Best win for 2 years I reckon. Match up well on these guys and delivered. Come on!

PROS

1. Russel – Since the corresponding fixture has never looked back, Steve Johnson is OWNED. Sure head. Only 1 really bad kick I can recall.

2. Yarran – confidence! Went back for that kick in the last quarter, didn’t look around, put it away. That’s class.

3. Walker and Gibbs off half back - ran well and created.

4. Armfield and Lucas – two young guys also rebounding and running. Lucas has fitted straight in.

5. The zone was well applied today. I’ve been vocal about our kick out defence but we suffocated them today.

CONS

1. Such a shame for walks – hopefully it’s one bone and not much angulation so a simple plate can go in.

2. Thought Murph could've been better. Had the big job with ling going to him but with Judd going nuts and attracting Ling from Q2 on, Murph should’ve stepped up.

3. AJ got beat by Ablett but tried admirably all day.

4. A bit of panicky kicking at the start of Q4 like last week. These boy should start showing BELIEF in themselves.

5. In perspective now the Essendon* loss was an even bigger disgrace – how did we let that happen.

Massive game next week! This forward structure isn’t going to work every week but hopefully it does against the filth!

_________________
They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

PRO - every player in a navy blue jumper
Ratts' coaching
Kruise. Breed him, breed him now!
Kucas. good kid
Tex

Con
Tex
Umpires
Essendon* game!!!!

_________________
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!

Pros
The three magicians in the forward line, don't miss that other bloke at all.
Juddy!!
Team effort
Simon White's mark running with the play in the last - the boy has a future!
JR's confidence
Santy's spirit and 50m + goal to put them away
Cons
Not many but...
Andy Walker's injury
McLean's poor disposal by foot

_________________
"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

I forgot to add that Houlihan forward has been a crucial player the last two weeks.

Heath Scotland and Kade Simpson consistently keep on keeping on.

_________________
They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

Pros:
- Everything and everyone

Cons:
- Walker's injury
- Kreuz's kicking for goal
- Setanta and Hendo give a great contest, but would like to see them take more marks and kick more goals
- Got some wobbles when the pressure was on at times in the 2nd half

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Pros:

- Judd
- General Disposal, huge improvement on start of season
- Fwd Line structure, mobile, fast and application of constant pressure, don't mean just the three indigeneous guys, also include Setanta & Houlihan
- Judd
- backline - pressure and run
- Luca's intercepts
- Judd
- Our fwd line can get even better if Setanta can nail a few more goals and Henderson can take some more marks
- Thornton, Waite & Hadlley, etc need to fight to regain their spots
- Resilience

Cons:
- Walkers shoulder
- Hendersons marking & impact on the game
- Warnock's impact on the game

Pro:
Army and Russell smashed them out of the backline
Lucas belongs
Yarran slotting that goal from 'arise sir lancelot' corner
Kruezer was the best ruckman on the day even though he is in a poor stretch of form ATM

Cons:
Henderson looked poor and completely shot on confidence in his marking ability
Against my better judgment I only bet us to beat the spread instead of straight out.

_________________
The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

PROS

Run, run and more run...using the corridor. I've been all over Ratt's and totally understand Synbads rants as I've fully agreed. This is how we should be playing. Even if we lose, it's honourable and the most entertaining style of play. It wins finals. I hope Thornton isn't brought back until he learns to straighten up. He's a huge reason with us going wide all the time. It's nothing to do with him "not putting his body on the line" as Ratts mentioned.

Sensational win. I wish I'd had a skin full as i'd have been dancing from the rafters and partied on well into the night.

Kudos to the entire team. Unbelievable.

CONS

Armfield knockers over all the Carlton forums, where are you know?

Ditto Walker, who was BOG or just shaded by Judd until injury. Chin up. The planets finally aligned for Watson.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

Pros

- The 3 amigos
- Judd. Best player in the comp
- Gibbs, Armfield, Russell & Walker giving us soooo much run from HB
- Scotland and Simpson having great seasons

Cons
- Walkers injury. Fingers crossed its not too bad
- Henderson was ineffectual.
- Umpires

I'm a little perplexed at the number of people naming the Blind Men as cons. Overall, I thought they were pretty good, andmore importantly, consistent end to end and quarter to quarter. Other than Ablett getting leeway like no-one else in the game and allowing Judd to be mauled with no frees, I couldn't see too much of a problem with them.

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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.

na, they were shit - any iffy went to Cats, we got none of them.

_________________
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!

He got some early frees for blocking and scragging. The club must have had a word to the geish after last weeks mauling from the crowbots.

Agree. We had a tough first 15 minutes I thought but apart from that probably got the rub of the green in what was a pretty good display. Maybe it translates differently on TV to at the ground.

_________________
The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

Pros:
*The onball brigade were very good - really limited Geelong's output and they didn't have a lot of inside 50s
*The workrate from everyone was excellent, and it barely let up all game...never really gave Geelong a sniff. The hunger was the obvious thing and the leadership from the captain...look a different team since he returned and he is bursting away from stoppages a lot more with the better ruck support.
*JR's game once again on SJ...not only limited his influence but provided lots of drive off half back and was good in the air as well. Taking a fair few marks as the third man up now.
*Gibbs back to his best now after a quiet start to the year. Chappy got away at times but Gibbs drive off half back was very good
*Armfield's pressure on their forwards and then running off half back...he's making forwards think twice about taking the defender on.
*Garlett's forward pressure along with Yarran and Eddie. Eddie is now running a lot more as a forward...providing options to half backs late in the game. Yarran's goal was all class...sitting in M15 and being right behind it you knew it was a goal as soon as it left the boot.
*Brock didn't get huge possessions but his grunt work was vital, along with the Kreuz who used his frame to win the 50/50
*White's overhead ability

Cons
Murphy as mentioned above was relatively quiet even though Ling went onto Judd
Walker's injury...not his bad shoulder at least but he is starting to win me over coming out of defence...disposal was much more assured.
Hendo didn't really get into the game but he's still drawing a defender away and can play down in defence so he should stay in the team.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Just in regard to the umps...they were @#$%&! woeful (as usual). Ablett as we all know is a protected species...he tackles AJ and AJ gets pinged...the opposite happens and no free is paid. The same situation where the player dived on the ball/dragged it in.

The soft frees to their key forwards at certain stages - sure there was an arm around the hip but it wasn't enough to warrant a free.

_________________
"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Agree - thankfully the umpires were irrelevant, as they should be.

_________________
"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

PROS

1. Judd!
2. Warnock really fired w/ Kreuzer. You could see Ottens tiring as the match went on. Blake did nothing
3. Scotland really lifted and made up for Murphy getting tagged out of it
4. JR beat Stevie J again
5. Army had a fantastic game, really attacked the ball and didn't have too many errors
6. White is holding his own in only his second game. Not dominating, but all things in perspective he is doing a fantastic job.
7. Kicking looked great for the most part

CONS

1. Henderson is still not 'in the zone'. i think he needs some extra attention and time. Maybe Bullants will help? Maybe he should try some gloves?
2. Kick ins under pressure - we seem to be able to get the first kick OK, but the second kick is always a problem
3. Can still improve our running up the guts
4. We still keep kicking it over the heads of our small forwards too often

Big game against the Pies next week!
If we can pull off a win then finals are looking VERY good!

PROS

Too many to mention.. But the ones that stand out for me
Russell, becoming such a reliable defender.
Yarran, just amazing. Proving the doubters wrong. Once in a decade talent.
Lucas, a real find this year.

And the rest are just the usual suspects, pretty much the whole team actually


CONS

The only real con is AW's injury. Hopefully its not too bad. Had hit some awesome form in the game and a half before it happened.
Hendo's confidence down but still presented. I'm sure he'll make it becaus he has the right attitude and works hard.
Mclean had a few clangers, but was good in close.
Murph started red hot but faded.
Really hard to find cons

Honestly though, the umps weren't too bad. Compared to most weeks.. well, this was certainly one of the better ones.

_________________

Pros:

Big win against the best team in the last 3 years...
Judd...where would we be without this man....easily the best player in the comp..
The run from HB in the last 2 weeks has made such a difference..
Players given the confidence to run...static footy does not suit us...

Cons:

The biggest con is 1AW

_________________
"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

Pros:

Great day in wonderful conditions watching exciting football and beating a quality team
Judd!!!!!
Our defence. FINALLY picking a side w run and carry and take on the opposition. Armfield, Gibbs (finally at HB), Lucas along with Jamo, White and Walker look fantastic and will worry any opposition.
The three amigo's. So much improvement in them but doing a good job already.
JR on Stevie J. Wanted the job and did it magnificently!
Disposal. So much better when we pick the right side and play with run, dash and confidence.
Depth - We have Waite, Bower, Austin, Jacobs, Hampson, Grigg, Hadley, Johnson, Robinson who at their best could add to that side.

Cons: (more like observations for improvement)

Walkers injury (Sad for him and a loss for us. )
Warnock - doing bits and pieces and needs time. Jacobs putting pressure on him for second ruck spot.
McLean - Need to watch replay but looked extremely slow and disposal awful.
Setanta - works hard but runs to wrong positions and poor contested mark.
Henderson - probably his worst game for us but still has it IMO just needs time.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015