Possible Best 22

[gandaal]

Fevola, Whitnall, Fisher, Waite, Houlihan and Betts however does, unless ofcourse you do a 2005/6 with your forward line and leave Fev one out again.

It didn't last year.

But lets do the same as we did in a wooden spoon year. Maybe things will be different this time.

 

[gandaal]

Gandaal, you can not seriously believe that Lance is a good KPD. He plays off his man, is too slow and costs the team goals on a weekly basis when other defenders have to play on 2 guys instead of one. He is a forward, plain and simple. Take his games against Riewoldt, Rocca and Trent Croad of prime examples of why he cannot play in defense. He got slaughtered by all of them and looked completely out of his depth. To top it off in the second game against the Hawks he got taken to the cleaners by a no namer.

He is a forward, after he went forward against Hawthorn at the Dome he nearly won us the game. It is people who think like you that will stop the club moving forward. You have to play blokes in their best positions.

The question that needs to be asked is will we win a flag with Lance at CHB? The answer is no.

Will we win a flag with Saddo at CHB? Again, no but having him there teaching the young kids how to play in defense is key to us getting back into contention, and it allows our best CHF to play at CHF.

I'm sorry but I'm not going to argue with a guy who honestly believes Saddington is a better defender than Lance. What would be the point?

 

[Where's Mokbel?]

Interesting that you would use Sydney as an example of why we need Lance down back.

They SMASHED US around the stopages, but also in our F50. Lance should play forward. Saddo allows us to do this. Plus his man won't run off him as easily as Red.
Clearly you are as biased as Gandaal on this. Looked at his age and put a line through him.
If he plays better than those fighting for the spot, he should get it. Period. No free rides here just because you might be the next big thing.

Saddo... oh sorry i mean Bluebear, i have no bias in regards to Saddington whatsoever. I couldn't care if he was 17 or 47. And if you look at my suggested back six, it's pretty clear that no-one there is getting a free ride.

Also, your logic is a bit off the mark in regards to playing Whitnall up forward. If we are getting smashed at stoppages, such as was the case last year vs Sydney (and in many other games), where do you think the ball is going to end up? Certainly not in our forward line! Now, hopefully our midfield is a little better this year, but unfortunately we're not quite ready to go toe to toe with the midfields boasted by clubs such as West Coast, Sydney, Adelaide etc. We need a strong backline, and i think Whitnall has to play back.

Also, i question the intelligence of having a fourth tall in our forwardline stepping on the toes of the capable Fevola, Kennedy and Fisher.

And i still don't think Saddo has done enough to get in front of O'Hailpin, Waite, Thornton and Whitnall. If he has a cracking NAB cup, then he will earn his spot. But i doubt it.

 

[Bluebear]

Fev and Kennedy playing as our two key forwards with Fisher as a backup tall forward would be a fantastic forward unit if Kennedy can do what he was recruited to do (what he did in the practice match).

Forwards need space and your insane if you think a Fevola, Whitnall, Waite, Kennedy, Fisher, Betts forward line has even the slightest chance of functioning.

Whats wrong with Fev and Red in F50, betts crumbing, Lance/Kennedy and fisher across HF as marking options?
Waite will play where he is best matched up, rotating from wing to forward line to defense.

Funny how people look at the old FF, HF, C, R, HB, FB set up and name teams, claiming balance etc.
That structure hasn't applied to football for over 10 years. At the end of the day my arguement is simple.

Lance should play forward.
Saddo should be considered for a defenders spot along with all the others that have been mentioned.
To rule him out based on age alone is ridiculous. You may as well drop Stevens, Kouta, Lappin and Whitnall. None of them will be a part of our next premiership side either, and they are just taking the kids spots.

Don't be silly BB I hear you say now.........we need some experience.

Right, so who gets to draw the line in fron of Saddo?
he is doing his best to jump that line, my arguement is only that he should have the same chance as anyone else.

Far from being detrimental to the development of young players, heaven forbid they should have to "perform" and lift their games to force their way in to the team.........yep, can't see the upside there

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

I like the idea of rotating lance, as i keep saying

To have him and Waite running around off HB, and then to have him and Kennedy providing targets up forward, is a great thing to be able to muck around with.


The puzzle is almost working itself out

 

[Where's Mokbel?]

The beauty of Waite's development is that Whitnall will no longer have to play on the Nick Riewoldt types, and the beauty of O'Hailpin's development is that Thornton will no longer have to play on blokes like Gherig and Q. Lynch. He can play his customary role of reading the play brilliantly and taking marks in our back 50.

And, as i have said all along, against weaker sides he can push forward and create real headaches for the opposition coach. But i warn you that there are very few 'weak' sides in the competition, and we won't have the luxury of playing Whitnall forward very often.

 

[Bluebear]

The beauty of Waite's development is that Whitnall will no longer have to play on the Nick Riewoldt types, and the beauty of O'Hailpin's development is that Thornton will no longer have to play on blokes like Gherig and Q. Lynch. He can play his customary role of reading the play brilliantly and taking marks in our back 50.

And, as i have said all along, against weaker sides he can push forward and create real headaches for the opposition coach. But i warn you that there are very few 'weak' sides in the competition, and we won't have the luxury of playing Whitnall forward very often.

Right......so Waite has "developed" in the pre-season, but Saddo's form is questionable.
Sounds like a fair assessment to me.

 

[gandaal]

Whats wrong with Fev and Red in F50, betts crumbing, Lance/Kennedy and fisher across HF as marking options?
Waite will play where he is best matched up, rotating from wing to forward line to defense.

Nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that you're clogging up our forward line. Still don't see how that means we have to play a hack like Saddington.

Funny how people look at the old FF, HF, C, R, HB, FB set up and name teams, claiming balance etc.
That structure hasn't applied to football for over 10 years. At the end of the day my arguement is simple.

Yes it is funny, but why are you mentioning that when I'm advocating a Kennedy, Fisher, Fevola, Betts forward line?

Lance should play forward.
Saddo should be considered for a defenders spot along with all the others that have been mentioned.
To rule him out based on age alone is ridiculous. You may as well drop Stevens, Kouta, Lappin and Whitnall. None of them will be a part of our next premiership side either, and they are just taking the kids spots.

Don't be silly BB I hear you say now.........we need some experience.

Geez if Steven isn't going to be in our next premiership side your really writing off the club for at least six to seven years.

Experience is nice and important but they've got to be contributing players first. Lappin, Kouta and Whitnall are all champions of the club and, with the possible exception of Lappin, are still amongst our best players on the field. Saddington is just a has been from another club we picked up who'd struggle to play for the Bullant seniors. If you want experience that badly that you're willing sacrificing playing the kids who are the ones meant to benefit from that experience why don't we play Teague as well? While we're at it lets pull Manton out of retirement and play him. Sure he's no good but at least he's got experience huh?

Right, so who gets to draw the line in fron of Saddo?
he is doing his best to jump that line, my arguement is only that he should have the same chance as anyone else.

Far from being detrimental to the development of young players, heaven forbid they should have to "perform" and lift their games to force their way in to the team.........yep, can't see the upside there

Who says they haven't performed? Bower was impressive last year in the last few rounds, Hartlett (as little as I rate the guy) had a pretty good inter club match as well, O'hAilpin has the makings of a qualioty full back for us, Flint was fantastic all year last year for the Ants until he got injuried.

The kids are already ahead of Saddington on proven form, with he possible expection of Hartlett. And when they're a line ball call between a kid and a older player you pick the kid every time if you want the team to go forward.

 

[gandaal]

Btw Bluebear, did you go to the interclub match?

Or are you just basing all this crap on hearsay?

 

[BlueBelle]

Btw Bluebear, did you go to the interclub match?

Or are you just basing all this crap on hearsay?

I was at the intra-club match and IMHO Saddington did extremely well keeping Fev goal less. Do you not agree?

 

[Melbdave81]

I'm sorry but I'm not going to argue with a guy who honestly believes Saddington is a better defender than Lance. What would be the point?

The point is that you know Lance is a very ordinary defender who gets pumped by good forwards everytime and by Trent Croad. Saddo has never been given the opportunity for Carlton due to injury and is a better option down there.

It is nothing against Lance, the fact that you can't see that he is better used in the forward line and Saddo is an excellent option in the backline is beyond me.

 

[gandaal]

I was at the intra-club match and IMHO Saddington did extremely well keeping Fev goal less. Do you not agree?

Even if Fev wasn't playing half assed it was still a great effort, although I was happier still with O'hAilpin's game for the other team. He was very exciting and we can only hope that this is the year Setanta puts it all together.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Whitnall was 1 of the best CHF in the AFL when the AFL was still known as "contested football", yet we are obsessed with dragging him away now that the game is more uncontested.

 

[av76]

The point is that you know Lance is a very ordinary defender who gets pumped by good forwards everytime and by Trent Croad. Saddo has never been given the opportunity for Carlton due to injury and is a better option down there.

It is nothing against Lance, the fact that you can't see that he is better used in the forward line and Saddo is an excellent option in the backline is beyond me.

Yeah, whatever happens to Saddo, so be it. I just hope he gets a fair run as he definitely is not a hack.
I think getting Whitnall forward is key. Fev is a gun, but I don't think Waite, Fisher and Betts have really been able to use the space around him very well. Whitnall will know where to run to create a GOOD second option. Also, as he gets older, he's not going to be able to playing at CHB, at least in a role where he is expected to completely stop a direct opponent. For similar reason would like to see more of Lappin up forward.

 

[Bluebear]

Even if Fev wasn't playing half assed it was still a great effort, although I was happier still with O'hAilpin's game for the other team. He was very exciting and we can only hope that this is the year Setanta puts it all together.

Did you just change your mind?
FWIW I didn't go to the intra-club match. Just basing my comments on numerous positive reports.

Again (like with the Smorgon thing) just because I won't write a guy off doesn't mean I champion his cause.
IF Harts, Bower, Flint etc on form are equal to or close enough to Saddo, then great, pick the kids.

My point, which you seem to miss every time..........

Is that you can't just hand out spots on the senior team due to demographics. These kids need to play like they earned it (as Flint has had to do last year), and not just get a spot because they are young and the next in line.
Saddo is a good player, who if he does nothing else while he is at the club will make some of these kids work bloody hard to EARN a senior spot.
That will be great for the club.

If that means he is not in the side ever again after rnd 1 then great. It means some kid has forced his way into the side and won't let it go.

 

[gandaal]

About what? I haven't changed my mind that he shouldn't be in the starting 22.

Indeed, every player has to earn a spot in the starting 22 and that includes Saddington. Other players have his spot and I personally hope they keep it because they're upside in the long run is so much greater.

 

[BlueFeaver]

About what? I haven't changed my mind that he shouldn't be in the starting 22.

Indeed, every player has to earn a spot in the starting 22 and that includes Saddington. Other players have his spot and I personally hope they keep it because they're upside in the long run is so much greater.

Gandaal, I agree with your thoughts concerning playing youth: but we must be careful in doing so. We need to build a Premiership side, not a injury riddled outfit like StKilda. They played to many to young, sure enough it provided short term excitement but it has robbed them of quality players years down the track. Then there is the mental side of letting the kids get hammered, confidence is already low amongst the group: we need to make sure it doesn't become a epidemic through the whole list.

If Saddington has the form to play, so be it. The kids that do need to compete with him for a position will only get stronger for the benifit of the club over the medium to long term.

As for Lance: he can't play KP in the back line. He will be his most dangerous self when he is allowed to go where he sees fit. He ideally will go where we need him on his own accord: similar to Hird. This role will also provide the leadership mechanism: he will provide strong leadership all over the ground and most times where it will be needed the most.

 

[BlueWorld]

I'm sure you know Denis does not like to play the kids and only if they've really earned it.

 

[Dirk_Diggler]

B: Lappin O'Hailpin Thornton
HB: Walker Kennedy Houlahan
C: Simpson Kouta Scotland
HF: Waite Whitnall Gibbs
F Betts Fevola Fisher
R: Ackland Stevens Murphy
INT: McClaren Bentick Carozzo Wiggins
EM: Saddington Blackwell Russell

1. I'd give O'Hailpin first crack at full back. Let Thornton run around a bit more.
2. Would love to see Kennedy in the backline for 2 reasons. 1, Lance is too loose. 2, If he's up at CHF i reckon he'll spend the whole year running to and from the interchange bench.
3. Gibbs has gotta play.
4. Tell Waite to run all day. Don't get hung up playing a certain position.
5. If Saddington can get through the whole pre season chuck him straight in. I'm not convinced.

 

[BlueDevil]

ok this is my first crack at one of these so excuse any odd selections

FB: Lappin O'hAilpin Thorton
HB: Scotland Waite Carrazzo
C: Simpson Stevens Walker
HF: Gibbs Whitnall Kennedy
FF:Betts Fevola Fisher
R: Ackland Murphy Koutoufides
Int:Cloke Wiggins Houlihan Bower


Ok that was tough which is good, no brilliant as my guinness bottle opner would say. i went for cloke over mclaren because he can play a few more positions. wiggins on the bench as he can come on and put his head where few fear to tread (not trying to rhyme here), our backline is interchangeable at any time and our forward line the same. we have a very flexable list here people. and thats a good thing

 

[Silvagnis]

Anyonw who knows anything about the game knows that Whitnall is one of the smartest players in the competiton. Can't believe you just said that. Seems Lance be named captain tomorrow.

He didn't say Lance was a dumb footballer.

Lance isn't that bright since he can't even speak clearly and if he was bright he wouldn't have been at the Bended Elbow.

His efforts in front of the microphone are more embarassing than Kernahan's voice.

 

[Where's Mokbel?]

Thankyou ILF, i'm glad there's someone else around here who isn't completely blinded by bias and general stupidity.