Also remember posters in 2006-7-8 saying window opening in 3 years time after our rebuild, that would put 2011 well and truly in the picture. Now the same posters are telling us 2013+ ... hmmmmmm

.............?


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

If Carlton were to play in the 2011 grand final it wo'nt be against the aints, they will be too mentally shot.

If Carlton were to play in the 2011 grand final it wo'nt be against the aints, they will be too mentally shot.

Not often I disagree with you Josh, but this is one of those times.

I specifically put into the heading for the poll a > 25% chance of winning a flag. To me, finishing top 4 should be our aim for next year, and I would be disappointed (but actually not surprised) if we didn't. However, while anyone in the top 4 has a chance, history shows that most of the time, you can pick a top 4 team and confidently say that they won't win the flag. The Dogs where that this year, Collingwood the previous year, St K in 2008, North 2007 etc.

We are a long way off a Premiership team in terms of our key position players. Jamison is good to very good, but needs to be better. We don't have a CHB. I think Henderson will be a star, but he is 2-3 years away, and Waite at the moment is our fill-in FF. He could become a star FF, as early as next year.

IMHO, we should be aiming for top 4 in 2011, and may or may not make it. We should definitely make it in 2012, but I still think we will be a year away (we could get lucky of course, as Hawthorn did). For me, 2013 represents the year when we will be a realistic chance to win the flag. Maybe that does mean that our window opens in 2012, but I don't think we are a realistic shot until 2013.

Having said that, we have one thing in our favour. More than likely, Geel, St K and the Dogs will go backwards. Collingwood should actually improve, likewise Freo. Hawthorn are an unknown. So we may be timing our run nicely, provided we can get in before GC (which may actually end up with the best team ever to play the game).

Oh, and while I'm on a late night waffle...

I thought we might have missed the boat when we were down, and didn't trade for more draft picks the way Hawthorn did. I have felt since then that our list may not become what it needs to become to win a flag. However, from what I have read, this draft has alleviated that. I suspect this draft may go down in history as the one that netted us a Premiership (hopefully more than 1) in the same way that the 2004 draft did for Hawthorn.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

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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.”

Therefore, if Carlton were to play the Aints in a GF we would be Premiers in 2011.

Look, I don't think we will be Premiers in 2011. I will put $100 or more on it though, but I'll hedge my bets and back them to play in a GF, Top 4 and Top 8, with a fair bit of dosh on the Top 8. That's betting.

Now, over to The Old Dak Navy Blues.
The ball is in their court; improvement is expected from everyone.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

It depends who the other 3 teams are....

Doggies have been top 4 a couple of times haven't they? But as far as I was concerned they never had a Window because they just weren't good enough....

We have just recruited 2 talented KPB that our list was in dire need of.... and you expect our window to open in their debut year?

I've always maintained that our window will be when our high picks...like Gibbs, Murph, Kruez and what not will be fully mature and grown men. You have to remember we had no nucleus when we started having all these high picks. These high picks will become our nucleus from which to build upon and then our window will open....anything sooner and I'll be mighty surprised.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Maybe its a bit semantic about what it means to have the window ajar or opened.

We've played finals for a couple of years with expectations of taking the next step so we hare obviously in the mix.

All I'm rapped about is the fact that I can honestly get to any game next season and feel mildly confident of coming away with a win.

Thats not to say that I expect we will win every match but at least know we have the 'nucleus' of what it takes to get the four points.

What a great feeling to have for the first time in a long time...

If that means the window is open, fantastic!!!

If we don't in the flag in 2011, then I'm not gonna get miserable about it. I just wanna enjoy the ride..

going it in the first week of the finals may be a blessing...
No expectations when in reality only slight improvement is needed to give us a shot in 2011

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

The board was of the opinion that Fev would never play in a Premiership at Carlton.

That is why they had no trouble moving him on. They 100% believe that we are still rebuilding.

Looks like we have finally got a handle on list management. Now we need some luck.

I'm not sure the Scotlands, Houlihans, Josephs or the Jamisons will be part of that either.... But time will tell!

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

I can't really offer an opinion. I recall at the end of 2003 I, & others, saying our window would open in 2005

Been a bit burnt ever since...

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#DonTheStash

You might be right Ayresy!

You were right didnt we win the Nab cup in 2005?

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You heard it here first!

Yep, 2 flags under Pagan!

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#DonTheStash