And two ruckman.

two experienced ruckmen

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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!

Actually both of them have grand final experience not just experience.
It's a brave call by a board to sack a coach that keeps getting them into finals. I'd say in 3 weeks time that board will be vindicated. If Adelaide lose this week I wonder if there board will make a similar call. Everything is stacked in Adelaide's favour and their will be a heap of pressure on Craig this week.

I must say that reading the various strings on Talking footy has been pretty disappointing overall (with a few exceptions). Its felt like I have been reading a Collingwood or Richmond blog, where they simply attack their own, without trying to make any sober or constructive assessment of where we are or where we are going. There have been exceptions - there have been some who have tried and rationalise what has happened and where we are - but many postings do make you wonder if all Carlton Supporters are really true supporters at all! Sure - Sat was very very disappointing. I flew up for the game - and felt completely numb after the game, as I am sure most Blues supporters did. There is no excuse for such a disappointing fade out. But is it really time for a clean out as some suggest. Is Ratten really the worst coach in the history of the game as it seems some would like to suggest. The attacks on Stevo, Clokey, Gartlett, Murph, Thornton, and many others that I have read on Talking Carlton have been viscious by some authors. Lets think about where we are - we are coming!!!! We are not there yet ... did anyone really think that after where we have been for the last 7(?) years that we would win the flag this year (I put money on it, but didn't really expect it. This year was abouit setting oursleves up to be a chance to win the flag on 2010, and ensure we are well placed to win a series of flags over the next 5-10 years. We could be facing a dynasty. Many clubs waste such chances - Carlton usually don't. Every club has a top 6 and bottom 6 players. We can wipe out the current bottom 6, but we will still have a bottom 6 next year. But when you look at the positives as we walk into 2010 - they are massive .... massive!!! Bring Waite, Jamo and Austin into the back 6 - thats half a backline. Warnock into ruck which gives us flexibility with Kruzer. Gartlett after a year sitting in the Gym, Yarran with a full pre-season, Walker will be a new player next year, Russells actually finally started to repay the incredible faith paid in him (which I suspect very few of us could ever understand), Joey in his 2nd year etc etc. Sure - we are not perfect and there is room for improvement and list enhancement. But lets respond like Carlton Supporters, not Hyenas (or Magpies). Go Blues!!!

sorry, those Brazilians have swiped the map off tassie.

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NG
S M C , S F L

Good post snoz!!

We have come a long way, and, I for one, believe we have a good base from which we can continue to work from.

Players to return, I would suggest very few teams would have succeeded with injuries to players filling the two most important key defensive positions on the ground. And as we did try to cover that option, it created problems further up the ground.

We need to be thankful that we now have a development group (out back) who can focus on players flaws and ensuring that the players selected to play for Carlton, are indeed given every opportunity when their number is called.

This is a significant development at our footy club. Players are now afforded the time to find their feet and understand exaclty what is expected of them. We have reached the finals comfortable for the first time in a while and our affliate team (Bullants) have finished third!! Congrats guys for a very good result, in a year when we have lost many important players through injury.

If you would like a comparison, look no further than Essendon*. Limped into the finals with 10 wins , and their affliliate side Bendigo, came up with doughnuts!!!!

We are in with a shot in the next couple of years, Wayne Hughes keep up the good work, Ratts keep learning, you cannot do wrong in following the Adelaide model of development and strategy.

Go Blues

Agreed.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger