Carlton's Best 22

[Kramer1]

B: Browne Jamieson Thornton
HB: Johnson Waite Bower
C: Gibbs Stevens Scotland
HF: Houlihan Cloke Walker
F: Yarran Fevola Kreuzer
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy
IC: Simpson Carrazzo Grigg Hadley Bannister Betts

Probably changed a bit from when I did this a week or two back. Umming and aahing on Johnson, but clearly Ratts sees something he likes, and I'm willing to back his judgement. I'd kill for some Christou like dash and delivery off the HBF.

I'm a big supporter of both Hadley and Bannister, but hard to find room for both. With more competitive rucks Hadley could be key to set-up and structure in the middle, so I'd be tempted to have Hadley in the guts, push Stevo out to a wing and Scotland to the pine. Scotland and Carrazo could give us a hell of a lot rotating off the bench.

And yes, in case you arent yet aware the AFL have asopted a six man bench next year...just for us.

***Edit*** Was just about to push submit and realised I left Gibbs out. **** I love having a bit of depth.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

Re: Carlton's best 22 doesn't include Bentick

B: Thornton Jamison Browne
HB: Grigg Bower Simpson
C: Gibbs Hadley Stevens
HF: Houlihan Waite Walker
F: Betts Fevola Kreuzer
R: Warnock Judd Murphy

I/C: Scotland Yarran Russell Cloke

In: Browne Warnock Yarran
Out: Carrazzo Hartlett Fisher

I reckon that's pretty much spot-on. I was trying to work out some way of keeping Carrazzo on the park - maybe i'd have him in the back pocket in place of Browne, just for his ball-magnetism.

FINALLY there'll be a bit of competition for spots in '09.

 

[deadoralive]

i usually never bother with best 22's because right now the match committee are doing a great job, but ok here's mine, tell me what you guys think.

b. bower, jamison, carrazzo
hb. c. johnson, waite, grigg
c. hadley, stevens, simpson
hf. gibbs, cloke, walker
f. betts, fevola, yarran
Foll warnock, judd, murphy

int. scotland, houlihan, kruezer, thornton.

emg, fisher, armfield, anderson, browne,wiggins, bannister, austin, bentick.

it obviously depends on the opposition, but i think that 22 is quick, young enough and talented enough to win most games. hopefully

go blues

 

[jackoisno1]

B Brett Thornton, Micheal Jamison, Paul Bower
HB Heath Scotland, Jarred Waite, Andrew Carrazzo
C Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Nic Stevens
HF Ryan Houlihan, Brad Fisher, Andrew Walker
F Chris Yarran, Brendon Fevola, Cameron Cloke
Fol Robert Warnock, Chris Judd, Byrce Gibbs
INT Mathew Kreuzer, Eddie Betts, Shaun Grigg, Chris Johnson

the aim is have the a settle back 6 middle 6 and front 6. Its the bench to worry about.

 

[Goals are that way]

Back- Mark Austin, Micheal Jamison, Andrew Walker
Half Back- Andrew Carrazzo, Jarrad Waite, Paul Bower
Centre- Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Nick Stevens
Half Forward- Heath Scotland, Brendon Fevola, Mathew Kruezer
Forward- Eddie Betts, Cameron Cloke, Chris Yarran
Ruck- Robert Warnock, Chris judd, Bryce Gibbs
Interchange- Brad Fisher, Shaun Grigg, Ryan Houlihan, Shaun Hampson

 

[choo]

A bit of a twist.

B: Johnston Jamison Thornton
HB: Grigg Bower Scotland
C: Simpson Judd Stevens
HF: Walker Waite Houlihan
F: Betts Fevola Kreuzer
R: Warnock Gibbs Myrphy
I/C: Hadley Cloke Yarran Wiggins

2nds

B: Armfield O'Hailpin Anderson
HB: Browne Austin Pfeiffer
C: Robinson Bentick Bentley
HF: Edwards Hartlett Russell
FF: Garlett Fisher Hampson
R: Jacobs Bannister Carrazzo
I/C: Ellard Joseph Hill O'Keeffe
Emerg: Hill Tiller


I like the idea that I'm looking at the seconds and seeing unlucky players.
Opposition would change some spots but we're getting there.

 

[Silvagnis]

Carlton's second best 22

Second 22 would be competitive against Melbourne's best 22 if we had forwards such as Thorp, Schoenmakers and Dowler in our seconds.

At least we're developing some depth in the midfield, ruck and small forwards.

B: Anderson O'hAilpin Johnson
HB: Pfeiffer Austin Armfield
C: Robinson Carrazzo O'keeffe
HF: Wiggins Hartlett Ellard
F: Tiller Edwards Fisher
R: Hampson Bentick Joseph

I/C: Garlett Bannister Jacobs Bentley

B: Wheatley Garland Whelan
HB: Warnock Rivers Moloney
C: Petterd Mclean Green
HF: Bate Miller Sylvia
F: Davey Robertson Morton
R: Johnson Bruce Jones

I/C: Jamar Dunn Bell Woneamirri

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

B: Browne Jamieson Thornton
HB: Johnson Waite Bower
C: Gibbs Stevens Scotland
HF: Houlihan Cloke Walker
F: Yarran Fevola Kreuzer
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy
IC: Simpson Carrazzo Grigg Hadley Bannister Betts

Gets my vote!!

The only query I have is Houlihan on the HFF. I would consider putting Grigg on a wing, Gibbs to half forward, and houlihan on the bench. Other than that, I'm hoping for that exact setup come round 1.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

B: Browne Simpson Thornton
HB: Johnson Jammo Bower
C: Gibbs Stevens Scotland
HF: Houlihan Waite Walker
F: Yarran Fevola Kreuzer
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy
IC: Cloke Carrazzo Grigg Hadley Bannister Betts

 

[BlueYoss]

B: Browne Simpson Thornton
HB: Johnson Jammo Bower
C: Gibbs Stevens Scotland
HF: Houlihan Waite Walker
F: Yarran Fevola Kreuzer
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy
IC: Cloke Carrazzo Grigg Hadley Bannister Betts

Talk about a FB who can handle the gorillas...

 

[Doza]

Many of you rate Houlihan in your top 22. Am I missing something when I see him play? To me he appears slow, will not go in for the hard ball, has poor disposal by hand and foot and can't take a contested mark.

I won't argue about the hard ball comment, but poor disposal? Man you really are missing something! Maybe watch a few tapes...

 

[2centsworth]

B thornton jamison anderson
HB scotland waite bower
C stevens murphy simpson
HF hadley kreuzer walker
F betts fevola yarran
R warnock judd gibbs
I wiggins fisher grigg cloke
Em austin hartlett browne johnson

This team will go in hard for the footy. Thats why I left out hoops and russell. No doubt they will play. By the end of the season some of the new boys will get a go.
It will be a telling year for players like Hartlett, Armfield, Bannister, hoops and bentick. It's getting harder to choose players who will be delisted to make way for young blood come draft time.
Go Blues

 

[BlueYoss]

This team will go in hard for the footy. Thats why I left out hoops and russell.

In that case Russell should be ahead of Fisher.

 

[Blue Dimension]

I'm pretty keen on seeing Austin starting at CHB next year but he'll have to put in the work during the pre season and perform well throughout the nab cup and nab challenge matches.

Then there's guys like Johnson and Robinson and Yarran who we all want to get a closer look at to see how they go.

It's too hard to do the side atm, imo. Will wait it out

 

[BlueYoss]

I'm pretty keen on seeing Austin starting at CHB next year but he'll have to put in the work during the pre season and perform well throughout the nab cup and nab challenge matches.

I'm also keen to see Austin, something about him makes me think he'll be a big part of our future, but Bower showed a lot last year on monsters like Bradshaw and Buddy (and one of Rocca or Cloke in Rd 4?). With another pre-season Bower could well be a KPD answer and Austin who's still only a teenager might struggle to break into our back 6.

With so much development still ahead of Austin, I wouldn't mind seeing him spend some time at CHF in the Ants...we've always said that when we can afford to have Waite playing off a wing we'll be challenging for a flag

 

[thylacine60]

I won't argue about the hard ball comment, but poor disposal? Man you really are missing something! Maybe watch a few tapes...

Completely agree. Hoops gets bagged for plenty but his disposal is his best asset.

I'm also keen to see Austin, something about him makes me think he'll be a big part of our future, but Bower showed a lot last year on monsters like Bradshaw and Buddy (and one of Rocca or Cloke in Rd 4?). With another pre-season Bower could well be a KPD answer and Austin who's still only a teenager might struggle to break into our back 6.

With so much development still ahead of Austin, I wouldn't mind seeing him spend some time at CHF in the Ants...we've always said that when we can afford to have Waite playing off a wing we'll be challenging for a flag

BY, why am I concerned at the progress (or my perceived lack of) Oz and Hammer?

 

[CTwenty]

Completely agree. Hoops gets bagged for plenty but his disposal is his best asset.



BY, why am I concerned at the progress (or my perceived lack of) Oz and Hammer?

Because you're an impatient bastard.

Now go to bed.

Goodnight.

 

[thylacine60]

There's that I s'pose..................

 

[thylacine60]

Surely.

pic courtesy Blueseum

 

[Blue Dimension]

Completely agree. Hoops gets bagged for plenty but his disposal is his best asset.



BY, why am I concerned at the progress (or my perceived lack of) Oz and Hammer?

Thought Austin really came on this year Thy. Many were saying in the preseason that he lacked the fire or intensity that was required of him.

Imo, he took a massive step up after his consistent performances for the Bullants and then forcing his way into the seniors. That's exactly what you want from guys in the squad - he was banging down the door. With another step up, could be a very good player for us in future.

 

[2centsworth]

In that case Russell should be ahead of Fisher.

I can remember Fisher sherking any issues like Russell has in the past. But fisher needs to work on his defensive side of his game.
Russell has improved his hardness at the ball in the last few games this year but must improve more.

 

[BlueYoss]

BY, why am I concerned at the progress (or my perceived lack of) Oz and Hammer?

I'd suggest it's pessimism that would be symptomatic of our past 6 years. Not to worry, just take 2 finals appearances and see BlueBear if pain persists

Ratten himself said (as recently as post-2008 season) that Hampson will take another four years to have an impact at AFL level (one of the many reasons we chased Warnock). He's only behind on overly-eager-supporters' development timelines, not the clubs.

Besides, when Juddy first started training with us, Hampson and Jamison were the 2 players he singled out as being extremely impressed with and could see becoming something special. Now I know Juddy is no Wayne Hughes, but he is still....Juddy

Austin on the other hand was bottom aged when we drafted him, he's still only a teenager. Will you lose all respect for me if I say something as cliche as 'big men take longer to develop'?

Another perspective: Austin is 14 months younger than Bower (and one pre-season in the weights room behind) and is therefore comparable to Bower at this time last year -with 2 months (contingency if you will?) up his sleeve.

Bower cracked 2 games in our famously undermanned defence in 2006 (his first season), and 10 games in 2007 but I don't think the masses started rating him until his breakout 2008 season (limited by injury to only 12 games), by 2009 the rest of the football public will be smacking their forheads wondering where Carlton pulled this KP defender out of.

Austin cracked 1 game in a much less undermanned defence in 2007 (his first season) and only 4 in 2008, but I'd suggest that this has more to do with us having more KP options in the back half than Austin's lack of development compared to Bower at the same stage.

If age and pre-seasons has anything to do with it (and with KP's IMO it certainly does) then we should be expecting Austin to have a breakout season similar to Bower's 2008 in 2009, only he'll have to show even more to earn his games on account of us having more options, can only be a good thing.

As much as I rate Bower, there's something about Austin that makes me believe he will turn out even more special (Jamo rates him very highly, told me over and over that 'Ozzie will take care of the gorillas, don't you worry!'...and Juddy really rates Jamo. Now I know Juddy is no Wayne Hughes...).

Because I rate Bower so highly, I think he and Jamo may well stitch up FB and CHB over the course of 2009 (and with T-Bird in a pocket and Waie/Bannister/Walker as other options who can play tall) Austin may very well playing most 2009 games for the Ants. In that instance, I'd love to see him spend some time at CHF for the Ants as it could provide some very handy versatility/flexibility in the way we are able to move forward with our KP development on both sides of the ground.

Going once....going twice....sold???

 

[Blue Dimension]

Id still like to see Austin in the back half, allowing us to push Waite forward. It's probably a better option long term.

Jamo, Bower and Austin in the back half, with Thornton lingers a bit in my mind.

Waite, Fev, Fish and Kreuz up forward seems more balanced.

But most prefer Waite down back so

 

[BlueYoss]

Id still like to see Austin in the back half, allowing us to push Waite forward. It's probably a better option long term.

Jamo, Bower and Austin in the back half, with Thornton lingers a bit in my mind.

Waite, Fev, Fish and Kreuz up forward seems more balanced.

But most prefer Waite down back so

For starters, let me clarify, I am Waite's #1 fan, even if he doesn't want to accept that. I have always thought that he could be almost as much a matchwinner as Fev as a forward, however, some of the things he did in 2008 in the backline made me seriously reconsider where he would be of most value to us.

In my (albeit somewhat left of centre) scenario where Austin is not needed in defence and provides the answer up forward, I had Waite on the wing....that way we fully capitalise on his aggression at the contest, his aerial ability, his run and carry AND his potency pushing into the forward line

 

[BluesMan]

Austin cant hold down the CHB possie on his own, id put him to a flank first. Thats if i would play him!