Round 5 vs Demons

[Silvagnis]

We won without Houlihan in the side, so I think that says alot.

The only change I'd make would be Hartlett for Setanta.

I'm guessing the match committee would prefer to keep a settled side and give Russell and O'hAilpin another chance against the struggling Demons to see if they cut it.

Questions should be asked if they don't play well this week.

 

[Salaryman]

I've changed my mind on Russell. Think we should keep him for next week. We've invested valuable time into him, and even though he didn't play a great game, it was better than the previous week. Russell's problems are above the shoulders. He so frightened of stuffing up, he stuffs up. He's overthinking every situation. He has the talent, but just needs to relax a little, and back his ability.

He's got all the tools, he just needs confidence to put it all together...will only come from game time in an improving side

 

[HBF]

Kept Aaron Davey to 4 possessions last year while getting 20 himself!

Perhaps a sign of things to come was that Carrazzo was moved onto Leon Davis in the final quarter yesterday. Also Davey appears to be spending more time up the ground.

If Hoops does come back in, hopefully they'll play him forward where he is far more damaging.

 

[a1118374]

He's got all the tools, he just needs confidence to put it all together...will only come from game time in an improving side

i agree.

 

[parrot]

He's got all the tools, he just needs confidence to put it all together...will only come from game time in an improving side

Think you're right. I wanted him dropped last week, because I thought his confidence was totally shot, and he needed to re-group. But VFL probably isn't the place to learn what he needs to learn i.e. composure and confidence under pressure. Happy with small, steady progress each week. Ratten seems keen to persist, so he must see potential in the guy.

 

[Andyt31]

as Long as stevens dosn't get rubbed out for the elbow

 

[Alpha1]

The only change I would be making is out JR in Armfield

 

[Banga19]

FWIW, I don't think the selection committee will drop Russel. He made some blatant mistakes against Essendon, and they were willing to play him again. For me, I thought he played better than he did in round 3, and if they wouldn't drop Russ after the Essendon game, I doubt they will after this game, in which he showed some good signs.

 

[one_twelve112]

as Long as stevens dosn't get rubbed out for the elbow

Not a chance he will get rubbed out over the elbow or the incident with the ump. If he does, I'm giving the game away.

 

[SA Blueblood]

Why punish anyone who was part of a great TEAM game against collingwood. I say go in unchanged to play melbourne and create a strong hunger not only for houlihan but for the rest of the list who is not getting a game at the moment. We must reward efforts like sunday to everyone involved and create the culture of if you are involved in a great win like that, you get another crack at it next week. Having said that if you have a shocker then yes you will be dropped. But i struggle to name anyone who had real shocker against collingwood, play them all i say.

 

[Cruiser23]

Whats the go with Hammer? Is he still suffering the effect of his knee injury or is he just out of contention for a 22 spot? Because if it was the latter, i really don't see the reasoning in him not in the 22. He should be in for Setanta.

 

[Kooley]

Russell is on the verge of a break out game. I can feel it. I know he made an error or two yesterday but who didn't. To me he looked more stronger, confident and more committed than I have seen him in the past.

 

[a1118374]

Russell is on the verge of a break out game. I can feel it. I know he made an error or two yesterday but who didn't. To me he looked more stronger, confident and more committed than I have seen him in the past.

im with ya mate. he wont be dropped cos his game was better than the game before so he has every chance. would love to see him do well

 

[DIG]

What i loved yesterday was our tempo play from half-back, the way we held the ball up and passed it around until we were close enough to lob it long over Collingwood's half-forward line to Fev.

Historically we used to play on and blindly lob it in to half-forward and then be killed on the rebound, which against Collingwood is suicide.

O'Hailpin might be dropped this week for Hartlett, but maybe not given we won. He reminded me of Earl Spalding at CHF yesterday and his defensive pressure and strong tackling there was quite useful at times, whether he really did enough to keep his spot, not sure.

 

[Blue Dimension]

What i loved yesterday was our tempo play from half-back, the way we held the ball up and passed it around until we were close enough to lob it long over Collingwood's half-forward line to Fev.

Historically we used to play on and blindly lob it in to half-forward and then be killed on the rebound, which against Collingwood is suicide.

O'Hailpin might be dropped this week for Hartlett, but maybe not given we won. He reminded me of Earl Spalding at CHF yesterday and his defensive pressure and strong tackling there was quite useful at times, whether he really did enough to keep his spot, not sure.

I love Irish, but Hartlett is needed for better team structure imo. Would be nice to have a strong body making leads and taking marks up the ground.

In: Hartlett, Houlihan
Out: O'hAilpin, Russell/Grigg

 

[BlueBelle]

I love Irish, but Hartlett is needed for better team structure imo. Would be nice to have a strong body making leads and taking marks up the ground.

In: Hartlett, Houlihan
Out: O'hAilpin, Russell/Grigg

Grigg played well yesterday... why would you drop him?

 

[MurphyBettsGibbs]

Russell is on the verge of a break out game. I can feel it. I know he made an error or two yesterday but who didn't. To me he looked more stronger, confident and more committed than I have seen him in the past.

I agree, think JR is improving all the time and as has been stated confidence is the key. When you look at our kids and how many losses they've been part of, it has been a major factor.

There are loads of players in all teams who are front runners and look better because they are in better teams. (Just look at some of the criticism of Fletcher at the Eagles now...) Both Thomas and Pendlebury are capable of top shelf performances but yesterday when under pressure did very little. How would they have gone at the Blues this passed couple of years?

It's not as if Browne/Armfield are bursting the door down in the Ants just yet, although I do believe these guys will get their chance at some stage this year.

Thought Grigg was very important for us and should get time, he'll be very good for us once he adjusts to the pace of the game.

This week,

In Hartlett
Out Setanta (needs fitness and game time in the Ants)

You could look at Hampson, with Kreuzer as the forward option. Although I think the kid would love to be in the middle every week I think we need to be mindful about putting him up against the older/bigger rucks in his first year.

Tip : Blues by 7 goals (capable of more if we play like we did yesterday, but not sure if we're ready to really put a team away..) Would love to see it though

 

[barnesy_78]

In: Hartlett, Houlihan
Out: O'hAilpin, Russell

B: A.Carrazzo M.Jamison B.Thornton
HB: P.Bower J.Waite H.Scotland
C: K.Simpson R.Hadley N.Stevens
HF: B.Gibbs A.Hartlett R.Houlihan
F: B.Fisher B.Fevola E.Betts
OB: C.Cloke C.Judd M.Murphy
I/C: M.Kreuzer S.Grigg D.Pfieffer J.Bannister

I would leave the winning team - great team effort!!! - Question mark on Russell - nearly in the same category as Houlihan, lets hope he keeps improving!

NO way should Houlihan come back - SOFT, SOFT & SOFTER! Every player yesterday showed great intensity and determination which is what Houlihan lacks plenty of! I would love it if he never played again! He is not our future!!!!!

Go the blues!!

 

[Pamam]

could be a crap crowd this week

so all blues supporters get there!!!!!!

i might as well see if i can get a whole section to myself considering the demons supporters may not go!!!


also considering we have to wear white this week, we maybe a first win as the insipid blues!!!

 

[thylacine60]

could be a crap crowd this week

so all blues supporters get there!!!!!!

i might as well see if i can get a whole section to myself considering the demons supporters may not go!!!


also considering we have to wear white this week, we maybe a first win as the insipid blues!!!

Be spewing if we can't nudge 40,000.

 

[Blue Dimension]

Grigg played well yesterday... why would you drop him?

Someone needs to make way for Houlihan - i can only see him and Russell being the two. Russell seems to be getting first crack at this point in time (much to my annoyance). Grigg was good at times but Houlihan is still at this point a class above. Houlihan will not, despite what people have said in this thread, be playing in the reserves next week. If he is fit, he will play.

 

[a1118374]

Someone needs to make way for Houlihan - i can only see him and Russell being the two. Russell seems to be getting first crack at this point in time (much to my annoyance). Grigg was good at times but Houlihan is still at this point a class above. Houlihan will not, despite what people have said in this thread, be playing in the reserves next week. If he is fit, he will play.

with houla 14 losses
without houla 1 win

i dont think we should change any of the runners. setanta was ok enough for me, although harts did play well for bullants (according to reports) so they could swap

for me

NO CHANGES

 

[BlueWorld]

Perhaps a sign of things to come was that Carrazzo was moved onto Leon Davis in the final quarter yesterday. Also Davey appears to be spending more time up the ground.

If Hoops does come back in, hopefully they'll play him forward where he is far more damaging.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23525458-19762,00.html

Who's your back six for the future?

We saw on the weekend that Michael Jamison is going to be a real player.

So Jamison and Waite, who else? Happy with Scotland?

That's an interesting one. You've got your running type player, but I think that's a rotating type spot using Simpson and Houlihan, players who can run, Walker when he comes back. Thornton

From Brett Ratten. What would he know?

Is the broken record ever going to stop?

 

[iRemember87]

Reward the 22 players that played a fantastic game against Colling, no changes for mine.

For mine Setanta might not be as skilled as Hartlett, but he gives about 60% more and is harder at it!!

 

[BlueBelle]

Someone needs to make way for Houlihan - i can only see him and Russell being the two. Russell seems to be getting first crack at this point in time (much to my annoyance). Grigg was good at times but Houlihan is still at this point a class above. Houlihan will not, despite what people have said in this thread, be playing in the reserves next week. If he is fit, he will play.

Not at the expense of Grigga. Whilst Heath Shaw had more possessions, he had no real influence whatsoever. Grigga did his job.

Grigg to keep his spot