I think most of our younger players have improved this year and that is the biggest posotive. The biggest standout for me even though he isn't that young is Brad Fisher, we all knew he could take a mark but now we are seeing him convert a few more of his shots on goal.

The great negative: our record membership ultimately served up 4 wins and a deplorable season.

The positive: it's hard not to be confident that this list - minus summer additions - when fully fit can beat 3/4's of the teams in the comp.

Pratt & Swan.

Redevlopment of MC Labour about to commence.

Ratten as coach.

Further development of the kids - very happy with what I've seen from Hampson, Bower and Jamison. Gibbs is all class, Fisher & Carazzo have improved their kicking out of sight. Grigg and Jackson both look like good prospects. O'Hailpin continues to improve. Russell is getting better. Kennedy showing good signs towards the end of the year. Waite and Walker improving. Anderson showed good signs before injury. Simpson establishing himself as a quality midfielder and Murphy as a future star.

Picks #1 & #3 to come however no spoon.

Overall this has been a very satisfying year and I'm genuinely excited about the future.

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There is no footy god

We finally started to play the kids even if it was far too late.
Hampson has shown us that he has a future as an AFl ruckman.
Gibbs played every game without any need for a break and always contributed.
Jackson looks like a player.
No spoon but we still get pick 1.
Setanta O'hAilpin looks to be on the verge of something special.

The biggest positive by far......

We now seem to have some direction.

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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

Indeed. We all know where we're headed and how we're going to get there. There's no longer a conflict at the highest level of our footy administration, and we can finally start moving forward.

Now that season 2007 is done and dusted, how do people actually feel about how Carlton's gone this year ? Are we where we should be or did we underperform (again!).

If you think of where we were back at the start of February (board in fighting led by a goofy President, negative press by the truckload, being compared to Fitzroy etc) we have done tremendously well.
In swept a new board led by King Richard. The NAB Cup victory soon followed, as well as the appointments of Swann and Icke.

I personally saw this year as a fill in / clean out year for the new Pres/Board/Footy Dept. to clean up the mess left by the previous regime.
Kind of like 'the recession we had to have'.

In that capacity, we did fantastically well. We were able to secure deals that brought / will bring in new revenue into the Club (hotel deal, new sponsors, increased corporae support), and got record membership numbers depsite our lack of on field success.
With the re development of our training/admin facilities and several other off field deals surely still to come, we are now going great guns off field.

On field, we were never going to win our 10-11 games for the year once, in the space of two weeks, we lost both Stevo and Cloke to long term injury for the rest of the season. Add to that Pagan's short term fix 'attack at all costs' game plan and we were doomed from practically the word go (the writing was on the wall after Geelong thrashed us in Round 2). Once the contstant heavy defeats started, Pagan lost the playing group, and inevitabley his job. Ratts came in, played the kids, brought the playing group together and showed the footy world that the Carlton kids will bring the Blues a bright future. He did more for the kids in his 6 weeks in charge that Pagan did in his 5 years at the helm.
Whats to come in 2008 ? Add to the team that played last night a fresh and fit Stevo, Cloke, T-Bird, Fev along with a new crop of gun kids (Kreuzer etc.), and with no forseable retirements now that Kouta and Lappo have gone, suddenly Carlton now has a list of players that can stick together long term and develop into a champion team.

The fans of Melbourne, Richmond, Essendon* etc may have a go at us for tanking, but we showed the 'balls' to do what we had to do to get the players we need. Filth fans are in no position to criticize, they tanked two years ago and got Dale Thomas and Scott Pentallberry out of it.
Over the next few years when the ageing stars from their teams retire and leave them with nothing, we'll see who'll be laughing then

After this coming off season we will finally have the off field and on field personnel, as well as the skills and youth development programs to make things happen.. Lets just sit back and enjoy the rebirth of the Blues from 2008.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

There were pleasant surprises and there were horrible surprises this year.

Year souldn't have started any better with Dick Pratt and then the NAB cup victory.

Swann shortly followed to leave the enemy and come to the allies.

Though we didn't get carried away with victories with great wins against Richo and Essendon*, it was looking mostly doom and gloom for 2007 when Stevo went down and everyone knew it.

Simmo, Carazz, Bentick and Walker emerged and took that next step. Simmo maintained form and even rised further when he was captain. Carrots has moved into the top 20 midfielders of the comp. Bentick tailed off then came back later. Walker's efficiency strangely decreased after a few weeks of injury.

Murphy played a full year dealing with the tag, which was a credit to his decsion making and kicking.

Setanta displayed true blue spirit in all his games.

Russell was much, much better this year than in previous years.

Both Ratten and to a lesser extent, Pagan, assessed our list effectively. We were allowed to see what they have to offer. Some have lots, some don't have futures at our club, but at least we know.

Bower, Jackson, Jamison, Grigg, Anderson and Kennedy should look to cement spots on our starting 22 in favour of retirees and the delisted.

Gibbs is set to unleash the beast after playing the year out like a trooper.

Ratten has earned his gig as Head Coach.

The Basketball team I play for have finally reached the Playoffs.

Though it hasn't happened yet, Kreuzer and pick 3 will act as the cherry on top for the inevitable premiership.

I always expected a bottom four finish (and hoped for the flag )
thought we'd win about 6 maybe 7 but as the wheels fell off - injuries and Ackland being so shithouse - it was always on the cards that we would win 4, no more, no less.

So we finished we we should have, if we were smart.

And we have no @#$%&! idea yet of what we might be like but I expect no more than 6 to 8 wins next year

and less if the @#$%&! PP system still encourages us to win only 4 (three seasons in a row what do we get? a priority priority?)

Mind you this side


Jammo T-Bird Ando
Scotland Setanta Walker
Simmo Bentick Gibbs
Houla Kennedy Waite
Betts Fev Fisher

Cloke Stevo Murph

IN
The K, Carrots, Russell, Jacko
(come on who did I leave out?)

might win a few

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

The new board, led by Mr Pratt.

Mark H and Stephen M for embracing the ‘net and giving us the chance to participate in Q&A’s with them.

Gibbs....going to be a star.

The rest of the kids as a group...showing good signs although still on a learning curve of course.

Simmo’s stint as Captain. Very impressive.


Thank God it’s over though

Actually I think we're forgetting arguably the biggest positive of the year, possibly behind Pratt, is the pub deal that Harrison put together. $10 million over four years straight into the clubs bank account with absolutely no outlay required

On the playing side, we can only look forward to 2008 with the likes of Gibbs, Jamo, Kennedy, Griggs, Smurph, Hammer, Jacko, Russell all getting another pre-season under their belt.

Just think of how good we will be with a fit Fev, a fired up Cloke and Stevo ready to go.

Also, somebody that seems to have been lost in all the Kreuser excitement and the debut of the Hammer is a certain Aisake. He was on the verge of debuting after some impressive performances in the 'Ants

With Keuser, Hammer & Aisake we have three young mobile big guys all 200cm plus. This should really scare the opposition.

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

The 'power' returned to Princes Park.

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There's so much I could say...

You forgot about fisher, Carrots, Kennedy

Positives? Not bloody many to be honest.............a few, but nowhere near enough.

The main ones?

#1. PAGAN GAWN.
Should have been done last year! Thank bloody christ!

#2. GIBBS IN 2nd HALF OF SEASON.
Hmmm, yes.......amazing what this kid can do when he's not playing as a bloody fullback!

#3. RATTS AS NEW COACH.
I think one of the best decisions of the decade by the Carlton Football Club. Could have been the untried Voss, or the highly regarded Bond, but we took a chance on a favourite son of the Blues! Already has shown me signs of a much improved (not to mention) entertaining game plan.

#4. SIMPSONS WORK AS CAPTAIN.
Really lifted himself. As much as people would like Stevens or Scotland as captains next season, i'm gunning for Simpson and Murphy as Captain & Vice respectivly.

#5. SETANTA PLAYING ALL 22 GAMES.
Man...........am so proud of this kid. I think thou, that he is not getting the credit he deserves. Could well be our most versitle player...... How many others on our list can play Ruck / Midfield / Foward & Back. I think we may have trouble finding the right position for him next year. I'd like to trial him as CHB to be honest. He is a decent Full Back and could well prove to be a great one at that, but i love his run and carry too so perhaps CHB or along the wing is more suited.

#6. AISAKIE'S PERFORMENCE IN THE BULLANTS!
Worthy of a mention........... wait till you see him next year! Will be a superstar in the making.

#7. CARRAZZO'S DOMINANCE.
Always been a fan of this kid, despite his skills not being all that effective. Could be our version of Sammy Mitchell. Never stopped trying all year! Great pick for a rookie (i think this was a choice by Denis too!)

#8. FEV
Shocking year, but still slotted a lazy 59 goals despite missing 3 or 4 games AND carrying an injury! Please dont trade him. He is Carlton through and through.

#9. MURPHY
Continues to shine................ Future Captain and just a joy to watch. Showed too that he and Gibbs are gonna prove to be Carlton Legends!

#10. COMEBACK OF THE DECADE!
Man, what a game! Fevola kicking 8 to bring us back from the dead. Will go down as one of the best Carlton games ever!

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

Oh, one more thing.............

As Funny as it sounds............. we came 6th in the 'Points For' and scored more than last years premiers West Coast.

(we came first in points against thou.......)

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

elevation of more rookies than previously

Apparently the average number of all-season players under Pagan was higher (5.4, with 6 all-season players in each year except 2004-5) than under Parkin (3.375, with 9 all-season players in 1995, but no all-season players in 1992-3 and 1997-8 ).

I would like to see him with some goal-kicking coaching! He kicked 5 goals 6, and there was a time there that, like they said of Lance yesterday, "Don't give it to him!" but he's come away from that label!

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[Sam Jacobs] looks like a 7' Lance Whitnall, and [Mitch Robinson] looks like a 4' Lance Whitnall
(The SEN team during the Carlton v Cats 2009 pre-season match)

Love this paragraph the best..

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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.

Here here. A great post and absolutely spot on. But don't forget the Kangaroos last year when they put just about their whole side into hospital in August for operations and then finished up with Hansen as their first draft. Nobody is bagging them for tanking.

In any event what you are saying is spot on and, if you add in the development of Aisake and another pre-season for Benji, who knows how far we can go next year.

All I know is the rest of the league better watch out when all thses kids grow together and we get 50 - 100 games into the side. The dynasty is staring to be put into place and the mighty Bluebaggers are starting to stir again. Thank you King Richard [/b]

Wouldn't mind seeing him play an Adam Goodes type role

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"IF YOU FAIL TO PREPARE, YOU'RE PREPARED TO FAIL" - Mark Spitz