Betts played good.

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

Doesn't he play for Sydney?

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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.

At half time the Blues were going well and there were 7 or 8 players that had done more for the Blues to get the team infront than Juddy. Yes Juddy had a great last quarter but so did Hammer, Robbo, Ed Curnow, Gibbo, Scotto, 206, Walker and Murphy.

Juddy is a 100%, A Grade star of the game. We all know it. So is Buddy, Hodge, Baby Gazza, Goddard and many others. They win games for teams and that is why they are Stars. But they have 21 mates who help out along the way. The entire argument is pointless as far as I can see.

Murphy and Gibbo and Robbo couldn't have done much more to help Juddy out to get the Club the win.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Positives--

Judd and Murphy leading the way with clearances, excellent clearance work support from robbo, curnow, knockers and gibbs

Good Ruck Duo, works well as ruck/fwd partnership.. ..both knockers and hammer are also usually straighter kicks as well, they won't kick as poorly with the same chances in the future..

Not many touches, but for a debut i thought Duigan's attack on the ball and running to present an option was firstclass

Robbo, could see him as a potential inside mid, but never thought he could get that much of the ball, last out a game, and do it all so soon.. ..awesome inside work, uncompromising sort that just goes after the ball.. ..seems wired for that inside contested work, rather than roaming out in space..

Laidler looks like he's gonna suit our backline and how we want it to function very well..

Simpson and Scotland's consistency

small/med fwd line of betts, garlett and walker has serious speed/agility..with the congested stoppages, the rushed kick/bomb wildly into fwd 50 space will suit these 3s ability to pounce upon the loose ball and work it between them for a goal

more to mention.....

the petty man in me wants to thank grigg for his two assists as well.. ..as we know, can get the ball but still prefers to play very uncontested/outside when his kicking and decision making, plus build would deem him to be more inside


Negatives--

Yaz as a BP.. ..i reckon that back 50, especially deep,, makes it very very difficult to break a tag since usually the best way to break a tag is to work thru it/run them off.. ..and you cant really do that as a defender since ultimately yer gotta mind your opponent.. ..i understand the reasoning behind wanting to utilise him there, but think if he played Wing he could roam, and can always run back to help the defense work the ball forward, and out on a wing he can run off a tag and doesnt need to play as accoutable as a defender does.. ..not potting his game so much, i think it's gonna come down to more how he's utilised by the coaches in this role, vs how Yaz performs..

3rd quarter, tigers' dominance just went on too long.. ..them playing a bit better for a quarter sure.. ..but we were getting overrun, for that long is unacceptable..

Thornton.. ..i firmly believe that his greatest strength as a player now hinges upon his ability to read the incoming play, as the 3rd man up..he's good for spoiling that way, vs one on one contested bodywork.. ..i also believe that it's far too easy to play through his man this way and that for all his good service, modern day footy is beginning to show him up unfortunately.. ..couldn't help in the 3rd quarter, and it wwasnt until he played in front [in the 'hole'] in the 4th that he was able to be effective.. ..may have provided a target up fwd in the 3rd, can be a good mark and with our mids his good marking/avg fwd presence would get plenty of opportunity.. ..probably becoming more a potential depth fwd rather than back with watson/mcarthy getting developed and new recruits duigan/laidler

honestly not too many cons.. ..considered first half goal kicking, but difficult conditions last night, and one of those funky nights where for a half we kick poorly, and a bottom four team with shizen kicking skills are all crack aces in front of goals.. ..but it's round 1, working off the preseason rust.. ..dont wanna see it next week though..

sub rule.. ..i dont mind, and am actually a fan of both the concussion rule and the sub injury rule.. ..it's just i think having only 1 player to sub in is silly.. ..i'd basically carry the emergencies before the match into the match as the sub bench, and then you choose your 1 player off the sub bench.. ..that way you can bring in a runner, ruck, kpp..

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

It was clear to me that Curnow didn't know the song....it's not unusual for a new player. I look out for silly stuff like that.....All his shennanigans and the stuff in his eyes...all that was an effort to get out of sing ing it and disguise it...

The two others struggled also...

No issue.

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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

Excellent points Caz.
Can everyone please take a chill pill and stop listening to the morons in the media who are more interested in pointing to insignificant comments such as this, just to highlight there incompetence of picking us to finish outside the 8!
If Franklin had a last quarter as Judd did and won the game for Hawthorn, they would be hailing him, as per usual. Juddy is a champ and I for expect him to rise when we require him too and prove this over and over again! I LOVE IT AS WELL becuase it's hurting them watching it occur.

Have only seen the last quarter and a highlights package which quickly became a lowlights package watching Waite kick McGuane. Although I love what he brings to our team he's clearly not the brightest crayon in the box. Deserves a couple of weeks for being a moron.

This was always a danger game with the guys we had missing. I'm surprised that Richmond seem to be the team whose character has been enhanced by Thursday night, they were pathetic in the last quarter with the game in their grasp.

Positives

Backs: Duigan Laidler Russell

Mids: Judd Murphy Gibbs Robinson Curnow Armfield Simpson and Scotland (in the 4th)

Rucks: Warnock and Hampson (really excited with some signs Hammer showed in the real stuff)

Fwds: Betts Garlett Walker

Improvement to come from: Carrazzo Yarran and a few cobwebs off the others too.

Won withthe whole spine missing: Jamison Bower Kreuzer Henderson Waite

Won with good players missing: Houlihan McLean Ellard

Won in the last quarter with 1 injured/subbed, 3 tiring interchange, a short forwardline and 15 points down in the last...to win by 20 points; that's a 6 goal turnaround. Impressive to say the least.

The forward press in the first half was AMAZING.

The 4 points. Never say die attitude.

We won as a team determined to win.

Never say die.

Negatives:

Not many that a real game situation can't fix

Bombing the ball in forwardline and no talls present or presenting at times.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

+ve
- Judd/Murph/GIBBS dominated
- First half our press was very effective
- Warnock and Hampson will cause headaches for teams this year (then throw Kreuz into the mix)
- Laidler and Duigan both did well in trying circumstances, as did White. Tigers plan would always be to bomb it to Jack, so these guys were in the firing line from the start. Laidler in particular looks very versatile and a great pickup for us
- Curnow. I expect many who had man-love for Joseph a couple of years ago will give it to Ed now. Great debut, and if he played for Ess/Coll there would be a feelgood story in the paper for all to see. Some are talking about "the next Barlow", but if he turns out to be half the player I'll be rapted
- Eddie and Jeff stood up and showed how you pressure a defense. Eddie in particular was always dangerous.
- We won with no spine (Jamo/Bower/Hendo/Waite)
- We stood up and brought the goods when it mattered most
- Robbo played a great game (but also see -ve)
- We should have Bower and Hendo back for the Suns
- We have 4 pts to start the year

-ve
- Kicking for goal. I know it was wet and windy, but FFS ( the fact they couldn't miss either just made it worse)
- Waite: I'm really sick of his shit. Possibly the most valuable player in this team, and always getting himself in the shit.
- Yarran: When he got tagged, seemed disinterested. He got a good run and space aplenty in the pre-season, but he now has to expect someone to tail him wherever he goes. Hopefully he'll learn from it.
- Again it was on Judd's back that we stormed home. Time for someone else to take this role now and then.
- Walker: STOP GOING FOR @#$%&! MOTY EVERY TIME!!!
- Communication: 2-3 guys regularly spoiling each other, no-one at the fall of the ball. This has been a problem for a long time and looks like nothing's changed. How hard is it to have 1 small guy standing next to one big guy so they can get what he drops?
- Hammer needs to work on soft hands. FFS Shaun, you've got Meg warmed up for you, practice this technique!
- Dumb play. Bombing on top of Betts/Garlett's heads. Another thing that hasn't changed.
- Support: FFS Shepperd, block, crumb. Help your teammate out!
- Jack Riewoldt should NEVER be left 1on1 in an open forward line. This IMO was a coaching mistake. The loose man wasn't brought in til the last qtr. Too slow to counter this.
- 3rd quarter was one of the worst I've seen us play in a long time. We must improve or any finals quality side (let alone top 4) will destroy us. I know we lost our structure, but our decision-making was atrocious.
- Tackling: Woeful. The number of times we tackled yet they still had all the time in the world to handball, was appalling.
- Thornton: Not up to it anymore.
- Robbo needs to stop slamming the ball on his boot everytime he gets it
- K-Dog seems way down on confidence. I don't know what's happened.
- Kane shouldn't have played. He needs to go back to the 2's and get some touch back.
- We almost lost to Richmond. We need to improve in all areas, or else we'll be smashed by better teams (and if we lose to Essendon* I'll be @#$%&! homicidal)

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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

The argument is pointless to you because you don't agree. It's your opinion and I respect that. From my perspective, not enough experienced players and very high draft picks have consistently impacted significantly on the result anywhere near as much as most Carlton supporters would like them to. Supporting Judd and taking the game by the neck are two totally different issues. Look at last year's B&F and Brownlow (and with Judd playing 3 less games)

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

What you say is true but you are talking about pre the 2011 season and as of game 1 Murphy and Gibbs have already shown that they are well on the way to taking that extra step.

I don't agree with you post because Murphys first half was exceptional and 1 of the reasons we were in front and should have been further. Gibbs 2nd quarter was also very, very good. Up until then Juddy had just been okay. Yes he had a great last quarter but it has to be seen in respect to the rest of the game. Juddy wasn't alone in having a good last quarter and as I said 7 or 8 others helped get the win. The impact of Curnow and Robbo at the coal face in the last allowed Juddy to get free a few times so maybe some kudos should go to their efforts as well.

The rest are stepping up and Juddy will get the support he needs.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

well put Cazz.

99 prelim....i agree we need to see more from everyone other than Judd.

however, this is 2011, and after one game into the season we have others who should be considered in the best 3 for the blues - certainly Murphy, Curnow and Gibbs should be up there. lets have this discussion after another 5 rounds.

if we have any chance of being well placed after a competitive rounds 3 to 6, it wont be because Captain Marvel is our best every week..

LB and Cazz. I am so hoping/wishing/praying that 2011 is the 'breakout' year for Gibbs. I remember Goddard taking about 4-5 seasons. To me, Gibbs could be another Goddard. 2011-2012 will tell us a lot about his standing in the comp. As for Murph, I absolutely love him - although if his footskills were a bit cleaner he would be an A grader now.
Personally, after Judd, I reckon Simmo's our next best barometer in the middle.
Anyway, I'm chomping at the bit to see how we fare against those cashed up bogans on April 8.

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Dunno 99, I don't think Gibbs is angry enough to be another Goddard, that bloke has a permanent scowl on his face, and frankly I reckon I would too if I had to play that shit gameplan for that shit club.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

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"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

With that shit hair cut as well!

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We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion.

..the Gibbs don't like to get their knees dirty too much, but what a great 'mark and kick' player.. .... ..how's someone like him get so loose in the middle/as an on-baller..?.. ..he's got a real knack for getting free.. ..very clever..

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

Really benefits from being the 3rd mid to be honest

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

+

4 points up on St.kilda

-

not 4 points up on Dons

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NG
S M C , S F L

other than the Pies..there isnt much out there...

Looks like a big midfield group is essential as a lot of teams arent running out games well.. This is our biggest advantage...