I know that we are all celebrating, and so we should Denis has it right - this is great for the club.

But it is the pre-season, and I'll take a Premiership over the wizzer cup any day.

I know we knocked over some reasonable teams, who wanted to win, but many were without their stars.

So, is our young team able to last out the season, and continue to play at the extraordinary level that they have been? Can we continue to expect Fevolenko to kick bags week in and week out? Can we maintain the intensity for a whole season, or does this type of game plan take it out of the players?

I supose that these are Pagan's challenges.

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"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

No, no and no

But we're in better shape to give it a red hot go every week and that's all I really want.

Big game with the Kangas coming up. I wont be underestimating them and neither will Denis. That's when the real stuff starts. I think the boys will be pumped up and ready to go

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C'mon Blueboys!

we probably wont be quite as good week in week out over the whole season, but i'm actually expecting a top 8 finish now. hopefully the the injury gods are kind this year.

so far we have been pretty lucky. thorton is a blow but it's a good test for the others.

gee mate, wouldnt say that.

Essendum where probably the only team we played that werent near to full squad.

Melbourne fielded their best available team. They had 3 (Johnson, Rivers & Nicholson all with legitiment injuries - we had 5 out that would normally start.

Bulldogs fielded their best available team and cant think of anyone else they would have had playing - Think they where fully fit.

The Weagles - where close to full strength as well. Excpetion being those that didnt play due to injury.

Dont believe all the shite the media is portraying. 3 of our 4 games where against fully fit teams and in the end we beat them all well, yes it is only a wizzer cup, but gee, Weagles are touted as a top 4 side, and with good reason, but we beat them, and beat them well.

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

I'm normally a reality check person as well. But I am not so much excited about the fact that we won the WC but more I am excited about the way we are playing and the even contribution from the whole team when we win.
If we carry this enthusiasm and increased fitness and skill level into the real season , then I genuinely believe we will make the 8. Once in the 8 anything can happen right?

The Weagles are touted as top 4 material. They played a full strength side with whom was avaliable, as did the Blues.
They threw everything they had at Carlton in the last quater and Carlton responded. Thats what excites me. This young side regrouped, stuck to the game plan and kicked arse.
Regards Pedro.

Hey Vet,

Answers to your questions: Yes, yes, yes, yes and no.

Would you prefer Carlton to have been knocked out by Essendon* in the first round?

Think Positive!

I say we enjoy it and celebrate, Thornton will be a big loss and the other teams will be looking more closely at how we play and setup but its good we have won something and our younger players continue to develop. Livo and Norman now have the chance to carve out careers and while Thornton will be missed it might fastrack the other two.
I still look upon this year as a development year and if we make the eight its a bonus.....its very enjoyable being a blues supporter and enjoying the ride, there might might be a few ups and downs but a premiership isnt that far away...

T-Bird according to all reports will only miss 2-4 matches at most.
The Roos will not trouble us up forward. Lloyd is out vs the Bummers and Livo will take Tarrant whilst Rocca can be held by either Teague, Morrel or even Kouta.
Whilst its a steback for T-Bird, i still think we'll be ok without him.

Would we have beaten them in Perth?

Any wins a good win, and all the signs are positive.

The thing is though we have now won two night premierships since our last day premiership.

Night is fine, day would be sublime.

Most likely not. But we definitely beat them in Melbourne!!

I will take the ability to win in Melbourne over the ability to win at home at (perth, adelaide, brisbane) any day

[/quote]T-Bird according to all reports will only miss 2-4 matches at most.[/quote]

Don't know where you are getting "all reports" from, but according to the the Carlton official website he will be seing a specialist on Tuesday and will be advised then on the extent of the injury.

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Hooked on The Blues

Blue World, I don't know if we would have won in Perth. But Carlton earnt the game in Melbourne.
My point before was that the team is evolving in a positive manner and that's what excites me, cause I like what I see.
Not long ago we would have rolled over once the Weagles got back in front.
Regards Pedro.

Perfect statement.

First point is exactly right, you can only beat who is put in front of you and we certainly did that and so impressively.

Second point well I can't name 8 teams that will finish above us, and once we get into the finals we play the best possible finals footy gameplan, the least chance for f-ups under pressure and it's the one gameplan where an inexperienced team might still do well

Verbatim. Well said.

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Very valid point - it really pleased me to see them dig in when it looked like the weagles would run over them. Like Carlton teams of old - they refused to yield.

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Hooked on The Blues

I knew somebody would post a thread like this!
Who wouldn't take a premiership over the wizzy cup, of course we all want that, but this is the first step to getting their!?
What the hell is wrong with us being excited about how good the blues are playing together, how much Whitnal has improved, how good our backline is. Carlton kicked butt against a near full strength side, going in as the underdogs. We showed all our critics that we are out to play some good football this year and I am excited to see how good we do this year.
And I am very excited. FANTASTIC WIN BOYS!!

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GO BLUE BOYS!!

The boys played for one another and when challenged they dug their heels in and pulled out another effort. That is what is exciting Carlton of past 2 yrs would have hung their heads and got steam rolled.

Everyone in here would say that we are not season premiers yet but we have a great foundation and these boys are still learnin (they are youngsters). All woulda have learned a hell of a lot watch for Carrazzo I think he is gonna be an absolute gem.

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Can smell the gf its there for the taking we are the form side

Here's my reality check: The Blues to make Top 8... as an absolute bare minimum!

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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!!





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