Pros:

- Triple J - Judd, Jacobs and Jamison. Were all brilliant today, Jamo especially turned it on when he needed to.
- Ellard and Hadley who both threw their bodies into every contest.
- Murphy was hard, fast and strong
- JR kept us in it in the second quarter and played a great game.
- Warnock was second to Jacobs on the day. Good cameo up forward and reliable in front of goal.
- Carrots third quarter was top notch, no messing around just made the best decision.
- Great effort to comeback

Cons:

- That word comeback haunted us all year. We shouldn't be using it if we are to improve.
- Effort is something that requires 4 quarters
- Bower's first half
- Betts past 2 months
- Henderson's second half. Will be a superstar when he starts to take those marks.
- Simmo at half forward was wasted when the game was hot early.
- Gibbs was wasted on Goodes
- Goal kicking was poor again when it counted most during our comeback (That word again).

Pros: Great effort, especially coming from behind

Cons: Losing another final when in front at the start of the last quarter. I am simply devastated. It couldn't possibly happen again and it did!
I'm finding this one harder to swallow compared to last year. I might be harsh but it is almost unforgiveable. The boys should've really done better and some deplorable misses for goal crucified us

There are no excuses now for 2011

_________________
C'mon Blueboys!

Pros:
Juddy
JR
Jacobs
Carrots 3rd quarter especially
Armfield's incredible courage to take the game on after such a devastating moment. That was immense.
Great effort interstate - no one gave us a chance and we were every bit as good as the Swans

Cons:
Lack of poise in front of goal late in the third and early in the last
Inability to really capitalise on our dominance
First 10 minutes of the game - what was going on?
Missed opportunity - we would have nothing to fear against the Dogs, or even the Saints
Last time we won a final, the twin towers were still standing.
I feel sick. Though less sick than last year.

Cons;
Having to rely on Judd every time.
Betts.
Robinson.
Rattan; has had two goes at finals and failed. Lost 2 more games this year, percentage around the same, not much improvement, backline worse.
The club should be having a go at a real senior coach who knows what he is doing.
Recruiting staff, get players who can kick, mark and have a heart.

Pros, Henderson, Warnock, Gartlett, Ellard maybe.
Very disappionted, when we were in positions to win both matches, nothing learnt, and now all another year older.

_________________
CFC. EST. JULY 1864: PREMIERS. 1869 1871 1873 1874 1875 1877 1887 1906 1907 1908 1914 1915 1938 1945 1947 1968 1970 1972 1979 1981 1982 1987 1995

Pros:

Individual performances from Judd and Murph

Cons:
As usual we always find ourselves playing catchup against this mob
Very disappointing end to a poor season
Another wasted opportunity to play a more significant part in September
Having both Judd and Murph both on the bench in the last at the same time

_________________
"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

You think we played without heart today?

Pros
- Gutsy effort with a significant contribution from nearly everyone.
- In years to come we will win these matches with the likes of Kreuzer, Yarran, Lucas and Grigg to add the required class/grunt to apply scoreboard pressure when we are in control.
- Valuable finals experience gained by some of the younger players in particular Henderson, Davies and Ellard. They can only get better.

Cons
- Didn't get enough from Betts and Robinson. Bower was poor early but got better as the game wore on.
- Yes we missed plenty of chances but the reality is that the Swans missed just as many. A top notch side would have beaten us comfortably.

_________________
There is no footy god

Pro

The effort

Con
had a chance to be 2 maybe 3 in front in the last but we missed.

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

PROS

Incoming ....
Kruezer
Mclean
Grigg
Yarran
Hoops
Lucas
White

Will get a better draft pick.

CONS

Need to learn to win close games. That's 3 out of 3 close ones we've lost this year.
Gave away a start AGAIN. Had to play catch up footy AGAIN.
Missed a golden opportunity to get more invaluable finals experience into the team.

_________________
Number 17 - come on down!

The first quarter when they were allowed to scored 4 unanswered goals, wouldn't chase or tackle, played catch up footy from then on.
Once again relied on Judd to do everything he was the only one prepared to take them on.
Final quarter when they had everything going for them, they blew it just like last year.
No guts, no glory, too afraid to take the next step and win.
In 12 months what have they learnt?
Answer, nothing.

_________________
CFC. EST. JULY 1864: PREMIERS. 1869 1871 1873 1874 1875 1877 1887 1906 1907 1908 1914 1915 1938 1945 1947 1968 1970 1972 1979 1981 1982 1987 1995

2011 Top 4 here we come.

_________________
There is no footy god

Agree the first 15 minutes were awful. But after that I thought we gave everything. I actually think we were quite bold today, even in the last quarter we were taking the game on (a contrast to last years's final - so we DID learn something), BUT it was our finishing which killed us. Lack of poise? Absolutely. Lack of heart? You must be kidding me.

Pros
- Judd
- Sauce
- Hadley
- JR second quarter in particular
- Carrots esp third quarter
- didn't lose our shit and throw in towel despite shit umpiring in first half and being 4 goals down at half time

Cons
- Slow start resulting in catch up footy
- dubious umpiring decisions esp in first quarter
- Game there to be won start of fourth and blew it
- relying on Judd to turn games
- Betts again
- Bower's first half in particular
- inabilty to take a mark
- ANZ stadium is a soulless shitheap

Cons
2nd final I have been to in the last 2 years interstate where we lead at 3/4 time and lose

The games against Essendon* freo at etihad north - they cost us a home final

PROS
Russell was fabulous today - gave run was composed and took some really good marks -beat okeefe

Judd(third quarter electric) murphy gibbs

Jacobs and Warnock

Jamo played well

Hendo davies warnock gibbs murphy jacobs garlett ellard all huge upside

The great many carlton supporters today at ANZ willing their team over the line -but just failing absolutely gutted but 30 mins later on train discussing how we can get better

Frank we have to avoid playing our first final against teams whose players have just won the NAB Rising Star !! (2009 - Rich and 2010 - Hannebery)

By the way I'd add the first game against Brisbane in Brisbane to that list (yes, Brown had a night out). They only had a 3-4 day break prior to that game and I said back then that it would bite us.

_________________
"IF YOU FAIL TO PREPARE, YOU'RE PREPARED TO FAIL" - Mark Spitz

Pro
Judd, simply Herculean, casts a very big shadow on some others.
Russell, took it to another level today, congrats.
Warnock and Jacobs, that combo will do me thanks.
Davies, as Bruce reminded us ad nauseam "heres the 5th gamer" and i thought
he showed why (and will) he kept Thornton out of the side.
Walker, added a string to his bow today i thought.
Jamison, stopped being our version of Jamie Shanahan !
Murphy, do that every time now.

Con
Team not taking collective chances in front of goal = missed
opportunities = mad monday comes a week earlier than should
Betts, fair dinkum Eddie, youre at the crossroads.
Armfield's bounce, hopefully your career worst clanger is now behind you.
Pity it came at such a costly price for the team.
Hendersons last gasp chance, take the responsibilty, great forwards do.
People here praising a good effort, agreed, but we wont be a good side
until that is the norm, WEEK IN WEEK OUT !!!!! Learn from it ....pleeeeez !!

A few of my musings below coming true, much to my chagrin !!!

Post subject: Re: EF: Sydney v Carlton - Sun 2:40pm (pre-match / teams p17)Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:42 am


Richard Pratt, we thank you

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:11 am
Posts: 144
Location: melbourne And a big warm welcome to quite possibly Mr Ratten's most defining game
in his short and sometime stormy coaching career.
Last years finals loss was forgiven, precise same result this year may not
sit well on the CV, unless they can conjure a top 4 finish next year.

Personally i think he has it in him, just needs to convince some of the
half arsed players with millionaire's attitudes.
If you cant be 100% having a red hot go from the first bounce today
then you shouldnt be out there.
None of this giving hack teams 4 or 5 goals start, yep, just lke last week.
Or just like the last time we played todays opposition.

My wish list.........
Judd BOG, if he is we will surely win
Garlett or Waite 5 goals, ditto to the above
Robinson puts R Shaw in hospital then doubles up on Goodes !!

Blues by 16 points


4 goal start..................TICK
Judd BOG.....................TICK (but still just short)
Garlett, Waite 5 goals.....TICK (unfortunately combined between them though)
but should have been 9 or 10 between them, crucial misses just kill you.
Robinson................. NO TICK more's the pity !! (does Shaw have Downs Syn ?)

I, like most here, was really proud of the way the team gutsed it out and number
5 was truly outstanding, but its Brisabne all over again from last year, another one
that has gotten away from them, 3 close losses this year, no close wins.
Need to learn to win..........and soon, for the coaches sake and for our sanity's sake !!

_________________
I wore number 25 on the back of my jumper 40 years ago..... yes, pre Marchesani !!

Pros:

I missed the game cos I was at a car race in South Australia

Cons:

I got to listen to the last 1/4 on the radio

!@#$%& Kirk and Roos. Flowers

_________________
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

Con:

Like some others I would've played Thornton, thought he could've offered a bit of poise down back.

As mikkey said in another thread it seemed inevitable that they'd get a couple & win...maybe I'm just a pessimist but really once it became a stoppage arm wrestle in the 4th I knew we'd struggle. We were up against the team that has made that their signature for 5 years.

Went on Sat night also & we would've beaten the dogs next week. Sydney will now.

Simmo, been really important to us this year but we just didn't get enough from him, which hurt.

Pros:

Great game, best of the weekend. Glad I went. Thought the stadium was really good too.

Russell's game, especially his second qtr.

Judd was just enormous.

Watching the game with Bondi Mattress, was like old times at PP & in the 3rd we made more noise than all the passionless Swans fans on our level. They're a funny lot the Sydney supporters.

When I was trying to make sense of the football universe last night over a scotch I figured at least the loss probably saved us from losing a prelim to St Kilda.

Overall I'm just exhausted from it, & numb. Mixed feelings but I'm not as shattered as others.

_________________
#DonTheStash

You think we played without heart today?[/quote]

The first quarter when they were allowed to scored 4 unanswered goals, wouldn't chase or tackle, played catch up footy from then on.
Once again relied on Judd to do everything he was the only one prepared to take them on.
Final quarter when they had everything going for them, they blew it just like last year.
No guts, no glory, too afraid to take the next step and win.
In 12 months what have they learnt?
Answer, nothing.[/quote]

Agree the first 15 minutes were awful. But after that I thought we gave everything. I actually think we were quite bold today, even in the last quarter we were taking the game on (a contrast to last years's final - so we DID learn something), BUT it was our finishing which killed us. Lack of poise? Absolutely. Lack of heart? You must be kidding me.[/quote]

Heart when the game commences, Heart going in hard and winning the ball, Heart backing your team mates and tackling, Heart putting the score on the board and therefore scoreboard pressure. There wasn't any heart then.

Heart?, Yes, brave Carlton once again in defeat, we nearly got there like last week. Once again not switched on for 15 to 20 minutes and playing catch up footy.

_________________
CFC. EST. JULY 1864: PREMIERS. 1869 1871 1873 1874 1875 1877 1887 1906 1907 1908 1914 1915 1938 1945 1947 1968 1970 1972 1979 1981 1982 1987 1995

I still can't remember being this gutted after a loss for a long, long time. Maybe as far back to the 93 GF, or perhaps the 2000 QF.

_________________
"I had to eat"