3 of the last 4 premiers have missed finals the following year. I'm sure all of them were considered locks for top 4 at least.

All comes down to injuries and timing your run. Obviously there are some clubs in the rebuilding stage who can be disregarded, but the rest is up in the air until June/July. I agree it's hard to see Brisbane failing at this point. Especially if Coleman and the other ACLs come back in tip-top shape.

The Port list manager said they'll look at new ways to move the ball forward in 2025 because they finally get that the deep entry is not sustainable, it doesn't work in the modern game.

If we continue with the blind bomb inside f50 and refuse to tweak the game plan, how can anyone expect anything different to the past few years?

The injuries excuse is relevant to a point, but it also masks the deficiencies in our list and match day strategies.

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

i agree with all of this

my top 8 for next year, in no particular order will be

brisbane
carlton
collingwood
geelong
sydney
freo
port
gws

if we dont tweak the game plan, we will finish in the lower part of the 8 again

hawks may get in, but as someone else above stated, they will get worked out
adelaide will shit the bed again, as will saints, and the druggies dont even deserve to be in the league

melbourne and the dogs are toast, norf will finish higher than expected

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my last one was rubbish

What I would like to see from Carlton management in 2025 is an ability to demand concessions etc as Geelong, Collingwood and others get.

Carlton and Collingwood are the only two clubs that get more than a million people thru the gate in their matches.
Start using that power to get a more favourable draw.. demand the end of the phoney father-son rort.

Steve Hocking Geelong has a good relationship with the AFL- aren’t they getting an extra home game?
Wow. Ok. How does Carlton get an extra home game?

Port doesnt have the assets we do ... not many sides do to be honest.

Im not saying it works for everything, but if you get the ball in quick and give them an opportunity when they arent 3 on 1 etc..

as it is, id actually really like to see McKay out of the square (better mark IMO the Charlie) and Charlie playing that roaming forward (Charlie is a better kick) ... flip the position these two play, and think McKay could easily be a 100+ goal season.

Switch their positions up. During Games.

I just wish we could have tenure at the MCG like Collingwood does. What do we gain from playing at Docklands, and how much do the hard patches contribute to injuries? Leave that dump to the nothing clubs like Norf and *.

Should settle on one home ground this splitting between Marvel and MCG is not good

Stklida played 9 of its last 11 games at Marvel.
They had a 7 and 2 record only losing to Port by 2 and Brisbane.

If a shit team like Stkilda can gain an advantage by playing on the same deck regularly i am certain Carlton could

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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

Yes, well use the power Carlton has to demand an extra MCG game. Or demand a draw with limited interstate matches like Collingwood get.
Start demanding...cause the AFL takes Carlton for granted. Carlton is the AFL's money $$$ machine - over 1 million thru the gate - start demanding. Now.

Even Liverpool in the soccer comp in the UK don't get a million thru the gate in the Premier League. Start acting like a big boy.
Two matches against Richmond at the MCG, two against Essendon*. No matches against Brisbane at the Gabba. etc.

We’ve become irrelevant.
Our hierarchy have had no back bone since we literally handed the AFL control.
People like Fitzpatrick and Collins should never, ever be allowed near the PP doors again.
Fancy not being able, at the very least, make the MCG our home ground.
Just embarrassing.

Yeah, well we need to fight head office as we are the $$ machine for all their activities.
Demand MCG games. Demand, demand, demand.

1 million people... 1 million. Few sporting clubs anywhere in the world get these attendances.
Start demanding. If Geelong get an extra home game then Carlton should get one too.
Get on the front foot.

It has to be the MCG. All well and good for a mediocre club putting a streak together at Marvel, useless if you get tonked when finals start. Just ask the Dogs.

You mean an extra game in Geelong that would've otherwise been played in Melbourne?

I don't mind Marvel tbh... I don't get all the hissy fits about us playing there.
We should look at our mix though... maybe a 7-4 split favouring the G, and only play lower drawing games like interstate teams under the roof.

Not sure how any team can claim a home ground advantage when 11 clubs share 2 venues.

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Currently we need to dominate clearances to give our 2 big forwards the best chance 1 on 1.
I agree that we have to be more creative on how we structure up our forwards if we continue as we have, but it won't be long before opposition teams work it out.

The issue with the dump kick is that it's predictable and it creates an easy option for a mid... and makes it someone else's problem up the ground. It's Kemp's fault he can't out mark 3 defenders.

BamBam was the worst kick inside f50 this season... let's see if that changes next year.

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Get the most favourable draw...even more favourable than what Collingwood gets every year.

eg Magic Round - don't play Adelaide or Port Adelaide. Given an easier opponent.
eg interstate matches - Carlton has a massive following in WA - so play both Fred and Wet Toast there, which means no game in Brisbane. Only one game in Sydney - not two as was the case this year. Both were floggings.

eg gaps between matches...make sure Carlton doesn't have lots of 6 day breaks in the draw.

From what I have heard, Geelong is getting an extra home game. The AFL just tipped a whole lot of money into Geelong's stadium. What does Carlton get to counter all the largesse that goes Geelong's way?
Carlton needs to pay less in their equalisation dividend etc.. Geelong, Collingwood can pay more. They're in the finals 20 of the last 25 years.
Just get to work to get as much money back to Carlton and not off to other sources.

No five day breaks. We had two of them this year.

Edit

NO 5 DAY BREAKS EVER AGAIN

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I like going to Marvel.
I don't like the capacity.

BUT, I do take your point seriously re hard ground contributing to our injuries. I don't know if it does, but until someone proves it doesn't, I will err on the side of caution. Leave no stone unturned.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I wont quote all the above, but am loving all the points raised above; Great thread.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

A tsunami is coming .. and again it is due to AFL policies that the Gold Coast will get a massive push towards success.

Before it is too late- make sure Gold Coast can only take 1 academy player per year. Make sure they pay proper rates for academy players.. not a collection of pick 46 and 48.

Reform it now!
Not in 6 years time.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/10/20/ ... on-become/

Gotta agree . Hey AFL , beware of the heartland . At some point Melbourne people will drop off . You know , the poor cousin who always wants wants , so you give give , and after a while you get sick of it .

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All my dangerous friends