Disturbingly, What this seems like, is a push by the AFL, or at least an AFL-sanctioned push to have a totally parochial supporter base in all the states. This can only be bad for the game as a whole.

Only when the AFL pushes for the game itself to be the jewel in the crown of the sport, rather than a team or teams, will the fan base especially in "non-traditional" states flourish regardless of the success of teams like Brisbane, Sydney, (and GC, GWS, etc)

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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.

Obviously didn't catch my sarcastic remark against Ch 7...either that or you are having a seriously sh*t Friday. Relax a little dude.

Btw, regardless of whether I am at the game or not, I tape every Carlton game shown on tv.

Ouch...the first five rounds are the important bit. We need to be in the mix after round five.

Richmond -possible win ...(younever know as Richmond could be recharged with new coach)
Lions in Brisbane - will be hard to win
Essendon* and umpires via 3 50 metre penalties per game - will be hard to win
Adelaide - haven't beaten them since 2004 - unlikely to win.
Geelong - unlikely to win.

I hope they win at least three of these matches - perhaps richmond, lions, Essendon*...
but it doesn't look rosy....i just hope we start well. It is important.

Yep and considering Juddy is gone for the first 3 games it will be mega tough. But its a good challenge for the boys I think. But I do prefer a 5 game horror stretch at the start of the season compared to the end.

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HENDERSONALENKO......YOU BEAUTY!!!!!

The problem being...?

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T E A M

First I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you in our side
But I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to carry on

Thats our team song for next year - we are going to be a club united next year. Am hoping that this whole experience has really brought all the players together and everyone will start to play for one another, for the club and the jumper. So I reckon the first 9 rounds especially will be tough, but I think we will do better than a lot of people are predicting and we'll make everyone sit up and take notice. Imagine our midfield creating wave after wave of forward attacks and defenders not knowing which way to turn. Think we'll win (min) 6 out of the first 9.

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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.

Providing we win both Rd 1 and Rd 3 I'm confident we should at least squeeze into 8th position next year.
Essendon* have a tougher draw than us plus we are (should be) better than them. Bumbers to come 9th with Lloyd, Lucas and Lovett gone.

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There is no footy god

I honestly don't have a clue how we will perform....I think it's going to be full of surprises.....but you can't underestimate another preseason under the belt of our elite youngsters.

Happy with the FTA!

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Those 2 games against Rich and Ess loom as the lynchpins.

Inferior oppositon, no Judd, but must win.

Lose either of those 2 and we're likely staring at 2-7 or even 1-8, with the season approcahing write-off status.

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They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

I've never been massively concerned about fixturing to be honest. It's a year by year proposition at the best of times. Some draws may seem slightly easier than others but at the end of the day it all comes down to being good enough. If we are good enough we'll make it thru to Sept and if not.....well we dont.

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HENDERSONALENKO......YOU BEAUTY!!!!!

..the fixture would mean more if teams generally won the games they're meant to, and vice versa.. ..considering plenty of teams drop easy games, and plenty of 'underdogs' snatch freak wins and it's not so black and white..

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

agreed kahuna.

we will probably have won or two upset wins in weeks 2-9 but then drob the bundle a couple of times in weeks 10-20 when we are expected to win particualr games.

gee it's going to be interesting watch a fev-less carlton.

i can't wait.

so much oppotunity for these young players

The draw will have no affect on whether we make finals or not...we made the 8 in '09 which was Ratts's goal and now the aim must be higher with no excuses...not Fev leaving and certainly not the order in which you play certain teams. Time for the boys running the off field to step up and come up with the goods...they have the players...getting the most out of them is the challenge now. Big year for Ratts and his support staff...they have a lot of areas in which to improve.

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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

Due to clashes with Adelaide, and Port matches (eg the Crows/Power match will be on both FTA, and Pay TV at the same time), South Australian Carlton supporters will miss out on seeing the following matches:

Round 3 v Essendon* - Port v Brisbane instead

Round 9 v Hawthorn - Adelaide v Brisbane instead

Round 11 v Melbourne - Adelaide v Fremantle instead

Round 18 v Collingwood - Port v Hawthorn instead

If we're lucky, we may get a replay later that day; otherwise we will most likely have to wait until the following Tuesday, when the replay will be on in the middle of the day.

This situation has been going on for years, and it's an absolute bloody joke!

@#$%&! YOU SPEW!!!

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I AM DISENFRANCHISED

amazing that the commercial networks don't want to show non Sydney games prime time, it's called ratings - why would they want to show them in a competitive time slot?????

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

The key to the 2010 year is the gap between games and where they are played.

In the early rounds there is a good 9 day gap after each iof the 2 interstate trips = recovery time.

We may wil and loose a few but could be around 50% wins by round 8.

Then there is a series of Melbourne games at Etihad (where we won most games in 2009) and then at the MCG.

The are 3 games in a 30 day period from the 3rd week of June to late July with gaps of upto 12 days between games. This should be enough recovery time for players fit from a full pre season.

Without being overly optomistic we can win 14 games if we win one against Colling wood (we usually do) and 1 against Essendon* (not recently but the player changes at Windy Hill make it more likely in 2010). I have assumed we do not (regretably) win against St Kilda or Geelong.

Unless we see repeat of the St Kilda (20 wins) and Geelong (18 wins) winning streaks from 2009 this would place CFC close to the top 4.

Bad draw for us. Tell me after round 7 how much we won't miss Fev ... I will really need to hear it by then.

Based on the fixture ... I rekon we might win 8 .. maybe 9 games for the year ... its gunna be a stinker.

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

Too many over reactions.

We know absolutely nothing about teams come October.

Players gets injured, players step up, individuals become teams, who would of said we would start last year 2-0 when playing 4 rookies?

We have far more upside to our squad in 2010 than most teams with only Hawthorn and the Eagles teams set to improve dramatically IMO.

If they don't want to show the matches, then they shouldn't have bid for the rights.

The AFL have let non-Victorian AFL followers down by not insisting that matches be played live, or 1 hour delay at most.

So you're saying the commercial stations are serious about ratings when they play the umpeenth repeat of "Bad Boys" or "Kindergarten Cop"? Get real.

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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.