The thing is ... I don't see this as such a critical game ... and I can't see us winning this one ... the timing is wrong ... we need Jamison and Waite and Russel all fit and firing.

I don't believe we can make top 4 ... WC and Hawks have easy games to finish off the year.

What we do need to do is play well ... if we don't beat them its not the end of the world.

What is critical is that the Swans, Freo or Melbourne finish 8th. We will finish 5th and this would ensure us a relatively easy win in the first week of the finals.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

As much as I want to beat the Poos and Wees I think we're a couple of key personnel down and the Hawks have come off a virtual training run. Winning would be great for our confidence running into finals but a loss isn't the end of the world, I think with the bye coming at a time when some players look like they need a rest we can afford to finish 5th. If we're any chop we should beat whoever ends up 8th easily.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I disagree. We need a big scalp coming into finals and the Saints dont count. If we don't win this one, we are not a legitimate flag threat and that would disappoint me.

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T E A M

Steven Icke on SEN saying Hammer and Jammo a chance to play.

Also said JR is a very big part of our finals planning.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Cant see Hammer coming in - but Jamo I can

Interesting selection decisions to be made

Russell to me will come back
Waite is a given as is Jamo

who makes way - maybe Davies -
Can't see Thornton getting dropped he has been good - the only thing that would keep him out is injury

Has Hendo done enough - you would think so

All talls - Waite Jamo Hammer and Mr 2 goals 7 all pushing for selection but we play better when we load up with smalls

another little milestone with this game is 5 in a row - havent acheived that in a very very long time

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Pfft there is no way Hammer is playing this week. He hasn't even played a VFL game and has been out since mid June, longer than Waite or Jamo.

God I hate this mob

All my family and friends are Hawks fans and most have no football idea.. eg heated argument with a cousin of mine who believes Mitchell is better than Judd..

For those looking at the easy runs compared to us, i would much rather our run (especially with the bye)

If you look at the Pies and Cats from the last 2 weeks, both sides smashed pathetic opposition and found it difficult to get out of 3rd gear this last weekend. Both teams looked lethargic.

I expect Hawthorn to be the same this week, as they have had one of the softest games of all time.

Blues by 30

God I hate this mob

All my family and friends are Hawks fans and most have no football idea.. eg heated argument with a cousin of mine who believes Mitchell is better than Judd..

For those looking at the easy runs compared to us, i would much rather our run (especially with the bye)

If you look at the Pies and Cats from the last 2 weeks, both sides smashed pathetic opposition and found it difficult to get out of 3rd gear this last weekend. Both teams looked lethargic.

I expect Hawthorn to be the same this week, as they have had one of the softest games of all time.

Blues by 30


A thumping of this mob is well over due, this is a line in the sand game for us, time we beat them both physically & on the board.....we've made a number of wrongs right this year, this is the last of them.

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'The Carlton people are spirited & I'm the same as them, they have life in them, they have humor, they're arrogant, they're cocky & they're proud. And that's what I want my team to be.'

I don't think any of them will play this week, but then I'm relying on the "etched in stone" quality of our clubs injury reports.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

I hope none of them play this week. Would prefer Jamo & Waite in September, rather than at risk this week. PLay them for a half in the Bullants.

On another note, my two or there most unenjoyable/intimidating experiences ever at AFL games have been when we've played the Hawks. Happened to sit in the 'wrong' spot by mistake on one occassion, was lucky to escape alive. Their hard-core fans are a-holes of the highest order.

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"I had to eat"

One reason we MUST win this game.

Jim from Hawthorn.

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#DonTheStash

Are you and redskins identical twins of something?

Are you and redskins identical twins or something?

I think this game matters a great deal. Who knows what could happen when Essendon* play the Eagles?

I also think it would do wonders for the psyche of the team to knock off Hawthorn, have a week off, smash St Kilda at the G (which we will do) and then hit the finals rested and full of running.

Bang!

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

If we stick to our game plan for all 4 quarters then we are right in this game.

My only concern from the Freo game was we still let them run loose into our forward line, luckily they butchered a number of these in the 1st half. We will not get away with this with the Hawks who use the ball exceptionally well.

Only 4 quarters of pressure will do if we are to win this one.

Blues in a close one, a couple of late goals for a 15 point win.

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The time is right, the time is NOW !!

Hawthorn are missing there bookends in Roughhead (who always goes well against Carlton) and Stephen Gilham. They are also missing there best ruckman in Brent Renouf and good runners in Clinton Young and Xavier Ellis. Carlton are coming back from Perth but i sense we put the cue in the rack for the last 20 mins against Fremantle in order to have serious crack at Hawthorn on Friday night. Hawthorn intimidated Carlton in round 9 last year with hard bodies and superior foot skills. Ratten would have eyed this game at the start of the year as one that he really wanted to win.

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You heard it here first!

Clinton Young isn't missing, he's just not playing well enough to get a consistent game. One of the most overrated players going around.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Line. In. The. Sand.

I wouldn't mind someone standing up like Lloyd did a couple of years ago and show some intent and refusing to be intimidated and show those snipers what toughness means.

Have to physically match it if we're going to have any chance.

Also, we have to play them man on man. Zoning against them isn't particularly effective because of the short-kicking game they employ.

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

Rucks- Warnock and Kruez will have a birthday against the Hawks combo.
On- Ballers- Hawks have some quality, but slow quality.
Forwards- Ours a faster, but their's are very dangerous.
Backs- Ours may not be A Grade, but they are working well. Their's are workmanlike, so it's a 50/50

Speed: We've got them covered.
Fitness: 50/50.
Style: They hope to kick without pressure to guys who are 3+ metres from their opposition. Didn't happen against the Pies, won't happen against us.
Skills: They are better by foot, BUT as you would expect, not so hot when under the pump. Ours have been improving, but I fear if we have similar scoring shots at that poxy little ground, we probably won't win.

Hardness at the footy: This is were I think we will do them. We've haven't been this commited to the contest in a long time and I think we are much improved on last year, that's why we've beaten Saints and Swans. A lot of it's to do with confidence.

At the G i think we'd win by 6 goals, at the Jihad, I'll take anything.

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I hope Essendon* folds.