Positives:
After last year, nice to have some preseason performances worth watching.
Dominated inside 50s and scoring shots again.
I assume it's a combination of workrate and defensive structure, but great to see us getting better at having the final man behind the ball (in the goalkeeper kind of role). It's one of the things you notice about the good sides. Rarely allow the ball to bounce through for a goal.
Great to see midfield dominating without Judd or Murphy dominating. Gibbs and Robbo were particularly impressive. Won the ball. Were hard and tough. And kicked a couple of goals.
Really pleased with White's performance.
Casboult and Lucas were very encouraging again. Hopefully Lucas' disposal will improve as his confidence rises. It could do with significant improvement.
I thought Henderson and Yarran and Tuohy and Walker were much better this week. Same with Garlett. Great to see him really light it up after a tough 12 months.

Disappointments:
Goalkicking in the 2nd half. Like Collingwood did a few years back, I think we're going to kick a lot of points this year.
Rowe didn't have the same impact this week.
Would have liked to see Bell get more game time.

Seems as though a few (like Hammer and McLean) might have got the week off.

Is it just me or is Jeffy a little less weedy this year? Maybe just pre-season bulk.

Yarran has been a little quiet in the games so far. He was flying this time last year. Hopefully he's not having too much trouble fitting in with the MM game plan.

Hope you've got room on the Levi bandwagon

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"I will make trophies from their spines."

It started about 5 mins late but it worked ok on my laptop (not Apple). The stream was better than last week when it was bloody awful. Had a few occasions when it buffered, surprisingly enough when players were lining up for goal so it may have been something to do with the director putting multiple signals on the stream or something. Overall I enjoyed it and if it stays at that standard I will certainly buy the yearly subscription.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

That struck me as well, the no knee bandage thing. It must be pretty strong because I would have thought they would bandage the shite out of it.

He had a good game last night. His marks were one grabbers and the one he took from three deep was a pearler.

I think they can play Hampson as well. Rowe is the one in danger because despite what Jim thinks, Hampson can play a forward/ruck role with his primary function as a forward. But so can Kreuzer with his primary role as a ruck.

I think Warnock should be the one to miss out if one of them does.

I liked Lucas's first half in particular He will only get better as he gets a few games under his belt at the top level. Once he gets used to the pace of it I think his disposal will improve. It's a game of inches sometimes and he isn't far away. One handball to Yarran was a bit behind him so Yarran got caught. A few more inches in front of him and Yarran is away and clear running through the centre square.

I was disappointed with our shooting for goal in the second half. We shoulod have won by 100 points but for some sloppy finishing from close in. Garlett missing a sitter from 20 metres after doing all the hard stuff comes to mind.

I'll take it but we will have to keep our foot on the throat if we are going to beat the really good sides. And kick straighter.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I think we have the best % in the NAB Cup (I could check that if the AFL website updated football information instead of "articles" from the press conferences).

We could play in the NAB Cup GF by simply winning next week. Not bad for going at half pace with 2 of our best mids and our Key Forward out while learning a new game plan.

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when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

Feelgood Hit of the Winter - GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC-1295, AOD-9604, Humanofort and Hexarelin

That one's a cracker, chicken!

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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.

So when do we know what happens next week?

What needs to unfold today?

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Supporting the Blues No Matter What

We play Adelaide next week. Won't know what happens the following week until after that game.

YEP great Saturday night.

Couldn't pick my jaw up off the ground in that first Quarter....then by 3rd I was starting to believe this is a new team....and a return to the grand old glory days we grew up in. I loved that...just bought a boyhood smile to my face.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I concur!!

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Haven't seen the game yet to make a comment but I am very happy from what I am reading about this game and even the pre-season so far. I think the most crucial point in 2013, won't be if we have the cattle and/or good enough but consistency week in week out from this team. This has been what has let us down over the past few years, so if Malthouse can bring that to us in 2013 we will play finals (easily) and most probably finish top4.

Very enjoyable night at Etihad, a stadium I usually hate. Beautiful balmy night, roof open, small crowd in good spirits, multiple middle aged men in sleeveless Carlton jumpers and bare arms, cheers every time MM walked by, boos every time Ballantyne went near it, and a first half domination as great as I can remember. Freo could not get near it in the first quarter. I think they had 2 inside 50's for the quarter, such was the dominance of our midfield.

Just a great relaxing night out with plenty to hope for.

Sydney and Freo were going at a quarter pace

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#DonTheStash

And don't forget, the last time we won a couple of NAB Cups, those seasons were awesome.

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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.

Win the first round and I'll start paying attention

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

I think the defensive pressure was the key for me. Whenever we didn't have the ball, we barely gave freo anytime with it. Our tackling was outside and our second and third efforts were first class. It just goes to show that if u up the work rate, you can put the good teams under pressure and force errors. Something that we didnt do consistently last year. Hopefully MM can try n get that out of the boys every week

Outstanding** lol not outside

Yes it's only March but plenty of positives last night, as already pointed out by others.

A little disappointed with Rowe and Lucas though... I'm really gunning for these two... hoping they can take their (presumably last) chance this year.

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Great pics mate.......what kind of camera did you use?.....interested.....

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.