Some difficult descisions to make in the next couple of weeks:-

PJ is listed as 'Test' in the injury lists. As it's a given he would have to play a few games with Sandy before even being considered, it is probably about 3 weeks away from being a issue. PJ for me though. Jamar has shown improvement, but I think the form PJ was showing in the games just before his injury were better than anything Jamar has shown. Very tight call though.

Miller has now served his suspension and looks likely to have to earn his spot through Sandy. Assuming the backline holds up (with added pressure from Fergs and possibly Bizzell in the coming weeks) he will be fighting for a spot at CHF with Dunn, who has been somewhat of a revelation. I still think Miller is the better option though, but he must regain his form from 12 months ago (maybe longer). Dunn would be very stiff to miss, but hasn't really done all that much early on in games. When the fizz has gone out of the game after half time, he has been much more active. Come finals, the bigger bodied Miller would be much more useful. But, I actually think there is room for both. We have had sides with Neitz, Miller, Robbo and Holland before, so why not with Dunn instead of Holland? Miller further out and Dunn on the flanks.

Finally, the small backmen. Who are our best three smalls down back? I maybe wrong, but I think Whelan is a given. With Brown and Wheatley set to return from injury it seems 6 players will be after 3 spots. This is a very hard choice, but I will have to settle with Wheels, Wheatley and CJ. The two W's are givens for mine (assuming Wheatley can hit his straps) and CJ becuase of pace, flexibilty to go forward and because his in my dreamteam.

My ultimate backline would be

B - Whelan Carroll Wheatley

HB - Rivers Holland Brown

With CJ off the bench

My ultimate backline would be

B - Whelan Carroll Wheatley

HB - Rivers Holland Brown

With CJ off the bench

I like it, depending on who we play I still feel Bizzel can return and have an impact, for holland.

Jamar ahead of PJ easily. His ruckwork is excellent, and he can take an overhead mark.

I like Johnson, but I think he is more of a forward who can ruck, than a ruckman who can go forward. And even as a forward, he is questionable because he can't actually mark very well. Jamar is miles ahead at the moment, which is unlucky for PJ because he showed a lot before his injury.

Not gonna start the Miller argument yet again, but there is definitely room for both he and Dunn in the side. Dunn is a baby, and his form is likely to drop. Not sure how he will handle finals either, given his body shape and the fact that he isn't overly aggressive. Miller gives us the flexibility that a Dunn-Holland combination won't.

As for the backline, very hard but I went Whelan, CJ and Wheatley. It is rare to play a team who has two excellent small forwards, and no current team who looks like a premiership threat has two. Whelan is without a doubt the number 1 small-man stopper we have, but I think Wheatley is also more than capable of doing a job on a small or a tall. I like CJ's rebounds and he is a beautiful kick, plus we need to get some games into him before Brown calls it a day. More than anything, those three are accountable, whereas Ward and Brown are very loose.

interesting to note that while there is a spread in the backline, wheels and CJ feature in all the main options. the toss up is bell wheatly or brown for the 3rd spot.

Nice to know my votes were the same as the majority. With so much depth it is soo hard to see who will emerge as a key player, and where.

Lovely to have this depth

Whelan can play tall as well as small, and has better disposal than the loose Brown. Green and other midfield types have been going into the backline, and with their better skills I'm not so sure we need Brown's rebound.

CJ can provide that to an extent, and can play tighter from what I've seen, although I'm not sure he is a 'natural' defender. I believe he alluded to that in an interview somewhere.

I never knew CJ was rated so highly, I haven't seen a lot of him (being O/S) so I never knew he was anything but a maybe.

Still rate Bizzel ahead of him though, or at least will be closer to the end of the season.... cmon Bizz don't let me down!

CJ is a gun

This thread highlights a problem the MFC now has, nice problem it is though. We now have a bit of depth, and from memory that's a first for quite awhile.

These are good decisions to be made, I think our forward line can set up as below

Miller

Davey Pickett

Dunn

Robbo/Neitz

To create space for Neitz and Robbo, play two CHF, Miller playing his usaul CHF role up high leading onto the wing, with dunn behind him lead around the 50m-60m area.

interesting to note that while there is a spread in the backline, wheels and CJ feature in all the main options. the toss up is bell wheatly or brown for the 3rd spot.

wheatley not hard enough IMO - especially come finals time. Brown dog will bleed red and blue and can rebound much more effectively that Bell and Whaeatley combined. If he is fit Brown for sure...(although i rate bell he still has to step up another level...)

well i dont think we should have the same backline as we did last year needs to be a little adjusted like it has been so far this season...