Sorry, didn't realize we were grading on the curve

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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.

I could be you.. depends on whether I keep taking that medication I've been prescribed!

Maybe we should launch a radical move and steal Damian Hardwick from both North and Richmond, to be our assistant for 2 years, then take over while Ratts becomes director of football. I think its the way of the future!

Can't entirely agree with you about Jamieson, he has the tools to be A grade, and easily our best defender, and more importantly best option at full back. However it's obvious he has been restricted this year and hasn't made much progress in consistent form. A full season or two and I can see him making massive strides towards to his full potential.

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The AFL equalisation policy (designed with StKilda firmly in mind) is the only reason they exist.

In an A grade team Jamison should eventually become an A grade back pocket.

Never gonna make it to A grade as the number one backman though. Just not quite big enough.

I love the kid but he's filling a hole that he's not quite built for at the moment.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Each and everyweek i concerntrate on the important things that sperates us from being potential Grand Finalists from the teams just making up the numbers.

#1. Kick-Outs.
IMHO we are clearly the worst in the leauge. Even Melbourne has a better structure. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
Johnson gets the ball, waits.................... nobody leads............... thinks about it, then gets the hurry on from the ump................kicks to thornton in the pocket................. looks up ahead along the wing (mean while there is space in the centre of the ground yet nobody leads there).............thinks about it a bit longer and then FINALLY does one of two possible scenarios.

A) Bombs long towards the wing and hopes for the best
B) Kicks backwards to Johnson and we start again.

Good god - there is no decent excuse as to why this would be happening. It's amature stuff, yet we've done it all bloody year.

SAME STORY ALL YEAR!



#2. We are Way way way to defensive.

It's almost as if Ratts goes out there trying not to loose rather than trying to win. You have the leauges best forward and a 4 goal wind advantage and your playing him up the ground along the wing? WTF?

This has been going on all year.

Last week, we were 5 goals down and we still flooded at times? It makes no sense to me?

SAME STORY ALL YEAR!



#3. Forward Line Structure.

Don't kid yourself. There is none. Zero. Last week it was evident the most. Kreuzer, Fisher, Fevola, Betts and to a lesser extent Yarran...............yet we manage just 4 marks inside 50 and just 4 goals for the game.
Sure, Collingwood put preasure on, but bloody hell we made it easy for them.

For me, it appears as though our forward line structure is "Kick to Fevola" and if he's double teamed or is having a bad game, then we throw Kreuzer down there and cross our fingers.

SAME STORY ALL YEAR!



#4. Match Selections.

Good god, they're just as bad as the tribunal............. all over the place.

Sure, the MC are to blame for this as well, but Ratts is a big part of that.

Not playing Setanta in certain games easilly cost us (you know the ones i'm talking about).
Constantly playing certain players despite their poor form (again, no point naming them).
More and more "Revolving Door" selections. (In one week, out the next).

There is no consistancy.

I do give him credit for the "Stevens" decision though.



#5. Inability to use the corridors.

Good god it's frustrating.

Essendon* spotted this well. They knew we pushed wide and they let us. They put preasure on us wide which forced a turn-over and BANG.............. Instantlly they had their speedsters alone in the centre running it straight up the ground.

Much like our kick-ins, they are predicatable and painfull to watch.

SAME STORY ALL YEAR!



If these issue continue into next year (and honestly, Ratts will be coaching next year - it's silly to think otherwise) then NO - i don't think Ratts is the man.

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

He has 1cm on Matthew Scarlett but gives away 8kg. A couple of pre-seasons in the gym and there'd be little between them physically.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Great post, summed up our year perfectly. We all know the frustration of our kicks in after a behind, at least Stevens back this week may help in this area. Going down the ground via the coast is very obvious too. The selection of players is frustrating for us but imagine how some of the players must feel. There are those who have done very little to warrant coming into the side (wont name them but we all know who they are) and some who have done well in the Bullants (Cloke) and still not getting selected.
North are a good running side so I hope we are not found out being too big this week, lose tonight and all hell will break loose.

More the way of the past.

We've tried it before.

Went really well....

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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.

Some very good points Ryan....and I'm not sure I agree re Ratts being a lock in for next year....he still needs to achieve his pre-season goal of making the eight. We'll win tonight...but the remaining games are tough (with the exception of Melbourne) and we may have to win 3 out of 5 to make it.

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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

I know the problem. If you watch Ratts in the box you will notice he crosses his arms alot, a defensive posture.

If we get Ratts to a body language class we can solve our game plan issues. DO IT!!

No need....Sticks is rapt with the way Ratts is going about it and thats all that matters...

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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

Good to see after the Pagan debacle we finally have a coach who can make the top 8.

It's been a bloody long time...does anyone actually remember Wayne Brittain?

For a team to make 6 changes like they did it either means we have very good depth or we have a lot of ordinary players who are not quite up to it
apart from when Geelong boycotted the brissu trip I can't think of any team even thinking of finals making that many changes
it indicates to me we have a long long way to go

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

We haven't made it yet.

Our perecentage can take a hammering if we play like that next week.

Ooooh, scary.

That's the sprirt!

He does get a bit hyper about things like umpiring decisions. Perhaps he's letting the frustration of that affect his coaching too much?

Basic I know, but I saw him blow-up twice in about two minutes.

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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.

those people looking to defend rats and the MC on this thread must be kidding !

ENOUGH !!!!!

no consistency re selection

no formulation of any gameplan

no kickout strategies (FFS EVEN ARMFIELD had a go tonight !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

ENOUGH !!!

at least in the dark days we had some hope...rats is sucking all of that hope away !

and I dont care about falling into the eight and playing one final (I'm actually more scared about how embarrassing a trip could be to AAMI)

this group is treading water....

beating north, freo, sydney, richmond, wc etc doesnt show progress !

BOOO HOOOO.