Could not agree more! We showed that some of our "depth" mid field players are just not up to it when Judd doesn't play, Murphy, Simpson et al are well covered. Yes Kade's last quarter was superb but he battled before that.

Stand out for me was Jamo. His reading of the play is sublime and if regularly fit would push Scarlett for the best full back playing.

I am not a Bower fan but he was superb today. My thoughts on the Ratten press conference are that he was referring, in order, to Russell, Ellard and Joseph though selection will probably prove me wrong!

Bootsma possessions received the biggest cheers for the day which sums up the mood of the 28k crowd that bothered to show up.

Smashed in the stoppages for the 3rd week in a row, this time by kids that still have the taste of milk in their throats.

Really disappointed in our spread and poor skills today, our mentality in general. Some can hold their heads up but most need a flogging on the training track this week. Happy to see Ratts, unhappy... Ellard & Joseph were extremely poor and need to work their arses off just to get another look.

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

We clearly weren't totally switched on, or at full strength, but I was impressed with GWS and their intensity around the ball. They got numbers around the stoppages, seemed to go in much harder than our blokes and once they got the ball, ran well to support each other. Their execution let them down, but they were certainly very hard at it.

Having said that, it would be difficult not to mentally relax knowing that a win is assured. Those saying that we would have lost had we brought the same intensity to a game against Hawthorn/Geelong/Collingwood - we would not bring that same intensity as we would know that we need to work harder to beat those sides. So I'm not overly concerned in that regard.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

Good summation.

GWS did have terrific intensity, but the reason they stayed in touch was because of our dreadful goal kicking, which was indicative of our team's lack of focus. If we'd kicked straight earlier, the final margin would've been far closer to my expectations of 100+.

Whilst I'm not happy with the relatively lackadaisical effort, I don't see it as relevant either in the context of our season.

The same effort on Monday week would be of far more concern.

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

Almost not worth the petrol getting there to be honest. Attitude and effort was well below standard until half way through third quarter. Agree 4 points is just that and it's probably a game that we will forget about in 2 weeks time (if not already), but the clearances issue still worries me and the forward entry strategy was sloppy... We lack the killer instinct like teams that love to crush the opposition....
Hopefully it was just a day where we expected it would just happen....as it did in the end but clearance work and structure up forward was off again for me.

Ever since the Collingwood game where we smashed them in the middle we've struggled to win the clearances.

Coincides with the loss of Carrots.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

He hasn't and probably wont be replaced. We dont have any depth for tough inside mids

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C'mon Blueboys!

Went along today with my father.
We almost solely watched Tom scully all day. Did not get 1 hard ball, ran 1direction, played completely unaccountable footy.
All he did was chase the easy ball.
Was always hanging 5-10m off the back of a bounce or throw in.
WOW!

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i AM CARLTON

This sums it up well for me. Sure, I wanted us to play better, a lot better - I was pretty disappointed with the effort. Of course always after a 'disappointing win' like this there are people who say, "if we played like we did today the good teams would smash us!!!". Well duh, of course they would, but we just wouldn't play like that against the better teams so it's a really silly comparison. I mean, imagine if we approached today's game like we did the Collingwood game and had that level of sustained intensity. We probably would win by 250 points. But these are human beings we're talking about, switching on like that to such a high intensity is difficult against a team like GWS.

And they paid a fortune for him.

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

Sure, today we did, but is that really true in general? Didn't seem true against Brisbane or Collingwood. Or a lot of last year - we have never had problems notching up big margins in recent times.

Haven't seen the last qtr yet. I guess we should be happy with an 11 goal win and (I believe) no injuries.

I defer to others in terms of training loads. However how any one could observe that first half, no matter how many mitigating circumstances, and even be remotely comfortable with it is a better person than me!

From my pov, today was an opportunity for some to build some form and for those on the 'fringe' to perhaps cement a spot. Not convinced any one did that today save for perhaps Bower and Ellard.

Still very concerned about our clearance/stoppage work. Will be watching this very closely over the next few weeks. Has been pretty ordinary IMHO since Carrots went down. I've been a critic of his disposal at times (quite correctly I might add ) however his overall contribution to the side may be leaving a much bigger hole than some might think.

Hope we are full of run come Monday week and smash the Saints.

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We are on our way back...

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#DonTheStash

I reckon a lot of you posters are just spoilt for football.
This was the first game I've been able to get to this year and my boys and I loved it!!
My observations, for what they're worth, are:

We stayed in second gear for most of day, but always knew we had them covered. We put the foot down
in the last quarter just to prove we could. I cannot understand what all the complaining's about. IMO
this is the perfect way to play these "nothing" games.

Highlights
#1 Some GWS fool made the mistake of getting between the tractor and the ball. Big f-ing mistake son!
Kreuzers courage and direct-line intent is to be applauded - loudly. (Marked well today too).

#2 For all the talk about Simpson being "under-rated", I'd give that title to Scotland. I reckon his delivery consistently
matches Murphy and is better than Judds. On top of that I keep seeing him put himself in "courage testing" situations,
and I'm yet to see him fail that test.

#3 Every time Hendo was in a one-on-one I felt confident. He's a gun now.

#4 If we're going for two key backmen and a swing man, I reckon Thorton's got the latter job ahead of Bower.

#5 Bootsma ... first I've seen of this kid and I liked what I saw. He came on at an easy time, but he looked very
comfortable and not all overawed. Looks to have a thumping kick on him. He played on our wing and we were having
great fun cheering every touch. I'd doubt he'll get another game for awhile, (barring injuries), but he's had a taste now. Good
selection Blues.

#6 The bottom few players still make too many errors, (decisions, accuracy ...). I'm thinking Joseph, Russel, Lucas ...
perhaps Ellard. They weren't terrible but I do believe we still need further improvement.


Now if only the AFL would move that @$#%@#$% Monday night game to a Sunday we'd be able to go to that one too.

Kills me to say it because he's one of my favourites, and it won't happen anyway but maybe Jeffy G should be dropped to the VFL for a week.

He is playing lazy football right now and taking shortcuts. Would rather kick the ball off the ground than bend over and pick it up and what has happened to the defensive pressure he was so good at putting on last year...2 tackles today. Not good enough.

His goal output shouldnt be the reason he plays or not as this is not indicative of effort and want, its the chasing, tackling, smothering that is. Can't remember a 4 quarter game he has played this year.

Has been an automatic starter for too long, needs to start earning games on merit again. Bit of a frontrunner for mine.

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Carlton. Yes, Carlton are into the grand final!!!
- Drew Morphett, after 1999 prelim final

And his dear dad.

No mention of heavy training schedule?

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Just on that - that was the first time I can recall being at the footy & the crowd being so quiet I could easily hear the players calls for most of the match.

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#DonTheStash

The guys and I in the stand kept calling him Bootsy on account for his surname.... and his semi-afro.

You never hear that mentioned by coaches. Blokes like Simpson, Scotland, Gibbs, Garlett, Betts and Murphy looked like they were running on the spot at times. We had no spread at all or defensive run. Maybe the guys that came in were fresher and should have played better and that is why Ratts is mad at them.

It would be unprofessional if we didnt use the last couple of weeks to load them guys up. They will benefit from it. We were always going to be able to grind out a win. From what i have found in my studies of various teams fitness peaks and troughs and how it relates to their fixture, those teams ramping up the training are really inconsistant of 4 quarters over a 3 wk period. Some run out games better, some start well then fade. Think about the end of our season last year. THe Hawks game and saints game spring to mind. Then we come out and run all over Essendon* who didnt have a chance to load up for the finals.
I only use Carlton as an example because that it easier but i monitor a lot of teams.

This is only a theory and something i am not 100% sold on . Sometimes the opposite to what i think is going to happen happens so maybe i am dreaming and as mad Blueman when it comes to peak oil.

Today went as i thought it would. We won by a bit more than i expected but they had 2 down.

Time will tell.