Team vs Melbourne

[Rod_]

Both these guys would have been in my start of the season team... I hope they can make a difference and fill the shoes of who they replace? We need one or both to put their hands up and go for gold

Good luck to both

Rod_

[barry]

On paper, probably the strongest team we can field without Ball and Saddington.

Match fitness is a concern, but nothing like playing a few games to overcome that.

I like the balance of that team, and if we can carry on with no further injuries, and saddo back we will be a force to be reckoned with.

[Syd Swan]

Originally posted by Scottee
Does this mean it's the end for Ablett? Close to the best every week in the ressies and no reward?

Or is he being groomed for next year?

I dont know about Ablett, but surely this is a sign that Mathew Nicks time with the club is up.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Syd Swan
I dont know about Ablett, but surely this is a sign that Mathew Nicks time with the club is up.

Bring him back for the GF!

[jixygirl]

Nicks has been named an emergency, ahead of Sundquvist. This shows where the team is heading and that Nicks is (most likely) not part of it.

[skilts stilts]

Saturday, Rain and 13 degrees. Three talls Doyle LRT and Goodes.
Were no lessons learnt from last week.

[floppinab]

Seymour Why? Powell for me, the theme that has got us here has been youth change NOW why?.

Saturday, Rain and 13 degrees. Three talls Doyle LRT and Goodes.
Were no lessons learnt from last week.

Second quote answers the first. LRT had a poor game last week, but is part of the team now, he'll be OK wet or dry. Seymour for James is a short for a tall (ish), and probably should've happened last week, there's your lesson learnt right there.

If Doyle is going to feature in the finals at all he *has* to be played this week, wet or dry, there's no way you could bring him into a final without at least one game in the seniors prior to the finals

[Sanecow]

Last night in a dream I saw LRT making a lot of clangers. I hope it's not an omen. Sadly I was left out of the team (I have been since Plugger left) which is strange because I always played so well.

If it rains I hope they go with a short team that kicks long and not a tall team that kick short.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by footyhead
Robbie,Why do you have it in for Ablett ?? If I remember correctly, this is about the 3rd time you have expressed negative opinions about him within the last 2 weeks.

I don't have it in for Ablett, I'm just going on what I have seen of him and what I have seen hasn't be very good.

All I have to say is that Ablett is still very young , yes he has not yet shown enough in the seniors, but his performances have been so consistantly good in the reserves in the reserves that if we let him go next year there is a very real possability that he will be playing as a stand out midfeilder againts us in 2004 !!

How so??? He has been at the club for 3 years now and has been given plenty of chances and hasn't taken them. Just because he is a stand out in the reserves doesn't make him a very good player. If that were the case I think we should look into redrafting Bennett, who was very good in a lower level, but could never really match the form in the seniors. If he does leave, there is no sure thing he'll end up at another club and if he does that he'll become a standout player.

I mean sure if we have better options, but that goes for any player ! I think the club would be foolish not to give him one more season. He looks to me to be the classic late bloomer.
Time will tell !

In an ideal world, giving him one more season to prove himself might be a good thing, but remember we have to get our list to 34 players before the draft and with MJ and James looking like they will get senior spots for next season, we have to make cuts somewhere to get our list down to 34. This makes Ablett's spot shakey. Because of all our young kids who would you give up????

[footyhead]

Fair enough Robbie,
we do have to get down to 34.
But the differance with Ablett to Bennet is that Ablett is only recently finding that really good form . So we don't know wether it might not carry into the seniors cos he hasn't been given a shot carrying that kind of form yet.
I would prefer to see the likes of Nicks , Warfe , Buchanan and Frosty to go before Ablett.

[Reggi]

Ablett has had on-going injury problems - if he could overcome those he could be a handy player.

Our real problem is a lack of midfielders - so I'm not sure we can afford to let him go

[swans85]

Umpires for Today are

#7- Hayden Kennedy
#29- Scott Jeffery
#30- Shane McInerney

IN GOLD

[Nico]

The weather radar shows that most of the rain has passed through by 9.00am, so hopefully we can get through the game without too much more. The wind will be a factor by the look of it.