I'm pleased that you see Gibbo as having a top year. I think your prediction of an even year where we finish in the lower reaches of the 8 and pounce from there is very realistic. I think that the Crows were the last one to win from outside the top 4 (97 & 98). I'll take any season in the next 3 years Blueman. I'll definately take a win over the Aints. I'll be happy if Juddy wins Charlie again and a couple of Flags. I'll be happy for Ratts and Sticks and other club greats who have contributed to our steady rise. I'll be happy as a Carlton supporter since the late sixties. I'll be happy for those who think they are long suffering (Think of some of the premiership droughts endured by other club supporters).

But Blueman, the very person responsible for our rise and likely dominance over the next few years, sadly will not be with us to see the fruits of his labours. King Dick will be the one who I'll be the happiest for!

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2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Port about to knock us out of third spot
By this time tomorrow there will 8 teams on 3 and 3
Can't get much more even than that

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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

****Bump****

I have not seen an even competition like this since 1995 when the Brisbane Bears managed to get to 8th position with 10 wins. In that year, I believe Melbourne and Collingwood where competing for the 8th spot.

I rememeber the Canterbury Bulldogs in the 1995 NRL competiton finishing on 6th spot. No one gave the bulldogs a chance but they eventually defeated, St.George, Brisbane (lost only 3 to 4 matches throughout the year), Canberra (2 losses) and then Manly (2 losses as well).

During the course of that year the Bulldogs were very inconsistent but somehow played their best football at the right end of the year.

I just have a feeling that Carlton are onto something special here. I can't see why not.

As you all know, we pushed the Saints right up to the last minute of the match. So surely there is the belief that we can match it with anyone and don't tell me that the Saints were in second gear that night. We really pushed them that night.

I know on some occasions this year it appeared that we were playing like Richmond but I still have the belief that it will turn around soon.

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Bulldogs captain Steve Mortimer stood up to address his troops before they ran out. ''I'm a proud c---,'' he told them, ''I'm a winner, I wish myself a good g...ame, I wish everyone a good game. Let's get out there and f---ing bash them

Add Warnock, Walker, Bower and Austin to the team and why wouldn't you feel the way you do. All we need is a bit of luck to go our way and even without Waite, on our day, anything can happen with Judd leading the way.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

It certainly is a very, very even competition this season.

I think we can match any team in the league; on our day.

If we make the 8, as expected....

.... who knows?

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I AM DISENFRANCHISED

Lets wait and see.

There will be quite a few twists and turns left to play out in the last third of the season.

I think that our form in the Richmond game was pretty average because of the previous weeks efforts and the 6 day break.

Aftyer a proper rest for the players, beating the swans will be a better test of where we are at - particularly as we havent beaten them all that often in this decade.

Im thinking that we might string a few wins together from here on in.

But the big picture is that it's still very early on in the premiership window for us.

Theres still plenty of time.

The Essendon* loss was such a depressing one. Im just glad that we are above them on the ladder now. I dislike Essendon* a great deal.

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My Blue Heaven

We're just making up numbers in the eight (if we make it)

Today i walked away from a win thinking "we are shite"

Starts with the coach. Ends with the coach. GET RID OF HIM

What did you think after the St Kilda game?

Surely look at the season in its entirety.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

What did you think of the Essendon* game or the tactical moves against the crows?

Why don't you answer the question?

I thought the Essendon* game was poor but due to our players not being switched on - please explain to me how that has anything to do with the coach. Young players will have weeks where they don't turn up to the game mentally. Has been happening for years and will continue to happen.

Adelaide tactics were poor and Ratten admitted they were. He will learn from his mistakes.

I don't like a lot of our tactics but you aren't taking everything into consideration.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

The Saints played two 10 minute patches of Brilliant football to put the game out of reach.

The Saints we played were not the Saints that showed up against the Cats.

The game against the Saints we took it on and we played well. "TAKE THE GAME ON" not set up with defensive roll up zones and chip chip the ball around

Our coach has everything to do with it.

Against the Bombers he selected a 'shut down' team to take on the bombers. He selected a top heavy forward line against a super quick side.

Over the preseason the focus was defensive pressure, hold on to the ball and now we find our selves trying to generate run and he blaming the players for not running.

Ratten said during the mid season break that he overdone the development and will now select more mature sides. WELL THAT HASN'T WORKED so now he has dropped our most mature players and has gone back to youth

HE HAS NO IDEA and the team play like a team that has no idea

Well why did the Saints only play 10 minutes of footy? Why don't you consider that it was our players and tactics which caused them to only get free for that amount of time?

Some of the selections/matchups against Essendon* were negative but you can't blame Ratten for the pathetic mindset our players had. They didn't even try when the game was up for grabs in the third quarter. Again, you are not taking everything into consideration because you have a vendetta against Ratten.

I think part of the lack of attack through the middle is due to the injury to Bower - I think most would agree in the top 3 most improved at the club. Look at the run he provides. He was pivotal against St Kilda rebounding from defence.

Surely successful sides have shown you can't have any passengers...you can't have lazy players like Scotland and Stevens if you want to be successful. Unless they increase their workrate then they won't be selected.

You have to set standards and that is what Ratten is doing, it puts the rest of the team on notice. That someone like Stevens on big money, and the vice captain, can be dropped.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Is that what you think???????

YOU THINK WRONG MY FRIEND......................... I blame Ratten for our players having that mindset. He is the problem. It all started the week leading into the crows game and won't say nothing more, think i've hinted enough at this back then.

So you're saying that it is Ratten's responsibility to have the players in the right frame of mind?

They aren't children, they have worked hard to get on a list through hard work and having some ability. Some are inexperienced and aren't strong enough while also lacking confidence.

They WILL have lapses and it has nothing to do with the coach.

This has always happened and will continue to happen.

Even the best teams don't come switched on all of the time.

Gary Ablett junior recently said that in a lot of the finals he played in early on, he ran around like a headless chook. He couldn't deal with the pressure and expectation.

It takes players time to improve their consistency. I don't know why it is so hard to comprehend. It also isn't helped when you have lazy players like Stevens and Scotland, who as senior players should be setting a better example to the younger players. How do you think a younger player would go when he sees his 'leaders' not working hard enough and letting the team down?

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

You're not catching my drift here. Im not talking about Ratten getting the players in the right frame of mind, maybe he is the problem why they are not in the right frame of mind nudge nudge

I don't know on what basis you can suggest that.

So how can you explain our frame of mind against St Kilda - the players thought, oh shit I like the gameplan this week let's have a crack?

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Im not going to say it here in a public forum. Im not on here for my 15 minutes of fame!!!! Im pretty sure a few on here are trying to get points across without stating the bleeding obvious.

Against the Saints we attacked the game. When we attack the game we play our best football

Malcolm Blight said the best way to develop a young team is to go about like Matthew Knights has. Get them playing attacking, creative and positive football then you can develop the rest.

gee ... well, if malcom blight said it ..................

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

But many teams, especially Sydney and St Kilda, played very defensive football in their buildup to a crack at a flag. So I guess Malcolm isn't right about everything is he? Who says there is one way to go about things.

I'm sure if the players weren't happy Paul Bower would have not re-signed - you do realise that he could have very easily gone home to Fremantle in the PSD at the end of this year given their position on the ladder.

However Bower re-signing I guess shows faith in the coach and also suggests Bower is pretty positive about the teams future.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Are you saying that Ratts has lost the players? Can you be a little more direct? I did hear that Stevo has fallen out with Ratts...