Great point Aramari...and this is what I meant by the biggest con to come out of this week...all the talk in the off season was about how much work and planning had gone into our game when we didn't have the ball....havent seen it as yet...we'll see how we go this week against another predicatable team who uses the corridor to stream forward....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

We were inaccurate kicking at goal at crucial times.

Surely that's got to be Ratts' fault somehow.

FMD.

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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.

No thanks...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

One word lacking when you talk about Carlton over the last decade is 'ruthless'. We needed to be ruthless against Richmond and smash them to hell. We needed to be ruthless in front of goal in that second quarter as we weren't that far out of it.

THere was a good comment made from the Box about maybe Brisbane getting a much better workout in Round 1 than us, and it showed with delivery and ability to accommodate pressure. Some of those turnovers were from minimal pressure - Thornton's kick and Anderson's missed mark. That's 2 goals. Betts and Yarran should be 4 from 6.

We've got to focus, be tight, be sure, be confident, be ruthless. Brisbane is a lower Top 8 team and we have to be able to beat these teams to a) maintain a post in the 8 but b) ever hope to get Top 4.

A disappointing loss when you consider the game's moves but another sign that with this list we should be planning Top 8 as an absolute minimum.

I tipped us to win though unfortunately it didn't eventuate. I've said all along to those who have written us off, I expect a finish between 4 to 6. This year our defense will be better, our midfield will be about 20% better with the inclusion of McLean and Warnock. Our forward line will be better without Fev. Last year we finished 7th, and our expectations should be to finish higher.

Those who finished above us who "topped up" well is the Aints and the mugpies and they will be more of a challenge than last yeaTheSe for the rest, we should be better, including the dogs. For all the trading the brions did, apart from fev it's only marginal. They will not be a threat. We will finish higher than them. I expected brown to kick a bag as he usually does, just our turnovers and inaccuracy hurt us. It won't be the first or last time it will happen, but when it does happen you only hope the opposition is not having a night out (which they did). I think a lot of teams will be worried about us even though we lost. I don't care about this "horror" run we have. I expect to win at a minimum 3 of the next 5 and actually think we'll win 4.

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Leaders do not care what other people say about them. When people start talking crap about you, thats when you know you've made it

Went to the game with family in tow and was sitting just behind the Lions dugout, so a great view of the game....
Our kicking for goal was just so frustrating, but the number of kicks that just missed (or shaved a post) was extraordinary.... At half time, it felt like we were in the game and could do something if we put our mind to it....

That third quarter should electrify EVERYONE - yes it would have been great to see it go on - but I've been at games at the Gabba where the size of our deficit at half time would have seen us shut out... It truly said we have that mental toughness we've lacked so often in the past...

206 was a lot better than people give him credit for - but he either didn't get acclimatised, or he needs work on overhead marking.... He was in a great position a lot of times - there were at least 3 times near us where he was uncontested and dropped it cold - the drop was frustrating, but the positioning was great. I do hope that there's a plan to help his match fitness though - he dropped one cold at one stage and then had no ability to chase afterwards in anything higher than 2nd gear....

1AW worked hard all night, but I get the sense he tries to belt the covers off the ball on the odd kick, and that causes it to go astray....

Scotto played an AMAZING game - his run and carry out of D was great - I don't think I've seen a better game from him, really...

Maybe I have a soft-spot for him, but T-Bird was actually competitive on Brown - it is always easy to see the goals, but a lot of the spoils go un noticed - and ther were a LOT of spoils. I also watched the third quarter again yesterday, and that huge Brown goal from 55 was so impressive, the ball fell at his feet and he grabbed it, took one and a half steps, and booted the goal his team needed. Hardly possible to prevent....

I walked from the ground as happy as you can be with a loss (not an honourable loss, but a loss with upside!) , and definitely of the opinion that we got the better of the Fev trade - and I know quite a few Lions fans who feel the same.... The 8 is a realistic option, and we should be aiming as high in it as we can

BRING ON THE BOMBERS!! There's a streak to end!!

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Now stalking Carlton on Twitter and Facebook!