We need two of them to spend a collective 90+ minutes in midfield if we go with that setup.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Betts didn't have a "bad" game per se...he just didn't have his kicking boots on. That happens to the best of em'.

Don't think we can fault Betts' effort early in the season. He just needs to work on his goal kicking this week. He is generally a good shot at goal, but like I said, had a rare slump last week.

I think he'll fire and status quo will be restored.

Agree. Talk about a disposable society. Betts. Warnock. Let's just field the Bullants.

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"I had to eat"

Point taken

I'm sure we'd all prefer to stick it up Essendon* supporters than fellow Carlton supporters after this weekend's game.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I don't think you get my point. I reckon Eddie Betts would think he is a certainty to get a game every week, I would think Brett Thornton would think the same. They are both senior players of the team and are the type of blokes that we need to get us over the line in 50/50 games like last Thursday. Kicking 0.4 is not good enough particualry when Garlett is putting pressure on for that spot in the team. I can handle Thornton getting beaten by Brown, I can't handle him turning over the ball under no pressure. At the start of the last quarter he was at least 10 metres on his own and decided to pass the ball into the corridor, he turned it over and it resulted into a certain goal and set Brisbane on its way. He did this on more than one occassion during the game. White is putting pressure on his spot.

I agree re Thornton, but not re Betts. Nobody means to miss goals, and they weren't shots without pressure. I don't see Garlett as a replacement for Betts. Just because they are small and indigenous doesn't make them like for like. Betts offers us so much more than Garlett can or will.

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"I had to eat"

5 games straight, to that miserable lot

Seriously, if Ratts can't get a win this weekend, then we might as well all chuck it in

So pumped for this game

Would love OUR indigenous lads to hammer home a bagful of goals

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Hard to read where Essendon* are at. They played okay in the first half of both games before being smashed in the second half. Knowing them, they will put up a fight. Hopefully this time we're too good for them.

I saw the 1st half (on TV) of Ess vs Freo. Ess looked OK, but obviously the wheels must have fallen off after that. They were impressive for much of the game 2 weeks ago vs Geelong.

Under Knights, they love playing us. They will see a game against us as the perfect tonic to get their season back on track. Williams has come in for some media bagging, so watch out for him.

However, if we control the clearances like we did vs Brisbane, and improve our kicking efficiency (particularly Betts & Yaz), we really should win this game.

More of the same please from Kreuzer, Murphy, Brock, Gibbs, Scotland, Carrots, Simmo, Jamo, Carlos, Hendo & JR.

Our tackles need to stick and we need to crunch them in the inside game. If their midfield is allowed to put our defence under serious pressure, we could be in trouble.

Getting Bower back would be a bonus, as would a slight improvement in form from Joey, Armfield, Waite & Walker. It also wouldn't hurt to see Warnock hold onto a few contested marks (I'm not bagging the guy, it's just an area of his game I think he can improve with experience).

The season hasn't settled by a long shot yet, and both teams are still unknown quantities. We will be favourites, but this will be an interesting game....and may go a long way towards setting the tone for the rest of the year for both teams.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Would dearly love to absolutely kill the bombers this week. But my gut tells me it won't be that easy. Why? History. Games against the bombers and pies are more often than not against the natural order of things. We tend to have a good crack (and win against all odds) at them when we are so often not given an ounce of chance. I expect that to go both ways. I remember times when I've been absolutely certain we would beat the bombers but go away disappointed.

I'm expecting a close one. We certainly won't get thrashed, but I don't expect an easy game either. Should be a tight one which won't do my finger nails any good come Saturday night...

Don't care about the margin. I just want a freaking win!

Heard Jamo speaking on radio, he is going to captain the side this week. McVeigh also in big doubt with an infected arm. Must win game, i hate them so much.

Pretty sure Betts plays his 100th game this week against the scum so fingers crossed he plays an absolute blinder!

I would love to see Betts, Yarran and Garlett all play.

I read that Garlett kicked 7 goals in the Bullants praccy game last week so bring him in I say. The scum have killed us with pace the last few years so maybe we should serve them up a dose of their own medicine!!!

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HENDERSONALENKO......YOU BEAUTY!!!!!

If Ratts again allows the Bummers to kill us with their run through the corridor, I'm going to start a revolt of some sort...
Essendon* are nothing more then a one trick pony, but we seem to accomodate them every time for some dumb reason.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Two of his shots were set shots within 25 metres on a slight angle. He is the most experienced forward in our club and needs to lead the way.

Dom, as mentioned elsewhere, I will join that revolt holding double molotovs!!!
No @#$%&! excuses this week Ratts. Get the job done!

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C'mon Blueboys!

I'd like to see Yarran spend a bit more time up the ground working between half back/wing/half forward using his composure and elite skills. We need better skills upfield to take advantage of the good clearance work.
Perhaps bring in Garlett for Robbo to add some more pace and zip deep forward working at the heels of Setanta.

I don't understand why everyone thinks we are favourites.
I would love a win but not sure why before every bombers game ppl assume that Ratts has finally figured them out. Their intensity and run kills us every time.

The fact that so many of them have been under the pump the past week means they will come out absolutely guns blazing. I can't remember us EVER having stopped Jobe Watson.

Will be very interested to see how the MC plays it.
If Bower is out we will struggle.

I'm really hoping for a win and definitely believe we have the talent to beat them, but do we have the desire?
Massive game. Will be a clear indication of whether we are capable of finals this year.

No offence exsing but this mental approach is, well,

History is exactly that, history!

Perhaps this is why we've struggled against them the last 5 times. We keep going weak at the knees!

Against Essendon*, I really think that they have been beating us more recently because they wanted it more. We always go in as favourites, and they always rise to the occasion.

Also Fevs 50m penalties never helped.

If we can get our mental game right then I think we have the skill to get over the line.
Will be interesting to see who the MC pick in the backline if Bower is out.