This Monday becomes a day of new horizons. A day of new beginnings. No more broken promises and broken harts. No more losses for 2007. Sunday evening at about 8pm will be our New Years Eve. The dawning of a new year with new hope starts on Monday morning.

Brett Ratten at the moment, is like a jockey at Randwick. Darren Beadman got injured the race before and Ratten is the apprentice stable jockey.

He gets the late call up.

So there he is, sitting on the horse, 'Golden Tank' at the stalls waiting for the jump. He is on a favored chance and the bloody thing coughs! Aggghhhhh, Equine Flu! He dismounts, and the horse is backed out of the gates, scratched.

The next day, the blood tests are conclusive. The horse had a cold. Beads is now out of the Spring Carnival after a falling out with the stable.

So back in track work, nothing to major, the horse has had the week off and a little freshen up. The odds are getting a little juicy, but we know we have a great horse here. Time to have faith, look at the preparation as the sectionals have been superb. We have a horse set to fly. Time to let 'the owners' in on our thoroughbred and make a visit to Alan Eskander and load up a little.

We are on an absolute monty here...........

With a full pre season, a new environment, a united team on and off the field and fresh talent and ideas, season 2008 could be a fantastic year for the rebounding and rebirth of the Blues.

Hearing about tailored weights sessions, more one on one coaching and a coach who loves the place, the culture and the history of our mighty club, starts the realization process that we are not that far off it at all.

Ratten has already begun to make the tough calls, with Lappin's retirement plans brought forward. We know there will be more to come.

Next year, the arrogance will start to return. The long winded 'ARRRLLLL' will return to our famous chant.

I can hear it now, 'CAARRRLLLTOOOONNNN' clap, clap, clap, 'CARRRLLLTOOONNN' !!!!!!!

Nice read linchy, but I still think we need at least a couple of more pre seasons before the young bodies start to mature and become hardened to the rigors of AFL. Just look at the size of some of the bodies from other clubs in the competition. I wouldn't expect too much next year, although once the Landkreuzer tank is parked in the garage, I would hope to see an improvement next year with the team hopefully winning some of the closer games.

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You can just smell that fresh Carlton arrogance coming back into the air

too bad his horse has equine influenza.

Agree - whether we go ahead in leaps and bounds or not, enough is enough. No more excuses. A line in the sand.

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"I had to eat"

At least until rd12, when finals are out of the question

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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

Obviously you didnt hear about his hamstring?

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I thought he was talking about the Hitman for a second there....

Yes, we can't just expect to dee all the young guys to be brilliant in their first year.