I am sure I am not alone in this thought, but I feel like the whole footy world is waiting/hoping for us to fail (as evidenced by the fact Gold Coast have 44% of Herald Sun tips, more hoping I think). I can think of a few reasons for this:

- We are disliked generally, and there aren't enough Carlton people in the media to balance it out (unlike Collingwood and Essendon*)

- Following on from the first point, most people dont think we are much good and just carried along by Judd, think the clubs and fans expectations are unrealistic, and media hacks are ready to pounce and say 'I told you so, they are no good, they sold the farm to get Judd. Stupid arrogant Carlton trying to buy a premiership' or some random rant like that which ignores the fact there is a salary cap.

- Following on from the first 2 points, as Ratten is under pressure and everyone knows about it, other supporters are salivating at the prospect of an implosion or blood letting down at Carlton. A loss to a supposed lower side like Gold Coast will have many in the media and football public getting very moist indeed.

- As we are not rubbish anymore, we get no sympathy as being a young side on the rise who people may be excited about. We got a bit of that in 2008, but by early 2009 expectations had increased to the point if we were less than looking like a top 4 side, we have been constantly criticised ever since. Melbourne still haven't under-achieved in peoples expectations as yet, hense the good will. Also they are a smaller, not hated club.

A perfect example of warped perception came in 2009, I remember after Essendon* flogged us in Round 13, it was all 'BLUES NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR FINALS'. We then promptly won most of our matches from then on, culminating with a late season win over Port, where I remember the gist of the article saying 'The Blues are not top 4 material'.

In summary, anything less than a convincing win this week, will have people questioning us. We aren't going to get any leway from externally, which is fine I guess. Its always been that way.

Good post Adam.

Yes everyone is hoping for us to fall, and hoping GC beat us.

We must be switched on.................

Even Carlton supporters in the media, ie Walls, Lane, and Maher try to be politically correct most of the time and be careful not to show biased towards Carlton and almost go the other way. The other media dont, so why do they.

Only person who is biased in a good way to us is Hughesy.

Yeah but Hughesy isn't a footy journo.

Adam's made some good points. It will only be when we win another flag that we gain back the respect. Until then, people will just be waiting for us to fail so they can pounce excitedly.

_________________
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.”

Where they got a good measuring of education.

_________________
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.”

The media building up the Gold Coast could be a blessing as our boys wont go into the game complacent. I hate it when we get built up before a game just like in previous years prior to playing the Scum.

I will be there tomorrow night cheering the boys......

after we win the 4 points tomorrow night, either by a lot or a little, the game will be consigned to history

only dusted off, if after innumerable early picks and hundreds of millions of $ are spent propping them up until providence in the future grant this 'franchise' their first cup.

may that time be a long way off and AD be continuously reminded of this folly (and the one coming around next year) for the rest of this term within the AFL and thereafter.

the money would have been better spent on getting a team from Tassy so we are truly a national competition and then ensuring the Clubs and the future of aussie rules rather than the 'brand' flourished


I go to support my Club and support a healthy, viable competition .... not the ambition of others/.

Go Blues !

_________________
NG
S M C , S F L

Watched a few minutes of TFS last night whilst some tosser from HS was on and at one stage he was holding up the “5 year plan” the club released earlier this year and mentioned how Carlton expect to win 2 premierships by 2015.

That drew a lot of laughs from all in the studio!
A snapshot of where people see our club really...

_________________
C'mon Blueboys!

I'm expecting the umpiring to be on par with our Rd 22 game against Freo last year.

Almost cannoned into JUDD!, Hampson and Jamo on the corner of Edward and Adelaide street this arvo. Luckily, no injuries

Today's HS has the Suns at 21% and Carlton at 79% to win.....I don't know where you got the above figures?????

_________________
No ones listening till you make a mistake.

As Collingwood are arguably a 5 goal better a side than us, and the only side I'd consider us not being able to beat by playing to our strengths?

Is Hampson doing enough as a part time forward to both deny Hendo a spot in the team or drop Watson ahead of after one game?

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

I think something was happening off camera to draw that kind of laughter.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

I think you might see Watson, White & Thornton all disappear for round 3 if Bower & Henderson are right to go. While it happens to be a tall defence vs. a likely tall GC forward line, it's also our form/fit defence. As for Hammer, he could have easily kicked 3 the other night, and he wasn't alone there.

We've gone down this negative road before with player assignments and it ultimately hurts us. We just need to keep developing well rounded footballers who can play both ways. Defenders who attack from HB, midfielders who can run forward & drop back, and forwards who apply defensive pressure; that's the way the game is played now.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

We Will Smash Them! Sick of this talk about us not going to win.. we will win 2morow night and make top 4!!!
GOOOO BLUUEESSS!!!!

Exactly.........and when the Krueze missile comes back we'll have 3

Let's see em stop us them

_________________
I see you watching me watching you.

Where has this myth come from that we need to play more than one ruck sprung from?

Cox played a lone hand last week (admittedly against midgets), Sandilands very rarely has support when fully fit, Mumford is going it alone this week, the Dogs decided to go with Hudson solo last week instead of playing Minson or Roughead, meanwhile I think Leigh Brown's contributions in the ruck are seriously overrated due to his tremendous upside in being able to play just about anywhere, it's essentially Jolly for 80% of the game.

Essentially, I think a lot of the instantly dismissive idea that the earth is not round, and that two rucks must be played comes from all three of our rucks having cost a pretty penny, and that we want it to happen, rather than believing it makes good sense.

Would we be hailing the necessity of two rucks if we had a tall utility that had proven his worth to pinch hit in the ruck? (i.e Setanta, but actually good in the ruck), imagine if Waite or Henderson had proven their worth in this measure? Hampson becomes an afterthought.

On the other hand though, if the much hyped concept of Kreuzer becoming our Goodes, and a ruck secondary, or perhaps even a ruck at a worst case scenario, then the point is probably moot.

I agree with Jimmae, that White/Thornton/Watson is a hot favourite to be the trifecta of ommissions for the Collingwood game, barring injuries, but from a playing development scenario, why drop Watson after one game/why pick him for just one game? Would it not be beneficial to Watson's development to play against the reigning premiers/arch rivals in front of a packed MCG than not? (and lets not pretend for a minute that the development of perhaps our best young tall prospect since....shit....Sticks? isn't important)

Basically you're left with three options already for next week, barring someone falling over. Drop Watson, Keep Hendo in the twos for another week, or drop Hampson. Four options, if you include the idea of the one extra tall, which isn't going to happen.

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

I'm not overly convinced we will beat them.
They're a young side first game in and they will be full of confidence - the 'nothing to lose' type mentality could work against them or work in their favour.

A real dicey game and a little nervous but somewhat confident.

Our midfield should prove far too powerful going into the final quater.

We need as much momentum as possible until we meet Collingwood.

Go Blues.

I would have thought Watson & Henderson are equally important in the development stakes, but Watson can be afforded a bit more time. In reality, he's only there because a bunch of other names are missing. We'll probably see Thornton playing forward in this game.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

If you were to put 12 first gamers into the Collingwood team, we would absolutely, monstrously, categorically destroy them. Even if Swan, Dids, Cloke, Ball, Jolly, AK, Pendles, Whatsisface, the dude with the tuft under his bottom lip, & the gallopy guy were playing - we would still gigantically, unforgettably, bullyingly obliterate them.

So what on earth has got people nervous about a brand new team with a novice coach in a neutral venue with underdone stars?

Seriously, they're first gamers. And their star first gamer has never, ever played AFL before (probably why he's a first gamer).

They didn't even finish top four in the VFL. THE VFL!!!

Goodness me.

_________________
"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."