Interviewed by Langdon and Bell tonight about 6.30WST.

Here's few tidbits I heard in between dealing with 2 screaming kids:

- Sounds like Warnock is a definate in

- Hoops still no good with his knee so won't play

- Didn't agree with Sheahan's appraisal of Judd. Great on and off field for us. Ratts would still pick him first out of all AFL players

- Impressed with WCE intensity last week. Mentioned Embley, Cox, Nic Nat, Priddis and of course Lecras.

- Key to winning is our intensity. Highlighted that we've been 'challenged' in this area externally. Sounded to me he has issued the challenge to the boys this week.

- Acknowledged our recent form has been poor with confidence down.

- Happy to be travelling this week. Reckons it'll be good for us in our current situation with additional bonding etc.

I'm sure I've missed some points. Hopefully other WA folk heard and can add to this.

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We are on our way back...

heard a bit - hes a very negative talker

talked up the eagles and who we need to be careful of which seems to be his tactic

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

God I hate it when he does that. You just know we'll come out mindful of that particular opponent and someone else will smash us somewhere on the ground.

Its one area that if he doesn't improve, will cost him his job IMHO. A few weeks ago he said something like "if we don't get off to a good start we have trouble winning...". Well you guessed it, we've started terribly since then and got pumped each time.

He'd be better off sticking to the positives and addressing the negatives - like our inability to overcome slow starts - with his assistant coaches.

His job is toast. GAWN. TCstyle.

Tell me you're not implying we get off to slow starts because he pointed it out.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

West Coast are on the bottom.
You want Ratts to send the message that they are easy beats ?
They were good last week and we need to be switched on.
Maybe Ratts even gets advice from the club's psychologist on what to say to the media.

Whatever he says you guys are gonna bag him.

Interesting.

Last night on 360 degrees there was agreement amongst the panelists that talking up the opposition after a loss is classy, and that it is no good belittling any of your own players a week before the next game. It's hard enough getting up after a loss without your coach publicly chastising a players performance.

I know these comments are before the game, but I see nothing wrong with the coach outlining the pillars of strength our team is up against. Basically he's spelling out the main challenge ahead, and at the very least I'm grateful he has acknowledged the main threats outside of our own form.

Worrying about a different opposition player not earmarked as a threat only to smash us on game day seems to be part of the trend at Carlton this year, but what do you do? Name no one, say nothing?

It seems to me for Ratten at the moment it's damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The have to win this week and win well. Have to...or it's all over and the whole club wont be hearing the end of the negative vitriol they are copping atm.

It's no good the coach telling everyone in media land what our tactics are going to be against the Eagles.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

So true. He is in a no win situation.
Only one thing will fix it, the team has to start doing the talking on the field.

Surely he has challenged the boys to be hard and committed the past 5 weeks??

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

I posted this on CSC, much the same.

Nothing to exciting, only used the term "in the mix" twice. More direct than usual.

Summary.
Beating the Eagles is in our own hand.
Will have to increase the intensity as the Eagles were very hard at the contest against the Bombers (I noticed this)
Asked specifically who we had in reserve to come up now that Lucas is out. Nominated Fish and Warnock as very close to selection this week with Warnock being very very close.
Chris Johnson also pushing for selection.

Made no reference to Gibbs' form or Ellard comming up.

Expects Waite to substantially improve our forward line effectiveness for the rest of the season.

Thornton is dropped and Hoops is injured.

Said Chris Judd was an inspirational leader both on the field and off and if he was able to select a team each week from any player in the competition he'd still pick Judd first every week.

Don't think I heard him mention we are a young side once !!!!!!!!

The frankest answer all night.

Karl: With the events at the Bulldogs today, with them terminating Akers contract , do you, in any way shape or form, miss Brendon Fevola.?

Ratts: No

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I hope Essendon* folds.

apologies for my lack of reading comprehension but Thornton and Hoops still won't be in this week you mean?

I really don't care what the flower he says as long as we W-I-N !!!!!!

I wanted us to be competitive against Dogs - didn't happen.
I wanted us to be competitive against Swans and have a crack at winning - didn't happen.

This week we need to win. Period.
He can call Milne a rapist and Sheedy a cheat and Aker a #%^* for all I care, as long as we win.

the only way to turn things around is by winning ... lose this week and there will be massive pressure on the club

he he.......no. I'm just saying that's he seems to do a fair job in summing up what we do wrong or don't do well, but is light on ideas to improve in those areas, and certainly can't inspire the boys to do much about it.