Blackwells nice little side step. Skills thats what we need and more of them.
Old to new - Kouta setting up JR for his goal.

Kouta has looked somewhat refreshed since he's been back. He actually looked a class above the rest as sad as that may be at 34 years of age!

Simpson and Walker.

Simmo just runs everywhere and gets stuck in. He's just a skinny little fella too but he gets stuck in when there's a bit push and shove going on.

Walker was fabulous too and it was nice to see him nail a set shot like that.

I thought JR's last quarter was really good. He still has much to learn but he has a good approach to the ball, good disposal and courage up to his eyeballs. In terms of courage in our team at present I'd rate Russell #2 after Wiggins.

Speaking of Wiggo he has really stepped up to the plate. That he was reincluded in the side straight away after missing a week says volumes about how well he has come on. From a guy who's future looked bleak a year ago I reckon he has earned himself another couple of years at this level.

It was nice to see some "old Kouta" in spells in that second half. I reckon he's decided to quit at the end of the year and he's decided he's going to push it as far as he can for his last 6-7 games.

Waite's mark in the third quarter was very nice.

I only saw patches today but it is it fair to say that this was 1AW's best AFL career game?

Even better than his debut?

kouta is 33.

I don't know why some people have been rubbishing Bentick over his game today - he is a workhorse in the middle and continually busts his bloody gut. Granted, his kicking can be improved upon, but aside from that I really admire his work ethic and fully expect him to be a huge part of Carlton's future.

Kade Simpson is a shining light for all us blue fans at the moment. Heh, I remember arguing his worth in a thread here last year - some posters reckoned that he should be dumped. Rapidly developing into one of my fav players.

Walker showed plenty of dash as usual. His agility is starting to show a bit more - taking on players and deftly handling the ball. If he could improve his field kicking (from all reports he is a nice kick at training) he'd be the complete package. Really glad for him that he slotted that goal today with apparent confidence too.

Scotland must be pretty high up in the B&F. Although I think that he sometimes has a 'gotta do it all myself' attitude, when it works it really works. He has sure hands below his knees and is a steadying influence down back. The ability to confidently kick on the left gives him options up his sleeve. Keep up the good work gangsta.

Blackwell showed today that he has a few tricks. Dodging / sidestepping etc. He probably needs that nous because of a lack of pace compared to other lightning midfielders. It's great to have a 'footballers footballer' in the team, with sure hands and a steady kick.

Big Fev. What more is there to say? Fought hard for his goals through rubbish delivery for pretty much the entire game. I'm glad that he is in the leadership group, glad that he no longer drops his head, and glad that he is realising his potential. Potential tradebait last year - this year he is untoucheable.

Another game, another year, more developing.

It hurts, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Go blues!

Walker and Simpson had outstanding games. I love the way that they run through the lines. I even saw Setanta do it once.

Scotland and Fev consistent as usual. Wiggo the great improver.

Pagan said in press conference after the game that Carlos injured his hip and was in some doubt for next week.

POSITIVE? Denis flags a move to defence for Waite

http://carltonfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=285036

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"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."

.

Not sure about Waite he misses to many easy shots in front of goal. Can't see him at CHB either can not keep his feet in a contest when the ball is on the ground, he will get murdered.

How is Wiggo the great improver? He might get the ball more often but all that means is he gives it back to the opposition more often. His lack of awareness and lack of skill are diabolical.

Anyway, positives were Simpson, Walker, Thornton & Fev for mine.

Surely Waite's obvious spot is on the wing, a la Brett Burton?

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"I had to eat"

Walker - his best game since his first, very, very good. If opnly he could imporve his kicking
Thornton - Terrific job on Pavlich
Simmo - as good as he has been over the last couple of months. Heading for top 5 B&F finish.
Blackwell - what he does, he does with class
Scotland - class player, but really wish he would carry the ball forward rather than sideways and take the first option rather than showing us how many tackles he can break. But he is a talent.
Fev - I reckon he has struggled the last two weeks, but has got 5 both times, sign of a really good player

And that is all, one game closer to a PP and #1 draft pick.

Fisher and waite are both going nowhere with their careers and I dont mind the idea of Waite down at CHB.....both are talented players but with Fev and Kennedy as our KP forwards I think there isnt room for both Fisher and Waite down forward, and one of them has to make it in another postion.
We probably need a Didak/Nathan Brown type forward who has more ground smarts along with Eddie rather than 4 marking players....with Deluca down there as well we dont have enough agility on the deck or cleverness to turn half chances into goals....
Fisher isnt a great kick over a distance but isnt bad within 30 metres....when a player like Jake Edwards establishes himself it may place Fisher under pressure but thats what you need to create depth and bring the best out of players and make them work for a spot......I sometimes think a player like Jarrod Waite is in the comfort zone due us having such a poor list and that he can be a bit casual as there is no one pressuring for his spot..

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I agree. His kicking into the F50 is usually great. His kicking for goal stinks though.

Highlight of the day was the Yum Cha I had in Chinatown before the game.

Oh yeah, and Simmo's performance... brilliant.

I'd go close to saying that Walker played his best ever game for the Blues????????????????????? Would anybody object?

DESTROYED Medhurst. And just looked like a certain future Superstar rather than one that shows glimpses of a possible superstar!

Walker - flower Brilliant
Simpson - Again making a late charge for Captaincy?
Fev - Phew, i thought he's Coleman race was failing for a bit but it looks all good now!
Thornton - Did REALLY well on Pavlich, which i knew he would.
Wiggens - wasn't spectacular by any stretch but still showed fans that he's gratefull for us sticking with him and being paitent for so long.
Scotland - could win B&F this year, even with Fev on fire. If anything else, he is the most consistant player this year.

And KOUTA!
I begged him to lift for us in the 2nd half and you can bet your balls on it that if didn't play the game he did yesterday we would have more than likley been thumpred by 50+ points by the end of the game.
He was the reason the final score looked so flattering for us!
Watch a replay of the game and she how the players (especially the kids) body language just changes dramatically when Kouta started getting into the game. Inspirational stuff! LOVED his 2nd goal, Vintage Kouta.

And as much as i like seeing him as Captain, i think he showed just how much he loves this club by acknowledging the fact that it's probably for the best if somebody else took over.

Kouta is still my favourite player...............of all time..............but i don't think he is the type of leader the club needs at the moment. He can lead by example (ala - his 2nd half yesterday) and that is a huge ask and is much appreciated, but i think with our list being so young and developing, they need some guidence. Lance & Fev seem to fit that mould...................and Kouta knows that!

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

What's your issue Titti mus? He'll be 34 in Jan 07. Talk about picking at straws!

Jesus, most of you must have been watching a different game to me!

Positives - Walker and SImpson (they ran hard all day)

You can't say Fev and Thornton are positives - we have to expect them to play like that every week!!

Kouta played half a good game, most of it when we were 7 goals down.

Our other 17 players did jack shit and we got our butts whipped! Junk time doesn't mean a thing. I remember Geelong piled on goals at the end of the 95 Grand Final. Who cares!

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Confucius say "Virginity like bubble, one prick all gone"

Walks was fantastic it should give him some confidence
Simmo - well what more can I say, has been awsome this year and i thought it was best summed up with one bit of play...
He got cleaned up going for a mark and was struggling on the ground for a while trying get his breath. A trainer went out to him, got him standing, then simmo simply wiped his face with a towel, ran away from the trainer, chucked the towel behind him and jumped straight into the next contest like he had never been crunched in the first place.

It is that sort of commitment from our younger guys, just a desire to do everything you can, that makes me look forward to the next few years when the grow up playing with each other.

In the situation the team was in at 3/4 time on sunday, last year we would of left the game with a 100+ loss but this year we clawed back. Yes maybe too late but a real showing of the heart of this developing young team.