Shhhhhh, that's a secret.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

There are some very valid though painful points made in the above posts. Everyone wants to be optimistic at this time of the year, and NAB cup form clearly doesnt translate into regular season or finals form. It's a long season, and peaking too early is not advisable. We all want to brush off an insipid performance at this time of year as insignificant, including me.

However, being on the cutting edge tactically is a clear predictor of success. Hawthorn were ahead of the game in 2008 with their rolling zones, StKilda in 2009 with their mob forward defensive pressure, turn overs, and rapid movement into the forward line.

The off season is a time to practice new tactical strategies that give you an edge. If you cant practice these strategies in the NAB cup then when can you practice them.

I would have preferred us to lose by 8 goals last night rather than 2 if I had seen some sign of something new tactically. What I did see were players anxious about their spots, playing safe, stopping and propping, kicking to targets leading to the pockets, bombing long, and chipping sideways so they didnt stuff up. Maybe Sydney's renowned defensive pressure stymied our plans, but I dont think they're that good. Maybe our absent players stymied our plans, but during the regular season we will never have a full list as injury takes its toll.

I sincerely hope that the coaching panel has the tactical nous to have something new for us this year. I desperately hope we have the intellectual capacity in the coaches box to have such a plan. I really hope we can experiment with something innovative, or at least the signs of something innovative, in our remaining few practice games. At the very least I would like to see some of the basics (numbers back, running the lines, running and bouncing, taking risks, using handball offensively, attacking through the corridor, getting the ball in quickly to tall leading targets who lead straight, applying forward defensive pressure if the ball spills) and hopefully something more, much more.

Is Ratts and his coaching team (lets not forget the team) up to the task? Too early to tell I think. Reasonable to question it though.

4 months of training for a display like that.

It's not a good advertisement... when we're trying to sell memberships.

National tv... and we're holding back? ...going through the motions??

Doesn't make sense...

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There's so much I could say...

Maybe we are so bad those in charge of the club wanted us off national tv quick smart to avoid embarrassment and the potential to do more harm to our brand.

Iwas going for the train whistle.
Yay..go train whistle go!
Maybe they could go with a line from 'pants on the ground' for their siren next time?

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

If people decide NOT to become a member based on a round 1 NAB Cup match, then we're probably better off without those people.

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We are on our way back...

Stats are great arnt they
They dont tell the full story
We had the best forward
We have one of the best small frwards who will find it harder because Fev has gone
As i said many of our goals came from Betts and Fevola's individual brilliance



Could be a different story this year.

Some people have to fork out around 1k for a family... and want to see signs of something before they part with it... not everybody can be an Onassis year after year.

The trouble with not improving meaningfuly.. is we can have a whole generation of kids who have had little to cheer about. They can change daddys side.. or go learn to surf on weekends.
If people seriously believe that we can afford to just tread water for another couple of seasons and there will be NO IMPACT theyre deluding themselves.

We lost Fev this year... theres some more excitement factor and entertainment gone for young people... a drab low energy game and some bad press for off field scenarios does not help...

If they couldnt charge themselves up to beat a weak side... on national TV after a lame last 1/4 against the Lions and a very forgettable off season... there is something wrong.
This is the entratainment industry... and people will think about the dollar theyre parting with...

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

You would have argued the other way had they came out all guns blazing. It kills your Sunday.

we did come out with all guns blazing... just no energy and no gameplan... they tried

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Spot on. There are no tactics. No evidence of a game plan. In 51 games we have seen nothing that suggests we have a game plan. I'll change my view when the evidence is to the contrary

Stop making flowering excuses for Carlton....only NAB cup, players disinterested, experimenting without Fev etc etc. What they served up last night was unmitigated rubbish. Did anyone one passage of play that excited them? It was the same random, roll of dice stuff I've seen over the last two years. People around here are sick of Synbad's 'same old same old'. Maybe you'd read less of it if there was less of carlton's 'same old same old' on the park.

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Did well to win 13 last year without a gameplan. One against the premiers no less. Got close to chinning the runners up also. Took the dog and smashed the pies. Pretty sure they arent about to be beaten by a team that has no go plan. Not sure how we did it?

I am sure the club appreciates your support but i am also sure they are not going to make their plans more obvious just to please you and others that are so desperate for an obvious style of play.

Here's your 1st signature Badman

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.”

Doesn't anyone think its funny how all the top 8 sides from last year lost except for the ones that played other top 8 teams?? And also isn't it funny how the players that have been repoted to be having the highest workloads over the preseason seemed to be running on the spot? (ie mclean)

Don't read too much into the NAB cup.

Interesting insight.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

defend the indefensible? Who's been listening to "Fighting Talk"?

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In Bolts we trust.......Until we don't anymore

Cazz....defending Carlton at all costs is honorable......unfortunately, it's also naive, foolish and ignorant

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

You are in for a tough season 99prelim. Losses seem to tip you over the edge. Even 1 goal losses in round 1 of the NAB.

Win lose or draw life goes on.

And getting your panties in a bunch after 1 nab cap game could be seen as much the same. Does that make us kindred spirits?

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.”