Match Preview Round 1 v Carlton - The big build up...

Looks good and balanced to me. on last night definitely agree with tuck ahead Grigg. without another tall the whole strucure falls apart if maric or vickery goes down early in the match. If derickx cant grab it prob Helbig gives us most versatility from the bench

but what about the following weeks where u would think king and conca auto inclusions. Long time since we have had this problem

answered my own question
id move jack out to chf and rotate lids atnd martin in the goal square and try and leave them one out with plent of room in front and watch defenders s*** themselves

umm someone forgot Kingy!

ANyway....

here's my go:

B Morris Grimes Batchelor
HB Houli Rance Deledio
C Martin Tuck Newman
HF Grigg Riewoldt Jackson
F Nahas Vickery/Miller King
Foll iMa(ri)c Cotchin Foley
Int Post Dea Edwards Sub: Ellis/Elton

Reasoning:
Post - can swap with Rance and/or play another tall back or forward. Dea/Shed rotate through HB/midfield (and either sub to get a taste of it).
Tuck showed how much he wants it and how much his hardness in our midfield can really help. Jackson can rotate mid/fwd with Martin and Cotch. Nahas and King provide solid forwardline crumbing and speed, Vickery & Post vie for 2nd ruck.

This is hard I think!

King's got that little round 1 holiday; courtesy of Adelaide.

oooh bugger. my bad. I apologise for saying King was forgotten. Thanks for the reminder on that.

umm ok then I guess I'd sub in White or Ellis for him. Probably White as he's got experience.

I think that Ellis taking a few kick ins last night is a good indication he will play. I also think Morris will.

Beefcake has to start in the ruck, and I would love to see Derickx play ahead of Millerocre.

I can't see that team beating Carlton rd 1. Hope I'm wrong.

Here's mine right now:

B: Morris Grimes Rance
HB: Houli Post Batchelor
C: Newman Cotchin Webberley
HF: Nahas Vickery Martin
F: Derickx Riewoldt A Maric

R: Graham Deledio Foley
Inter: Edwards Jackson Tuck Sub Ellis

I'd like to see us go tall up forward to stretch the Carlton backline and take away options to switch Waite, assuming it is a nice warm, dry night.
I reckon Elton is fighting Derickx for a spot over preseason.

Didn't have Tuck in the first time but want him there. White, Grigg, Hebig and Dea will be fighting with Morris, Webberley and Batchelor over the preseason.

First of all, I'm gonna put the moz on us and call it early: we will beat Carlton in round 1.

Bearing in mind I have not seen the NM and Hawthorn games in full, I am concerned to hear about Morris' kicking. Poor kicking cannot be tolerated in the back half by a non-KPD; a player on debut with poor kicking skills is a recipe for Betts and Garlett to collect 4 apiece.

As for my team, I'll suggest the following.

Ellis Rance Grimes
Newman Post Batchelor
Deledio Foley Houli
Martin Riewoldt Edwards
A. Maric Vickery Derrickx/Miller
I. Maric Tuck Cotchin
Jackson Nahas Conca
Webberley

Conca won't be there Swordsman.

FF: Vickery - Riewoldt - Nahas
HF: A. Maric - Miller - Martin
C: Deledio - Jackson - Edwards
HB: Houli - Post - Newman
FB: Ellis - Rance - Grimes
Ru: I Maric - Cotchin - Foley
Int: Tuck - White - Webberley
Sub: Grigg
EM Batchelor - Helbig - McGaune

So long as Rance and Tuck get in the team I will be happy.
But I do like the team that has been put here by RichardMEL.

As of right now, with King suspended and Conca assumed suspended I would say:

FB: Newman Rance Grimes
HB: Houli McGuane Batchelor
C: Edwards Cotchin Deledio
HF: Martin Reiwoldt Nahas
FF: Derickx Vickery aMaric
RU: iMaric Tuck Foley
IN: Jackson Post Grigg (Ellis - Sub)

It was tough. I've gone with Rance/McGuane/Post as the three big backs, with Grimes to play on one of the mosquito-fleet. With Henderson, Waite, Kruezer and the other resting ruck, we need to have option to either go tall or small down back, and we're going to need McGuanes mature body strength and third-man-up contest killing abilities. Houli, Newmann and Batchelor (along with Lids and maybe Grigg if needed) will lead the forward thrusts out of defense. Couldn't find a spot for Morris or Ellis ahead of Batch just yet, as Batch is just as tough and has the runs on the board.

In the center we have Cotch (naturally) with Edwards/Nahas rotating on one wing, and Lids on the other. Tuck and Foley get the starting center spots ahead of Jackson and Grigg who start on the bench, and Dusty who starts on a HFF, but will quickly find himself thrust in the middle. Was very impressed with iMaric the other night, and have him starting ahead of Graham.

With our midfield rotators resting on either flank, I'm actually starting the game with Reiwoldt at half-forward and Vickery at full-forward, though this can change on a whim, and these change-ups would be a good way to keep the Carlton backs guessing and maybe catch them out. With the absence of King, I'd have the very impressive (albeit in just one outing to date) Addam Maric playing his role in the forward pocket with the option to swap with Edwards/Nahas on the wing. Needs to match Kingy for desperation/defensive effort, and use his footskills to maximum effect. For the final forward line spot, my heart wants Derickx, but head is saying Miller, as his lead-up work and marking was very good on Friday night, and we need a lead-up forward to take the pressure off around the ground. This is my only heart over head selection for the side as I've gone with Derickx, whose x-factor and possible third ruck pinch hitting option have woo'ed me. Miller stiff to miss.

Interchange pretty self explanatory, with a back-up tall and some midfield depth to start with, and I've gone with Ellis as the sub. Was thinking White for some explosive pace, but I've gone with the strong body and disposal polish of Ellis. A very close call though.

I like that team but would not have grigg. id wait and see with our ruck too. the hype around maric is ridiculous and graham could play better than him in the next practice game