The Watchlist - Season started, team Angry Pirates

[Nige]

mate can I get your thoughts on Simon White? two 100+ scores from the opening NAB games

Also another one I'm interested in and trying to keep quiet, figured Mat would know best.

He seems to have become a much better player than he once was and I think that's attributed to a role change (was a defender, playing forward these days I think, similar to The Head). Looks to be much more comfortable and impressive now.

[Nige]

Van Berlo - Cheap, verryyyyyyy cheap. If he can get his 65-70 average back it makes him worth it already considering he should have good job security.

Looked pretty good. He was moving well and was using his boot to try and penetrate through the Cat defense. Turned it over a couple of times but his job security is super. I think with Biggs nursing injuries already Newton and VB might be the way to go
[/quote]
You're a Carlton man, would you not prefer Cripps to NVB?

[Mat0369]

mate can I get your thoughts on Simon White? two 100+ scores from the opening NAB games

I missed yesterdays game but he has been playing that 3rd tall forward role I think in both games. It is a role he started to play at the back end of last season and with the inclusion of Jaksch it is one that he will look to make his own. I do think Walker is probably the ideal guy for this role so it might change when he comes into the team, but he gives you a bit of versatility even though he isn't super at ground level. I think with White it will be buyer beware due to a couple of guys missing and how that might change his role when they do come back. It wouldn't surprise me if both he and Walker play in the forward line with Levi and Hendo since Walker is a match up nightmare, but it is something that will either help him out or hurt him since he won't see as many targets.

You're a Carlton man, would you not prefer Cripps to NVB?

Cripps still ins't in the best 22.

My answer from the Cripps thread

Looking at Carlton's midfield I still seeing him playing reserves early. Bell is ahead of him and I think Graham and Cripps are fighting for one spot based on team structure.

I just see Carlton's center line looking something like this

Simpson Gibbs Bell
Ruck Murph Judd

Curnow and Carrots also rotating through there with guys like Boekhorst, Thomas, Docherty, Yarran, Whiley (injured), Everritt, Menzel and Buckley all pinch hitting if they get games.

and another thread when asked about Cripps

He will probably be fighting for Brock's spot but then again, Brock was fighting for a spot in the team. I think this could be another development year for him and he will predominantly play reserves footy. He doesn't have the pace that someone like Boekhorst will bring to the 22 and he hasn't got the ability to play forward yet. You also have the more experienced (in terms of development even though they are both young) ball magnet in Graham fighting for the same spot, Whiley comes in and adds another player with a similar skill set but better defensively.

The core midfield group to me looks like this

Murph, Gibbs, Judd, Simpson, Carrots (when healthy) and Curnow

You then have these guys rotating through in Docherty, Yarran, Thomas, Bell, Buckley, Menz, Everitt (pending on his role) and maybe even Walker (his role is the big unknown)

These are the guys then all pushing for spots

Cripps, Boekhorst, Graham, Whiley and maybe Tutt, Armfield and Holman as pinch hitters.

He can't play off HB, he can't play off HF, if he is selected it has to be as a pure mid and he isn't ahead of guys like Murph, Gibbs, Judd, Carrots, Curnow and Simmo when he gets his run through there. You also probably saw how good Everitt was yesterday (at least in the first quarter and a half I watched) and Bell has a few more tricks up his sleeve at this point. Just quickly looking at the best 22

Tuohy, Jamo, Jaksch
Yarran, Rowe, Docherty
Gibbs, Murph, Simmo
Thomas, Levi, Bell
Menzel, Hendo, White
Warnock, Judd, Curnow
Carrots, Everitt, Walker (when fit), Boekhorst (sub)

If they want the extra pace you also have Buckley, Tutt and Dennis. Ellard can also play a small forward role, Whiley, Graham and Cripps are the bigger bodied guys that will come in

I will watch the 2nd NAB game properly this time and will come back and revisit this. But I am paying for the job security of Van Berlo to go with that 60-70 average.

[Nige]

Cheers Mat, that's really insightful.

I suppose the Blues vs Pies game sold me on Cripps over NVB. I know they like him a lot and I reckon he's playing his way into the 22.

Nevertheless, you're the Carlton fan, you'd know best.

[Ricochet]

Cheers thanks man

[Mat0369]

I don't know if Walker will be there round 1 so Cripps presents a risk. If he manages to avoid the sub vest he will have a chance to cement a spot in the 22, but he could be fools gold playing round 1 and then getting dropped round 2 if Walker returns

[Mat0369]

So I am playing around with some structures in case the worst happens with some players

No Gaz and Bellchambers

Backs: Simpson, Shaw, Newnes, Lumumba, Geary/Taylor, Pearce/200k rookie, Brown, Saad
Mids: Pendles, Selwood, Sidebottom, K Jack/Hanners, Jack Steven, Newton, Cockatoo/Lang, Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele, Lambert
Rucks: Nic Nat, Grundy, Nank
Forwards: BJ, Buddy, Dusty, Jeffy, Salem, Clark, Hogan, Lamb

at least 44k

Bellchambers available and no Gaz

Backs: Simpson, Shaw, Newnes, Lumumba, Pearce, Brown, Hamling, Saad
Mids: Pendles, Selwood, Sidebottom, K Jack/Hanners, Jack Steven, Newton, Cockatoo/Lang, Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele, Lambert
Rucks: Nic Nat, Bellcho, Nank
Forwards: BJ, Buddy, Dusty, Harley, Salem, Clark, Hogan, Lamb

At least 33k in cash

No Gaz allows me to bring in Steven since I lose the 4th round 12 bye mid premo option.

I also have another team with Bellcho in the forward line, Grundy R2 and Mason Cox R3.

[Mat0369]

So I was working when the Saints game started and then heard they were 90 points down when I went to get some dinner. However I just saw Jack Steven has had 30+ touches.

Also for Rico and Nige, I watched our game again the other night against the Pies. White was playing the high half forward role the majority of the game and was almost like another mid. All the Carlton forwards were actually playing high up the ground around the ball to try and isolate one on ones inside 50. This lead to quite a few possessions but this is a role I have been wanting Walker to play for a while now and he probably will when he gets back which will be either round 1 or 2

Also there is a Cripps thread in the Carlton subforum, I put my thoughts post game and quoted a lot of what I had above.

[Ricochet]

Thanks mate cheers for the info. Might stay away from him now. The return of Walker has put me off

[Mat0369]

Bellchambers available and no Gaz

Backs: Simpson, Shaw, Newnes, Lumumba, Pearce, Brown, Hamling, Saad
Mids: Pendles, Selwood, Sidebottom, K Jack/Hanners, Jack Steven, Newton, Cockatoo/Lang, Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele, Lambert
Rucks: Nic Nat, Bellcho, Nank
Forwards: BJ, Buddy, Dusty, Harley, Salem, Clark, Hogan, Lamb

At least 33k in cash

I am liking this team a lot right now. I have Smedts in for Pearce at the moment and can go BJ to say someone like Swan for cash if I really need to as well

[Mat0369]

Bellchambers available and no Gaz

Backs: Simpson, Shaw, Newnes, Lumumba, Pearce, Brown, Hamling, Saad
Mids: Pendles, Selwood, Sidebottom, K Jack/Hanners, Jack Steven, Newton, Cockatoo/Lang, Heeney, Vandenberg, Steele, Lambert
Rucks: Nic Nat, Bellcho, Nank
Forwards: BJ, Buddy, Dusty, Harley, Salem, Clark, Hogan, Lamb

At least 33k in cash

I am leaning towards something similar to this. I have a feeling my team will completely change when the sides are announced at 6.30 on Thursday

[Mat0369]

I am leaning towards something similar to this. I have a feeling my team will completely change when the sides are announced at 6.30 on Thursday

And this is looking like the legit possibility.

[Mat0369]

So here is my team as it stands



So starting Oxley over Saad was my F up but I was still undecided on if I was getting Goodes or not. Sidebottom has a broken thumb so I might be burning a trade already. Cripps and Dusty have disappointed already, so did Lumumba to an extent. Tomorrow will be interesting. I at least have 155k in the bank

[Mat0369]

There is a report that 4-6 weeks for Sidebottom. I also saw him on the news saying he thought it was dislocated initially but it turns out it wasn't he will go get it checked this week so the time frame is still uncertain. I am thinking a sideways trade to Sloane or pick up Lewis and some cash if he kills the Cats. Sometimes with these injuries they can slap on a glove and be good to go the next week so I am tossing up waiting it out a week or if he is named and a late withdrawal they play the Crows so a swap to Sloane is very easy

[Ringo]

If you have cover in mids matt why not even wait till next week and save a trade unless you really need to do 2 corrective trades next week.  That way you will get to see another game from contenders.  That is what I am doing if injury turns out to be lengthy. JPK, Kennedy options or even Wines or treloar at lesser prices.