So far we've had two regulation victories against bottom sides, we've got through with confidence and no injuries to note, and have built sufficient depth with a number of senior players yet to play.

The next 7 games will determine Ratts coaching career @ Carlton:

Collingwood
Essendon*
Adelaide
Sydney
St Kilda
Geelong
Melbourne

Each of these clubs are legitimate contenders for the top 8, we have a poor record against most of these clubs over the past few years, but it's time to deliver.

We have a slogan 'No Passengers' to me it means 100%, 100% of the time. It's the area we've fallen down in badly, the intensity at the contest and ability to grind out a result against the flow, the Bombers when they've tried have found us wanting, the Swans just consistently choke us, the Saints till last year choked us, Adelaide and Collingwood out run us, I've had enough and I hope the players have.

It's time to deliver and IMO anything less than 5 wins is a failure. We can head into the easier part of the draw @ 7-2, that's a huge platform to launch to top 4, but also some breathing space with a tough run home also.

I'm happy up until today, but the business starts now. Cmon Blues bring back the Carlton to Carlton!

Need to hold the intensity high for the next 3 games. We are still an unsettled side. Hendo not hitting the track and having to play with Waite forward with Thornton and Walker helping out. I'll be happy with 3 very competitive performances, while we settle our forward structure and our back 50m. Won't be convinced we are genuine against the top 4 sides, till we see Henderson, Jamo, Bower and Kreuzer available to help Waite and Walker along with our defencive 50m. While Laidler and Watson can play in defence, we may need to see Russell, Armfield, Thornton and Jamo in the back 50m with Yarran.

Don't get me wrong T-Bird moving forward was great against the Suns, but might be stretching it against the Pies. Dawes, Cloke, Macaffer and others will trouble our defencive 50m. We really need to have T-Bird and Waite back there to keep them in check. Unfortunately that leaves us short in the forward 50m. Walker is O.K. forward, but Hammer needs to lift and do something if he isn't injured. I hope the kids improve and hold their own. They will need to if we are to have an edge in the next 3 to 5 games.

Betts, Garlett and Yarran need to run riot. They need to back their abilities and take chances. The only way to keep the opposition coaches guessing is with score board pressure. Its a tough 5 weeks and I am more than happy with our first 2 games. Next 3 to 5 will probably do my head in though. Hope its all ultra competitive and full steam ahead. Go guys, give it your best shot.

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Bring the season on already. The wait is killing me.

Expecting losses to Collingwood, Sydney (in Sydney at the SCG) and maybe Geelong as they will be back to full strength by then (assuming no other injuries or major suspensions) and have still looked good even on very early form

All other game we should win to be honest and I will be sorely disappointed if we don't. We are more talented than Essendon* & Adelaide, miles ahead of Melbourne and will be able to account for the Saints easily again I reckon.

Happy with the start of our season

we defeated Richmond who were touted as improvers

we demolished the Suns who while not expected to beat us, were felt to be able to give us a run for our money.

Of course we have been given Collingwood off a short break

In my view the playing group and the MC have done little wrong so far, handling both teams with aplomb. I have no doubt they are aware of the challange that awaits friday night, but for the third week in a row we are centre stage of the round, right were we belong, I have no doubt the group are looking forward to testing themselves against the filth.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Should be able to win 6 of them. I think they're irrelevant to Ratten's coaching career though. September is what matters in regards to that.

But do you think we'll be in trouble in our defensive 50m? You haven't mentioned that yet.....

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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/

We hit the 'easier' part of the draw 7-4 last year.

There's no easy part of the draw anymore. Take out the Suns and any team can beat us on their day. We need to keep that in mind and if we do, we'll win plenty more than we lose. Complacency cost us a heap last year.

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Congratulations CK95