I agree! Was telling my other half how just because he is a superstar freak all his terrible mistakes are ignored....if a meat and potatoes battler stuffed it up like him the fans and commentators alike would be ridiculing them. I suppose that's what happens when you have flair and brilliance ...you don't want to coach it out of them and just let them go in their merry way..... Stuffing it completely one minute then defying reality the next.

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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

He ran rings around Rowe.

I said maybe because the votes could switch sides etc.

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

We didn't cop it too bad from the umpires and the commentators were genuinely excited about the Blues. I watched the Geelong game last night, having missed it whilst overseas and again, the commentators had nothing but compliments and praise for the Blues.

We were @#$%&! abysmal these past few years. @#$%&! abysmal. We gave little effort and had it not been the case we would've won a shitload more games, irrespective of structures, game-plans, personnel et al. We didn't deserve the respect of the media nor the public at large. I'm not sure why supporters keep propagating this perpetual victimisation. We were not entitled to feel hard done by as supporters as our team was not doing the @#$%&! basics. We became like the plethora of Gen Y employees that want to be mollycoddled and get upset when their every mouse click isn't recognised and celebrated. Your reward in doing your job to an industry standard is in remuneration and continued employment. You go above that and soon enough, you're likely to be recognised and understandably favoured.

We are finally taking ownership and meeting this standard more consistently and when our effort surpasses this standard - as was particularly the case on the weekend and against Geelong, we are getting our deserved praise and respect from the media and supporters at large. Irrespective of wins and losses, these games are beginning to turn the tide of public perception on being a @#$%&! rabble.

Let's stop wallowing in self-pity about umpires and commentators - it's @#$%&! old and pitiful. We will get our just desserts when we start winning regular games of football against the top sides. In turn, more 50-50 decisions will go our way, commentators will be more praising and excitable in their enjoyment of the spectacle and we'll get more games in prime time.

We let ourselves down on the weekend, but it wasn't due to a lack of effort. I for one, am genuinely buoyed and excited by the collective effort and prospect of our future success.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

BTW, where was Laidler on Saturday? Is he injured?

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

Ah, forgot about him.

That's why we only lost by six.

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

VGood
You have too much time on your hands.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Lloyd and Parker reversed for the twos works as well.

Go to the corner.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Was dropped three weeks ago with Aliir Aliir taking his position, and has then missed the last two with a hamstring.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Thanks.

_________________
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

But the commentators were going on all game about how Teddy Richards was dropped for Allir Allir! That bloody guy, he's going to put the whole team out of a job!

And yes, he definitely should have gone back behind the mark. That one belongs in the everyone-hates-Carlton column.

From my numpty armchair point of view, two things that would annoy me about us previously were a) the amount of times in a 50/50 situation we'd have numerous players committing to a tackle the ball carrier only to leave free 1 or 2 others to then receive the handball and break on the spread and b) missed tackles, which have now reduced to the point where when they do happen ie Buckley on JPK, it's become he exception rather than the norm.

Added to that the amount of times we used to leave the corridor open and scored through, red time goals, getting sucked into giving away stupid 50s, poor defending of kickouts, defenders letting our key backs get caught one out and not zoning off to create third man up etc etc you sometimes forget how far we've come defensively in such a short time.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Thanks, wasn't hard, it took me about 60 seconds.

I posted pretty much straight after yours

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

The Sydney crowd is the weirdest in the country.

Like Great Ex said, the Swans supporters will come out of their slumber and react after a goal. In fact you'll hear 2 roars. One will be from those watching the game and the louder one from those who have heard the roar from a goal. They just know its a goal by the type of roar, because the only other reaction will be a faint "boo" for any free to the opposition regardless of how obvious it was.

This game had a better feel than last year as there seemed to be a lot more Carlton supporters reacting to the minute by minute events. Last year, when Goodes did his indigenous game spear throwing act (act???) I couldn't believe the chit chat amongst the crowd whilst the game was being played and I'd say less than half were watching the game. Never seen anything like it anywhere else but Sydney.

I wonder whether the crowds would turn up if the Swans were in the bottom half of the ladder.

I was at the game with Sydney and Hawks supporters when one of the Sydney kids said " [bondiblue] is louder than everyone in this stand', as supporters from boith sides kept turning around for a laugh, mild banter, and I thought they would've liked to be loud too, and the dad responded by explaining tribalism and Melbourne footy crowds an d the difference with Sydney. I explained to them that Melbourne tribalism isn't manufactured and it is inate as it has evolved over a hundred of years of passion.

The talk around town and at the ground after the match was all about how good Carlton were and how ucky they were to get the 4 points. Made us Blues supporters so proud.

Next time around I want the 4 points!!!!!!

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I thought I'd watch the game on replay a couple of times before I posted, and despite watching the game live closely, I'm glad a didn't post what I thought of some players' efforts/ talent etc.

I'm so glad I held off fire because I believe you miss a lot of moments/ contests watching live and on the flipside you miss the structures and spatial dimensions of the game when watching the game on TV.

Great effort by the team. I was critical of Graham at the game as he looked slow and laboured getting to the next contest whilst his opponent sprinted ahead of him, increasing the gap, making Graham lok too slow for AFL. However watching the replay he Graham did well with his positioning around the packs. I think he should keep his spot in the 22 for a few games, but I don't see him as part of our clubs future success. Massive issue with his pace at the AFL level imo. He is not Sam Mitchell with his smarts and ability on both sides.

I had similar thoughts about Sumner at the game, but I will judge him after he's completed a preseason.

Kreuzer did well, desperately attacking everything and tagging his opponent, but I wish he could be a better contested mark. Casboult's stats didn't look good but he does provide a target and he does straighten us up. Unfortunately for him he was double teamed most times as the Blues obviously looked for him.

Both Curnows were really good. The younger will be a star!!!
Cripps is amazing and powerful. I can't believe he's only 20 and only completed 2 preseasons with the first being at 70%.
Silvagni looked really small playing against 2 opponents much bigger than him. He will be a star too. So smart.
Docherty amazing.

Rowe did a fantastic job on the elusive Buddy, and sure Buddy got away when he was doing a lot of running around which I'm glad Rowe didn't follow and get sucked in. Weitering combined really well with Rowe. Buddy's 4 goals were the difference but not because Buddy beat our Defenders. He got 3 easy goals out the back.

Sadly Simpson will retire without a Premiership medallion I hope the club build's a statue of him as the spiritual leader of the club's rebuild/ revival for the Dark Ages.

Boeky good, need his pace. White good tough and safe.

Our best effort at the SCG since that game Juddy won for us in the wet all those years ago. Love the game plan. Need another KPF and 2 extra class mids.

Would've won if Murphy was playing. Love the team defense and BB's game plan, jt wish SOS wasn't opposed to 2 Swans players.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Good post Bondi -I thought Graham was good and deserves to get a few games and at the moment as we have a dearth of real on-ballers needs to play - one of the most disappointing aspects of injuries this season has been that to Cunningham who looked good in the preseason lets hope he can become an accomplished on- baller - cunnigham also is quicker than our one - paced midfield so that should be a bonus too

Thought also Buckley showed promising signs the last 2 weeks

As we haven't got a lot of pace - Boeky is important to the team - another disappointing aspect of season is the number of injuries he has had and I do think he is getting better and should feature in our future plans as a pacy /skilful winger or half forward

Weiters for several reasons - first season - some injuries is struggling a bit now in my view - still playing ok but obviously not as well as earlier - still need to get games into him and an exciting prospect

Cheers

Buckley may not have got high stats but it was good watching him darting around the field.
That darting creates another option, puts defenders on the back foot.
When Sumner Boeky and Buckley were involved in a forward play, from my vantage they were darting and we looked so much more dangerous than the Swans and Buddy.
Remided me of Setanta and the 3 Amigos.

Weiters, SOS, Curnow, Cuningham, McKay will feel they belong in the next preseason, and get a lot out of it.
If Sumner, Plowman, Buckley and Boeky stay fit and get a big preseason under their belt.
If we get another good crop of 4-5 players, its all Blue Skies from there.
Whilst Bolton is guiding us I'm convinced its Blue Skies.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Hey, Bondi, Great post above.
A question:
It's hard to see on TV and I only got to one game while I was back in Oz but I was shocked at how we deploy into the last 4o metres of the ground at both ends leaving opposition players between us and their goals or between our last defenders and our own goals.
I don't know if you read my earlier posts after the Collingwood game and subsequent one somewhere else but do you think we are pressing and flooding too deep?

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I do read your posts BS. I think you show a lot of maturity and insight.
You call a spade a spade. and tons of great memories.

I'm not sure how that slipping behind the wall of players happens mainly because you see stuff unfold but can't replay what you have just seen live from a particular vantage point.

BUT, it seems we do press hard when we can. It is not something that automatically happens, but obviously an objective, and we do it when we can. Someone must call the shots, and I looked for the call or a sign, but didn't see any.

I'm guessing that when we do press the the opposition may have a plan for that and a surprise break from up the field, around the midfield. It must be a standard move against the press...in hope something falls their way. All a bit risky, but hey it looks good when it comes off.

I think we should continue the trend to press up because when the ball is in our forwardline we do put the clamps on and its hard for the opposition to escape our clutches...when we press with intent to keep them in

Franklin got away with a few easy ones, but truly a lot of luck involved because whilst he does try and escape the tag with speed and continuous run, his opponent eg Rowe is onto him, and when Rowe gets involved with a contest because its his turn with a team defense mantra, Buddy can escape and did so many times, and most times Buddy was in no mans land where Rowe was able to link up with his team mates.

I think inevitably we will get the balance right or better between attack and defense, but like every other team no one is goal proof.
We just have to live with that easy goal every now and then and hopefully evolve with an even stronger and faster midfield who can run longer.
Our mids did really well against Swans renowned mids. We just didn't seem to spread as I would have liked, but then again neither could the Swans.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

So, you're saying he's a grumpy old man?

_________________
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/