There was one insane moment I think was in the 3rd quarter where Robbo absolutely launched himself at a contested ground ball which ended with a goal to us. Inspirational stuff.

Pros
- Saw my first ever victory over Sydney (in person)
- Saw myself on the TV (several times)
- Judd - 25+ contested possessions
- Fought hard and held on
- Jamison
- Duigan - not much style but very effective player, cool head
- Team defence
- Seeing the benefit of bigger and more mature bodies - tackles stick and it's


Cons
- Waite's ill-discipline
- Armfield's ill-discipline (though he was otherwise good when he came on)
- Russell - though to be fair he was limping from about 1/2 way through the 1st quarter
- Goodes' play acting - not conduct becoming of a Brownlow medallist

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

co-sign.

And I thing Sydney got it wrong bringing in Pyke and having Everitt as the sub. We were definittely covreing the ground better by the end of the game. Strange decisions by them.

Pros-
Judd, that's the best game I've seen him play for us. His last qtr was superb, especially given the conditions. I was in awe... Unbelievable

Eddie, well done after being down, need to keep up that intensity

Setanta, excellent move by Ratts bringing him in over Hammer, I thought he was critical creating a contest and rucking, excellent first up game

Gibbs, I've been very critical of his effort, but it seems he loves a big job on a good player, great defensive game on Goodes

Jamo - super back there, really good dash and reading the ball well

Top team effort in conditions that I thought would have suited the swans

Cons - waite needs to stop giving away stupid frees

- getting caught on the rebound with no defenders back

- Russell needs to lift

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Matty Kruzer you star!

If it wasn't for Robbo doing that kind of thing, we would have lost. People talk about Judd, and yes he was great, but Judd was supported by the sheer grunt of Robbo.

Another CON:
It might have been 18 years since our last win in Sydney, but it's only been seven matches. That's about one every 3 years. Nice support for Sydney supporters.....

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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.

and Ellard and Curnow

PROS
Did Juddy just play the best wet weather game ever by a human being?
Great old fashioned slog like we hardly get anymore, not everyone played well but we had no passengers
Best win since the Saints game last year. We have started well as we did last year. The challenge now is to build rather than slump.
Curnow, great pick up, with he and Ellard, Brock will struggle to break in
Defence especially Jamo and Laidlaw
Gibbs, I have been a critic but good tonight ag a superstar in Goodes. Played smart wet weather footy
Walker lively
Betts and Garlett
Setanta. I'm a fan but he gave a great contest and his ruckwork was pretty good. Hope he can keep it up. And ran it out well on little prep.

CONS
Waite gave away about 5 stupid, pointless frees. Why does he do it?
In the first half too many guys thought they were indoors at Etihad. Wet weather footy - get it forward any old how, don't finesse. (at least that's what I was saying in the first half)
Difficult night for big guys but thought Warnock really struggled ag Mumford.
Pity didn't we get another 20 games into that old battler Bruce Reid, then we would have got the Swans and Woods Reids who both look talents.

Maybe the Swans adjusted more quickly to the conditions because they've been training all week in the wet.

Pro:

The performances of both Curnow & Mcglynn. Nice work Hawthorn

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#DonTheStash

He... and Kennedy

Frustration. He was scragged and bashed all night, for no reward from the umps, yet every move he made was scrutinised minutely. Not defending him, but can't say I entirely blame him.

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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.

That was a great roar when walker goaled in the 4th qtr.

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#DonTheStash

Agree KK. Not only was the umpiring a disgrace last night and so obviously biased towards Sydney but the treatment of Waite was more than disgraceful, it was insulting. We need to highlight this and get a please explain from them this week. Put them under the tourch!

I didn't have an issue with any of his frees, except the fact he gave them away.

Other players were adjusting their movements and actions to avoid giving away frees (eg not sliding in when heads were down), he couldn't/wouldn't. The issue lies with him and him alone. If he's frustrated - suck it up. He's hardly going to help himself or the team by rag-dolling blokes, making front on contact in marking contests etc.

We would get laughed at if we sent in a tape of Waite this week and asked for a please explain. Some other decisions, absolutely. There was a high contact non-call against Walker (from Razor surprise surprise) in a marking contest which was obvious, had just been paid to Sydney minutes earlier and was in isolation. Jeffy was stiff a couple of times with high contact/being held.

Well unlike you, I do have an issue with the umpires this week and especially around Waite.

His tackling starts ok and then for some reason he slams the player into the turf - the umpire correctly pays in the back and Waite for some reason thinks he's been hard done by. Surely after being in the system that long you would know how to tackle properly.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Pros

Juddys last quarter was the best by a Carlton player since Koutas 1999 last quarter prelim. Totally unstoppable. If he stays fit mark him in for a third Brownlow.

All the team after half time.

Cons

Why wait until half time and we are behind before the required intensity is shown (again).

Teddy Jnr went to Sydney and I stayed home with Mrs. Teddy and flicked the TV between a couple of poms getting married and the game. She eventually went to bed.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

Waite put in all night.

For an awkward running, gangly bloke like him giving away free kicks on a pi55 soaked ground is hardly surprising.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

the free against Walker was given in the last for not making a realistic attempt. Despite successfully punching the ball.

F'in Razor.

The frees against Waite were there, don't get me wrong, but he was on the receiving end of exactly the same. So it was silly officiating which penalised him as much as anything else.

At other times, there were packs which formed around the ball, and suddenly a free came out from nowhere, when probably any one of 12 could have been given. In those conditions, the smart thing would have been to let them all go, or call a ball up once the ball had been trapped in. At those times, you could see the players were genuinely surprised at what had been called.

At other times in the match, frees were given for something - and the free was there - but then less than 30 seconds later, the same free the other way was let go. It's that kind of ridiculousness which is making people hate the game.

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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.

I forgot about that call against Walker. That was a joke. Didn't use his hands. Or the 'I RECKON' call against Simpson.

The umpiring wasn't great at all, I agree.

Tex didn't touch the ball, the Swans player in front did but that is the reason why Tex didn't get his hands on the ball otherwise he could have marked it, so I think it was a reasonable attempt

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!