I still can't see how we have fixed our backline. Maybe with Carlos back there and Kruiser in the ruck and cloke back as well we might be able to stop other teams from scoring so heavily against us. Where we finish next year will depend on how well our defence holds up, so if Ratts can fix that up we should ed up with 10-13 wins, if not then 8-10 wins will be a realistic target. 2009 should see a strong return to finals once a back six is decided upon and played together for a year or more.

10wins for mine......................

We could have easilly won the Collingwood, Essendon* & StKilda games in the 2nd half of the year when we were cleary tanking. AND the Melbourne game too.............

So there's 3 or 4 extra's wins right there!

10 wins should be the minimum.

With Judd & Stevens back, Plus Murphy getting that much older & Mature and Gibbs having a full pre-season, I could see us going as far as 12-14 wins.

But what i'd REALLY like is a sequence of wins. Maybe 3 or 4 in a row. We haven't done that since 2001 (2004 we won 3 in a row).

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

According to Roos, we tanked so much this year that with Judd and Stevens in the midfield plus the PP, we should make the finals. What's that? 13 wins?
I'll take that.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

with no serious injuries we should get 10 wins at the very least.

Judd and Stevo are massive ins but my players to watch out for are 1AW, SOV and Hartlett (if he's fit).

Walker will explode, it his time to shine

If we somehow managed to fluke Rutten in the PSD, I think you'd agree this post would be null and void

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Top 4. the kangas did it. so can we.

If you consider how many games we were in winning positions esp in the first half of last year (no judd, no stevens, no missile, no concept of tempo footy and with the poor man's Grant Thomas coaching) i rekon top 8 is very realistic! + u throw a whole host of other players that were either playing out of position (ie 1aw back pocket!) or in the 2's and the added excitement and spirit the ratts has brought in to the side

If we picked up Bolton then we would be tanking again...

I think the inclusions of Judd and Stevens can get us over the line for 7-10 wins....we will still leak goals with our backline and Kruezer is a young kid who you cant expect miracles from in his first year.

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

With out significant injuries, not making the finals would be seen as a failure for me. 11-13 wins.

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1. Walker,
2. Menzel,
3. Murphy,
4. Gibbs,
5. Judd.

i dont think it was the backlines was as bad as ppl think.its not their fault when as soon as someone gets the ball all the midfield and back flankers run forward and the ball carrier bombs it to fev who's 3 on 1. Thats not a forward structure. Most opposition goals started from our 50 cos the forward thrusts were leaving free players everywhere under no pressure hiting their forwards lace out! Once the forwards and midfeilds are settled the defence will look alot better

hmmmm, a realistic target for next year?







how about this

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I tend to agree.

It was the flood of ball coming into our backline that caused all the big scores to be kicked against us. With the addition of Judd and Stevo into the midfield and the continued development of our midfield youngsters then there will be less likelihood of our defence being over-whelmed.

Also, with Hammer, Sake &/or Cloke in the ruck then Carlos will be able to return to the back half on a full-time basis. Jamo just has to keep playing like he did once Ratts gave him a chance and if Ando stays fit then he will readily take the small forward. The big boost for the backline would be if Austin can hold down one of the key positions.

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

i think we shoudl finish around 10th

surely we are a ten goal better side than 2004.
gotta talk finals (cos that's a bet i have with an Essendon* supporter)!!

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one you knock back is one you never have

i like the idea of cloke at CHB also - gives us a bit of muscle and mongrel that we sorely need. any others agree on cloke down back cos the ruck will be ok.

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one you knock back is one you never have

i reckon setanta at chb, he's just got that killer instinct.
not sure cloke would really scare anyone that much

Too many variables to guess.

If we get no injuries and get the expected improvement from Murphy, Gibbs, Kruezer, Anderson, Walker, Jamison, Austin, Hampson, Hartlett, Jackson etc. then Top 4 is a possibility.

A lot will depend upon pre season with our new 'high performance manager' and on the new development coaches.

We know what Judd, Stevens & Hadley will bring, its the kids that need to improve an extra 10% plus!

Depending on the strength of the 2008 draft, we might want to continue the tanking just to piss off Miller, Roos, KB, Patrick Smith, Eddie, Nisbett, all the Richmond supporters.

4 wins gets us another no. 1 pick in front of Richmond ...would love Johnny Brown to leave Bribane and select Carlton as his 'preferred' destination club...

Now that would be MASSIVE

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Now is the time - The time is now.
If you want it, come and claim it....if you dare.
One day, very very soon.....we will ride again.

How many opposition defences could stop fev when the delivery to him was good? not too many. Its all about midfield pressure, plus with judd and stevo there it will make the opposition midfield alot more accountable and they wont be able to have players running off our guys like they did last year. The oppositions mentality towards us will also change next year which i reakon will make a big diff. They wont bee coming into games whith such confidence and self beleif that they can beat us. Every one can play when there confident (Daniel Motlop!) but as soon as doubt creeps in you end up playing like Corey Mckernan. The inclusions of Judd and Stevo will not only help us play better, it will make the other team play WORSE!