Your point about the footskills is spot on. Look at Geelong and Hawthorn....so much skill on every line. They recruited only guys who could kick and got rid of anyone who couldn't. Look at Grigg, Walker, Carrots, Setanta, Anderson, Armfield and the list goes on. Geez we even chose Benjamin a few years back and he had no idea at all !!

Most of the guys we got last year seem to kick ok or at least they're not shockers, so maybe the Penny's dropped for Hughes and co. But it would seem that the 17th remains a long long way off

Yep...let's just not turn up next time.
(players and coach inc.)

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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.”

Pro's:

Lucas looks like he can play at this level.

After watching that garbage, I can now re-adjust my expectations for the year, and will have a lot less angst this season. Don't expect us to go anywhere near 13 wins, so I'm looking ahead to 2011 and beyond. Couldn't give a stuff about win/loss anymore this year... I want to see signs that we have what it takes to go somewhere.


Con's:

Played like headless chooks. What is it: dumb senior players, or substandard coaching? Dunno, but it seriously looked like they didn't know what they were meant to be doing out there. Very worrying.

I expected losses like this in 2010. But jesus guys, did you have to give us one against those pricks?

I was stupid enough to tip us. Why??? We never beat those black and red #@%&'s

Pros

Simpson is a class act.
Lucas was good and looked comfortable at AFL level.
I tipped Essendon*.
Judd's suspension is over

Cons;
where to start.

Persistance at kicking around the boundry (and then kicking it OOF)
No intensity
Fumbles from our better players
Shocking umpiring.
That tool Reimers destroyed us again.
Shocking disposal
Judd is back
Just pathetic, pathetic.
this was Essendon* and they didnt seem to give a stuff

Cons: Mark Wiiliams- Kicks 0.0 v Cats. Kicks 0.0 v Freo.

Then the cauliflower plays against us & kicks 4.0 including one out of his arse from the boundary line that seals the game


Reimers had his birtday again

Lovett-Murray also had his birthday again

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

For some reason, I'm really troubled by this loss. Really troubled. More than usual after a loss to Essendon*. Perhaps it was because I allowed myself feelings of optimism before the game (a rariety in the last 8 years)? I can't remember feeling more deflated after any loss (and I've seen us lose 3 Grand Finals). I'm still not sure why.

Anyway, I've had over 17 hours to come to grips with it - but I can't shake the feeling that this loss will be significant in some way....

FWIW -

PROS:

Lucas made a few mistakes, but he was involved in the game and looked like he belonged out there. Well done young fella.

Ummmm.....I'm struggling to come up with much else....I suppose losing by only 20 points when we got absolutely flogged is a positive....

And Betts, Yarran & Simmo might have scraped through with pass marks on the night.

CONS:

With Lloyd & Lucas retired, we turned to Williams as the new Ess player we play back into form

It's hard to really know what else to say.....so I'm just going to list words that come to mind about Carlton last night: insipid, weak, lazy, sloppy, panicky, over-rated & out-coached.

I'm not a Ratten basher, but I think it's appropriate that the blow-torch goes onto him now. That's not to say that the players don't have a lot to answer for....

In fact, EVERYONE connected to the club should be hurting like hell today. I know I am.

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

Now that i've settled down a bit....

Pros
- unlikely that Murphy, Gibbs and Kreuzer will all have a downer at the same time anytime soon
- McLean has been very good and we were unlucky to lose him to injury so early in the game
- Judd and Bower to return (hopefully next week for Bower)
- Quality young players like Hampson and Grigg to come back.

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There is no footy god

anyone know where i can get 30 white feathers ?

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one you knock back is one you never have

what are the odds on 0-6?

_________________
one you knock back is one you never have

Pro:
Yatrix - Wish Carlton got him more involved rather than wasting possessions on Carrots, Walker, Hoops, and so on. Can't wait till he's got Boomer-like fitness, then he can indeed be Boomer-like or dare I say Ablett-like.

Lucas wasted it a bit and ran over the ball too often but even Stevie Wonder can see the potential in this guy.

Cons:

Attitude - Too much running over the ball, kicking out of bounds, letting themselves get beat by B-Graders. Confidence and leadership was just not there.

Backline depth - If we had back up Thornton should be dropped. That's one average game and two awful games. Bugga that, we should drop him anyway, needs to know that free passes are a thing of the past.

EDIT:

Another con is Eddie not getting chaired off for his 100th. Even if he didn't want to after feeling dejected after a loss, you still do it. Someone had to demand he get chaired off and stop feeling sorry for themselves. Lack of leadership once again.

When did players start getting chaired off for their 100th game? It's getting a little silly. 200 /250/300 games should be the benchmark.

Pro: Simmo, he tries his guts out as usual and was a winner.


Con:
Walker - I am sick of this fool. We keep him on the list for 3 shoulders, he finally gets over them, mucks up in pre-season and then under performed for 3 weeks. Why could he not be practicing his kicks over the last 3 years. Trade if anyone will take him.

Gibbs - he is worrying, maybe his heart is not in it and he is waiting for the GC.

Everyone else - should be ashamed of themselves for failing once again

Finally, Judd - should be embarrassed that he is not playing and he owes us big.

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I will miss you Kouta - thanks for the memories. ps. Kouta > * for ∞

Pros:

I didn't go to the game (or take one of my kids), even though I had the chance. Saw a bit of the Bullants instead.

Cons:

Adelaide lost today, and what was already a hard game just got a whole lot harder! 2nd time in a row having to come up against a decent team that's just had an awful loss. Of course you could say the same about us as well, but we've struggled to beat the Crows for years. What's the odds of Tippett and Porplyzia turning around their poor form against us?

Odds on - its what we do best!

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C'mon Blueboys!

My pros:
Yarran showed a bit.
Lucas wanted the footy even though nobody wanted to give it to him when he tried to run and carry in the last.
Judd back next week

Con:
On paper, apart from Judd and Bower, that was the best team Carlton can put on the park according to the MC.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

PRO

The kids
The hatred of losing to Essendon*

CONS

Except Scotland, the older ones who should have known better
The punch up in the Carlton members area near the end of the match

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NG
S M C , S F L

I've waited till Monday to post because I was furious with the complete lack of interest/intensity from the whole team.

Pros:
Lucas showed he can play.

Cons:

Simple thing Aussie Rules: get the effing ball!!!
Most of our blokes stood motionless and watched.
Warnock is rubbish.
Why didn't Ratten see fit to give the biggest spray of all time at 3/4 time. Stick all this new age coaching groups, forward coach, ruck coach shite etc etc splits at the breaks up your arse and call them together and give it to them Parkin style.
Ratten is as soft as the players.
This game destroyed my faith in the club actually rebuilding/going anywhere.
I'm done.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Probably the worst performance by the blues since we were tanking in 2007.

Pros

Simpson - By far our best player
Yarran - every time he went near it something happened
Betts - reasonable game
Hendo - At least he tries hard

Ok it's hard now......

Only 42 inside 50s so midfield was spanked. To get 25 shots away from those was pretty good, showing that our best players (as mentioned above) all played in the front half.

Cons
Midfield terrible
No run from the back half
Never seen Krueze play worse
No leadership at all
Lack of intensiy
our kicking at goals is not reliable.
Walker - I said it after round one, disposal not up to afl standard.
Field kicking no where near the best teams
We would lead the league in OOBOOF. The crowd in the Southern stand should have been paid danger money
Just appaling

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Go Blues

Furious is an understatement....

* How is it Ratten was not prepared for Essendons only strategy to "own" the corridor. They have done it the last five times and yet he still has no tactic to cover it!

* How can you let a 34 year old grandpa in Fletcher be close to BOG?

* Essendon* put a C Grade team out on the Park and made the Blues look like Auskick Players.

* That game was probably as ordinary game I have seen this team play including the many during the "dark years"

* Given next few games or so I cannot see us being any better than 1 win and 9 losses after ten rounds - thank god we played Richmond first round.......

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Cripps is the man

WBY .... this too will pass ...

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NG
S M C , S F L