Fastest Carlton team I have seen on the field in many a day - if not ever.

The closing and chasing speed was evident all over the ground = pressure on opponents = turnovers galore.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Eddie and Chris are definitely not cut from the same cloth. Yarran is a much bigger bodied player and is likely to have a different role, albeit as a forward.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

I think there's something very special about Garlett.

Has great pace and can mark. He moves a bit like Wells and weaves like Black, and given it was his first taste of AFL he looked like he belongs.

He will put on some muscle, but I'm sure he's going to be the wiry type with great balance and pace. He's just a very good reader of the game.

Mark him down as a regular in 2-3 years time.,,,and perhaps a multiple goalkicker in our next flag.

He could've had 3-4 goals next to his name in half a game of footy last night.

Yarran's mark before sparining his ankle looked all class. He's going to make it. Cool customer.

GREAT to see Houlihan last night. He was tough and hard at it, and he's a class act.

Cloke played a Spalding type role crashing packs, so that was good to see....has an issue with pace.

Once Walker, Warnock, Scotland and Carrazzo return we will be even better. Add Hadley, Hampson and possibly Fish and Setanta in that team, and we are going to be a hard team to beat.

We look so much more cohesive and faster than 2008.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Not so much.

I wouldn't have been shattered by a loss, given it's the Who Cares Cup, as long as there were the right sort of positives shown through the match.

If we had have played well, and still lost, then I would have got the chance to go to Manuka, see the guys, and still had some time to go see the Degas exhibition, sample some of Civic's fine food, and catch up with a few of our Canberra Blueboys (and gals).

So as such, that would have been quite nice.

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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.

Garlett was more impressive last night than Eddie was when he first landed at the club and Eddie played pretty much every game because of the lack of other talent at the time.

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Hey Rocky; there are too many rabbits ... in China.

Earliest tank thread ever?

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

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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.

Important point. This is an area we needed major improvement.

The question is was it us quicker or was North struggling because of being in a heavy workload prior to the season and use being primed for this game? Or a bit of both?

Whatever it is we can get even quicker. Add Walker, Browne, Yarran (who really didn't play) Pfieffer & Hampson to the side and we get even quicker. To me we actually played a bit tall last night to counter the Roos.

Can we fit 4 key defenders plus Cloke, Kruezer, Jacobs in one side when the bench is smaller?

North weren't prepared mentally for the midfield pressure that was applied to them. They looked to me to be in 'intra-club' mode. They'll be better for the hit-out. Now - I've seen quicker Carlton teams - but it's a while since I've seen that combination of speed and pressure all over the ground.

Remember with NAB Cup you have an 8 man interchange. I sat behind the bench last night and players were changed with a lot more regularity...there's one reason for your added pace. Take out the rookies - add Walker, Scotland and Fisher to the season proper and there's still some pace about the team.

Likely that Hadley, Hampson and Fisher will come in for the next NAB Cup game - probably at the expense of Russell, Anderson and I don't expect Kreuzer to play.

its only one pre season game so far, but Do you think guys that Robo has already booked a place in our 22 for Rd 1? or is it too early for Ratts to decide?


Gartlett has a natural ability but its abvious he is not ready yet for AFL. he needs a good year in the Gym. Yarran is yet to prove himself & show us what he is got, whilst Jacob doesnt look he has what it takes for an AFL level. He is a big Unit and wins lots of taps but lacks mobility and ground coverage

Replay of last night's game on Fox @ 2.00PM

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

However against other big Units such as Hamish McIntosh - 'Sauce' seems a good fit and I reckon he'll get there and this year should take some Bullants games by the scruff of the neck.

As for Robbo...I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of girl he brings along to the Brownlow Medal count - but I reckon Juddy, Grigg, Murph, Gibbs, Fev, Waite, Kreuzer, Jamo, Simmo and Walker will take too many votes away for him to win.

Abbadon won't have been happy about last night....

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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.

He was seen helping to kick the bucket from underneath Melvey.

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

Winston Churchill

I thought our skill level was higher than in the recent past. OUr kicking to position was better and our tacking was great. There have been a lot of comments about Fev but he leads and he gets it. There wasn't as much long bombing last night. A couple of times, Houla for one and young Armfield, I think it was, passed it to him so well he didn't even have to break stride. The 9 pointer was a set play I think. One dubious free to match two that Hale got at the other end and things look a bit less one dimensional IMO. Noboy complained about Hawthorn when they had a kick it to Hudson gameplan... Or Collingwood with McKenna. Power FF are at a premium. If they get it ten times a a game they will kick 6-8 goals. When Fev left the ground we still managed to score pretty freely. I have been one calling for Fev to be traded for his value because I am still not convinced he will be around when we are looking to play for the flag but while we have him, I am more than happy for him to keep leading and for us to keep passing it to him, as distinct from the bomb it long to a Fev contest.
Robbo impressed me as he did everyone. I think Garlett will be great. I thought Houla's thread from the pocket showed how dangerous he can be but he should have nailed the much easier set shot.
I love Wiggo and what he takes to the game. Nathan Buckley and Leigh Matthews gave him good warps on the commentary and I think they know more about the game and the type of players we need to play it than most of us here.
Gibbs looks smooth. If Wiggo is the Harley, Gibbs is the BMW. I was shocked to see ht had so many possies lasy night. He just gets them.
Jacobs got more hitouts last night than our combined rucks did week by week last year. Didn't do much else but. He'll be OK I guess but he has a way to go.
Loved Jamo's contested mark and also Thornton's. I want Vin's boy in the fwd line. I hate him in one-on-one contests whgere he can't use his pace and jump, both of which he has to burn.
After a long drought and a few years listening to live streaming on the net in the early hours of the morning, one highlight for me was being able to watch it on TV at a sensible timeslot!
Looking forward to a good year. Membership package arrived, got my plane ticket for Round one, just waiting to buy a seat. I hate the off-season.

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

A not clutched in his hand...."Goodbye cruel world...."

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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.

Was able to watch the game this morning using some fabulous new software on my Mac.

Some observations as well

Overall skill level much better and great speed through the mid field.
Houla will be a great asset in the forward line this year
Loved Robbo (not just because he is a fellow Tasmanian!) and his attack at the footy.
Not sold on Bentley just yet - big, strong body but awful kicking style (very high ball drop), with floaters and too much elevation. We already have too many who cannot his a target consistently.
Eddie and Garlett were exciting and a real shame Chris Yarran hurt his ankle.
Bij Sam Jacobs was ok - a good year in the Bullants taking on the senior rucking role will be great for him.
Gibbsy, Murph (still some kicking issues), Griggs, Simmo all excellent.
Defence is still a concern but will develop, where to paly Waite is a real conundrum.
So much to look forward to with Andy Walker, Scotland, Hadley and Hammer, at least, to still come in.
Go Blues!

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

I think Dodo has been channeling him

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Dont worry natural selection will take care of him.

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

Winston Churchill

Poor old Robbo...

He won't win a Brownlow in his first year because all his team mates 'rob' his votes.

THE BASTARDS!

That Judd bloke...and the Smurph....GRRRR!

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They coud'nt.....could they?