Key to getting top 4 in such an even season is to get a real decent run of wins.

Now, if it were just that easy.

Can't agree the with the latter. Wish it was that easy. Looks ok against Melbourne, probably look like crap against West Coast. Certainly Kreuzer, or Hampson for that fact, are no KP players per se. More to it than being tall and athletic enough otherwise any top ruckman could do it. Ok rucking and resting forward, as Hampson does well, creating mismatches but as actual permanent KP forwards will get killed by genuine KP defenders and run off easily, as Ratten alluded to as a problem at 3/4 time on Sunday. We don't want to be trying to teach blokes that now, that's takes alot of time and probably won't work anyway, we want those who can play the position. We'll get more out of Kreuzer as a ruck rover at stoppages and crashing packs at contests and floating forward in that role creating a mismatch.

yeah. because it starts being about other teams falling over as well.
It's hard to see W.coast, Adelaide, with their dream run, Collingwood, who got over their slump,and unfortunately Bombers, coughing up games like we have.
Still, it could happen, in conjunction with us consistently winning. Always hopeful.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

We have the opportunity to get one game closer or pass some the teams above us.
We still play Collingwood, Essendon*, WCE and whilst we don't get a chance at Crows again, Adelaide still have the abovementioned to face too.

Plus we can get further clear of the Hawks, Tigers, Cats, Saints and Sydney who want our spot!

It is a very close season, like nothing we've ever seen.
Plenty of time for us to get into the top 4.

Upsets will happen again for Pies, and Crows, us, and Bumbers should run out of steam and hopefully luck.
There will be upsets. Count on them. Even for the Wegirls.

We have had a lot of bad luck starting in the preseason.
Despite the high alt training at Qatar, injury does hinder plans..
That's not the way to start a season. But that's nother thread.

Our players must fight back to peak condition at the right time of the year.
We have the fitness base.
I believe we can regain our status as the best hard ball and clearance team in the comp.
When we do that again, and we show patience in the arm wrestle and game opens a little...,
... then we can use the outside after burners to get the quick goals..

We can do it. We have to be disciplined and patient. Step up on field leaders.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Ta BB.
I feel better now.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

MOnday nights shows

AFL 360
[youtube]5HKHT-cHxRQ[/youtube]


On the Couch
[youtube]T5gkIo4p5HA[/youtube]

Footy Classified
[youtube]xd06ohk--Ys[/youtube]

Not much to write home about really.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Navyblue95 -
my youtube channel tracking carlton news on television and paytv

We'll continue to get smashed if we go in like that. Until we actually develop someone to play the 7th defenders role properly, we're at a disadvantage straight away. Gibbs is a good distributor from defence but you want your loose to intercept mark and Gibbs doesnt do it enough. He can out body a player one on one but he rarely impacts as the 3rd man in.
Meanwhile, the opposition 7th defender impacts twice as much.
The game is reverting to man on man when the ball is in a contested phase. That should be our focus at the moment until we regain some form and confidence.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I agree in a way. I want Gibbs to play on man in the backline like Laidler would. Playing him as a plus 1 does have its advantages but i think it bores him a bit and like you said he doesnt go third man up too often (although we havent really needed him to if you look at the stats for marks against in defensive 50).
I am looking forward to seeing Yaz and Gibbs both playing out of the back half together like the first 3 rounds. Gibbs was very good in those games and Yaz was not too bad either.

So big Kev you would play a collection of average list cloggers instead of Lucas who has upside and might develop into Simpson type? Interesting how collingwood played two rookies on the weekend

Don't thnk Lucas is the hard ball get type of player unfortunately.

According to the Hun today Yarran is hopeful to play, but Waite and Hendo are no chance.

..doesn't look like any of our more certain starters will be back for this game.. ..yaz is a ?, waites back isn't responding to treatment and hendo's corte shot to the hip hasnt taken as well as hoped.. ..collins has escaped big damage to the knee but bruising should still see him out for a few weeks..

..if we continue with 3 rucks, hard to see thorny in cos thats yet another 'tall', or another such as watto for example.. ..personally i like 2 talls at either end, any more than that can 'unbalance' our height/run ratio.. ..not sure how army is, was it really a pre-planned substitution, or was he a little sore..

..so, considering this, we will possibly go in pretty much like last week, lucas starting on the ground this time i reckon cos you'd not wanna use he as sub back to back i would assume..

..port are seriously poor in their ruck division, and their mids are more cold than hot [far worse than us].. ..they will crack in, until you crack in harder for longer and then they'll crumble..

..this will be far more about team cohesion and effort, vs personnel..

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

The Melbourne win wasn't great, that's fine. But some things went right that day. A smashing in the clearances, and a far better contested effort.

What was terrible was the disposal at times and the forward line is a broken mess. Really that's what kept the game tight, that we just have a forward structure that does not seem to be functioning.

So you have to take the 4 points, and use the positives to build on for the next week. The message to the group would be that the contested effort and the improvement in stoppage work is good. That must remain. The next step is to keep it in the forward 50 when it isn't being marked.

Our biggest problem defensively appears to be scores against from rebounds. Pressing up and the opposition going long over the top to two or three running players. A lot of teams have opened us up that way in the last 6 weeks.

It's a worry that Henderson is still sidelined... is the suggestion of some possible groin related injury true?

Having a ruckman who taps the ball to advantage is a massive plus from the Melbourne game. I think people underestimate how important Warnock is to our side - he is head and shoulders (for want of a better phrase) our number 1 ruck and the reason we did so well in the clearances.

I know that Melbourne were poor, but the fact we kicked about 1.9 during a phase through the second and third quarters kept the score respectable for most of the game.

Match Committee should be short job this week

Is Collins ok - Nope
Yarran- Needs another week

Ok who is then Kerr or Russell

Every other player is injured

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

Not according to the presser today!

Truth or smoke and mirrors?

Well yes and no. Is there still a Thornton v Bower contemplation for the MC?

Is Watson ever going to get a taste again any time soon? Would seem more plausible against a Port rather than a Geel, WC, Hawthorn or Coll...

Are we clear on Duigan's injury status?

Maybe a long shot, but Buckley as the sub? Bootsma was thrown to the wolves in a sense with an early debut, is it entirely unrealistic that the club might follow the same path re Dylan?

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

based on rattens press conference it will be in yarran and out probably lucas?

Errr ... no, not really. I just don't think that you could typify Carlton as a club that favours grunt players over skill and speed.

As for Lucas, I was big fan up until he did his hamstring. He's definitely worth persisting with, but based on his performance at AFL and VFL level this year I think he's getting about the right amount of game time, (except maybe been a sub too often).

So MJ ... we've got a collection of list cloggers do we? Go on .. name names!