Team for Round 1

[UglyDuckling]

So its getting to that time of year again, round 1 is just around the corner. What is the team goiung to look like round 1? Wholesale changes or minor tweaks. Im guessing minor tweaks

Beavan Bolton Teddy
LRT Malcheski Matner

Kirk Goodes McVeigh
Jolly Buchanan Bolton

Moore O'Keefe Barlow
Vezzy Hall Grundy

Int: White, Shaw, Bird, Jack

Its tough to pick just 22 im leaving out
Ablett - Who had a rubbish year and doesnt really seem good enough carreer could be close to being over unless we loose heaps of senior players next year.

Crouch - I think they are hanging onto him just for depth to cover injury i would be irritated if they gave crouch a run over Moore Jack Bird or Vez

And im not sold on barlow maybe Barlow out for Ablett, Crouch or a young midfielder like Brabazon or MOD

It seems like DOK isnt gonna get a run round 1 either Roos said that its unlikely anyon not playing this week in NAB challenge will make round 1 and he's not in the squad

[CJK]

The Tele today has PR implying that Grundy is almost a cert up front.

Here:

'He suggested youngster Heath Grundy was close to cementing a position, possibly at full forward in place of Michael O'Loughlin (ankle), who is expected to be available from round three.'

[desredandwhite]

I would expect it to look a little like this:

B - Richards C Bolton Bevan
HB - Mattner Roberts-Thomson Shaw
C - Goodes Kirk Malceski
HF - O'Keefe Hall J Bolton
F - McVeigh Grundy Veszpremi
R - Jolly Buchanan Bird
I - Moore Jack White Ablett
E - Crouch Barlow....?

No real surprises I would have thought.

[AnnieH]

The Tele today has PR implying that Grundy is almost a cert up front.

Here:

'He suggested youngster Heath Grundy was close to cementing a position, possibly at full forward in place of Michael O'Loughlin (ankle), who is expected to be available from round three.'

... cementing a position - till round 3.

[Pace To Burn]

[QUOTE=desredandwhite;428830]I would expect it to look a little like this:

B - Richards C Bolton Bevan
HB - Mattner Roberts-Thomson Shaw
C - Bird Kirk Malceski
HF - O'Keefe Hall Buchanan
F - McVeigh Grundy Veszpremi
R - Jolly Bolton Goodes
I - Moore Jack White Ablett
E - Crouch Barlow....?

Only a couple of changes for me

[Nico]

As far as I am concerned both J Bolton and Ablett should only be depth players. They have proved year in year out that they are poor centre square players.

Bird must start on the ground in the guts as should McVeigh. We need to get good, clean and sweet clearances if we are to have any impact on the midfield flooding, sorry zones. The talk is about how to penetrate this zone stuff and one sure way is to win more than 50% of midfield clearances. In past years we have been very poor to abysmal in this area and we 'aint going to get any better with the past encumbents on the ground.

Both McVeigh and Bird have good quick movement and disposal. We can't afford to have players who fall over and put the ball under the arm and curl up into a ball when tackled. If you rotate other players through this role it must be Jack, Moore and Kirk. Goodes can come off the back of the square to take the handball from players who win the ball. The times of defensive midfield blocking etc at centre contests are dead and buried.

[pjcswan]

As far as I am concerned both J Bolton and Ablett should only be depth players. They have proved year in year out that they are poor centre square players.

Bird must start on the ground in the guts as should McVeigh. We need to get good, clean and sweet clearances if we are to have any impact on the midfield flooding, sorry zones. The talk is about how to penetrate this zone stuff and one sure way is to win more than 50% of midfield clearances. In past years we have been very poor to abysmal in this area and we 'aint going to get any better with the past encumbents on the ground.

Both McVeigh and Bird have good quick movement and disposal. We can't afford to have players who fall over and put the ball under the arm and curl up into a ball when tackled. If you rotate other players through this role it must be Jack, Moore and Kirk. Goodes can come off the back of the square to take the handball from players who win the ball. The times of defensive midfield blocking etc at centre contests are dead and buried.

I agree in princple with your views Nico. However I suspect both Jude and NOG been told/trained to play this way so now it is second nature or required play. In either case they should be retrained to get the ball out more quickly.

[connolly]

As far as I am concerned both J Bolton and Ablett should only be depth players. They have proved year in year out that they are poor centre square players.

Bird must start on the ground in the guts as should McVeigh. We need to get good, clean and sweet clearances if we are to have any impact on the midfield flooding, sorry zones. The talk is about how to penetrate this zone stuff and one sure way is to win more than 50% of midfield clearances. In past years we have been very poor to abysmal in this area and we 'aint going to get any better with the past encumbents on the ground.

Both McVeigh and Bird have good quick movement and disposal. We can't afford to have players who fall over and put the ball under the arm and curl up into a ball when tackled. If you rotate other players through this role it must be Jack, Moore and Kirk. Goodes can come off the back of the square to take the handball from players who win the ball. The times of defensive midfield blocking etc at centre contests are dead and buried.

The player who was so effective at midfield zone break-outs was Buchanon. In 2005 and 2006 he had a strong burst of 10 metre pace, good hands, low over the ball and fearless straight running. We also had Williams as a brilliant outside midfielder - the mid fielder we have never replaced. Hopefully Buchanon, who must have played with injury last season, can recapture his ability to break clear from the inside of the zone. And McVeigh can become something of a Williams type outside midfielder (high bar indeed).

[Nico]

I agree in princple with your views Nico. However I suspect both Jude and NOG been told/trained to play this way so now it is second nature or required play. In either case they should be retrained to get the ball out more quickly.

Too old are these 2 blokes to change their ways. Besides they are as slow as a wet week. I suspect they were given their roles because there was nothing else for them. They should jump on their horses, sling their 2005 medals over the saddle, and ride off into the sunset to join the "Over the Hill Mob" as yesterday's men.

[The Lad]

Jude Bolton by far and away remains in our best starting 22. He is no superstar but a very effective player who never flinches a knock in his duty to the club.

I would like him to have better disposal at times but he will play round 1 and remain a contributor.

[ernie koala]

Jude Bolton by far and away remains in our best starting 22. He is no superstar but a very effective player who never flinches a knock in his duty to the club.

I would like him to have better disposal at times but he will play round 1 and remain a contributor.

I agree, he wins plenty of hard ball and is definately in our best 22.
Two players who worry me more and will probably get a start...Grundy; is slow and soft at the contest.... Barlow; is just plain soft at this stage. Malceski's form will also be of great interest.
Of the young ones, I'd like to see Laidlaw given a chance

[top40]

Richards C Bolton Bevan
Mattner Roberts-Thomson Malceski
Goodes Kirk McVeigh
Jolly Buchanan Bird
O'Keefe Hall J Bolton
Moore Grundy Veszpremi

Jack White Ablett Shaw


With fit and ?young? O?Loughlin and Barry to come in eventually for Ablett and White

[Number 43]

B -Crouch Bolton Mattner
HB -Shaw LRT Richards
C -Malceski Goodes McVeigh
HF -O'Keefe Hall Bird
F - Moore Grundy White

R -Jolly Kirk Bolton

INT - Buchanan, Ablett, Vezpremi, Bevan

[Number 43]

or Jack for Crouch maybe....

[reigning premier]

As far as I am concerned both J Bolton and Ablett should only be depth players. They have proved year in year out that they are poor centre square players.

Didn't bother watching 2008 Nico? Think you need to give a bit more credit to B1. Ablett I'd agree with you but B1 was pretty handy last year after a very ordinary 2007. His place is safe and deserved.