I liked the trees on the roof the best.

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May be it was the grass they were smoking when they came up with the "plan".

But they were scray times indeed.

As chairman of the match committee - maybe Kernahan should be asked just a few questions such as:


1- after the geelong schelacking why wasn't there any voluntary changes to the team?



2- why has it taken until round 15 or whatever for Bower to get a regular game when Saddington clearly indicated in many games that his injuries have slowed him down to an unacceptable level?



3- why was Gibbs played in the back pocket for most of the year. He must be the first number 1 draft pick in the history of the draft to be shielded away deep in defence? And this occured despite the fact that he averaged over 20 possessions a game for two years running in the sanfl seniors as a midfielder.

Sure, i can understand some time in defence but surely his strength is his penetrating kick, and in the back pocket you don't get much opportunity to cause damage with that.



4 - why was ackland selected in the team after his performance against hawthorn?



If Sticks can give an acceptable answer to these questions then he deserves his match committee position, but my guess is that each of these areas were mistake riddled and it is time that FOR THE GOOD OF THE CLUB he relinquishes his position on the match committee.

Andrew Maher just gave sticks a backhander without naming him.

He basically said let Swann run the club .. and take a few steps away.

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Steven Icke? I don't think that Sticks will have much to do with the day to day stuff next year and will just be a board member. Remember this year is a transition year for many of the new appointments.

Andrew Maher mentioned a lot of 'ex players' not just one - you heard what you wanted to though - he actually praised sticks for getting Pratt to the club - we all agree that he can't have too many roles though - now that we have decent staff he can step back

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1. The Geelong shelacking was not due to a lack of intensity by the players we got beaten by the best side in the competition. They guys had won 2 of there first 3 game

2- Bower probably was picked when his form was borderline. Saddington was dropped when his form did not warrant selection. Bower has had 5 games now.To say we have not played youth this year is not a statement based on fact. Go through the game and game time of our youngsters. They have had a fair go, within the context that Benjamin, Edwardes, Flint, Jackson, Jacobs, Hampson and Austin were injured or not good enough

3- Gibbs has been played in the forward line and on the ball in the second half of the season. He was played on a backflank just as Kouta, Ratten and Thomas were when they started their careers

4. Who was the replacement for Acland. Do you watch bullant games. Hampson and Jacobs not ready.


Your mentality that says everytime there is a problem to sack someone does nothing for our club but create the "eat our own culture" which will make us the Richmond of the next decade. Once again leadership, talent,facilities and professionalism are behind our current situation.

I think Michael Jezz is right on the Geelong game. I think for a young team to get crunched like that by a team proven to be at the top of their game was no embarrassment. People probably forget that the first quarter of that game was some seriously exciting football by both teams. We couldnt stick with them and ended up losing big time.

Thereafter the WCE loss was horrid but not entirely unexpected.

I could have even given them a bit of credit for the Hawks match to a point.

But its the loss to bottom 8 teams ove the past 5 weeks that are the embarrassment. 117 points to a team just above you, annihilation by the Dockers who from memory were 1 place above us on the ladder and a 4 goal loss to a very young Demons outfit that did it.

The season went off the rails. Perhaps the players have gone into their shell with 'not again...', who knows, but some big losses you have to take - others you dont, or should.

Add a couple more to go IMO- Mitchell & Simple Simon Wilson QC

There are two former players on the board.
One is Sticks and the other is his board offsider Gleeson.
I doubt he believes Gleeson calls the shots and makes bad decisions.
If you elimiminate Sticks from decision making youre eliminating Gleeson ...I understand what he is saying.. you dont!!!


But thats the difference between you and i....

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It's pretty safe to assume he was referring to sticks. Tim Watson was trying very hard to get Andy to name him.

Michael Jezz, I accept your points as being valid points...however...




1) re: the geelong schellacking. The rots started then. A lack of intensity is something that can be accpetable for teams that had had runs on the board so to speak. but team changes are needed for teams that don't have runs on the board.




Let's say West Coast got flogged by 100 points by Geelong, then yeah.. you have faith in the troops .. you back them to the hilt, but we are talking about Carlton - a team that had had about 20 schellackings over the previous 3 years.





2007 should have been about making a statement that Carlton would not accept 100 point thrashings. Making changes to the front line sends out that message -




Emergencies for the game against brisbane two weeks later were

1) Blackwell
2) Bower
3) Hartlett

I would have had all three in the team and dropped three.



2) bower vs saddington - bower has attributes - speed, athleticism that Saddington no longer has - difficult to accept, but true. Saddington was played 2 weeks longer after his form tetered away.



regarding your point about playing youth - i accept that in part, however, i don't want to see them wasting away on the bench. give them a go. I remember when hartlett had his first game of the year - he made a mistake and i don't think got another proper go for the match.





3- gibbs

Please don't get me started on Gibbs. I have watched closely his movements in second half of the season and yes he may start on hff flank but within 15 minutes he is back in his more customary position of the back flank.

please do not compare ratten to gibbs - that isn't valid in my books. Two different eras and Ratten had to fight his way into the team - Gibbs is a ready made player. Yes, he needs time to develop to AFL standard, but putting him in the back pocket for 90% of the season won't help.


When is he most inspirational? where is his greater upside?

When he took that mark against melbourne on the half forward flank or when tagging Johnson from Brisbane?

Give me the mark against Melbourne any day - it inspires. it lifts.



4) ackland vs jacobs


I will give you a quote from a famous footballer from yesteyear..and he didn't play for carlton but he was a coach of another Australian Rules Football club.



"what do i look for first? COURAGE AND DEDICATION. That's what you need before everything elsoe. All the football skill in the world won't help if you don't have courage and dedication."


Do you think Ackland has displayed a required level of courage? and if not - how many games should he be given to prove he has the required level of courage and dedication? Don't get me wrong - Ackland may have the required level of courage and dedication for VFL or SANFL level, but he doesn't have it for AFL level and everytime we put him in the team we are taking away a position from someone who may have the COURAGE and DEDICATION needed.

Now that is my rant for the evening...and I will finish up. My rant is way too long but I just want to see my club perform to an acceptable level.