Will Yarran make Houla redundant?

[The_Groscz]

Where is HOula gonna apply his 'silky' turnover skills next year?

I mean he's no longer part of our leaky defense, he's too slow as a middy and his last resort is as a 'goal sneak' where he's supposed to be a champ at...

With this new Yarran bloke up forward, where are we gonna put Houla?

 

[deadoralive]

Where is HOula gonna apply his 'silky' turnover skills next year?

I mean he's no longer part of our leaky defense, he's too slow as a middy and his last resort is as a 'goal sneak' where he's supposed to be a champ at...

With this new Yarran bloke up forward, where are we gonna put Houla?

you're forgetting the very simple fact of competition for spots. more competition for spots, higher dedication at training and on game days to fight for your spot. if they had no competition, it would be pointless.

 

[TheRedPill]

you're forgetting the very simple fact of competition for spots. more competition for spots, higher dedication at training and on game days to fight for your spot. if they had no competition, it would be pointless.

WTF are you talking about? Read the post you're responding to before you reply...

Anyway, I think Houlihan may find a spot on the half-forward flank at times during the year. He has some tricks and is a nice kick. I don't see him playing that big a role but he should get a few games.

 

[Kramer1]

Where is HOula gonna apply his 'silky' turnover skills next year?

I mean he's no longer part of our leaky defense, he's too slow as a middy and his last resort is as a 'goal sneak' where he's supposed to be a champ at...

With this new Yarran bloke up forward, where are we gonna put Houla?

What you may not realise is that playing Houlihan up forward is not a last resort. It's where he started, and its where he should have been played all along.

He has a good footy brain, and uses the ball as well as anyone on the team...I'd happily have him in either pocket, flank, or even on the wing, and he certainly wouldn't be the last picked.

And I'll go out on a limb and say that many who see knocking Houlihan as a sport are going to be severely disappointed in Yarran. There seems to be a lot of similarities in the way they go about the game.

 

[LemmingMaster]

And I'll go out on a limb and say that many who see knocking Houlihan as a sport are going to be severely disappointed in Yarran. There seems to be a lot of similarities in the way they go about the game.

I don't see the similarities at all, would you please care to elaborate?

 

[Team Mo']

Don't see why he can't rotate with Walker/Betts/Yarran/Russel...

I actually rate our forward line now that we more then option.

 

[Aussie Joe]

What you may not realise is that playing Houlihan up forward is not a last resort. It's where he started, and its where he should have been played all along.

He has a good footy brain, and uses the ball as well as anyone on the team...I'd happily have him in either pocket, flank, or even on the wing, and he certainly wouldn't be the last picked.

And I'll go out on a limb and say that many who see knocking Houlihan as a sport are going to be severely disappointed in Yarran. There seems to be a lot of similarities in the way they go about the game.

Nail - on - Head.

Houlihan played his best footy in the fwd line. We put him in the backline to cover holes, and because Pagan had no clue. He will thrive in the fwd line next year. And you can take that to the bank!!!

 

[Kramer1]

I don't see the similarities at all, would you please care to elaborate?

As I see it....both are silky skilled, both can do the freakish, both can make the impossible look easy and at times the easy look impossible.

Both have a laconic approach on the field, and tend to cruise rather than sprint to position. A number of commentators have said Yarran looks like he seldom gets out of third gear, and Houlihan is much the same.

And whilst Yarran may prove otherwise, both would seem to be more outisde players, and surpreme finishers, rather than in and under hardnuts.

 

[Team Mo']

I don't see the similarities at all, would you please care to elaborate?

What?

If Houlihan was aboriginal they'd be brothers.

Obviously Yarran would be the better one.

 

[mediumsizered]

I don't see the similarities at all, would you please care to elaborate?

Based on the youtube video highlights of Yarran, I think it is fair to say he has the same laconic style we all know Hoops has. Yarran obviously has a lot more talent than Hoops, but I suspect at times he will cop some of the criticism that Hoops has copped because of his laconic style, which can be easily mistaken for disinterest.

 

[Bluebear]

Where is HOula gonna apply his 'silky' turnover skills next year?

I mean he's no longer part of our leaky defense, he's too slow as a middy and his last resort is as a 'goal sneak' where he's supposed to be a champ at...

With this new Yarran bloke up forward, where are we gonna put Houla?

Houla may well find himself on a wing or taking Russ/Wiggo's spot.......the other spot he may end up is a running HBF type.

I can actually see Yarran putting some pressure on Betts TBH. Eddie tends to have good and bad patches and will need to find the consistency, otherwise it might be Yarran and Hoops terrorising the small defenders.

I see Yarran as an upgrade on Betts. Hopefully he proves me right, and hopefully Eddie raises his game to another level.

 

[Kramer1]

Actually what I'm really looking forward to is Yarran, Betts, Hoops and Tex all trying to out-freak each other in the forward line.

There are gonna be a lot of goals plucked directly from arses in the Carlton forward line next year. Can't wait...bring on the freak-fest.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Based on the youtube video highlights of Yarran, I think it is fair to say he has the same laconic style we all know Hoops has. Yarran obviously has a lot more talent than Hoops, but I suspect at times he will cop some of the criticism that Hoops has copped because of his laconic style, which can be easily mistaken for disinterest.

I guess so, I think it is a case of making the hard look easy at times, so when they make an easy mistake, we think they lack interest.

I have no doubt that Yarran will get some criticism, but there is hardly one good small forward that does not get some stick from time to time.

It is a really hard position to play at times.

 

[JustKreuzin]

Houla is safe, it's Wiggins who needs to watch out.

 

[HBF]

I could see them both playing a major role up in our forward line from next year onwards. I don't know why you would want to remove someone from our forward line, when this has been a cause of concern for us for a couple of years now.

Leaving out Fevola and Betts, the following could rotate through our forward line in 2009:

Cloke
Kreuzer
Wiggins
Walker
Houlihan
Fisher
Gibbs
Yarran

Like our midfield, we need options up forward, and removing Hoops from up there would be a bad move IMO.

 

[Silvagnis]

No.

There's a thing called depth when the Cats and Hawks can't find a spot for several talented young players.

If Joseph can improve his disposal and step up, the Blues will go from one of the slowest to quickest teams in the AFL with the addition of Yarran.

 

[PeeKay]

I could see them both playing a major role up in our forward line from next year onwards. I don't know why you would want to remove someone from our forward line, when this has been a cause of concern for us for a couple of years now.

Leaving out Fevola and Betts, the following could rotate through our forward line in 2009:

Cloke
Kreuzer
Wiggins
Walker
Houlihan
Fisher
Gibbs
Yarran

Like our midfield, we need options up forward, and removing Hoops from up there would be a bad move IMO.

I think all this sounds good. But the real problem next year is what do we do with our list of nearly 34 players who can fit into the team.
It's going to be a matter of balance.
That just doesn't mean who fits where best. It also means which players mix better with each other and have an understanding of the way each plays. It's going to be bloody difficult to find the "best blend". It may take us a couple of years to get it near perfect.

 

[Amers]

I can fit Hoops & Yarran into my best 22, so I don't see there is any big issue.
Wiggins is more likely to miss games from the arrival of Yarren than probably anyone else.

 

[Kramer1]

I think all this sounds good. But the real problem next year is what do we do with our list of nearly 34 players who can fit into the team.
It's going to be a matter of balance.
That just doesn't mean who fits where best. It also means which players mix better with each other and have an understanding of the way each plays. It's going to be bloody difficult to find the "best blend". It may take us a couple of years to get it near perfect.

Sorry Peekay...you've got this arse about.

The problem for the past seven years has been next to no competition for spots. Some genuine competition for spiots is a very very good thing. And I wouldn't worry too much about the feng shui between players on the field...Ratts has shown very clearly that he has a sound understanding of list management and team balance...he will keep all of our chakra's aligned.

 

[Dramoth]

I can fit Hoops & Yarran into my best 22, so I don't see there is any big issue.
Wiggins is more likely to miss games from the arrival of Yarren than probably anyone else.

I reckon that Wiggins is going to be playing a fair amount of vfl next year...

Yarren in the pocket and Hoops on the HFF = winning combo

 

[cisco82]

They can both fit but it's up to the coaches now to find the best mix as PK said . Next year we'll have more options in most positions.. Good teams can afford a few injuries.. Probably the only player that we cant cover is fev..

 

[HBF]

I think all this sounds good. But the real problem next year is what do we do with our list of nearly 34 players who can fit into the team. It's going to be a matter of balance.
That just doesn't mean who fits where best. It also means which players mix better with each other and have an understanding of the way each plays. It's going to be bloody difficult to find the "best blend". It may take us a couple of years to get it near perfect.

Wouldn't you agree that this is a good thing? Guys like Hoops and Fisher have continually got games because no-one has been there to push them out. Now, we have some real depth, and these 2, along with some other players, will finally start to feel some real pressure.

 

[PeeKay]

They can both fit but it's up to the coaches now to find the best mix as PK said . Next year we'll have more options in most positions.. Good teams can afford a few injuries.. Probably the only player that we cant cover is fev..

Ya know, if Fev went down for an extended period I think Houlhan could fill the space. He's 4cm shorter than Fev but has explosive pace on the lead, can kick a good footy and now he's built up is quite strong and would not be pushed off the ball easily.

 

[PeeKay]

I reckon that Wiggins is going to be playing a fair amount of vfl next year...

Yarren in the pocket and Hoops on the HFF = winning combo

I think poor old Wiggo will be Captain of the Bullants in 2010. He will be good to still have him involved at the club.

 

[thylacine60]

Ya know, if Fev went down for an extended period I think Houlhan could fill the space. He's 4cm shorter than Fev but has explosive pace on the lead, can kick a good footy and now he's built up is quite strong and would not be pushed off the ball easily.

ChewingGumMan - keep the crack play for the weekends.