I remember as a kid being sick of the dark period between 89-92. My first final was the first night final against Essendon* in 93, what a game that was!

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Just thought I would close the loop on this one - whilst we hate the Blues losing the young Dardews first final was memorable - especially as it was in enemy territory -about 8 rows from the front -surrounded by Blues Tragics-They were still disappointed Sunday over the los but didnt deter them wearing their Carlton hat on Caloundra beach Sunday

Really disappointed we couldnt hang on and the Blues contingent behind the vulture street end goals did everything in our power to get the boys home -all devastated in the end after Bradshaw shut his eyes and kicked that last goal in hope

It was a great match and those who are de-crying the efforts of the team they shouldnt be - it will be a defining experience for Murph Gibbs Kreuzer Hampson Joseph Grigg walker Armfield Bower gartlett- it will be also defining event for our young coach

The team was brave and gallant but ultimately not good enough - but the signs are there


Dont lose faith I saw in 2007 a young Hawthorn team lose to the Kangas at the G in a finals match they should have won - not suggesting that we will immediately have the success they did but it was similar on Saturday night - We need to win more games so we arent in those knock out finals interstate

GO BLUES

Good on you Frank!
Go blues!!
bring on 2010.

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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.”

Interesting when you look at St Kilda and the 2008 AFL ladder and how it compares to our season.

WINS LADDER POSITION FOR AGST %
St Kilda (2008 season) 13 4th 2126 1923 110.56
Carlton (2009 season) 13 7th 2270 2055 110.46

St Kilda (2009 season) 20 1st 2197 1411 155.7


To achieve that percentage we would need to save a goal a quarter ... achievable.

I also grew up in that time, thinking how bad it was, little did I know what was to follow.....

The door to finals progress on 2009 opened for a while and was then slammed shut.

The young blueman was getting ready for the Footscray finals match. But I was cautioning him against celebrating prematurely - I warned that Brisbane would come back.

I did think at the time that we would escape with a narrow victory.

But there will be other finals appearances with this group of players.

It is unwise to become depressed about that loss.

As it turned out if we had won, we would have faced a 2009 finals series without Chris Judd.

This prospect would be one that would have led to more depression.

Better defence against players like Bradshaw, preferably with a player that can play forward or back would have saved us - so a weakness has been highlighted and will be one of a number of things that to work on over summer.

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My Blue Heaven

Now 36 months on from the Kreuzer Cup and playing in our second finals serious in a row

It is also interesting to note that last years final side included stevens cloke fevola (all gone)wiggins houlihan kreuzer and thorton so the side we put out on the park on sunday is significantly different from that one

It is still exciting as always for the Blues to be in the finals no matter where it is and irrespective of whether we got in the 8 by percentage -wouldnt be great to have a final in Melbourne -if we win this one we are there - imagine the fillip it would provide to our young group

Im going on Sunday to Sydney with the young Dardew who was devastated after the Kreuzer cup (see earlier post) to cheer on our exciting young team who on their day can beat anyone - we are hoping the good Carlton come to play this week

Hoping for a break out performance from a couple of our young ones ie robbo jeffy yarran hendo gibbs murphy to get us across the line

We havent reached the top echelon yet but are building -its been a rollercoaster of a season but much better this week preparing for finals than simply hoping the Carringbush dont win the flag

GO BLUES

Great stuff Frank.

Go Blues!!!!

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

Goodonya Frank!.....hope you have that winning feeling on the way home from the steak and kidney.........

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

GO BLUEBOYS!!
Have a great time Frank.

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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.”

Hope the Dardews have a great day Frank. Might bump into you too.

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4 years is a long time in footy as well.

WCE
Premiers 2006
Wooden Spoon 2010

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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..

I don't want to keep the faith, I want to back my own judgement even at the risk of being wrong.

It's not the end of the world, we've been better, we've been worse but that's exactly what worries me. I want to see evidence that we have a plan and that we are not simply relying on faith.

I think we have reached the quandary where we are acknowledging the fact that we are one of currently sixteen clubs with just as much chance as anyone, especially given the fact that we've had so many high draft picks and Judd. In other words - danger signs. The difference between success and failure may end up being a hair's breadth. If it turns out to be the latter then people will automatically suggest that we had done the right thing regardless. I don't want luck, I want vigilance.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Look unfortunately we are not the most likely club to succeed going fwd, and we are just 1 of 16 clubs.
Gone are the days that you can write any club (maybe except Roos who can't compete financially atm )
We are not close to being the best funded club and it's highly unlikely we ever will be when Adelaide and WA are 2 team towns.
This era will see plenty of very cashed up teams with some having better management and footy depts at various times.
Freo has more members than us already.
You reckon all Carlton's history helps win a flag today ?
Nice memories but what the Blues were doing before the players were born really doesn't have much impact once they run over the white line.

You can't compare AFL clubs to American franchises, where paying over the salary is aloowed but requires the team to make a financial contribution that goes to the lower teams.

But that's exactly my point. We can't just think we are a chance because of the Carlton brand and because fate has dealt us a small handfull of players with a bit of a reputation. However, we've been dealt a better hand than a lot of other clubs of late but I don't believe it is good enough to rest on.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

I think keeping the faith is what it is all about and is essential to being a supporter not a theatre goer -going when rationally you are not going to win -when you don't make the finals for 8 years -going when you aren't going to win but looking for a glimmer of something from a player -aportent to the future
Keeping the faith /loving the brand thinking perhaps irrationally that my football club is the best in the world is why I'm heading up to Sydney tomorrow
I'm happy to be rational all week but when it comes to my footy team I'm not and I don't want to be
Having said all that we do have a plan -we do have a great future- looking at the teams yesterday playing finals our average age was the youngest and number of games played was the lowest -even younger than Freo who everyone lauds as a young team
Its hard to win premierships and you need luck we all know I still think we are on the right track and I'm keeping the faith its what I have always done and tomorrow at 2.40 in Sydney I will be daring to dream
GO Blues

Each to their own but the love of a football club is not like the love of a person, for instance. There is even some conditions on that - you wouldn't let them take a knife to you, for starters.

I don't care if we win a premiership or not as long as I think 'we' are doing the right thing by the club and its supporters. I take everything as it comes, even if I'm known for the occasional tantrum. Anyway, aren't these kinds of threads a few days premature?

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Frankie's right.

Paf's wrong.




Of course, that is only in my opinion.


Have a great day Frank, and regardless of the outcome... YAY BLUES!!!!

Purrrrrrfect.

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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.”

I agree with Paf.

36 months is way way way too premature, by a few days.