A reasonable conjecture, as we have NOT played all of our emergencies in the VFL once yet. One or 2 to go West would be almost certain, possibly all 3. However, there will be a few guys back; Silvagni, most probably Walker, also a good chance of Everitt getting up. Wood was NOT mentioned in dispatches as being injured, so must also be highly probable to play. On the other hand, Foster may well end up in the Development game, as his numbers have not been great and we now have something vaguely like a functional forward line in the VFL.
I never thought this would happen but Jones has to be a chance to come in for the Dockers game.
Fraser was full of praise:
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Stats: 14 disposals, 9 marks (5 contested, 4 inside 50), 3 inside 50s, 5 goals From the coach: Another strong performance from Liam: he provided a real focal point forward of ball. He continues to provide repeat efforts and is showing good leadership.
And Bolton says he's a chance:
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Bolton said the Blues would consider recalling tall forward Liam Jones for the Freo clash. The former Bulldog sits on top of the VFL goalkicking ladder with eight goals after two rounds, including five last weekend against Geelong.
Just going on Fraser's assessments, White would be pressing for selection and, while he's probably due for another run in the NBs, Armfield's "effort and energy . . . ability to apply pressure . . . and his leadership and spirit . . ." wouldn't go astray.
Everitt is apparently over his calf injury and is in selection contention too (I imagine much to the dismay of some supporters).
It will be interesting if Jones does come in. I can't really see any of Casboult, Phillips and Kreuzer going out and Charlie Curnow has done enough to keep his spot. Perhaps he'll be 'rested'.
It appears, as Abbot was a champion of the more extreme right of the Liberals, Turnbull is more a prisoner of it. The budget is his chance to really set things straight - I'm not sure that the present divide in the Liberal party will allow this to occur. This is the deep blue sea!
The devil on the other hand is Shorten. I like the sound of some of Labor's recent policy announcements BUT I don't trust Shorten and his union mates if they get to call the shots.
It's a worry either way.
I like your analysis too Cookie
While I don't like the manipulation of senate preferences to give lunatic fringe candidates a gig, I would like to see more genuine independent candidates get up in both houses. That could keep the major parties honest, as Don Chipp once said.
Shorten has been very highly underrated throughout. Been strong, tactically smart ,has a unified party, has clear, concise policies compared to Turnbull, who has stood for nothing, full of short-term thought bubbles, waffled, dithered, leads a dived party, been the poorest Liberal Government ever on the economy, as the figures show, debt up, deficit doubled, and basically given up on his tax policy as the party can't come to terms on it. Can't trust them after the 2014 Budget. Thank goodness for the Senate on that one. Good reason why the polls have turned around as the people have worked him out. All talk, no action. Everything Turnbull does is based on negativity at the moment as he has nothing.
Be a close election. They might want to give the Libs another go, given they've just served one term, or they might be thoroughly sick of them. Could well be a hung parliament where the independents decides.
I think that's a pretty good analysis. I'm not a gambler but, if I was, I'd steer clear of betting on the election outcome.
It's interesting to compare Victoria's government with the Commonwealth. While folk may not agree with everything Andrews is doing, at least he's not afraid to make a decision. Meanwhile, Turnbull has pulled back from everything he has floated. It must be hard for the poor bastard to abandon all of his principles to appease the far right nut jobs like Bernardi, Hastie, Christensen and other Abbott supporters.
Another interesting comparison was made today by the Brick with Ears when said that the Coalition and its culture of leaking was typical of the struggling NRL clubs. Unless the conservatives can give the impression that they are united behind Turnbull, a one term government is not out of the question.
Yep and at our club he would get the best defender every week where at North he has Petrie and Ben Brown freeing him up to effectively play third tall and roam to the wing.
It has worked wonders for his ability to get on the park too, because he isnt copping the heavy treatment that the Gorilla minders dish out on a regular basis.
Im not solely of the belief we were doing everything wrong with regards to our players, but I think these guys leaving our club to go to places where they can play the roles that gets the best out of them as opposed to staying with us, where we needed them to shoulder heavier loads has a lot to do with their fortunes even if it is negatively impacting ours.
Not since Fevola was at the club was Waite able to play the role he was better suited to, and even back then we were still short one tall (pardon the pun).
Actually, as the most effective forward, Waite is getting the first or second defender. As we know very well, when he's in form his athleticism and unpredictability make him very hard to stop.
No use crying over spilt milk and I'm more concerned about what North's fitness and medical staff are doing differently to keep him on the park.
Next week it could be winless Carlton vs winless Freo.
Then it could be winless Carlton vs Cheats FC.
If we lose both those games I genuinely fear for Bolton purely based on our clubs history of dealing with these types of results.
I think that your fears are completely without foundation LP. Bolton was employed to do a job and wins and losses aren't all that relevant at this stage of the journey. I am sure that board now realise that Malthouse gutted the playing list and f****ed the culture and it will take time to work our way back to where Ratten had us.
I'm watching the TV coverage at the moment and they just showed Bolton at the whiteboard with the assistants looking on. He is definitely the man to take us forward.
We need ALL our players stepping up. Young or otherwise. The more players who are doing the right thing, the better off they will be.
Yes, it doesn't really matter who is stepping up, as long as they are. I am sure Bolton hasn't written anyone off yet and he has made it clear that those who put in the effort will be rewarded - and those who don't will lose their place in the 22.
If the NBs are executing the game plan well, winning games and have ten or so players who are knocking on the door of senior selection, our fortunes will have to be on the up.
Collo kicked out elliott who had to be removed. For that collo saved carlton. ..we were insolvent under elliott and mathieson wanted to hand the keys back to wipe off the debt but collo sent us to etihad for the cash we needed to stay solvent..collo told the players to take a pay.cut to save the club....note.pratt was no where to be seen during this point. ..
I tend to agree. Collo made the hard decisions that had to be made to save the club . . . and he was a tough premiership player. If Sumner is half as good as Collo he will be a good pick up.
I think that it is really good that the club is bringing back past greats to present jumpers. It was a nice touch for Robert Walls to slip a note into Tuohy's locker to congratulate him on getting his name painted on it.
I just heard a snippet of Bolton's latest interview and he made it very clear that Plowman, Sumner and Lamb had earned their games. None of this gifting games to players in the hope that it will help/speed their development.
Really happy with the ins, but they will be underdone so im not expecting much from them.
It's funny though, for the 2 and a half years we had Malthouse/Voldemort in charge it was excruciating for me to watch a game of ours, whether we won or lost.
Now, i'm more than happy to watch us lose, as its apart of our journey back to the top. And im really enjoying watching the newbies run around. This is easily the most interested I've been since the start of 2008 when the great man came along.
Winter is coming, but spring soon follows
Go Blues!
While I can't say I'm ever happy to watch us lose, I understand where you're coming from. Those brief moments when everything clicks and the performances of the young blokes being given a chance are signs of a brighter future.
