Tough start to the season and the end part of the draw wont be easy either....our season could be defined in the first seven rnds.....without Judd for three and vs some of the better teams and trying to implement a new forward line structure and game plan its going to be a challenge for Ratten and crew and I dont think the draw has done them any favours especially early.
We will be doing well just to make the eight much less progress IMHO......

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

Ok now I understand why

They play TWICE against Geelong, Saints, Collingwood, Carlton, Western Bulldogs, West Coast and Hawthorn

and ONCE against Melbourne, Richmond, Fremantle, Kangaroos, Port, Sydney

Agreed -


Richmond and Essendon* without Judd is good

Our 9 day games in Melbourne are a little better than last year - only 7 IIRC so the little fellas can actually see the Blues live.

There are 3 Thursday Games this year and we are playing in all of them (Bris x 2 and Richmond) - The second Brisbane game is a bit confusing - why a Thursday in July?

There 4 Monday Games for the year and Carlton features in 2 of them (The Geelong Carlton Monday Anzac game could be bigger than Collingwood Essendon* this year) The public holiday games I understand on a Monday but St kilda round 7 - WTF

_________________
Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

That's porn

_________________
"I will rejoice in their anguish, delight in their failure and revel in our success"

We are Carlton, @#$%&! the rest !!!!!!

Draw not too bad, could have been worse.
Hard start to the year, especially without Judd, if only they didnt contest the charge we could have had Judd back for the round 3 game against Essendon*.
Teams we play twice are okay, the usual ones in Essendon*, Collingwood.
Two trips to Perth is the norm, not happy about playing them in round 22.
Will be a very interesting year next season.

Boys and girls... Get set for most likely a non finals participating year in 2010. I can see us winning no more then 3 or 4 games in the first 10 rounds. However, following this period, the draw gives us a chance to make up so lost ground as we play the next 7 games in Melbourne and against mostly bottom 8 or interstate teams.
I think the best we can expect is a 7th or 8th place finish... and I'd be happy with that seeing as the loss of Fev has set us back a year in our progress.

_________________
James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

_________________
"I had to eat"

In the long term, it will set us up for a much better outcome. Like Geelong missing the 2006 finals.......

Now THAT'S porn!

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Oh ye of little faith.

Our key players are still young and getting better. Relative to the rest of the teams that finished around us last year, we should be improving. Regardless of whether or not Fevola's gone.

I see no reason why we can't win two more H&A games than last year. No reason at all.

The midfield will be stronger. The backline (surely) will be more settled. We've lost ONE player from the forward line. And I don't give a rats if that player was a big full forward. Over-rated commodities in today's game.

We'll miss Juddy for the first few weeks, but as the season progresses, his body will be all the better for a late start.

Lots of ruck options. Waite back in the team. McLean to add an important edge to the midfield.

The fixture is ok. From a financial viewpoint, it's not so great. What's with the lack of Friday night football? But when you play finals you have to expect a harder draw than when you finish in the bottom half.

Getting a few tougher games (on paper) up front isn't the end of the world. Early on, sometimes the better teams are vulnerable. Whatever.

I reckon we'll enjoy the ride this year. I'm predicting a breakthrough season for this team. This TEAM... which is what we'll be developing.

Get through the first three weeks with a win (or two? maybe) and then on Thursday night we see:

IN: Judd

How effing good is that going to be.

Waite getting his confidence back, Yarran showing us what he's got, Hampson a year better, Kruezer Gibbs Bower Murphy showing more all the time, Henderson to grow into his new role, McLean and AJ taking no prisoners in the middle, 206 finally getting a run, Walker for the whole season...

We even get to beat the Scum twice.

C'mon. It's gonna be freaking awesome!

Damn...nine matches on Ch 7...that means we won't hear our song nine times in 2010. Will have to wait for the Foxtel replay I guess...

I agree JohnM.

Also players like Robinson, Garlett, Grigg, Austin, Browne etc are all getting better. Jamison back 100% fit and with a full pre-season makes a big difference too. Russell is a late bloomer and will keep improving IMO.

As Big Kev used to say - "I'm Excited".

_________________
There is no footy god

Good call

_________________
Year of the Yarran

Carlton's 17th flag is inevitable.
The sooner the better...for everybody

Carlton will have theequal best Prime time exposure on FTA this year

Counting Friday night, Thursday night and Monday night games

7 - Carlton, Essendon*, St Kilda
5 - Collingwood, Bulldogs, Geelong
3 - Hawthorn
2 - Brisbane, Adelaide, Richmond
1 - West Coast, Fremantle, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide
0 - Sydney

_________________
Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

Exactly.
Anyone complaining about the lack of Friday matches has to realize that Thursday and Monday matches are the equivalent.

To be contenders for the 8 and top 4 we have to beat good sides so bring them on. We can expect genuine improvements from all of our little and big champs and youngsters. Not happy the AFL have bent over for Essenscum and Collingscum but what would Carlton be without some adversity?

Let's call a spade a spade: "Prime FTA exposure" only counts for Melbourne and Vic regional.

Swans get all 22 matches live or 1h delay on FTA.

See my rundown on P5 for a more realistic assessment.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

As do the Crows, Power, Eagles, and Dockers (not sure about the Lions).

As KK, and Molly have already stated, whilst this schedule is good for our exposure to the Victorian audience; it absolutely reams our non-Victorian supporters six ways to Sunday.

_________________
I AM DISENFRANCHISED

You live in Melbourne!! Attend the games... HTFU

_________________
TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

Now all we need is for Swanny to take over the Footy Shows host chair. $$$$$$$$$$...

_________________
There's so much I could say...

Not as many Friday night games which is a shame BUT just watch the ratings boom on the Thursday and Monday night games. The sponsors will be bloody happy, i don't mind midweek games so i'm happy. Bean counters probably not so happy.

The 2 early Thursday games are pretty much negated really by the fact that one is the season opener and the other the night before the second biggest holiday period of the year. I don't think its an issue and they are not our home games anyway. The return game against Brisbane as our home game might be a problem though, is there a public holiday the next day? A big crowd will be helped by the fact of the Fev factor.

_________________
"I will rejoice in their anguish, delight in their failure and revel in our success"

We are Carlton, @#$%&! the rest !!!!!!