Apparently pre-season training starts in the first week of November. The past few weeks have been hard for me - not sure what I expected - but I think after a long break from here that I am ready for a new season. However, there are a few things I'd really like to see down at OO for that very first training session:

* Substantial kicking practice - kicking for goals, passing under pressure. In fact I want each player to walk around permanently kicking a football 18 hours a day forever. We need real improvement in foot skills (derrrr...)
* Troy Selwood
* Houlihan looking as though he'll play forward; lyou know, shots on goal, making space rather than running 2 metres behind someone
* Russell, Hartlett, Blackwell all fit & raring to go, as if ready for a spot in the 1's
* Whitnall looking like early 2005 rather than 2002-2004
* Tackling practice with real people running mad around OO. I want Carlton players to have to track down 10 of them each and throw them to the ground until nearly dead
* The Bluebirds

I know we're going to get all the 'He's put on 5 kilos of pure muscle' and 'He's grown 10 cms' stories but I just need some hope instead of the stories. Anyone else?

Another Wizard Cup and $250k in the bank.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Setanta O'Hailpin and Deluca firing to provide more tall options for Murphy and Hurn to kick to.

My belief, passion and confidence has been shattered, so I don't know what to expect/strive for in 2006.

PS. Wish you sig where true MJonc.

I just hope there are no injuries sustained over the pre-season.

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There's so much I could say...

Some honest, hard-working effort from all the boys.

Stuff the pre-season, that's what I want to see all 2006. There will be mistakes, but any mistake made while having a good red-hot go can be forgiven in my book, whereas mistakes made by laziness, selfishness etc make my blood boil.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

campo playing for bendigo bombers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a leader stepping forward

A development coach.

I attend at least one open training session a week, I accept that I'm not privy to the closed sessions however I can't understand how ALL the coaches walk off after training whilst many of the players stay back having kicking practice.

I've seen Setanta show his younger brother how to hold the ball whilst having shots at goal. Walker and many others having shots from the boundary after they just missed 5 shots from 40m directly in front.

This may be junk time after training however when you are struggling the way we have we should be 100% whilst on the field.

We need a development coach to have the one on ones that are so important.

Read the Herald-Sun this morning - yes it was a great 10 minutes - and in the Who's Who section they had a picture of Nick Stevens, who was talking about busting thumb ligaments in round 6 and just carrying it on all year with it. Stevo then said something like 'Well i had a bad year, and we'll work hard this year and try to improve'.

but it got me thinking about who was carrying injuries in 2005 and who may be able to improve given a clear run. to me stevo was struggling with his kicking, not his hands in 2005 so im not sure a better thumb will help him out but he went downhill in 2005 a little, and still managed to come second in the B&F i know.

The club injury / surgery list had Morrell (gone), Stevens, Fevola on it.

Fevola was suspected of having OP during the season but the surgery wasn't for his groin.

Are there players who we expect to have recovered from an injury, and if so what? Then, do you think it will make a difference to them in 2006?

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

enthusiasm

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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!

Plenty of physical stuff I guess…tackling, bumping etc are areas of concern & have been for ages


Oh & anyththing but bloody socks & jocks for Xmas

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#DonTheStash

Depending on which thumb it is, the ball drop onto the foot can be affected by a thumb injury.

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

I'd like to see all the players watch the Round 6, 2004 match against Melbourne again, where the commentators were calling it a training run BEFORE HALF TIME! I sat there last night going "Isn't this the one we beat them, against the odds, and sent them on a spiral out of meaningful September action"..... Then I realised it wasn't.....

But I'll trust the coaching group and say that's never going to happen agian... So if they think that Tiddlywinks is the way to improve next year, then 38 guys should be playing Tiddlywinks...

That the 4 kids CFC draft next month are given atleast until this time next year before they are deemed to be 'Dud and Hack' by the more knowledgeable Carlton supporters who have never seen them play, train or walk more than 3 times.

Wishful thinking but........maybe........just maybe ????????

Naaaaahhhhhh it won't happen but I can live in hope.

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.”

Maybe we should run a book?

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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!

Whatever the East German and Chinese ?female swimmers use to take, buy it and put Houla on it for awhile.
Regards Pedro.

Ditto Caz, Ditto.

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The great are great to us only because we are on our knees. Let us arise.
--Robert Collier

Another wizard cup ????? Please not another de ja vu !!!!

*a team that is willing to put their bodies on the line for eachother.
*a team that is willing to put their heart and soul into wearing the once proud navy blue jumper.
*a team that is there for eachother, no matter the conditions. (win/loss/draw)
*a team of leaders
*a coaching staff putting faith in juniour players
*a group of juniour players having faith in themselves
*a leadership group having faith in the younger players and using them to the full extent of their talent
*a team that provides body on body pressure
*a full forward that is full of encouragement for his midfielders/back and fellow forwards no matter what the result
*a fullback whether it be livo or t-bird, having bulked up to have to confidence to stand one on one with the best full forwards in the league
*a group of players, who as a whole, have all bulked up
the youngets list in the AFL again
*intelligent draft picks
*a strong ruck team
*a fit lance whitnall
*a fired up and confident fev
*a determined and advanced andrew walker
*a quick simmo/bentick
*an evergreen kouta dominating the forward line
*a committed matthew lappin, general of defence
*a fit de luca
*a courageous houlihan
*NAB rising star nominations for Hartlett, Raso, Russell, Blackwell, Murphy, Hurn/Ryder, O'hAilpin
*A full season for o'hAilpin
*discipline
*at least 8 wins.

there.......am i expecting too much. i love my club and every single second that we are fighting back hurts like hell, but now i know that inevitabely, when we hit the top again, victory will be all that so much sweeter, as one cannot appreciate success until they have tasted defeat.

i've got a lot of faith that pretty much all of my expectations will be met, because while this proud club may be down at the moment, they cant, nay, they WONT keep us down for long.

fight back '06 begins in 3 days.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice