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

I can't see how we will beat the Swans going on the last two dubious wins over super-crap teams.

I hope he proves me wrong, but my money is on Ratten making no changes (we won! we are the best! no need to adapt!)
and theres a massive chance we will get our asses handed to us by a professional outfit who know what it takes to scrape into finals

We should beat Melbourne, Port is a maybe depending on which team shows up - but we will struggle at AAMI.
Geelong, Collingwood: Losses. (unless they rest 7 players)
So the games against the Swans and Roos will determine our top 8 hopes- two tough, hardworking teams who will not give Ratten and the softies like Houlihan anywhere to hide


Are we fair dinkum, or just a bunch of slow, laconic top-8 wannabes?
I hope this game defines our season for the better

If you like to have a bet Sydney are at $4.60 on Centrebet. Considering we haven't beaten this mob in 9 years I'd say thats bloody good value

In: Setanta, Scotland, Austin
Out: Hammer (inj.), Fisher, Ando. (If Hampson can play, then Garlett out).

The big Irishman has to come back if fit. It could be the old jack of all trades says again for him. Needed to help rest Kreuzer in the ruck, should be up forward.
Austin was playing well, and unfortunately Ando didn't have a good one.
I really really want to break our hoodoo against the Swans and I think Scotland's run and class will be useful.

I see Jesse White will be up forward for the Swans and has done well recently there in the reserves. Hopefully Hartlett can handle him as he is probably tall enough. (Otherwise Austin to get a shot? I don't want to Setanta to have to swing down back again, and we are probably better served by having Jamo on someone else).

If Bower is fit, he defintely comes back in, but I'm not expecting to see him back for another week. If Ellard is able to play, I'd put him in up forward instead of Gartlett.
Bentley to get another week in Blue. I can't say I'm a big fan, but hopefully he can make me one.

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I would like to thank Collingwood for helping me keep faith in my old man. He always told me that 'People are thick'.

Why do people think that because Ratts made the comment in the media about not changing a winning team, that's what he actually is thinking?

People need to start thinking more and not jumping on everything that is spouted in the media.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

I have to respond to this comment about Bentley's goal jimmae.

I've watched it a few times, and what actually happened was the Tigers player kicked it to a loose team mate. Bentley was on his player and showed good speed, timing and confidence to leave his man to compete. He got into a position to take the mark. The commentators made reference to that move as one 'smart players' would do.

He's a little faster than you think, and he's tough as nails...puts his head over the ball and won a few 50/50 contests without gaining a stat.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

YES

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The idea of dropping Garlett and armfield implies we can do without the pace of our 2 genuine speedsters in the backline and forwardline.

If they are to be replaced by anyone, you'd hope they have pace to burn.

I don't think that slowing us down is the answer. Quite contrary: that's why Hadley is still on the outer isn't it?

I want to pressure the Swans for 4 quarters and I want us to apply a hard running game because this is where I think we can break up their formation for a chipping game.

IN: Setanta
OUT: Fisher

Austin can work hard in the Ants to replace Hartlett. They may end up being a direct swap and I wouldn't be surprised.

Happy to consider Scotland for Bentley

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

WOW...interesting report.

The question I have is how good is the standard of footy of the Canberra league as opposed to the VFL?

It will be interesting to see what Roos decides at the selection table.

Buchanan is a pest for us.

White is the huge Canadian isn't he? If he is and is selected we should be able to cover him with Jamo, Hartlett or Austin. He's bloody tall and should not be taken lightly if that's the case.

Livo kicked 13 in the Wanga league...that doesn't make him AFL ready.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Mike Pyke is the Canuck.

Jesse White is the "19th man" in the North v Sydney match. Backup ruck.

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

I've already withdrawn my comment about that; somehow merged Bannister's games with his.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

..you're no fun.. ..much more fun to believe everything as gospel..heh..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

My Swannies 50-something mate today told me of White's game, but said he wasn't too excited as even he could kick 11 goals in the Canberra league.

But then he did go on to say that he thought that Jesse was the potential replacement for BigBadBarry.

with no/little knowledge of whether there's any injured players who'll miss out here's my ins and outs:

Out:
Armfield- 3 poor games in a row, i like him, he brings alot to the side, but good time for a rotation.

Garlett- had alot of important touches which wont result in a stat, but he's struggling a bit. Swans big bodies might see him struggle again

Hampson-(only if injured)

In:

Scotland- adam hartlett's kicking in proved how valuable stevo and scotland are to our side, granted it was shocking conditions, but houlihan, johnson, judd, carrazzo and murphy hit targets on the weekend so there's no replacement for class.

Austin- had his week off, good matchup for o'keefe too.

O'hailpin- (only if hammer injured) dont know how his back is, give him one more week off though. Gives hartlett ONE MORE opportunity to prove himself, perhaps up forward if aussie comes in as a defender?

fisher, and hartlett lucky to keep their spots. And stevo unlucky to keep out, just want to ensure his neck is ok. Give hartlett another week to prove himself. One week isnt fair. Fisher not setting the world on fire, but he's presenting well and trying hard.

Bentley and johnson are two guys who cop flack on here. Bentley was good, johnson yet again IMO in our best half dozen. Both did enough to warrant another match. Cinderella houlihan emerged again on the weekend. But skillful 'i can hit fev lace out with a 55m kick' houlihan also showed glimpses so he survives again.

Would love to beat them. . .anyone know if mcveigh is playing? He tore judd to bits at the scg earlier in the year. And who gets goodes? Thornton? Gibbs?. . Gibbsy murdered him at TD last year, give him another crack without waitey in the team.

big game for murphy, carrazzo, grigg, simpson and judd with the swans midfield of bolton and kirk being amongst the league's elite. It'll be a good sign if we can break some hard tags and win hard ball against them. Kreuzer's work in close becomes more important than anytime this year.

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Cuck Follingwood

Barring the Essendon* game, our first 2009 match against Sydney was the WORST game that I've watched in a long time.

We had the ascendancy at the start and had a chance to blow them away.

And then they SCRAGGED and used their shitty brand of football to drag us down to their level and reduce the game to an ugly SCRAP.

Add to that how celebratory and smug Paul Roos was after our 2pt loss last year, and his snide remarks in the media about draft picks...

I hope we flowering smash the pricks!!!

Roos has mentioned he is now focussed on development, not finals.

I suppose it's a bit similar to us coming out early in the week against Richmond last year and saying Juddy wasn't playing. Puts more expectation/pressure on the opposition.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

That's exactly how I'd be looking at it, as I'm sure Ratts will be....

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Because they despise us and for them there is no priority pick to play for just a difference of one or two places in the pecking order of the top ten picks.

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"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