All this stuff that we need experience like Kouta this year was crap

The game has changed to a running game

There is less bash and crash

Also tactics like over possessing the ball and slowing the game down means less body contact

Then there is the issue of the bench

Every player should be able to run out 4 quarters

Kouta this year couldnt

Imagine if he hadnt done his finger

He would have probably been gone in round 12 or something

Last year he looked like an old man at times and with the end of his contract it was the perfect time to say goodbye


I think Kouta was a champion and I loved watching him take on the opposition, but as is the case so often champions in sport just go that one season too long

Look at Chris Grant. Same situation. The body packs it in


Its a cruel game

As far as a bloke off the field Kouta was a great role model in how to behave

From all reports, a very humble bloke. Wasnt a bighead

But as a captain, perhaps too humble

You need a bit of mongrel in you to be a good captain


I feel by playing him this year it has, to some small degree , restricted the development of some of our youngsters


I agree that over the course of a long season, youngsters start feeling the pinch. Last week, Gibbs looked liked he needed a rest. So whatt do you do. Play another kid like Grigg and see how he goes.


It is going to be interesting if Lappin and Whitnall are going to be offered contracts for next year.

IMO both should be moved on.

In Lappin's case, he has been very good or very bad. That is a sign that your coming to the end. He is 32 and is not the same player.

The game has passed Whitnall goodbye.And suprise, suprise, Lance has lost weight when his contract is up. He should go.

Young kids can come up each week. The body takes longer to recover as you get older. Over the course of a season, youngsters will tire more than a mid 20's player. the more senior games you pump into young players, the better they will be when they are 26.

Unless your a freak like Tuck, Bradley or Bartlett your probably finished when your 33 regardless of how great you were.



Anyway as I said before,well done to Kouta on a great career.

Overall. a pleasure to see you play and I will be there on Sat to see your lap of honour.

Yeah,take your point



But look at the stats.

208 games 191 goals
2B+F
2 premierships

A very clever underrated player

Deserves to be there in my unbiased opinion.

Ditto all of the above.

On AW last night a father of a Peter Mac cancer victim told a beautiful story about Kouta visiting his dieing son in hospital and sending him a text soon after. His emotional father could not express enough the joy and hope that message gave to his little blue boy.

As much as I will remember his footy career, this act I will remember with equal fondness. Makes you proud to be Blue, doesn't it.

Just reading the stories in the papers and I will say that I seriously fogged up.

I'm going to miss the big guy.

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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.

Kouta spoke so well in his press conference. We've been blessed to have a guy like him at our club. If Murphy et al can have even half of Kouta's humility then his legacy will live on for a long time yet.

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Goodbyyyye our Kouta..............

goodbyye our friend........

you have BEEN the one.............

you have BEEN the one forrrr US.....................!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Kouta was my favourtie player for many years. I remember the one-handed pick-up on the wing against Collingwood at Waverley in 1992, and that was the moment I thought what a great player he would be (interestingly, David Parkin often says exactly the same thing).

During his professional career, he has always been a great ambassador for the Club, and a man worthy of the honours he has achieved. It is a shame that we couldn't find some more success during his latter years.

But overall, thanks Kouta, you will always be a favourite of mine.

Hmmmm, yes well......... NOW it has hit me.

I've shed a few tears reading the Herald Sun this morning, especially reading Robbo's flashback of the99' prelim.

I don't think Stats tell the true story of a player like Kouta was. These days, it's not uncommon to read the stats of a game a see players getting 35+possesions and thinking 'WOW - What a great player'..... he must be a champion.

Kouta's 18 marks Vs West Coast were just spectacular................ but 18 marks in a game now is really not that impressive. Remember Leo Barry's 21 marks vs Carlton in 2006? Pfft.......

My point is, Luke Hodge and Scott West and even our own Carrazzo can rack up 35+ possesions consistantly, but stats can be decieving. Rest Assured, if Kouta racked up just HALF those stats he'd already be DOUBLE as effective and punishing with what he did with the football.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble-on people..................

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Well said Camel

He was the epitome of the best & the fairest. Does anyone know if he was ever reported let alone suspended? The only time I can ever remember him being involved in a melee was when Ang was set upon in the 95 grand final.

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"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." - Gene Hill

From behind enemy lines, I will offer Kouta my hearty congrats on a humble and sportsmanlike career.

From my perspective seeing other clubs' greats leave the field is a little sad in that anyone who retires from 2002-2009 after lengthy careers, in my view represents football from the greatest era as I see it - Late 80's through to late 90's.

Seeing Kouta retire, it only leaves Lance Whitnall as a relic from the Carlton teams that actually drew people from their homes to come and watch a Carlton-Collingwood game at the MCG. Nobody in your current team fills me with any digust, fear, respect or loathing (not to say that they may not eventually develop) that I felt for your teams of the 80's and 90's. I reckon our games of the past few seasons reflect this a bit - They have certainly lost something from where I sit.

So as Kouta leaves, I not only say goodbye to a worthy adversary, I also bid farewell to another piece of an era of football that I firmly believe will be remebered as the "Golden Age" in generations to come.

Well done Kouta - you're a gentleman and could always look your team mates, opponents and the mirror, in the eye after each game.

And in my view, after nearly 300 games, if you can do that, you're a champion.

TOP POST ADP.................

Cheers for that!

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

sighhhhhhhh
KOUUUUUUTA :'-(
good times, good times.

Had a quick chat with the great man today. He is such a friendly and nice person. Told me that his testimonial got sold out today (luckily I bought tickets some time ago). I think a lot of people are keen to give him a fitting send off with this function. Kouta also told me that he would like to stay involved with the club in some capacity. When I asked him about the leadership academy he said that this was an option.

I liked the fact in the papers today they also acknowledged his pre-season flags - 1997, 2005 and 2007. It complements his flag of 1995 well.


The greatest Kouta moment?

It is one that hasn't been mentioned in the papers - which are a bit repetitive in their choices of Kouta moments.


It has to be the qualifying final against Brisbane in 1995. Carlton were on the ropes, about to be run over until his frenzy of last quarter goals.


The crowd going ballistic, jumping up and down in the background a baulk around Champion/a contested mark against Leppitsch... it doesn't get better.

Thanks Kouta- you are a champion in my books.

All the very best to Kouta and his family for the future.

Thanks very much for the wonderful memories and bragging rights you supplied over your career. It has been a great journey which unfortunately has come to an end, but your legacy will live on for many years to come with every club searching the country for the next "Kouta".

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The glass is neither half full nor half empty. Rather the glass is twice as big than required.

Couldn't agree more. A lot of people talk about the '99 Prelim and who can blame them but Kouta's final series in '95 was outstanding. In my book he and SOS were the two standouts of that series and their efforts went a long way to securing us that premiership.

Kouta's Grand final performance was sensational but even the week before against North in the Prelim (in the wet) he was devastating and you've already spoken about the final against Brisbane. When the game was up for grabs it was he who once again took the game by the scruff of the neck.

#43...Legend.

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" Koutoufides has taken the last quarter by the scruff of the neck..." Commentary Drew Morphett Last Qtr '99 Prelim. Pure Gold.

Thanks for the memories Kouta. You are and always will be a True Blue Carlton Legend. #43.

Good pick up.

As I recall from the group of people I go to the football with - we were all a bit worried at that stage - and one of my cousins turned around and said "Dont worry Kouta is at Full Forward."

I also wonder how the 1993 Grand Final would have panned out if we had of given Kouta a guernsey.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I watched the last qtr of the 99 Prelim and I have to say that reading about his exploits does not do the man justice.

He was in absolute blistering form and there is absolutely no one who could have beaten him on that day.

He jumped higher than anyone, his hands were super-glued to that Sherrin, he moved faster than anyone on that day and he left an indelible memory in the 80,000+ people who witnessed his exploits on that memorable day, almost 8 years ago.

He cannot be compared to anyone in this era or any other era for that matter.

I look forward to seeing Kouta in the next stage of his career, supporting and guiding our younger players as they advance their career at the CFC.

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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.

Make your mind up 79.

pg 7 you said he wasn't a champion

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I see you watching me watching you.