I feel quite the opposite.

When we lost the final in Sydney it just washed over me...meh....because I know our best team isn't good enough to make it big. So all these trades is just a step further to turning our list over which excites me more than winning one lousy final in the first week.

We aren't just keeping players on the list for the sake of it.....like we used to. The time will come when we have a solid group of players who will become required, the mix will be right and we'll move heaven and earth to keep them together but not just yet.

We were ALWAYS going to lose a ruck, it was going to be one of Hampson or Jacobs. I saw our recruitment of all these rucks at the time to be really beneficial for us in the future when one will eventually be traded, to think that Jacobs has turned out from a rookie pick is just perfect.

Grigg leaving could be a manager influenced decisions and he may very well stay.

Walker, well, poor old Walks he's had as tough a career as the next bloke and it seems he is pigeon holed at Carlton as a back man so luck to him wherever he ends up.

I can't look at these 3 cases and put them into a basket to try and prove that there is a mass player walkout because every one of them is different and it is just circumstantial that it all happened in the one year.

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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

6PR are on the money.

Of all the assistants that have left - Montgomery will leave the biggest shoes to fill.

Riley not much chop either - communication issues as per the head coach.

Make of this what you will.

I have no idea whether 6PR are on the money or not but I think a lot rides on our assistant coach appointments for next season.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I have a very very very strong source..... a friend who will remain nameless knows a board member the Carlton that has said Ratten will coach until mid-year in 2011, the contract has a clause that means midway in the last year of the contract the club can move on the coach. Ratten will be sacked mid 2011. Remember the post!!!!

That seems non-sensical. If you want to sack a coach, why do it mid year? Particularly after you've turned over a list and coaching staff to help the incumbent coach.

You just have to go do it all over again.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Grigg will be playing suburban footy in the next few years. Wasted pick
Russell had and still has character and humility

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

I'm not sure why I continue to bother...but here goes. Ask any player at the club...in fact ask any coach in the league. Mark Riley is very good communicating with young players. I'm not saying he's an outstanding coach, but he'd be number one in communicating with the youngsters. Bomber is a lot like Alan McConnell in that regard and those in the know know just how good Alan is with the young footballer.

Montgomery is hard to replace...but there are still a number of players who make up our defense who've gone backwards, and both he, Lappin (who looks to be Collingwood bound) and Harvey needed to build their craft at other clubs. That's just a part of being an assistant and if you're in for the long haul, then a change of clubs is what you must do.

...and 6PR should probably focus on the fact that only 4 years after collecting a Premiership, the Eagles just collected a wooden spoon. But don't let the truth get in the way of a good story...there's a better story a lot of you are ignoring and that's that the likes of Kreuzer, Lucas, Simpson, Murphy, Gibbs, McLean, Yarran, Garlett, Henderson, Armfield, Russell, Waite and others absolutely love being at Carlton.

It may be a performance based clause (hint)... meaning if the team is struggling the board can pounce! Watch this space! Hint it has something to do with Roos!

So your friend's board member has already written off our first half of next season So why even bother to allow him to coach for the first half of the year wtih that much confidence he will be sacked mid year.

Maybe is should have include Alan Richardson rather Roos!!! Its starting... Alan is a ready made coach to go! Watch this space!!

Dr Sherrin, I am glad that you do continue to bother as I value your judgments and insights into the team. If you looked up my previous posts you would see that I don't (read never) sensationalize or try to start rumours. Fact is that my comments come from an inside source that for obvious reasons shall remain nameless. Netherless they are what was said.

The view is that Riley is very much in Ratten's camp, and probably that is because he got this gig because of Ratts. The fact is that he doesn't differentiate enough from the head coach, and also has the same communication issues that leads to discontentment being felt by the players that he deals with. Ratts keeps him close as he is fast running out of allies, but this self preserving, short-sighted approach is not doing the players and club any good.

Skinny was always very quiet and not seen as much as a loss, so good luck to him in all his future endeavours. Regardless though Montgomery was one that had an impact and all are sad to see him go.

On a final note of the list of players that you cited should be our good news story, there is at least one that I know wanted out in a big way. It was only the influence of a more senior player that retained him in the fold and if he had walked as was his desire it would have been a massive issue for club and coach.

How many of those up for trading either were mates of Fev and didn't like him going, or have attertude problem?

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Bawditawaba

I know who you mean, however I was lead to believe this was a contract issue after said player accepted a pretty low-ball 3 year deal back in 2006. He certainly could have commanded a lot more at another club, but this issue was rectified without media getting wind of any discontent. Also worth noting that players names are brought up at the trade table amongst the negotiation stakes and players and player managers ought not to take it to heart.

If it's re 2006 - Simpson Russell or Waite?

Would think Russell after 2 seasons would have been happy with his contract after asking to be traded to SA in 06. Besides he's now a senior respected star.

Simpson I could see being taken for granted, but would be surprised.

Waite didn't look happy this year. Yes a gun whose name is Carlton would have been a massive issue if he left....

He doesn't look happy to me either. He's never been happy about being thrown backto fill holes. Holes that are usually dug at the selection table.

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end of message

Yes, we both know that one.......but I am referring to another.

Either way Ratts has a lot of ground to make up, and for his and the club's sake I hope he makes this up FAST!!

Caught a bit of 6PR tonight so just posting what I heard. Don't shoot the messenger

Tony Sheahan was on again and mentioned that Sticks has been locked behind closed doors in meetings the past 48 hours and "the club is in crisis".

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We are on our way back...

This is what happens when a lack of due dilligence is exercised by those running the club........It comes back to bite you on the arse !!

It looks like Swan & Icke have taken charge of appointing the assistant coaches so that they can address the inadequacies of the Senior coach.

I think the appoitnment of Richardson is good however if the Senior coach does not endorse the appointment you still have issues.

When you hear that players are confused by mixed messages and tactics from one week to another then there are real issues.

I love Ratts as a player and legend of the club and always will but he is tactically inept and will not take this club any further.

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Life is made up of 3 things: Pre-Season, Post Season & Footy Season.

Melvey,

Oh oh here he comes
Watch out cans he'll eat you up
Oh oh here he comes
He's a Can Eater!

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre