Get on the Ants

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Sep 29, 2008
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Melbourne
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Carlton
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Ok so all summer we’ve all had more than our 2 bobs worth when it comes to the blues’ best 22…But what about the Mighty Mighty Northern Bullants. With the growing depth of the Blues list, the Bullants can only benefit from players being made to earn their spot…

So if the senior’s side looks something like this (give or take/swap a few if you want):


FB: Bower Jamison Carrazzo
HB: Johnson Waite Scotland
C: Gibbs Stevens Simpson
HF: Betts Cloke Walker
FF: Kreuzer Fevola Yarran
FOLL: Warnock Judd Murphy
INT: Grigg Browne Thornton
Houlihan

Then the Bullants should look something like this (before injuries):


FB: Armfield O’hAilpin Iacobucci
HB: Saddington Austin Bannister, Jo
C: Robinson Russell Anderson
HF: Wiggins Fisher Joseph
FF: Edwards Hartlett Colbert, P
FOLL: Hampson Bentick Hadley
INT: Jacobs Pfeiffer Boundy, D
Ellard

EMG: Bannister, Ja Bransgrove, B Bentley

* Bold = Bullants Listed

The Rest: O’Keefe Tiller Garlett
Hill Stanton

The Others: Jake Williams Andre Gianfagna Billy Micevski
Bronik Davies Jake Spiteri Nick Meese

OUTS: Teague, Lappin, Saddington, Vansittart, Blackwell, Benjamin,
Jackson, Aisake O’hAilpin, Ackland

INS: Saddington, Robertson (Into the best 22)

Bentley, O’Keefe, Tiller, Garlett, Stanton (New blues)

Jarrod McCorkell, Jake Hall, Ryan Gale, Josh Merkel,
Jesse Casperz, Dave Adams, Shaun Everington,
Brad Cunningham (New players training with the Bullants,
I know Sweet FA about these blokes, but some could play VFL)

* I haven’t heard a whole heap about which Bullants listed players have left, so there could be some changes but not many.

So, of the Bullants best 22 all Carlton listed players have played AFL (excluding Robinson), throw in Saddo and Iacobucci and it’s the most experience side in the VFL by some way. The team may look a little top heavy but main objective of his team is to develop players, furthermore bigger bodies stand out in VFL which is a plus.

The spine, O’hAilpin, Austin, Russell, Fisher & Hartlett is physically strong and there is experience on every line but more importantly it is (to a degree) the future of Carlton.

“The Rest” don’t get a go because most of them are rookies and O’Keefe & Tiller miss out because they are lower on the pecking order. These guys don’t get a game before the Bullants listed players for two reasons…1 the Bullants listed players are better. 2 there needs to be some balance between the two clubs.

“The Others” are 2008 Bullants listed players who all played VFL in 08, these guys are handy and are most likely the guys that will come into the team when the 12-10 rule is in play.


So how will they play? In the past our forwards set up as a three prong (triangular) attack, usually 3 tall marking targets (Hartlett, Fisher, Edwards/Colbert). The Half Forward Flanks & the other pocket will push up the ground. When advancing in our forward half in general we’ll run the ball right up to 70-80m from goal then look to hit up one of the three, or the flanks & pocket who lead hard towards goal.
From the back half setting up play will be Jordan Bannister, and if he’s not playing then it will be Jarrod Bannister. However I do expect Robinson to sweep across half back ala Luke Hodge.
Aaron Joseph will be the number 1 tagger, but it would be good to see him released to see if he can provide anything at AFL level.
I don’t expect to see Joe Anderson with the white ant on his chest for too long, he’s physically superior to most VFL players and another pre-season and remaining injury free should see him dominate.
Expect Austin to get the number 1 forward. From mid 08 he took on the oppo’s best forward and usually won convincingly. Teague will try to play him at CHB but won’t be surprised to see him at FB. But hear this now, we wont use the ball through him…Austin is seen as a stopper and is often let down by his foot skills, he’ll play a similar role as Tom Harley does at cat land.
As for everyone else I expect them to play an identical role as they would in the Carlton team.

For those unsure of whom or what type of player….is:

Iacobucci: inside midfielder, gets a heap of the ball. Was once a Collingwood listed player and was probably unlucky to be delisted. He’s a good decision maker but has limited kicking skills. He runs hard both ways and isn’t afraid of the tough stuff… most likely will take over the captaincy from Josh Vansittart.

Paul Colbert: Tall forward, very reliable kick for goal and takes a very strong mark. His weakness is undoubtedly his speed (or lack there of) and ground level skills.

David Boundy: Medium forward who plays tall. Good kick, good mark, not bad pace…he’s extremely similar to Wiggler but he doesn’t run through the midfield. Very honest footballer.

Jason Saddington: …hmm if you don’t know this bloke you’re a f**kwit. But great to see him sign on at the Bullants, will be of enormous benefit.

Jarrod Bannister: is an exact clone of Jordan, but probably has less heart and is a tad slower. Nevertheless he is a valuable VFL listed player.

In the past the few years the Northern Bullants have been massive under-achievers, we are the St.Kilda of the VFL. But as Obama says “the time is now”. Improvement and development is what we all want to see at the Bullants but now that we finally have some depth we will be well worth a punt to be up the pointy end of the ladder. It’s our turn to have a bit of success so GET ON THE ANTS.
 

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:confused: Why does everyone keep on writing Setanta O'halpin off? If you care to listen what Ratten has been saying, if he is fit he will be in the Carlton side. He is a big body and apart from when he was injured last year he has been a big part of our defence in the past and will be again this year:thumbsu:
 
:confused: Why does everyone keep on writing Setanta O'halpin off? If you care to listen what Ratten has been saying, if he is fit he will be in the Carlton side. He is a big body and apart from when he was injured last year he has been a big part of our defence in the past and will be again this year:thumbsu:
Yeah, I don't get it either. After looking a little lost early in the year (playing out of his accustomed position), he was great until injuring his calf.
 
Swapsies?

For the past few years, our blue boys have been the cellar dwellar team, yet the bullants have been hanging around the top of the ladder. So I've always had a laugh by thinking about what would happen if the two teams switched positions just for a game or two.... It would have been interesting to find out what would have happened. Although, I don't think I have to worry about swapping in '09. This year, we're back and we're one of the biggest and most unpredictable threats in the competition.
 
I recon Stanton will Play seniors for the Ants, O'Keefe and Garlet should too although O'Keefe might play some reserves because of his age and imature body, might be looking to protect him a bit especially if he's still growing.
 

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I recon Stanton will Play seniors for the Ants, O'Keefe and Garlet should too although O'Keefe might play some reserves because of his age and imature body, might be looking to protect him a bit especially if he's still growing.

Didn't think O'Keefe was bottom aged :confused:, and while he's not overly cut yet, he is not skinny either.
 
I've said it once and will say it again and again....Setanta is a no hoper, he is no good and is excess baggage, the experiment didn't work get over it and keep playing these kids who did such a good job last year and develop them further...
 
The Bullants have always been hamstrung by the 12:10 rule, as their VFL-listed talent is below average. I don't think that'll change this year.


yep in the past you couldnt be more spot on...however the longer the blues stay in the finals the longer the 12-10 rule doesnt apply to us. For instance if carlton make it to week three of the finals then the bullants can have as many carlton listed players as they want in the team.

so the success of the ants does depend on how carlton go, but if carlton improve so will the ants
 
Gilly are you going to be our form guide reporter again?

LOL. I'm hoping to get to some Ants practice games again. Although two years ago i did talk up Benji's first game :eek:.

The good thing these days is our bottoming out has seemed to create more interest in the draft, so there is no shortage of training/practice game reports floating around here or no TC :thumbsu:
 
Hope Ellard will be a walk up starter for the Blues let alone Ants

i am a massive fan of ellard and i think he can play afl, but after he made his debut and had those personal issues his form really declined. hopefully hes one of many who are playing well and putting pressure on others to play well in the seniors, hes certainly caperble.

:confused: Why does everyone keep on writing Setanta O'halpin off? If you care to listen what Ratten has been saying, if he is fit he will be in the Carlton side. He is a big body and apart from when he was injured last year he has been a big part of our defence in the past and will be again this year:thumbsu:

I was unaware that i had written setanta off, see below...but does setanta get a guernsey before Jamo, Waite or Bower? Not too mention i also said at the top of the OP "its give or take/swap a few if you want"

The spine, O’hAilpin, Austin, Russell, Fisher & Hartlett is physically strong and there is experience on every line but more importantly it is (to a degree) the future of Carlton.

Because most are just kids who know nothing about football :cool:

If this is directed at me you are wrong

If O'Keefe and Garlett only play for the Bullants reserves I'll never type another word on BF.

Hmm...you could be in trouble with garlett, but u have to understand that you cannot fit 48 players into 2 sides, someone has to miss out and there needs to be some bullants players in there. Jackson, hill, aisake, setanta all played in the bullants reserves...get the feeling jamo also played 1 or 2 somewhere along the line. But injuries and suspensions will happen which means the will be an opportunity for them.

I recon Stanton will Play seniors for the Ants, O'Keefe and Garlet should too although O'Keefe might play some reserves because of his age and imature body, might be looking to protect him a bit especially if he's still growing.

stanton and garlett will play reserves because they are rookie listed, proper listed blues will get first prefrence if 2 players are at the same stage in their careers. this happened lastyear or the year before when jacobs, hill, and maybe aj all got dropped for proper listed players even tho jacobs, hill & aj were in great form
 
Hmm...you could be in trouble with garlett, but u have to understand that you cannot fit 48 players into 2 sides, someone has to miss out and there needs to be some bullants players in there. Jackson, hill, aisake, setanta all played in the bullants reserves...get the feeling jamo also played 1 or 2 somewhere along the line. But injuries and suspensions will happen which means the will be an opportunity for them.

You're certainly right there........from what little i have seen of Jeff I would have him in our second best 22....the only thing that would stop him playing for mine would be others have more runs on the board at the club
 

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