Our best 22

[HARKER]

I have noticed a a lot of names as being touted as being, "In our best side"
In fact there are not many that have not been used. We are only one NAB game into the season but I just wonder as to who will crack it to be in our regular best side.
We have all the obvious ones but who will surprise, cement a spot or take a spot away from a previous regular?

 

[jonoman89]

Haha the most common thread. I'll bite.

FB: Armfield Jamison Thornton
HB: Bower Waite Stevens
C: Scotland Judd Grigg
HF: Walker Cloke Houhlihan
FF: Fisher Fevola Betts

R: Warnock Murphy Gibbs
I/C: Kreuzer Yarran Simpson Carrazzo

Unlucky: Robinson (VERY unlucky) Browne Russell Johnson Hadley
Depth: Bentick, Setanta, Anderson (at the moment), Austin (at the moment), O'Keeffe (at the moment)
-----

I think Johnson will find it a bit difficult getting in if Stevens is playing at HBF to direct play. Russell too is at danger of being dropped, but Ratts seems to love him. Bentick...depth. Setanta...depth. Austin should get games, but i can't see him being ready to take a KP until 2010.

 

[jonoman89]

Banno is in our best two.

Well, he'll have to prove it.

I'd rather give a marginally less skilled 20 year old a go over a 26 year old.

 

[setanta17]

FB: Bret Thornton - Michael Jamison - Shaun Grigg
CHB: Paul Bower - Jarrad Waite - Nick Stevens
C: Andrew Walker - Chris Judd - Kade Simpson
CHF: Ryan Houlihan - Cameron Cloke- Mitch Robinson
FF: Eddie Betts - Brendan Fevola - Matthew Kreuzer
FOL: Robbie Warnock - Bryce Gibbs - Marc Murphy
INT from: Richard Hadley - Brad Fisher -Chris Johnson- Heath Scotland- Setanta O'hAilpin, Dennis Armfield, Chris Yarran, Andrew Carazzo


Judging by the defensive performance on friday night, waite and jamison struggle to defend against tall opponents (hale). If North Melbourne actually got the ball down there properly he would have killed us. This is why I think Setanta should be amongst the 22 when we play against a team with a player like hale.

 

[Carlton Kid]

FB: Armfield Jamison Thornton
HB: Bower Waite Johnson
C: Stevens Judd Simpson
HF: Yarran Cloke Houhlihan
FF: Fisher Fevola Betts
R: Warnock Murphy Gibbs
I/C: Kreuzer Scotland Carrazzo Hadley

How about Robinson?

 

[Alpha1]

How about Garlett?.

 

[esoteric]

How about Robinson?

And Walker and Scotland and Grigg?

 

[JustKreuzin]

B: Thornton, Jamison, Johnson
HB: Scotland, Waite, Stevens
C: Simpson, Gibbs, Grigg
HF: Walker, Kreuzer, Robinson
F: Betts, Fevola, Fisher
R:Warnock, Judd, Murphy
INT: Carrazzo, Wiggins/Houlihan, Cloke, Yarren
EMG: Hadley, Russel, Bentick
unlucky: Steven Browne, Jordan Banister

I think we have alot more depth throught the ground this year rather than last except not enough KPP Depth up FWD.

 

[Warsaw]

Reckon their needs to be one definitive team that all Carlton supporters agree is their best 22. A million bucks to me if that ever happens.

 

[Headless]

Hey guys, I didn't get to catch your game against North (good win ). I was wondering how CJ played and if you guys think he's in your best 22? It seems that it's a bit touch and go according to this thread..

.. Hope you don't really make him work for his spot.

Good luck for the rest of the NAB and H&A season.

 

[jonoman89]

How about Robinson?

And Walker and Scotland and Grigg?

Now, these are two classic examples of how hard it is to make a 22. Can't believe i didn't include them. See amended team sheet!

How bloody good is it to have some depth?!

 

[blues_gibbzy]

Alright this will be tough.

FB Thorton Jammo Armfield
CHB Walker Waite Scotland
Centre Stevens Judd Simpson
CHF Wiggins Kreuzer Betts
FF Robinson Fev Hoops
Followers Warnock Murphy Gibbs
Bench Grigg Bower Hammer Yarran

Really unlucky: Carrots will get games in 09! just couldn't seem to fit him in.


Unlucky Fisher just dosen't have the pace but if Wiggins dosen't perform he'll come in
Cloke not really unlucky showed us nothing the other night why should we be excited about him?
Bannister, Setanta, Russel, Johnson and Browne(would come in if Armfield is doing shit)

 

[Warsaw]

FB: Thornton, Jamison, Bower
HB: Carrazzo, Waite, Grigg
C : Simpson, Stevens, Murphy
HF: Yarran, Kreuzer, Robinson
FF: Walker, Fevola, Betts
R : Warnock, Gibbs, Judd
INT: Cloke, Fisher/Chris Johnson, Scotland, Armfield,
Emer: Fisher/Johnson, Hampson, Hadley

OMFG That was impossible.

 

[Blue Dimension]

Too hard to do it at the moment...

 

[blues4flag]

I'm not even going to try. I tell you what, I don't envy the job of the match committee.

 

[blues_gibbzy]

Hi guys,
Had dinner with rebecca last night and i know something about our fearless leader you all don't know

But your location says Afghanistan but if you do, do tell us

 

[blues_gibbzy]

he loves beads -not the ones around his neck

As in drugs? (sigh) why we getting all these flogs of late

 

[Warsaw]

wtf?

 

[Salaryman]

B: Browne Jamison Thornton
HB: Bower Waite Stevens
C: Simpson Grigg Murphy
HF: Walker Cloke Houlihan
F: Betts Fevola Robinson

Fo: Warnock Judd Gibbs

Int: Kreuzer, Scotland, Russell, Johnson

Emg: Yarran, Hadley, Carrazzo

 

[WeAreHatedAgain]

Bower................Jamison.................Thornton

Johnson.............Waite....................Grigg

Walker...............Stevens.................Gibbs

Houlihan.............Kreuzer..................Betts

Yarran...............Fevola....................Fisher

Warnock............Judd.......................Murphy

Scotland......Simpson......Carrazzo......Cloke

Emerg

Russell
Wiggins
Bentick
Robinson
Hadley
Austin
Hampson
Browne
O'Failpin
Anderson
Armfield
Edwards
Hartlett
Bannister
O'Keefe
Tiller

 

[Silvagnis]

It looks like we're going to win the flag if our best 22 is so hard to pick after one practice match.

FB: Thornton, Jamison, Bower
HB: Stevens, Waite, Grigg
C : Simpson, Murphy, Robinson
HF: Yarran, Cloke, Walker
FF: Kreuzer, Fevola, Betts
R : Warnock, Gibbs, Judd

INT: Russell, Scotland, Houlihan, Johnson

Emerg: Hadley Fisher Wiggins

I love the fact that we have so many tall mids and flankers with pace and/or hardness.

Grigg was unbelievable on Friday night.

Looked a bit like Walker in full flight when he tucks the ball under his arm and takes off.

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone good.

 

[walking star]

FB: thornton Jamison Johnson

HB: Grigg Waite Bower

C: Simpson Judd Walker

HF: Robinson Kruezer Houlihan

FF: Fisher Fevola Betts

R: Warnock Murphy Gibbs

INT: Russell Cloke Wiggo browne/banister

this would be my team for round 1, thats assuming warnock will be right. i don't think Yarran should be given a spot unless he shows good form in the nab, he hasn't shown so far he deserves a spot not saying he's not good enough, but were not such a bad team now so he needs to earn his spot and not get it because his a number 6 draft pick. from wat i've seen from blood nut robo at training intra club and kanga's game he should be starting on the ground which will be good in turn for a the more senior players aka russell fish houla by creating pressure for positions. players like Austin, Hampson, Banister, armfield, browne, hadley could all break into the 22 thoughout the year just got to grab there chance's u never know harlett might even show something.
thoughts?

 

[Bradles21]

This is very hard to do, seeing as there was so many players playing in the NAB game, and we still had quit a few starters out! It is great to have depth and the fact it's hard to pick a best 22 is a great thing.

A lot of people thought that Cam Cloke didn't do much against North and at first i thought that. But watching the game again, He led hard, got to contests and kicked a couple although he didn't take that many grabs and get that many kicks he did enough for Noth to put a good defender on him, which resulted in that little bit of pressure being taken off Fev. Which resulted in Fev kicking an easy 6 and dishing off more.

At the moment going on present form, and with players to still come back into the squad i would have it like this;

B: Brett Thornton Michael Jamison Paul Bower
HB: Nick Stevens Jarred Waite Heath Scotland
C: Shuan Grigg Chris Judd Kade Simpson
HF: Mitch Robinson Cameron Cloke Andrew Walker
F: Eddie Betts Brendan Fevola Ryan Houlihan
R: Robert Warnock Bryce Gibbs Marc Murphy
I: Mathew Kruezer Andrew Carrazzo Simon Wiggins Jordan Russell
E: Brad Fisher Chris Yarran Shaun Hampson

DEFENCE:
It would be great having Stevo and Scotland on the flanks, as both very skillful and good readers of the play. Something we have lacked is polish coming out of the backline and they could provide that. My only worry is they aren't defensive enough. Depending on match ups though Thornton Jamo and Bower all can play tall and short and you would think would take the more dangerous forwards. Waite to play attacking but still to take the athletic forwards. Dependin on who were playing our backline would change lucky we have a few players that can go through there like Armfield, Browne, O'hAilpin, Austin, Grigg, Carrazzo etc..

MIDFIELD:
Can't really go wrong here, have a huge amount of depth and probably top 4 midfields in the league. Juddy looks to be fit, and would ripit up in the centre. As would Murphy. Those two players would do the bulk of our clearence work. Gibbs looked so clean on friday night and just knows where to run to get the ball, looks like he has all the time in the world, Scary threesome for opposition. Simpson is mature competitive player that will give us something every week, and as shown in the international rules game he is a better then average player now. Runs hard kicks long. Grigg was fantastic on Friday night so much energy, looks to have had a big pre-season and i think the wing will be his spot. Hard at it, Carry's the ball and shows leadership. Big year for him i think. Best thing though is we have Stevens, Scotland, Carrazzo, Walker, Betts, Russell, Robinson, and Houlihan to rotate through making for quick changes leading to us being able to run over other sides who do not have the depth to rest there Mids. As were saw last year when we rested JUddy in the third Qtr he would tear them apart in the last.

FORWARDS:
Great to see a few more options then in previous years. Although Fev again was the Focus point, we still had several goal kickers and it seemed Fev didn't have to work as hard for his goals as in previous years. Again we have several players who can rotate through the Forward line, with Mids to rest up there through out the game. As i mentioned above with Cloke i think if he can do just enough for opposition to have to stick a good defender on him it will help Fev a great deal. Houlihan has great goal sence and would be a very handy player in the Pocket. Betts looks to be fitter and had a great night Friday. Have left Yarran out of the side only cause i have not seen him play yet and not putting him in on reputation. It would be great though if he is that magical Forward we have needed then i would have definantly have him in the pocket. Robinson is a gun, his energy denfensive pressure, attack on the ball, kicking is exactly what you wanna see, and i think he fits in perfect on the flank. Walker's IMO best position is the HFF as he showed briefly last year his Athleticism and hunger is scary for opposition defenders. He isn't a bad kick when he settles, or when kicking at goal so if he can lead strong, and have the defensive pressure i believe he will be a great asset to the forward line.

RUCKS:
Fingers crossed Warnock is fit for round one, even though he hasn't had a pre-season, your main concern would be that he got his first hand on the ball and being as tall as him you would think he would. Last year when we got beaten out of the middle it was cause the rucks just jumped all over us. Kruezer would be a back up, and although he wouldn't win the taps as Warnock would he would be much more effective around the ground with his fitness and attack on the ball. Makes for a good combo, with depth in Hammer, Jacobs, and Cloke if needed.

INTERCHANGE:
Hard to pick the interchange, but i am happy with mine, Kruezer to back up in the ruck, Wiggins to rotate through the Forward Line and be another option, Russel and Carrazzo to run through the middle.

EMERGENCIES:
Hampson for another ruckman if needed, was hard to choose him or Jacobs. Fisher as he is a proven players and could easily be in the best 22 but would need to earn spot and Fingers crosses Yarran is a gun and will fit straight into out side.

Thats my thoughts on how we should line up, would love to here your opinions on it? As long as you don't bash Carrazo and Russell

 

[Gezza125]

All too hard at the moment. There are probably 10 blokes who legitimately battle it out for the last few spots... AND THAT is a luxury we have not had in a long while. Looks good so far.

One final thought, I know the experts say he is all class but I have some doubts about Yarran. Is he going to be a one of those Daniel Wells kind of guys that produces the spectacular and then... well... nothing for too long? I really don't don't like hearing that he is lazy and sloppy on the track only months after joing the club. God I hope I'm wrong.

 

[TOPBLUE_25]

FB: thornton Jamison Johnson

HB: Grigg Waite Bower

C: Simpson Judd Walker

HF: Stevens Kruezer Houlihan

FF: Robinson Fevola Betts

R: Warnock Murphy Gibbs

INT: Russell Cloke Fisher Wiggo

this would be my team for round 1, thats assuming warnock will be right. i don't think Yarran should be given a spot unless he shows good form in the nab, he hasn't shown so far he deserves a spot not saying he's not good enough, but were not such a bad team now so he needs to earn his spot and not get it because his a number 6 draft pick. from wat i've seen from blood nut robo at training intra club and kanga's game he should be starting on the ground which will be good in turn for a the more senior players aka russell fish houla by creating pressure for positions. players like Austin, Hampson, Banister, armfield, browne, hadley could all break into the 22 thoughout the year just got to grab there chance's u never know harlett might even show something.
thoughts?

Stevens wont be playing round 1.