lets get the discussion started.

for me its simple.

We need to break even or slightly lose to their midfield and we will win.

Its why Stevens playing is so important.

Im quitely confident as well - we match up well against the Weagles - when we played them at OO we shut down their midfield and beat them easy.

We do the same again and we will win.

Carlton by 4 goals

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

I think we will win too, Our forwards are too good for their defence, besides Sampi they have no one that can kick a big bag (possibly Lynch, but dont count on him to win the game).
Oviously the have a great midfield, but we have a good midfield too. If we shut them down in the midfield like we did last year when we smashed them at Optus, we will have no problem scoring.
Blues by 5+ Goals. Lappin to take the Michael Tuck Medal for BOG.

Rather than compare to Carlton v WCE at OO, you should compare to Carlton v WCE at Subi last year, where they smashed us in the midfield. Defence was actually pretty solid, Livo gave up 2 goals to McDougall, and Thorny did well as always, but midfield clearances killed us. They would multi-handball out of packs in set plays and clear to the front of the packs, where we were found wanting. IT was one of those games where we should have lost by 100+.

This time, its on our turf and we have a bit more confidence, skill and teamplay. Sporn and Bannister become very key players in the midfield rotation, and Carrazzo will have to keep his man out too (if not thrown back on Sampi). Campo will have to dominate although Stenglein has a good record on him. They have the midfield to shut us down, requiring a significant effort on us. This goes without saying.

Slim Whits has a good record against the Eagles and wil have to float to stop their forward advances. French becomes a key player, even Setanta, to give us first use of the ball. I fear if we get second use we may not compete despite our improved performances. And Fevola will have to dominate as well, but, we can only hope he does.

This is a tough game, a real tough one, and a great test of where we are at. If we can beat the EAgles we should expect a Top 6 finish in the season, really, as the Eagles midfield is that good. Injuries are low over there so this is a huge test.

Carlton by 1 point with a Fevola 9 pointer from 70 out after the siren.

That's better Scotty , mentioned on another forum the very thing, contain their midfield and win enough contested ball and we will win. French and comp. have a big night ahead of them though.

I've got a very good feel about this game.

It comes down to the amount of pressure we put on them. That pressure has been one of the things that has really impressed me so far, and it starts from our forward line. Fev and Big Red are leading the way with their chasing - just great to see. It's a real Paganism!!!

A lot has been written about how good West Coast's young list is and how they are likely to threaten the big 4 this year. Well, I agree. But I also think we are getting under the radar of a lot of scribes and opposition.

Blues by 17 pts in a high standard game

Huge test. I rate Weaqles as a top four chance. It will be interesting. If we can get bnear 50/50 on clearances we'll win because our forward thrusts will be more damaging than theirs.

I think this will be close and if Fev and Lance can have huge games and our onballers get enough of the ball we'll win because we have the ability to kick goals.

But its a big IF!!!!! Blues by 11 points!

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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!

Carlton, bluebbagers, navies lend me your ears.... Sometimes I can hear my words and I think, shit that's gunna hurt!

Teague was one of them (wont get a game in two years) and so was Walker - but so long as they hurt it means we're doing well so I don't mind.

Maybe its a superstition thing. Make an outrageous statement about a player then sit back and watch that player make a mockery of my mouth .

Course it could be that drinking and logic kind of inhabit seperate houses.

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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!

Aside from their midfield am I the only one a little worried about our defence being overstretched?

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"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." - Gene Hill

Will Karl get the job on Matera again or will Carraz get a crack at him?

I suspect it will be very much man on man accountable football. Fev stated in an Article it was defense first then attack once possession is obtained. Sounds good to me.

Who shut down Judd last year at OO? Was it Banno?

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

there is no concern with our defence.

IMO they are a quality Full Forward away from being the best team in the AFL.

Their forward line is probably their only weakness.

I think our defence will be too good for them

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

1. C Judd

What else can you say about him, apart from comment on the clothes of his girlfriend. A supreme midfielder with massive acceleration. Is a must-tag, perhaps Bannister. Sporn is our best run with but not sure even Sporny can keep up with Judd.

2. A Embley

Tall midfielder who is also the enforcer. Beaumont has beaten him before, but great skills and gets the aggot. I think Sporn is a better bet on Embley, because of his own ball winning ability. Embley plays tall so again Sporn can match him; much like his Hird games, Sporn is a key player in the GF.

3. C Fletcher

In & under but also very skilful, Fletcher needs to be tagged as well. Perhaps Chambers in a surprise move? Fletcher isnt always tagged as there aer others out there more noticeable, but he needs to be stopped. Even a Johnson? The Weagles are great at clearances; you'll see them get a lot of handball to the running player. If we can stop that set-up, we are in with a chance.

4. Q.Lynch

The big monger is a towering kick and full of muscle. In the absence of McDougall, may go to FF where he began his career. Looks to be too strong for Livo or Thornton, but what better way to test themselves than against this behemoth. I'd like to think that we keep Livo and TB where it suits the team best, so depending on what Worsfold does, both guys may have stints on the Monster.

5. Matera

Yes, Norman beats him but can pop up and kick a bucket. Norman on him or Carrots may be worth a shot.


All this and Cousins, Kerr, Sampi, Gardiner etc. still to be covered off. These guys are a talented team; what a test for the Bluebaggers; very excited.

The two youngest lists in the competition battling it out in a pre-season grand final. It is going to be exciting to see how the kids on each team go under the added pressure. Win lose or draw the experience itself will be invaluable to many of our players.

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West Coast are bigger and more physical then the Bulldogs and are playing the old style of Weagles footy that Worsfold did when he was a player. You need pace to play on Judd and need to be express off the mark becuase tht his big asset. Callum Chambers being a ex eagle would know Judds game and has the pace to keep up him and would be my first choice as a tagger...
They have got depth in talls and Lynch has done the job up forward for them and should not be underestimated...
Blues have been super efficient up forward and if Fevola, Whitnall and Lappin can keep up their form then we can win...
Big challenge for Barnaby against Gardiner and a host of talls in the ruck..the one area we are struggling in is backup for Barny when he has a rest..Prenda batltes hard but other teams seem to get back into the contest when we dont have French rucking....been a big improver has Barnaby and is a key player now in our lineup....

Watched them play the roos and I must say I was VERY impressed.

Match ups are going to be critical in this game:

Who is going to play on Lynch? This guy is an absolute tank. I don't think we have anyone strong enough in our backline to match up with this guy.

Dangerous players:

Cousins, Judd, Kerr, Wirrapunda, Sampi, Staker.

Weagles have the best midfield in the comp IMO. If we can break even we have a chance, but its going to be hard to break even with that midfield. I rate Weagles a top 4 team, so we will have performed VERY well to beat them.

I'm pretty sure it was Jordy, Cazzesman. IMO, he'll get first crack at Judd again this weekend, with McGrath as our plan B.

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When Dick became President, it was as if everyone at Carlton came out of the hailstorm and into the sunshine - Stephen Kernahan

YARRAN!!





.

I am pretty confident on this one.
Our physicality is a feature at the moment. Everybody says that the Bulldogs and Dees made too many errors without analyzing why. We turned up the heat physically in both contests and that made a bit difference.
There is a confidence in this team. A confidence in the coach, the game plan and each other. There is a system and a plan and the players dont deviate from that. I believe we can neutralise their midfield advantage and our forwards will pose a lot of headaches for their young defence. Livo, Thornton, Teague, Carazzo et al are gelling well also.
If we dont control their midfield we will be in trouble, if we do were more then 1/2 way there.

Then there is the amazing team spirit which was very evident to me on B&F night

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T E A M

Agreed. Maybe Houla should've waited until they got home

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Watch out, Ryan8025 may surprise you all.

from our two meetings last year

OO - wet and cold, we shut down their midfield and made it a scum and thrashed them.

Subi - warm and plenty of open spaces, tried to play close again and make it a scum but as soon as the eagles got the ball out into open spaces they killed us. I remember Worsfold cracking the shits after that game because they were about 70 points at half time and didn't go on with it.

The Dome, approx same size as OO but a fast track. If we play the scum congested midfield I think the eagles may be too quick on the break. Worrying sign were the dogs were able to get more clearances sat night.
We need Lance or Fev to fire early to force worsfold to move his backline around..hopefully maybe lynch.

We need to be super accurate with our kicking because turnovers will us.
The 1% are going to be a big factor, gotta protect our guy with the ball as I suspect the eagles will chase us down and pressure us.

Last three games we got of to a flying start in our first qrt, has to happen again for the younger players confidence.

Blues by a point..

Cazzes, It was definately Bannister who wore Judd like a glove at OO last year, shut him right out of the game.

I know it probably wouldn't happen, but it'd make my night if Walker cut sick and went on the same rampage he did early last year against the Eagles.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
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