..team article mentioning the ins and outs has Bower out for quad injury, also mentions that he's torn both left and right quad over the year..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

HUN game review also talks about Brisbane only winning 1 out of 8 (1 out of 9) since Round 5. basically they're in rubbish form, are rubbish, and if we can't beat them without Brown and Fevola, we would be a shocking football team.

Ratten urges Blues: let's get physical
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/r ... -zmsv.html

More interestingly:

Carlton still to prove its heavy-mettle credentials
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/c ... -zmsu.html

I agree with Jake's article.
I don't question the ability of the team we can mix it with the best of them on our terms. It is when the game is not played on our terms that we struggle to cope and shift momentum.
In all our losses you could see pretty well early on whether it was going to be a struggle.

Okay so no Sugar, a bit strange. I do like the fact though that supporters are aghast at his demotion. A lovely link up player that puts his head over the ball. And all in his first year, the 'meringue'. (A meringue is a little Pav isn't it?)

Glad they stuck with Army. He has the right attitude and will be that 95% true truism in footy that you need 50+ games. And this isn't just a Bondi thing...

Good to see the Hammer back. Thought he might have got a game a week or so ago, not in place of Sauce though. Don't mind the Sauce. Personally I don't understand, the 'they must play Warnock because of what we gave up for him.' Surely the selectors pick the team that they think will win, every week? And as for wasting selections on Warnock, well, we are sitting here with 4 ruck men that could play in almost any side in the AFL, well done recruiting team.

Bower, is this the 4th time he has missed with a quad?

As for O'hAilpeeeen, he was the glimmer of hope through the very dark times and after the rest, he will be ready to start some foooking hitting.

Go Blues by 22 points ( I am not greedy this week, I just want to smile tomorrow morning)

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Yazz - The only way is up

+1 and don't deserve to play finals, end of story.

+1 and i'll be livid with Ratts & Co

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C'mon Blueboys!

Jake Niall article is spot on, and one of the most balanced articles i've read for a long time. Sheesh.

As long as we can stop Brennan from having one of his "party" nights, we should win. Lose, and...........

Could be a number of reasons why Lucas is out. Has be been training? Has he been training well? Has he had that stomach bug that is going around. That would leave him fatigued and not ready for AFL. Is his fitness down? Is he going to be a late inclusion?

I still see both teams as even. We have big outs and so do they. Both teams out of form. Anything could happen tonight !

Go Blues !

i got it

We'll smash 'em. Seriously smash 'em.

They are shit, and will stay shit for YEARS !

Judd BOG !!

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Go to http://www.snoutslouts.org/ for a look at the mighty GFC...

+1

Balanced and considered piece by Niall. And it actually appears as if he's done some research and talked to some people from the club.

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STURDYISM!!

+1 - lose this game and we will become the laughing stock of the AFL, even Richmond beat them at the Gabba.

Also be pissed off if we get 4-5 goals up and take the foot of the pedal like the WCE game.

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31-3-2015 - R.I.P AFL, corrupted lying pricks
12-5-2015 - Go WADA
18-8-2015 - Suffer Hird* u lying flower
12-1-2016 - CAS goes bang, happy new year.. Drugcheats forever..

More interestingly:

Carlton still to prove its heavy-mettle credentials
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/c ... -zmsu.html[/quote]

Article pretty much spot on. Matches in well with the view that we've been poor in contested possession in 1st quarters. Interesting we are winning in close, but losing 50/50s around the ground. May possibly be because we just aren't playing on from marks and kicking to advantage - against Freo the Dockers played on many more times, can't remember the exact stat, but a big discrepancy. I think that "bit of adventure(confidence??)" and bit of mongrel is all we need

Believe we recruited Brock for the "mongrel" but in hindsight could have saved pick 11 and taken the hard nut Ball at the end of draft. Brock might still be OK, but he does look slow, hard to exert physical pressure if you can't catch anyone

Whilst Carrots might be a good tagger, he's not a hard nut IMO and not the answer to the problems, but has as spot in the side.

Hoping Murph helps with contested possession (as Black will kill us as usual) and we play on at all opportunities. If so we are just too quick.

4+ goal win and I'd be rapped " "

Go Blues

Why does Ratts always happily discuss our key focus/approach in the media pre-game?

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"I had to eat"

They're very generalised comments which in all honesty the opposition will be already mindful of.

I think the boys will come out breathing fire tonight. Hoping they keep within the rules by not giving away silly frees and instead focus on the hard ball and working unselfishly for their team mates.

Go Blues!!

Things I would like to see tonight:

- Tackling and shepherding
- Handball only to players who are in a GOOD position and not about to get smashed
- Fast corridor footy
- Setanta to have a good game
- Hendo to kick a bag
- No clusterf*ck at Southern Cross station post game.

But if none of that happens and we still win that will be OK too.

So far The Oracle is not getting any coffee table books made.
However....I am predicting a rampaging CARROTS tonite..
dunno why.
Go Blues!

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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.”

Sounds like a C grade horror flick!

'Mrs' Gilly would probably hire it