News Blues Bad boys back

[celtic_pride]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/blues-bad-boys-back/story-e6frf9if-1225832792530

A NEED for speed is expected to end the exile of Carlton bad boys Eddie Betts, Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker this week.

Coach Brett Ratten said yesterday the suspended trio could line up against the Brisbane Lions in a practice match at Visy Park on Friday.

"We'll finalise that during the week. That's something to be debated at match committee," Ratten said.

"I suppose the pleasing aspect of their suspension is that Betts has his lowest skinfolds, so their work away from the club has been excellent. They knew the ramifications if they didn't get themselves right."

Betts, Houlihan and Walker were banned for a month and from the NAB Cup after the players' pre-Christmas "booze" cruise.

Well done to all the players, especially Eddie B for the way they have worked their arses off.

Pacy midfielder Kade Simpson and mobile option Setanta O'hAilpin are ready to resume and new ruckman Robert Warnock will be tested with a full game after a promising start against the Swans.

Bring it on Carlos ... Forget Fev if he plays or not, the return of the Mad Irishman is reason enough to get down to Visy Park for this game if you can make it

 

[Knackers26]

Looking forward to seeing if Setanta can step up to the plate.
I also think Walker will answer all his critics this year.
his shoulders are tip top and he is in the best shape of his life. Will be in our top 5 most important players.
I hope he runs off half back and gives us even more explosive run

 

[Will.B.Worth.Da.Waite]

I don't know if this is a good thing to be honest. Further strengthens the argument that their penalty was soft. It should have applied for the whole Nab Cup/Challenge pre-season, regardless of if we got knocked out or not.

 

[Audrey_Horne]

Meh, they've done their time. Let's all move on.
Time to win games...

 

[Big Bad Sammus]

Meh, they've done their time. Let's all move on.
Time to win games...

This

We need the boys to start getting back into the winning groove. Put the Sydney game behind us, treat it like an experimental game and look at playing/beating Brisbane moving forward.

Get some match time into their legs, because we're going to need it for round 1.

 

[HBF]

So, aside from Murphy & Waite, we really do have our strongest team to pick from for this Fridays game. Will be terrific to see the boys live again, given our last two games have been out of Melbourne.

 

[Bluebear]

So, aside from Murphy & Waite, we really do have our strongest team to pick from for this Fridays game. Will be terrific to see the boys live again, given our last two games have been out of Melbourne.

......and Fisher.

 

[SpiritR]

"I suppose the pleasing aspect of their suspension is that Betts has his lowest skinfolds, so their work away from the club has been excellent. They knew the ramifications if they didn't get themselves right".

This point could not be anymore spot on, i saw betts at my gym the other night doing a boxing session and i had to look twice at the guy as i didnt recognise him, he is looking so lean and cut, looks to have put on some muscle and lost fat,looking in amazing condition.

Was also pleasing to see him doing extra sessions away from the club at night when most other footy players would be out and about sipping latte's or playing ps3

Betts will have a huge year

 

[HARKER]

So, aside from Murphy & Waite, we really do have our strongest team to pick from for this Fridays game.

Is anyone happy to divulge the facts on Waite & Murphy?

Some innuendo on Waite here over the weekend, and I'd heard some news (albeit third hand news) on Murphy that worried me just that little.

If there is anything remotely sinister so be it, but I for one would sooner just have facts at hand.

 

[celtic_pride]

I'm not sure what info/news you heard Harker, but I'm sure Waite is good to go for rnd 1, however there are growing doubts on Marc Murphy about his fitness and recovery from Hip Surgery and his OP problem, in fact I would honestly be surprised if he played rnd 1 (and might even miss further games)

 

[HARKER]

I'm not sure what info/news you heard Harker, but I'm sure Waite is good to go for rnd 1, however there are growing doubts on Marc Murphy about his fitness, in fact I would honestly be surprised if he played rnd 1.

No doubt garbage, but I'd just feel that little happier seeing Waite out there for a half on Friday.

How far away is Murphy from actually being able to participate at least to some level?
Just to see him run the boundary would help

 

[celtic_pride]

Privately from what I've heard, I believe the club are worried about Marc Murphy ...

I've been told that his fitness and recovery haven't gone as well as what's been reported publicly ...

He certainly won't take part in any NAB Practice Challenge games (or whatever the hell they call it) and I don't think he'll be right for rnd 1.

 

[HARKER]

Privately from what I've heard, I believe the club are worried about Marc Murphy ...

Hard for the club to come out with anything until completely sure.
I understand that, but I'd still like to hear on his progression at least.

If he's not ready then we'll just have to live with it.

 

[BowerTower]

IN: O'hAilpin, Betts, Houlihan, Simpson, Walker
OUT: Fisher + any 4 of Caicha, Wiggins, Davies, Browne, Anderson, Lucas

Will be good to add some much needed experience to the side. Walker better have a breakout year in 2010 or ill be applying the blowtorch to him big time. Injuries aside, the fact that his best game for the club was his first is simply not good enough for a player of his caliber.

It wouldn't surprise me if they drop one of our ruckman for this week. If they are going to play Warnock for a full game as the article suggests then I think it will be Jacobs who is squeezed out. Even though he had a better game than Hampson and is a better pure ruckman (IMO) I suspect Ratts will continue to throw the Hammer forward in patches.

 

[The Toad]

IN: O'hAilpin, Betts, Houlihan, Simpson, Walker
OUT: Fisher + any 4 of Caicha, Wiggins, Davies, Browne, Anderson, Lucas

.

I would play these 2 every practice match we have. Need to get them up to speed with AFL footy.

 

[All Australian]

IN: O'hAilpin, Betts, Houlihan, Simpson, Walker
OUT: Fisher + any 4 of Caicha, Wiggins, Davies, Browne, Anderson, Lucas

What is your gripe with Caicha. Didn't even play on the weekend and you want him dropped.

 

[BowerTower]

I would play these 2 every practice match we have. Need to get them up to speed with AFL footy.

I'd say after last week's game we should be playing our best available and just trying to put some good footy together. There will be plenty of opportunities to blood the kids later in the year.

 

[Ryan Dixon Webb]

I'd like to see something like this...

B: Bret Thornton; Michael Jamison; Dennis Armfield (if available)
HB: Jordan Russell; Paul Bower; Ryan Houlihan
C: Kade Simpson; Richard Hadley; Shaun Grigg
HF: Chris Judd; Setanta O'hAilpin; Mitch Robinson
F: Chris Yarran; Lachlan Henderson; Eddie Betts
Foll: Robert Warnock; Bryce Gibbs; Andrew Walker
I/C from: Matthew Kreuzer; Brock McLean; Andrew Carrazzo; Heath Scotland; Jeffery Garlett; Aaron Joseph; Levi Casboult; Shaun Hampson; Simon White; Simon Wiggins; David Ellard; Steven Browne

I want to see how our midfield is going to work with Judd.

 

[ratten7]

IN: O'hAilpin, Betts, Houlihan, Simpson, Walker
OUT: Fisher + any 4 of Caicha, Wiggins, Davies, Browne, Anderson, Lucas

Will be good to add some much needed experience to the side. Walker better have a breakout year in 2010 or ill be applying the blowtorch to him big time. Injuries aside, the fact that his best game for the club was his first is simply not good enough for a player of his caliber.

It wouldn't surprise me if they drop one of our ruckman for this week. If they are going to play Warnock for a full game as the article suggests then I think it will be Jacobs who is squeezed out. Even though he had a better game than Hampson and is a better pure ruckman (IMO) I suspect Ratts will continue to throw the Hammer forward in patches.

Huh? yeah he played crap, lets delist him.

 

[Ryan Dixon Webb]

Huh? yeah he played crap, lets delist him.

Yeah, I barely sighted him.

 

[BlueMania]

I would play these 2 every practice match we have. Need to get them up to speed with AFL footy.

spot on Toad. Pre season is the time for blooding new recruits and giving them a taste of whats required to play at the highest level.

 

[shell23]

B: Thornton - Jamison - Davies
HB: Russell - Bower - Carrazzo
C: Simpson - McLean - Walker
HF: Robinson - O'hAlphin - Houlihan
F: Betts - Henderson - Yarran
FOLL: Kreuzer - Judd - Gibbs
INC: Joseph - Warnock - Casboult - Lucas - Scotland - Wiggins

SUBS: Hampson - White

This is the team i hope they play. White can play can't he?