Agree with this Agro. A couple of times over the last few years I have noticed teams that were well drilled (Collingwood and Sydney come to mind) have young forwards come in when players were injured and slot straight into their 'system'. They knew where to lead to, what their role was. I just haven't seen that with us, not even from our senior players. I fear that until we can develop that, we'll remain off the pace.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Agree with this Agro. A couple of times over the last few years I have noticed teams that were well drilled (Collingwood and Sydney come to mind) have young forwards come in when players were injured and slot straight into their 'system'. They knew where to lead to, what their role was. I just haven't seen that with us, not even from our senior players. I fear that until we can develop that, we'll remain off the pace.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

That's bull. Dawes was hot and cold in a 2009 match against Carlton. Look at how Dawes played in his fourth season. It took Anthony three seasons to break into their side and kick 50 goals. Only for Dawes to go past Anthony after he was worked out. This suggests that a good structure can make a spud or average player look like a very good player.

Rowe has been at Carlton for all of five minutes.

Good to see the supporters who heckled Henderson at a Hawthorn game two years ago are up and about again.

The flogs shut up after he kicked three goals in the second half.

Must admit I assumed alot re: injuries.

Went to the game and while it is always better to win, I walked away reasonably satisfied, given how far short of full-strength we were as compared to them. We had about half of our side out, them 2-3 players and we got pipped with less than a minute to go. I would be more worried if I were a Bulldogs supporter than a Carlton one.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

I wouldn't be worried if I was a Carlton supporter or a dogs supporter because it's nab cup and it's meaningless. All that can be gathered from these games IMO is the improvement in young and fringe players. We won this thing twice a couple of years back and we all know how that turned out.

That said, my take from the game:
-Hampson, the most exciting thing to come of the preseason so far. Still very raw but I really think he can offer something as a key forward this year. A few good games and a bit of confidence will help a lot, as will having Waite and walker back to take some of the heat. But the glimpses of what he can do are there, as they were in round 1 last year. If he can get it together would be a nightmare match up for opposition coaches with his size and speed.

Curnow, very positive, looks to be fit again and if he can recapture his form from early last season we will be a much better side. Fit and firing, I have him above both Brock and ellard.

Hendo, was very good after a slow start and looks to be picking up where he left off last season. Hendo and jamo are easily good enough KPPs to build a premiership defence around, keeping them both on the park is the challenge

Yarran, just wow. My favourite player in the league to watch. This boy is very, very special and could be absolutely anything.

Scotland and Simmo will give us the same this year as they always do. All heart and extremely underrated outside the club.

Eddie set for another big year and 40+ goals

I liked a lot of what I saw from Levi. Still a way off but he has something. I'd like to see the club give him as long as possible.

Laidler is really important let's hope it's not too bad. Just so reliable.

Lucas was barely sighted which was a surprise. Expecting a massive year from him.

A lot of the senior players still seemed to be in second gear for much of the game and I don't really have a problem with that, provided they come out fired up round 1.

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And if you call getting three Brownlow votes with a broken rib in your 375th (and last) AFL game at age 38 soft, then Bradley was soft.

And if you call sitting at a keyboard taking swipes at tough club legends soft, then...........

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

No news on Laidler? (bl@$dy etihad)

The Club's official Twitter and Facebook pages have stated "up to 6 weeks".

Thanks snickers. Good luck in your recovery laids. Ok bower, here's your chance....

So up to 12 weeks then.

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#DonTheStash

Seriously? Yes, ok, I admit it, I am a gutless keyboard warrior.

Anyway... With that sorted...

The point I was trying to make was that Bradley was never an in & under player or one to make suicide ruins into packs but was still one of the best you'll ever see. My point was that it takes all types to make a successful side. Making suicide runs into packs Ken Hunter style will never be Yarran's gig but he, like Bradley, has something special that very few players will ever have.

Suprised no one has mentioned the chasing and tackling applied by Garlett Betts and Yarren

Betts appears quicker to me and for such a little bloke Garlett lays a lot of tackles and is always chasing

some of Yarrens efforts were a sight for sore eyes

hope they keep it up

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

THANK YOU JAKE! I was reading through the forum getting more and more annoyed at the generally negative tone and the stupidity of much of it. I wish I had the energy to respond to much of the negative stuff but life's too short to get drawn into it. I agree wholeheartedly with every one of your points above. Thanks for bringing a little perspective.