If we fail to make finals this year, I think it is pretty clear that would represent a failure.

I believe the following players cannot be blamed at all.

Chris Judd (speaks for himself)
Marc Murphy (Great season)
Bryce Gibbs (doing very well with an injured thumb, next year will be even better without the affliction)
Kreuzer (going to be an absolute star and impossible to match up on)
Fevola (here we go, but it's not Fev's fault we haven't got any other decent forward options, and he is 2 goals off leading the competition goal kicking so give him a break. You can't say a season must be judged a success only if he is 10 goals up on the player second to him in the goal kicking).

Now the problem here is as follows. Given the form of these five, who takes the blame? I think it has to be either the coaching department or the recruiting department.

Why the recruiting department mate? What mistakes have they made?

As for the coaching department, yeah well, Ratten himself has made a lot of mistakes this year, but how can you put the blame squarely upon his shoulders?

IMO most of the blame would have to be directed towards our senior players, Stevens, Bannister, Houlihan etc. who have all been terrible this year (IMO). Whenever you have your senior players letting the side down you are guaranteed to struggle, there's no way you can expect a bunch of kids to carry your side to September action.

But lets focus on next week ey mate? We're still in the 8 with a relatively good draw coming up, before we start talking about not making finals lets start talking about beating the Dockers next week.

Coaching department IMO...

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Slogan writing department

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Nothing to do with the recruiting department IMO.

We have assembled a great group of young players, it's up to the Coaching department to get the best out of them now.

Hard to say but it's interesting that a lot of our performing players came off the rookie list and not the mid-range picks:
Betts, Garlett (early days but early signs), Jamo Joseph, for example against
Hartlett, Anderson, Edwards

Yarran and Robbo will probably be good players, so will Grigg and I like Armfield, even though he has a bit to learn decision-wise. At least he attacks the game flat out.

I know it's a bit of a guessing game but it seems to me we have been a bit conservative with our picks. We are not a club much for picking up wildcards like Lovett, Didak, Davey and co, who, although they may pose a risk, also bring something different to the game.

The coaching panel can only coach the players they have but they also have the responsibility to develop a gameplan around those players and not try and do stuff that the players aren't up to. No point hving a run and carry handball game when there is a lack of pace and endurance in the team. That's where we are vulnerable.

The big issue for me is, where are the replacements for the senior players coming from? Our depth is lacking.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

That is the problem - we have limited depth and the players we hoped would come on haven't. Not sure there will be major changes this week as the possible inclusions didn't from all reports put their hand up last weekend.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

Crap/soft coaching department crap on field results

Whilst the era of Pratt certainly has brought a new era of professionalism to the club I feel there are still small elements of shabbiness and unprofessionalism lingering from the dark times that are still filtering through to some of the onfield performances.
Lack of professionialism in player preparation and output still occurs at times.

It's not unfair to have question marks over the current coaching department.
There has been no sign of a consistent functioning/productive game style from week to week yet and that's what we'll all be looking forward to see over the next 12 months.

The recruiting department has a very difficult assignment when considering the development infrastructure of the club has a massive say as to whether a young player might develop into a decent AFL player.
The last 2 years (Pratt era) has seen a massive boost to development which has seen us catch up to other clubs development infrastructure.
Considering the basket case a lot of kids came into I think they've done really well.
IMO, the only doubts during the Hughes reign are Hartlett Edwards Russell Benjamin and maybe Raso (who I think was cut too early).
Some fantastic rookie pickups with some excellent pickups with Bower Aussie Grigg. I think Hammer Browne and Armfield can continue to develop into very good AFL players.

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There's so much I could say...

Stephen Icke came from Freo > Successful club they are

Wayne Hughes also from Freo > Probably the most poor performing club when it comes to recruiting

Brett Ratten?

Mark Riley?

Craig Bradley on the selection committee > to many ties with the old boys and wouldn't have the faintest idea about modern day football

The only two creditable people we have at the blues are Greg Swann and Justin Cordy

Craig Bradley, '' Wouldn't have the faintest idea about modern day football'' ????


WTF?? I know it's early, but have you been drinking ??

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

We dont have a backup forward for Fevola.

The Recruiting department rated robinson in the top 10

Recruiting department by far.

Ok but he hasnt proven anything in modern day football has he?

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I think if the coach went then a new coach would probably clear the decks with the footy dept/recruiters etc.

My main concerns are with the coaching staff but I am becoming more concerned our recruiting has fallen behind other clubs ie Essendon*, Adelaide, and the list management is faltering.

We lack a game plan, have too much deadwood, still have done nothing to fix the Fev only forward line and have nothing in the twos coming through as well as lacking leg speed which is big negative in the modern game and we as having too many players whose skill level and decision making is erratic at best.

Its embarassing seeing Essendon* humble us every game after they started rebuilding later and with lesser picks etc and looking at what we have in the Bullants is scary.....

An article in todays Sun refers to the problems we have and the the pressure Ratten is starting to come under as well as senior players like Stevens, Houlihan, Scotland......the suggested replacements were Johnson and Russell......just rearranging deckchairs for more doomed passengers if thats the case....

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

We have will have Warnock, Walker, Yarran, Robinson and Garlett playing in the VFL in the next month.

Are Hurley, Zaharakis, Myers, Jetta and Houli more talented than these players?

You can't argue that Essendon* have recruited better than Carlton if Jetta, Myers, Hislop and Houli were playing twos behind NLM, Skipworth, Hocking and Slattery.

Hislop was cut.

Talk about an over-reaction...

Our cost has been that we had to trade Kennedy and picks for Judd and Warnock.

It will be interesting to see if Prismall is a better player than a hard head like Robinson in the future...

It's the coaching that has been sub-par.

Budsy, Rafalution and Rhsy26 are spot on unfortunately.

When did we get a chance to pick up Didak, Lovett and Davey (Alwyn?)?

You would have had to trade pick 6 and a player or a pick to sign Didak.

No thanks.

Essendon* tried to dump Lovett onto Geelong because he was trouble.

Knights has been praised for suspending McVeigh, but why was the Bomber out in the first place and celebrating after being rubbed out of a big game?

McVeigh has been injured this year, yet he's on the piss in the early hours of the morning.

Good leadership had him out drinking...

Yet their culture is better than our's.

We traded Kennedy for Fevola.

Essendon* don't have any experienced back up forwards for Lloyd and Lucas who have shown they can kick goals.

Essendon* are pissing in everyone's pocket.

Davey was from the SANFL and free to a good home.

Gumbleton and Neagle are their forwards to replace Lloyd and Lucas.....obviously Gumbleton has been similar to Warnock and Walker and cant get on the pick but is a designated CHF......Neagle has had a few games in between being injured and you would think would replace Lloyd as Neagle is a FF.

Pears will replace Fletcher at FB and Hurley will be their CHB........I see that as structure for the future at both ends of the ground......you can also add Ryder down forward or back when Hille returns....

I like Robbo because he has a go....jury out on Yarran who cant get a go which i cant understand....
Walker is a quality player and will make a big difference......Warnock..unknown quantity who might take 3-4 years to get to 100 games and be value if he can stay on the park.

Hocking is a neat player and good soldier ...no star but like Slattery will do a role and their skills are not shabby and they make reasonable decisions. Houli is another neat player who kicks the footy well, Myers is a good footballer and both he and Pears were good choices....Myers is a reasonable size, mobile and can find the footy and prove useful....I'd rather Pears and Myers than Hartlett and Edwards.......
Jetta is a dud....
Prismall...never been a real fan and was a risk given hsi injury but appears to add some depth and can use the footy all be it he is a soft player with no defensive skills.
Zaharakis...another neat player in the same mould as several others.....seems to find the footy, neat skills and can kick goals, wouldnt mind him on our list.....

I think you've overrated one or two bombers there elwood. Slattery's a spud and Houli's average as well.
Our insipidness has made them look better than they are, IMO.

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There's so much I could say...

The Bombers went downhill when they got rid of Bannister.

A: Russell

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No matter how long it takes Carlton to rebuild, they will still win a premiership before Essendon* and Collingwood.

?????

Give this kid some time.

At the end of the day the decision to recruit recycled players under Pagan is hurting us and our depth is not as strong as some of the other clubs that have jumped us.