what about Hartley saying he thought that Richmond were winning the Grigg-Collins trade. He walked out on the club you @#$%&! brain

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Thank God, some sanity around here (other than the Watto "copping a bath" observation.).

For posterity, would all of the hysterical drama queens around here note:

- We won first qtr (Pies hadn't lost one for ages);
- We drew a qtr and lost another by 1 point;
- Pies really hammered us last year, last game was an embarrassment to the jumper when a 48 pt defeat should have been 20 goals based on general play;
- So much talent out there to replace the "weak links" tonight - Hendo, Kreuzer, Lucas, Tuohy, Kerr, Bower, Ellard, McLean etc. WOW.

What will really gut me is if we don't come out next week and give it to the Windy Hill flower. Have nightmares of last year when after a great performance v Lions @ Gabba we played our most insipid game for ages against them. Time to make a statement next week and show just how much we have improved, "no passengers" indeed.

Interesting read so far.

I think last night showed that the blues have closed the gap on the pies who were at full strength and in good form! Compare that game to last years rd 18 shitter where it was over early in the second quarter and if not for some cheap last quarter goals would have been smashed by 90+. Good turnaround IMO

On a few players:

Hammer - IMO is filling a spot in the side until Kreuz is ready. Just doesn't do enough, is not damaging enough and for some of the positions he gets to doesn't hold enough marks. No more games on 'potential'. I think it'll be hard to play all 3 talls

Watson - was happy with the kids efforts last night, didn't seem overawed at all, and wasn't smashed by 2 monsters of the AFL. Must stay in the side and develop.

Curnow - WOW. Brilliant, just brilliant. Great pickup, can find the pill, is quick, uses the ball well and will put his head over it and burrow in. Ahead of Brock!

Carrazzo - Used to love him. Ball magnet but IMO is turning it over far too often for my liking. Replace with Ellard for a couple of weeks.

On a few occasions last night i noticed D.Swan and H.O'brien squib it in marking contests but never hear a mention of it. Swan dropped a sitter on the southern wing with no-one around dropped his head and shit himself! weak as piss, if Gibbs did that we'd certainly hear about it.

What was with that little criminal flog, Krakouer, doing his 'jailbird' 'cuffs' signal thing after a goal? Pi$$ off you little flog, we know you're a crim, no need to remind us!

Mitch Robbo is a keeper, really coming of age and players are seeing him coming and staying away.
Geez he's a tough nut

All in all a decent effort, and some improvements can be made. Pies are gettable. All week i read posts, listened to radio experts etc who said the pies were an 8 goal better side than the competition! not on last night's effort. A little perspective, people, this side flogged us twice last year by big margins and for all but 15 mins of qtr2 we held our own!

WE WILL BEAT THE DONS!

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i AM CARLTON

By God..give that man a medal.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

oh yeh,
and any toothless flower who tells you that Swan is better than Judd, HAS NO IDEA ABOUT FOOTBALL!

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i AM CARLTON

We have a history of poor second quarters...I'm not sure why but it definitely seems to me to be our weakest quarter. Any stats nerds got evidence to confirm or deny?

from what I can tell:

- we are still rubbish at taking contested marks, except for Waite.
- Nobody presents an option when a mark is taken.
- What happened to our speed?? Last year we smashed the Saints through quick ball movement. Last night we stood still looking like lost children. In the words of Godfather from Generation Kill "Three words gentlemen; tempo tempo tempo."
- Why did we sub Walker?? Should've subbed Carrots as he was having an absolute shocker.

Funny how radio talk has shifted this morning.
Apparently, Pies are now gettable..have some weaknesse,and we are showing some promise.
Warms the heart really..

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

More sanity, fantastic!

Forgive Krakoeur, wanted to impress all his former fellow inmates in the crowd, you know, give them someone to look up to.

that only serves the carlton are shit crowd , because they are all thinking "if the blues can get that close then surely <insert hawks,geelong,freo,Essendon*,adelaide etcetc> can do better ! "

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Yess....but...they will see..when it is their turn....that we were even better than they thought.
'cept maybe Hawks...who can and should beat them right now.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Plenty of improvement still required, but I don't know how anyone could watch last night's game and not think we're better than last year.

The rate of improvement is perhaps below what some of us were hoping/expecting, but I'm confident we're heading in the right direction. It's early in the season, but I don't think we've seen a more well-drilled Carlton side since about 2001.

Collingwood just cleaner with the ball and able to sustain the pressure for longer. They are an outstanding team. We are a good team but still a work in progress...

We had a few weak links last night. I'm not so much talking about the inexperienced players who are still finding their feet in the AFL - eg. Duigan, Collins, Watson - but certain experienced players that let us down in a big game (and not for the first time) - eg. Betts, Walker, JR, Waite. I suspect JR is carrying an injury by the look of him, but the others....well, I really wonder if Betts, Walker & Waite will be part of #17.

Judd, Garlett, Scotland, Jamo were terrific. Laidler & Curnow have slotted in nicely. I still think our patience with Hammer will pay off. He's already providing a dangerous target deep in attack, but clearly he needs to improve his marking. A breakout game may not be too far away. I was mildly disappointed with Warnock. I rate him highly and I just thought he could have imposed himself more around the ground, but against Jolly he wasn't our worst by any means.

Losing hurts, but some positives coming out of a finals like game against the best team in the competition. We're not quite at full strength yet either.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

I was happy with the game, the boys did well and proved we are better and while still not at full strength we can still apply pressure to top sides.

I would have liked to have seen more from Gibbs and Hammer take a few marks and kick straight but its all coming in good time.

Jeff, Ed and Watto played great (Watto, considering it was really his first AFL Match).

The year ahead is looking good!

Is strange to contrast the media response to our performance last night in comparison to that of Richmond's in round 1. Probably a good thing really, don't mind a once off "honourable loss" but certainly no need to build a culture around it as our contemporaries at Punt Rd have done over 30 years.

On one hand, happy with the team effort, on the other, can still find about 8 players with question marks over their role in the team.

Hope to see the back of the entire 2002-2005 era of our team sooner rather than later, the only exception to that would be Simpson (Scotland my mood changes regularly on), but feel he is gradually being phased out of that side by the match committee more than anyone. That entire group seem to hold the "near enough is good enough" mentality a lot more than the newer blokes do.

Waite.....Waite giveth, Waite taketh. Took some outstanding grabs last night, thought he kept us in it at times, and would then go and do something stupid, yet oh so Jarrad Waite. Geelong persevered with Mooney I guess....

Walker's game last night was a pretty good example of anything I've been saying on here for the past few weeks. No point repeating it.

Betts simply isn't intelligent enough to be an elite AFL player when it matters, see: Fevola, Brendan. 1 mill over 3 years is something Wayne Swan or Peter Costello couldn't justify.

Gibbs is a great example of the concept of players you don't want to lose or get rid of, but still hope a trade offer entertains you enough to consider things. Reminds me a lot of Travis Johnstone at a similiar age.

I think we can put Duigan in the Chris Johnson pile, now. Thanks but no thanks.

Robbo and Curnow performed when it matters most. Something to keep in the memory bank for when the chips are down.

Reckon there's a fair argument to be put out there, that Garlett is our most valuable player, not Judd. Perhaps a greater reflection of the ordinary state of the rest of our forward line in there, but to think he was a late rookie pick beggars belief.

Thought Warnock won the centre bounce duel, but got done around the grounds by the best around-the-grounds-ruckmen in the business. No shame in that.

<Insert same things I've been saying for weeks about Hampson as a forward here>

Can't underestimate the impact the return of Jamo had tonight too. Has come back a much more attacking player too I feel.

Have absolutely no doubt we'll smash Essendon* next week. A lock even.

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BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

Went to the game not expecting to win so a 28 point loss i can handle.
We matched it with Collingwood for the majority of the game, only a 10-15 minute 2nd quarter burst cost us in the end.
A few players were down, Murphy and Gibbs two of them.
Our backline is a concern as is our forward setup. Cant wait for Hendo, Bower and Kreuzer to return.
Overall not too disappointed as we really tried but lets face it we are not good enough at the moment.
Deliberately missed the unfurling, good timing for a toilet break.
I am really peeved at the attitude of Collingwood, apparently they didnt play their best. How about giving a little bit of credit to Carlton, maybe we didnt let them play at their best.
Going to be a tough one against Essendon* next week.

1. Jarrad did exactly that last night.

2. Gibbs has a long stride. People generally think that furious leg movement always equals speed, but look at Yarran compared to those that chase him at times. Loping stride, and he gets plenty out of it. The worst thing a player like Gibbs can do is just start trying to move his legs as fast as possible.

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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.

In his defence, one of Carrazzo & Duigan should have been subbed.

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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.

Bulltish; the Hawks have played one quarter of footy. They are headcases.

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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.

Yes we will.

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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

Curnow , Judd, Yarran, Scotland, Robinson, Garlett, Jamison, Waite can all hold their heads up high

Betts, Walker, Warnock, Murphy, Hampson (sorry boys) cannot

Felt a bit sorry for "Charlie" Watson being monstered all night by Dawes, Cloke and Jolly. Hope the kid learns from the experience and doesn't get too demoralised. He really will be a gem in my opinion.

Aside from two early clangers which cost us, I thought Collins did enough to hold his spot. He has poise and pace, works very hard off the ball to get himself into decent positions. 6 kicks, 3 handballs, 7 marks and 50 DT points ain't bad in less than a half of footy. He does need to work on his decision-making though. I'm very confident it'll come.

Man, I hate losing to the Pies, especially on a Friday night when I have the whole weekend to stew on it. Absolutely must make amends and beat Essendon* next week. I'm confident we will. OK, off to Visy to hopefully see The Ants beat Collingwood and resurrect my weekend a bit.

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http://www.thesauce.com.au: 2011 Player Partner of Andy Collins