Staggered to read on here today that Waite was played after not training all week with groin soreness, and Walker played after a bout of food poisoning. Richmond-esque after they played Foley against us after he had gastro all week. Also some mail that many players are sore and in desperate need of a rest, with the bye still weeks away.

Was interested to hear Monga (yes him) say the other night that Malthouse has a theory whereby he hates leaving an AFL player in the VFL for more than 4 weeks, as it makes it even more difficult for them to acclimatise to the pressure and intensity of AFL.

It’s no coincidence that the two top teams have the most depth, and can exploit that at will. Our circumstances probably not helped by having a coach who is coaching this year to keep his job, so needs wins no matter how he can get them. Must be awfully tempting to play a Waite or Walker, even when they’re not right.

Makes you wonder why one or two of our players didn’t get a rest against Richmond. If ever there was a game where we could rest some decent players and grab some blokes out of the VFL and give them a crack, that was the one, and perhaps should have been recognised as such.

Not sure if this is a depth issue or a player management issue, or a combination of both. But right now, I reckon it’s clearly the difference between the top two, and the rest. We may have used a lot of players, but it’s been revolving doors for a few of them – the likes of Armfield, Tuohy, etc.

The other way to look at it though is that a game like Richmond (or any other cellar dweller) is an ideal one to bring players back after injury though cos they can ease back into it. Laidler was fine. In hindsight you would have probably played Bower or Austin instead of White.
Players like Murph, Gibbs, Judd, Scotland definitely could have had a week off last week though.

The other interesting thing to note as well is that Collingwood and Geelong have their own VFL side running around. They are not affiliated with any other club unlike ourselves (Northern Bullants).

I remember someone on radio raised this point on the way home from the WCE game - even though Collingwood and Geelong are not near the top of the ladder in the VFL, I am sure they probably employ a similar gameplan to the AFL side and therefore any players that slot into the AFL side know exactly what their role should be.

Exactly.

To me this is one of the most burning issues at our club now that the facilities are up to date.

Has Swann or Sticks come out and made a statement about this any time recently?
I would love to know the clubs position on this.

I think a VFL team based at Princes Park would go a long way to rebuilding the clubs character, and setting us on the road to becoming a 'powerhouse' club like Geelong & Collingwood.

I wouldn't mind betting that the Dons & Hawks are looking at this closely.

Nonsense, it's the unwillingness to shift Thornton or Henderson that was terrible. No one was winning their match-ups in defence all game, so there was nothing to lose by doing it.

Nonsense, it's the unwillingness to shift Thornton or Henderson that was terrible. No one was winning their match-ups in defence all game, so there was nothing to lose by doing it.

Unfortunately, Darren Harris has fallen into the same trap as David Teague did - and that's believing that winning is of utmost importance at VFL level. I know some of you are Bullants members and admirably attend their games in the hope, like Carlton, that they will win week in, week out. But understand that while it's nice to implement a winning culture into any club environment, the Carlton Football Club remains compromised for as long as the affiliation with the Bullants remains.

It ain't about winning. It's about fast-tracking development and implementing structures that mirrors the senior team. It's not an easy task and a very fine line in implementing it across two organisations. I don't profess to be an expert in how to manage it - but the obvious is to break away from Preston and follow the Collingwood/Geelong model.

..100% agree with all of this.. ..seriously, who gives two shites about the bullants.. ..they can lose every game for all i care.. ..reserves is a bullshit comp. in regards to our AFL season, the only importance it has is develpoment of our players.. ..obviously instilling a winning culture is important as well but secondary to overall development.. ..need a stand alone ressies team out of PP asap..!!.. ..and have it coached by a pure development coach.. ..this vfl/development coach position has a serious conflict of interest..

Unfortunately, Darren Harris has fallen into the same trap as David Teague did - and that's believing that winning is of utmost importance at VFL level. I know some of you are Bullants members and admirably attend their games in the hope, like Carlton, that they will win week in, week out. But understand that while it's nice to implement a winning culture into any club environment, the Carlton Football Club remains compromised for as long as the affiliation with the Bullants remains.

It ain't about winning. It's about fast-tracking development and implementing structures that mirrors the senior team. It's not an easy task and a very fine line in implementing it across two organisations. I don't profess to be an expert in how to manage it - but the obvious is to break away from Preston and follow the Collingwood/Geelong model.

very good sherrin, no coincidence in the fact coll/geel are the only two and look at the results, been saying the same thing for years, the fact that half the blokes on the field in the bullants every week have no absolutely no affinity to CFC whatsoever is another negative. I'd even go as far as bringing back the under 19's aswell.

SIGN SAAD!

Who cares about them? Probably just a few Bullants staff, players, members, etc. That’s the trouble. You can’t blame them for caring, they aren’t Carlton people. That’s exactly why we need our own team.

The other interesting thing to note as well is that Collingwood and Geelong have their own VFL side running around. They are not affiliated with any other club unlike ourselves (Northern Bullants).

I remember someone on radio raised this point on the way home from the WCE game - even though Collingwood and Geelong are not near the top of the ladder in the VFL, I am sure they probably employ a similar gameplan to the AFL side and therefore any players that slot into the AFL side know exactly what their role should be.

Unfortunately, Darren Harris has fallen into the same trap as David Teague did - and that's believing that winning is of utmost importance at VFL level. I know some of you are Bullants members and admirably attend their games in the hope, like Carlton, that they will win week in, week out. But understand that while it's nice to implement a winning culture into any club environment, the Carlton Football Club remains compromised for as long as the affiliation with the Bullants remains.

It ain't about winning. It's about fast-tracking development and implementing structures that mirrors the senior team. It's not an easy task and a very fine line in implementing it across two organisations. I don't profess to be an expert in how to manage it - but the obvious is to break away from Preston and follow the Collingwood/Geelong model.