I see that Carlton topped the clearances last season with about +7 on average per game. Getting clearance advantage like that tells me that the inside Mids you say we dont have are doing a sterling job.

Ill just mark it down as another one of your don't have the info posts

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Go BLues

Yes, we have the capability to have a great season.
Yes, we should smash Kangaroos midfield.
HOWEVER, when we lost last year, it was invariably because we were beaten in the midfield and on some of those occasions, that should not have happened (west coast, bulldogs, Essendon* draw...). It may have looked like our backs were smashed or forwards didn't fire but IMO the problem was with our much vaunted midfield.

Given our recent NAB Cup form, we have no reason to be too optimistic. Yes, it's only ore-season but I don't believe we should have lost all our games. The concern for me is our intensity which is my ongoing worry about our ability to translate capability into performance. Sometimes we look like we play to the level we think is required and sometimes we get caught short.
So, although I am generally very excited about our capability this season, I am also v concerned that we might let it slip away for preventable reasons.

Therefore, I'll be looking for us to answer Synbad's challenge and would seriously hope that each player would be challenging themselves to play hard and win every contest. I would be very surprised if th e coaches hadn't already brought this up with the players as well.

Excuses are over. We should win EVERY game against 'lower' teams this year and we should win a few of those against Haw, Coll, Geelong.

I may not be as pessimistic as Synners but I agree with a lot of what he says. The time for excuses and accepting mediocrity should be over. I realise this it is still only pre-season but I am yet to see any hard edge in our squad whatsoever. I dont see any 2nd tier or new recruits putting their hand up to say - "I am ready to step up and stake a claim for a spot in the 22"
Just a lot of players seemingly just being casual on the field, drifting in and out of a game in long patches and really not making much of an effort. Ok, I realise that the serious stuff starts round 1 but fair dinkum, if form could be turned on and off like a switch then great, but I dont ever remember such a switch existing in elite sport!

We've got 1 more hit out. Let's hope it starts to click into gear a little bit because if there is one area that stills has me concerned is midfield depth, especially in the clinches. No one thus far this pre-season has indicated that they can help out in that area and I think we're gonna need it. norf have always troubled us in the contested ball, that will continue on Sunday. Big deal, its only a practice game.

But should the same occur round 1, and richmond now have a young midfield that can start to compete against us, then top 4 and all this other premature ejaculation about how good we are will have me @#$%&! seeing red!!!

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C'mon Blueboys!

the mids did do a good job, but the numbers are sometimes quite revealing

against norf round 19, we lost clearances 40-25. a smashing in anyones language!
against wc in semi final, we lost 49-43. not so bad
heck, even the week before against the scum we lost 40-38

we cant win it every week, but an area we need to improve in. lets hope Brock isn't the only one putting his hand up otherwise we're buggered

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C'mon Blueboys!

He's referring to our second-string clearance unit, something which has featured in our pre-season games. Doesn't bode well for a rotation policy to rest players.

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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.

17th Prem - please wait after clicking the submit button. Mashing it simply winds up with double (or in your case - triple) posts.

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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.

In any one season there will be swings and roundabouts. Up one week down the next. Thats not the point. The point is we average +7 per season. Chosing one or 2 games where we fell marginally short misses the point.

We do have the inside mids to compete. When you break down the clearances to ball at the feet, ball knocked wide by third up, tap to run through players, ball shovelled to advantage ect ect.

We averaged +7. Mclean to add, Murphy now framed up, Robinson to add to hit potential, Krueser to win lots of follow up

No problem with midfield in my estimation

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Go BLues

Yet we added Paul Williams as a stoppage coach... we do have some issues to address in terms of the effectiveness of our clearances. I for one would like to see a few less scrappy takeaways per game this season, which will give us a few extra scoring opportunities a game.

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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.

yep...Williams will add to Reily's expertise. Agree we need to further develop but I can't agree with some that midfield or clearances are a problem. Wouldn't do for us all to think the same way I guess.

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Go BLues

I am expecting a lift in intensity against the Kangas....on every line....in a big way

There's only 12 days to go before round 1 against the Tigers after this game; that's it.
We should win it, but if we don't go our there on the 29th with the commitment and confidence to win it...well that's not going to help. That intensity is drawn from this week against the Kangas.

I expect the midfield to improve again in 2012. They are still young enough to improve.
It is not all about Judd, Simpson and Scotland's experience in the midfield anymore.
Murphy stepped up in 2011 and I'm expecting the same improvement from the up and comers i the guts with Gibbs, Robinson, Curnow, Ellard and Lucas.

The so called 'soft underbelly' of our inside mids: the second tier. I expect them to improve and I agree with Synbad that's where we need to imrpovement to come from....skill and intensity. I'm not doubting Ellards commitment to the ball, but I do expect some imp[rovement in disposal whilst in the heat of the middle.

Back to intensity. I believe that if all 22 are switched on with a 'never say die' attitude every week we can take out the flag this year. That's what we have to find this year...every week.

As Carlton supporters we should not expect mediocrity. Rhino and SOC inaccurately attacked me with gusto last year as being "too hard on our players" (not in those mild words either), but I have always been supportive of the development required from our list to win the 17th. Having said that, as of 2012, I'm not expecting anyone to lack intensity and expect players to earn their position in the 22. A week performance should be given no 2nd chances in a premiership year. A sub standard performance should automatically mean a run back in the Bullants.

Anything less than 100% commitment to win will cop heaps from me and many supporters who believe the club has done everything to provide the playing group with an opportunity to become Premiership players.

I only want our next flag this year; that's all. It all starts this week.

Keep them honest Synners.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Keep who honest?

If its the players you are referring to you would have to be delusional. Do you think that by posting on a web forum you would be influencing anything that happens on game day

If its other posters on here good luck

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Go BLues

would like too see,
duigan jamison touhy
yarran henderson scotland
simpson gibbs lucas
gartlett waite robinson
walker rowe betts
kreuzer judd murphy
hampson carrazzo curnow russell

-lucas and curnow both deserve there spot
-happy to see rowe and hampson rotate
-touhy vs davies, i think touhy maybe just
-if jamison not ready, then i would like too see watson
-thornton could fit in somewhere, maybe for russell?
-just want too see us get a win, with no injuries please

You're not suggesting him trolling a new topic each preseason doesn't influence the players are you..

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Absolutely I am. I would imagine the players could not give a fat rats.

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Go BLues

Synbad to Carlton = Alan Scott to Port.

Ratts will single him out when he accepts #17.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Someone had to say this.

What goes in these forums has no influence on the field. None

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Have I run too far to get home?

If he wasn't injured, I'd say young Belly would've shown us a little "second tier".

Play the closest to round 1 side as we have available, practice structures, set ups etc one last time, a win is a bonus and then...... SMASH THE TIGERS ROUND ONE!!!!!!

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We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion.

It's an infinitesimally small influence, much like you or anyone else's impact on human history. Best we all go sit in the corner and await the expiration of our meaningless lives.

Wait... this isn't TalkingNihilist?

Two nihilist jokes in a week. Hmm.


"Synbad: you were excessively critical" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

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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.

yeah i can just imagine a cunning fox like Ratten.. strategist extraordinare winning flag 17.
Amazing coach!!!

if he wins it he is allowed to spit into my eyeball ...... if he doesnt.. well.........fat lot of good he was... with 3 number 1 picks and the best player in the comp.

waste!!!

Bomba Thompson won a couple so its possible for a dud to win flags i suppose... but then.. Ratts doesnt have 12 AA in his squad...

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