, Livo,Flint, Edwards
Rucks:Bryan, Aisake, Batson (? or VFL reserves)

2 many talls (without injuries)

then players like Bannister cant really play as a tall. Bryan might want to develop as a forward in the VFL but where do they fit him in?

Players will only develop if they get game time in seniors or VFL and play where they need to in order to develop. It is looking hard to fit in all tall players hence my repeated theme to trade a tall or 2 to stock up on midfielders in the 2006 draft.

- Again the draft this year is exactly that Novemeber. Until then people will ask questions and specualte on what might happen. If I was not interested in discussion then I would not be on an internet sports forum.
We could all just go away and wait until the draft and discuss things after and the same thing with the season but most of us on here like to talk about football and make a few predictions.

My bad!

I think we should trade Fev for a top ten pick if he doesn't improve his attitude, tackling, etc next year. But, I only want the club to do that if they're thinking about taking Gibbs with our first pick and another gun tall with the pick we receive for Fev. Tons

********! I've just taken the thread off topic again.

 

[mojo31]

My bad!

I think we should trade Fev for a top ten pick if he doesn't improve his attitude, tackling, etc next year. But, I only want the club to do that if they're thinking about taking Gibbs with our first pick and another gun tall with the pick we receive for Fev. Tons

********! I've just taken the thread off topic again.

Cypher,

I know what you meant mate. You dont want him traded unless he is like 2005. A problem child. Then its not a case of improving the list or a strategic thing but a case of a rottern apple making everyone bad. That was Fev in 2005. If his attitude improves and his form is like 2003/4 then you, theheatletstand and myslef I dont think want him traded.
He is a matchwinner but we cant have him saying things at the best and fairest, making a goose of himself on the footy show, peter schwab comments, playing when injured, eye gouging and so on.
If he plays well has the "occassional" sook on the field but basically is okay then I want him kept.

For mine Fev has a touch of the Alistair Lynch about him. Power athlete playing full forward and not to much wear and tear on his body (please no jungle juice jokes ) He could well play 8 more years and improve bit by bit if his attitude picks up. Lance on the other hand has had a lot of wear on his body from CHF nad extra weight and injury on his knee. He might last 3 years and thats it.

I just dont want any disruptive influences in games, at training and off field. Fev is different and cant be expected to be a Kouta but he was poor last year and is married and 25 now and is on big money and its time to grow up.

 

[Pivot]

- People are making comments on Walkers technique who have watched him at training and in the first practise match where it was noticable better in space and under pressure. The pic had nothing to do with it.

-We are talking about Fev because I wrote a long profile on him in this thread. Cypher then asked about trading him and another poster suggested for a top 10 pick (theHeatleyStand) and I answered as best as I could.

-Nobody can replace Fev at full foward because Brendan has played there for almost every minute of every game for the last 3 years. Maybe in the NAB cup where Fev will not be playing an alternative can start to be groomed.

- We dont have a good crop of key postion players. We have a bunch of unproven kids from the last 2 years draft. Bower, Edwards, Hartlett, Kennedy and the 2 Irish boys are just young men who we dont know how they are going to go. They could all turn out well or not.
The point being made is that when I make a senior and reserves team up (with no injuries) it is almost impossible to fit in all the talls in positions they should be playing.

For example

Talls for seniors

Forwards: Fev, Fisher, Waite and 1 of Deluca/Setanta (likely on the bench)
Backs: Thornton, Lance, Saddington
Rucks: Mclaren, French

VFL team

Forwards :Morrell (Bullants player), Deluca/Setanta, Raso, Kennedy
Backs:Bower, Livo,Flint, Edwards
Rucks:Bryan, Aisake, Batson (? or VFL reserves)

2 many talls (without injuries)

then players like Bannister cant really play as a tall. Bryan might want to develop as a forward in the VFL but where do they fit him in?

Players will only develop if they get game time in seniors or VFL and play where they need to in order to develop. It is looking hard to fit in all tall players hence my repeated theme to trade a tall or 2 to stock up on midfielders in the 2006 draft.

- Again the draft this year is exactly that Novemeber. Until then people will ask questions and specualte on what might happen. If I was not interested in discussion then I would not be on an internet sports forum.
We could all just go away and wait until the draft and discuss things after and the same thing with the season but most of us on here like to talk about football and make a few predictions.

good for you mojo. keep making your predictions, i dont think anything is wrong with people making predictions on the forums - reading in to things again!

i think you feel i was having a go at you but was, like you & others here, just giving my opinion on players, trades, draftees, etc.

on walker i was only saying that the proof of improvement will be in his games. he looks great i agree and his technique sure does look sound but as a footballer and coach i know that you get more of a view on players through games played under pressure rather than training. he's certainly done everything asked of him and i hope 06 is a huge year for him and the blues.