We have gone from 8 to 5.

But as clear as day we are not in the top echelon, unable to beat any of the top 4 sides this year and being leapfrogged by last year's worst side.

Are we happy?

We are all Carlton fans and many of us probably grew up with the glory days and are accustomed to success, so for us it is probably hard to see us struggle against the top four sides.

But I suppose when you consider the backline has just about been totally re-modelled, with most players down there having bugger all experience, and when you consider our rucks are developing, and Kruezer is coming back from a knee, to finish fifth is probably a decent effort.

But there's no doubt that for us to go the extra step in 2012 and beyond, we have to find another quality tall forward. History shows small fry forwardlines won't cut it in the heat of finals. A big forward is needed, not necessarily to kick bags every week but to be a target and provide a contest. We have Waite but he is not getting any younger and is injury prone, and Warnock and Kruezer are really struggling as forwards, unable to take marks and impact on the scoreboard. Do we see this as a major list issue? Yes we have Mitchell but he is a first year player so is years off being what we need, by that time Judd will be over 30. Personally I think Hampson is the great white hope. I know people will say Kruezer will be better next year, but even with some improvement he is a looooong way off being a quality forward, and I am not sure he ever will be - see him in the ruck he turned the game on Friday night in the third quarter, he is a ruck and a ruck alone.

That's my view - happy the backline has been re-modelled and is coming along nicely with Hendo partnering with Jamo, and Duigan/Laidler great pick ups, but I am worried about the forwardline. Until we find a gun forward, we will struggle against the best.

What a shame Fevola was such a dill.

What does everyone else think? Are you happy? What do you think is our biggest challenge to becoming a real contender?

2011 is not finished yet, so the questioned should be asked after the season.

Influential people might be just a bit unhappy with fifth.

But we will have to wait and see whether an itch turns into a scratch

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My Blue Heaven

Happy and the season is not over

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Chris Judd: 'I've since watched some Steven Seagal movies and realise pressure points are no laughing matter.'

Settled KPP structure, a bit more mongrel in general into the side (we seem to be more introverted as a group, which has been noted previously).

Would be nice in 2012 if Lucas and Watson can become regulars in the starting 22 as well.

very happy, especially when we win our 17th BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a shame to have the top four tease us all season to then finish the H/A season in 5th place. At the start of the year, I never thought we would even be worrying about the top four at this time of the year. I had us finishing around the 5th/6th bracket, and we have done well this season given the injuries we've had. We can see improvement in the team, Murphy has people talking about him being a potential for the brownlow, and Juddy has gone up yet another level (which most of us didn't think was even possible). We've had some impressive wins so far, but the team have also put in some stinkers.

Happy so far but the finals will shape my view of the year that was.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

I hope your wrong with your predictions Blueman but I have a sinking feeling that you might have this one right and Ratten is going to get crucified come end of finals time. Again I hope I'm wrong.

8 2 & 1 was a good result for the first half of the season
Currently sitting 6 & 4
7 & 4 would be ok 6&5 shows we have faded badly

Normally if you had 3 players in the top 10 goal kickers you would be happy
Normally if you had the 2 out right favourites for the brownlow you would be happy

Despite that there is something missing and unless we kick on to make the prelim I will feel like they have under acheived

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

3 No.1 picks, Judd, & finals experience. Anything less than a creditable performance in a prelim I will consider a let down

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#DonTheStash

Happy with:
Duigan & Laidler
Yazz!
Judd and Murph going up even another notch
Robbo the rabid
Scotland

Disappointed with:
Russell - thought this would be a big year for him
Lucas - I thought he'd be quickly in our best, but taking a while
Austin - enough has been said already.
Setanta - don't know what to think. May get traded.
Waite - ALWAYS tantalizing us

We should be aiming for 2xfinals wins
One win is par & expected

Dave Hughes?
Andrew Maher?
Megan Gale?

WHO?

Obviously it's Hot_ _ _

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Spot on.

I'll tell you what I'm not happy with. [REDACTED] supporters ringing up radio programs whinging and whining about Ratten and how he was outcoached without a logical viewpoint. When they're asked how he was outcoached, there's lots of "umms" and "aaahs" but little substance.
Then we have radio commentators (David Schwarz) stating that Carlton shouldn't let Hawthorn have players loose in defence. Can someone enlighten me with a credible method of stopping Hawthorn having loose players behind the ball without destroying our structure in the process?

So to all those Bozos calling the media with pointless sooking, stop and think for a change. Not only are you embarrassing yourself, you're tarring us all by association.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I have often wondered about that loose man (when I was young it was loose women)

I wonder if a tactic might be - they have 1 loose in defence

gives us 1 loose in defence

move loose in defence to extra onballer (Say Yazz or Davies - must be someone with speed and ideally someone who can hurt them with ball in hand)

spread harder with that extra man available.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Very happy with 2011.

Much better than five years ago.

We do do that Dannyboy only we dont do the bit you put in brackets. Ratts loves use keeping it tight around the stoppages and believes if we win them or put heat on the ball if they win it we are well placed to win the game. He loves the extra number at the stoppage and only occasionally matches their spare backman with one in our backline.

I am happy with 2011. I reckon we will finish in the top 4 after finals. No blow outs either with us fighting out all games.

+1
so many armchair coaches out there who apparently know more about the game than our coaches and match commitee. Yes, we all have an opinion. some are well informed, others are based on nothing more than a dislike of certain indivuduals.

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i don't wanna spend my life explaining myself. Either you get it, or you don't- Frank Zappa

Satisfied with 2011 almost!! I figured we woukld make top 6 and hoped for a home final - we have achieved that.

I would like 1 final win and anything more a bonus. The platform for 2012 and a serious crack at the flag has been laid. Top 4+ in 2012!!

Tend to agree with your summation SB
Finishing top 4 would have been great but we have 5th sewn up with a bye and an experimental game (if Ratts wants to use it that way) to come. The MC could bring in 3 or 4 players to give them a bit of match practise against the Saints. Against that there's the argument about keeping things stable. Hopefully we get past finals week 1 and wouldn't it be great if we played in Melbourne the following week as well !!! Funny game football.

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"IF YOU FAIL TO PREPARE, YOU'RE PREPARED TO FAIL" - Mark Spitz