Don't worry about the commentators.
Always love sinking the boots in at every opportunity.
Water off a ducks back.
We showed enough for 3 qtrs. before the resting began to suggest we ll be alright.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

I've not watched the game yet. But surely the two bad last quarter fadeouts we've had are to do with the new workload under Buttifant? We've heard enough senior players say it is the toughest preseason they've had to suggest they're labouring a bit. I suspect it will stand them in good stead for the season proper.

Still a fair bit of work to go, but I think our tackling has improved a bit.

The Fox team have to talk up the importance of these games. Just as this is an important time for membership depts at footy clubs, I think a lot of people sign up for Fox Footy at this time.

If they said "this smashing is meaningless and the comp is actually training sessions dressed up as matches" then fewer people might sign up.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

I only watched the first half. I thought the endeavor and defensive pressure were fantastic. The skill execution by both teams was below standard.
The result is immaterial. I always like to see Carlton in front but seriously Rd 1 is 1 billion times more important.
The things that disappointed me was our movement into the F50 and the kicking and decision making at times. The last 2 will improve naturally. The former needs work.
Daisy and Cripps were a big plus

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T E A M

This.



And this too.



For the first three quarters it looked like we had the game in some sort of control. It was scrappy and we lack finesse with our skills, but we seemed to be able to respond on the scoreboard when required.

It was disappointing that we faded so badly in the last quarter, I agree, but I think the fact we rested so many players shows why the overreactions to the loss in here are laughable.

Menzel looked good again.
Cripps has huge potential.
Buckley has a red hot go.
Thomas will show a few of our senior players up in regards to effort, hopefully it rubs off.
Gibbs and Simpson went okay while on ground.
Ellard continues to impress with his determination.
Wood and Everett alright in patches but don't think we can expect either to dominate 4 qtrs.

A lot to like and a lot not to like—getting smashed in centre clearances, for example—but there's certainly no need to panic.

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TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

Levi isn't showing much to justify any hope he's going to have a break out year.He just doesn't command the ball enough. None of our key forwards do.
Kreuz is next to useless up forward. He used to be such a strong mark overhead in his early years. That's gone out of his game totally since he did his knee.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

meh

I did notice that a lot of our players looked ultra-cooked in the 4th.

PROs:
-Cripps
-Watson
-Thomas
-Ellard

I was at the ground and all I had was my mobile phone fm radio ... consequently I had to listen to MMM. I have to say that this is the worst commentary on AFL I have ever listened to in my life. There was a factual mistake just about every minute ... also it was incredibly clear that they were making things up as they went along and had no idea about either of the lists. Really quite pathetic.

I thought the positives out of the game included:

Buckley's pace and vigor and continued improvement.
Cripps, Watson and Menzel were good in patches.
Thomas a definite positive.

Negatives included the crap game plan with the continual bombing to the forward line which just does not work unless you have some extremely talented talls. Outdated and boring performance. It was a hard game to watch even when we were in front.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

Yep. Him saying we played better than last week confirmed all I needed to know : Adelaide were playing to win and we were playing to win round 1.

Cue definitely put in rack. We had 1 player on bench, Adelaide had 6. We rested players.

Rather lose every single pre season match, BUT win the opening round and get 4 points.

If I recall correctly, during the glory days of the 79-82 period the blues rarely won a pre season match - couldn't beat anyone.

We also won a couple of NAB cups - under pagan and maybe Ratten too. And we all know what happened when the real season started.

Only the Coach and players know what the goals are for the team and for individual players during the pre season matches - winning should be incidental to these goals.

Players would be tried out in different roles and against different types of opposition - test them out.

Other Players may need match hardening and run in their legs (like Daisy and Kruezer)

If these internal goals have been met then, I would be far more happy than winning the game and not addressing these important issues.

But then again I have neve paid much attention to pre season results (ie win or lose)

My main concerns for this year are very similar to recent years

1. Can we string wins together (haven't won 4 games in a row for a very long time - could be over a decade)

2. How we match up against the Hawks (haven't won since 2007, and regularly get physically intimidated without a response - see last year response to Hodge hit on Murphy and Hendo)

3. How we match up against the Cats (leadership and mental strength test) and Freo/Swans (the strangling teams that do the 1%ers very well).

We will take big steps forward if we show progress in these 3 areas.

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Vice President, International Extreme Sarcasm Society (IESS)

Dwayne needs names on the back of jumpers so he can identify who they are ... like Everitt. Does the number on the back not give it away ... ???!!!!

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In WADA we trust

..Levi has shown plenty for a KPF [out of the rookie system no less] that has played under 20 matches.. ..plenty were writing off Hendo in his early days too [and he went pick 8]..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

People at the ground won't be able to read the names, and people at home should be able to rely on a genius like Dwayne to call the right player.

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Get comfortable being uncomfortable

Mods - I think we need a :Chicken Little: smilie.

FFS its February!
Its the wizzer cup, and it means F$%k all.

Relax, and enjoy what's left of summer.....

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"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

To be fair to Hughes, he didn't sign Bootsma to a two year deal six months ago.

Bootsma might end up being Swanny's parting gift.

McKay.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I could see cue was in the rack in the last. My 6 yr old couldn't.

Plenty of positives in the first 3 quarters. Plenty. Why disregard that in a practise match.
Adelaide are not a bad team. Plenty of big bodies. Played to win.
We were not playing for points

Bootsma doesn't have an AFL body yet. Brushed aside too easy.
Playing him leaked a few goals. I can't see him playing much in 2014.
Would have preferred Everitt in that role or even White.
Rowe is a bit of a worry.

Funny how different posters see the game differently.

Bell in the first quarter was our best. Big bodied extractor. Will play senior footy.
Cripps had an amazing 2nd quarter. Will play senior footy.
Watson showed great enthusiasm and confidence. Strong too. Will play senior footy.
Everitt was good despite not starring. Tall Swing man.

Warnock is our first ruck.
Can't just let the opposing ruck man dominate. Thought we gave them an armchair ride.
Jacobs won the ruck handsomely. Kreuzer must make his marks stick, or he's going to frustrate.

Waite is a show pony and a HFF like Gunston. Lead up forward.
Henderson must play CHF. He has good hands.
Need a Big strong 3rd tall Kreuzer or Casboult in the goal square with Garlett at their feet.
Need to bomb it as a get out of gaol not the norm. Too easy for Crows to defend 2 or 3 on 1!

Judd Carrazzo Walker Tuohy Henderson Warnock will make a big difference...maybe Docherty too.
Missed Walkers run and Judds clearance work, but we need to move forward for life after Judd.

Overall happy to see the good signs, and thought Ellard was magnificent.

Skills a bit of a concern but we have 4 weeks to sharpen the sword.

Thomas is all class.
Simmo reads the play so well
Buckley looks like he belongs
Ellard was my BOG.

Gibbs and Murphy weren't bad, they just didn't stand out. They'll be better.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue