Believe Lynch got reported.

Agree they were playing dirty which didn't help an already frustrating day. Can't believe the amount of times Murphy copped it.

Exactly. A stinker.

Lets hope that instead of some hand holding at a day spa this week, there's a vigorous leading teams session.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Better now than later.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

I think Robbo may have sorted a few of those pr1cks out. Saints did it to us, and it nearly paid off. I've got no doubt a lot of teams will try this on us now, esp on Murph and Judd.

Couldn't care less about the win/loss aspect. First ten minutes of the third quarter was as good as you'll see us play all year.

This week and more than likely, this week coming are an exercise in man management, both in the short term view of the big 3 games coming up, and the longer view of the rest of the year.

The pros out of this game are tremendous in the sense that we blooded a first gamer, gave a bloke his first run for the year, and experimented with a fair bit of the squad today. Russell, Yarran, Austin, Henderson, and to a lesser extent Jamison spent time at both ends today. It's one thing to vaunt the depth and versatility in fluff pieces in the Sun, it's another to put it on display. We'll be better for these experimentations come September. Last year, I thought it was to our detriment that so late in the year, we were making 4 changes every week. This is the first week we've made wholesale changes in a long time. Lets hope that by round 18 that the maybe 5-6 positions in the team that are a flip of a coin difference are clear.

Was interesting to watch the Adelaide/Geelong game before this one started, and see guys like Hawkins, Christensen, Simpson, Varcoe, Motlop and Brown come in and play for their footballing lives and a spot in a finals team. I don't normally advocate wholesale changes, but I think a few fringe players coming in with that sort of opportunity at the expense of sore players should be looked at next week.

The timing of playing the Eagles in particular I thought was perfect, in the sense that it gives us a few weeks to scrutinize how we go about taking on the press. Some minor structural amendments, a challenge laid down to our rucks, and I think we could have a real defining moment in the season against the Pies.

We'll get done by Richmond next week, I anticipate. Can't say I'm too concerned. The right players given either the week off or an appropriate TOG, others asked to rectify a shocker today, maybe even a player or two languishing in the twos on a gut feeling. Having said that, it's only appropriate to note the dangers of finishing fifth. Doing so, not only exposing us to a sudden death final against what I assume will be the Saints first week, but win that, and we've got the Eagles in Perth. Having said that, we maintain third, they finish fourth, they play the Hawks in Perth second week.

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

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

We played bruise free footy.

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

The umps didn't cost us the game but surely,

a) Judd has to be somewhere near the ball before he can be tackled.?
b) A throw is not a legitimate disposal.?
c) When a WCE player has had two prior opportunities to dispose of the ball and is tackled, AND STILL DOESN'T DISPOSE OF THE BALL CORRECTLY, it's a free kick.

Anyway, feeling a bit better. That is/was the worst we will play this year and I fully expect us to make a big statement next week.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Maybe no more Day Spars and a few more boot camps are required


Few of the fringe players needed to step up and they were found wanting

I can't for the life of me figure out how Ellard gets selected in front of Brock

Doesn't get enough of the ball and had 4 or 5 costly turn overs today that cost us dearly

I have been a big rap for Hendo but he appears timid
Russell continues to struggle
Armfield does nothing for me
Austin was dissappointing
Okeefe didnt get into it
Walker very quiet
Warnock gets knocked off the ball to easily

Juddy had the flu according to the telecast

Thornton who I am not a fan off was very good
Yarren is just getting better and better
Scotland and Murph both had good games
Kruezer was ok without being sensational
Betts ok in patches
Garlett did what he normally does
Simmo was just ok
touhy did some nice things
Gibbs was just ok be seriusly undersized for the job he was asked to do
Hoops and Carrotts not enough from either of them
The lack of a target forward showed as the decision making going into the forward 50 was terrible

Stats say we were evenly matched accross the board

Carlton Attribute West Coast
187.2cm Height 189.7cm
86.8kg Weight 90.6kg
24yr 5mth Age 24yr 7mth
83.5 Games 85.5

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

The last quarter against the Swans said it all IMO, we switched off then. I believe we had a 6pt break in 4th and took this game half serious. The next two weeks should see us get a few players back and start to wind up again.

Ah, thanks for that moment of levity, needed a laugh after that loss.

I missed why Robbo missed? Any news on the reason/injury?

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".

Flabbergasted at these comments. There was nothing positive about seeing Austin being exposed as being not up to it.

Eagles exposed us for our two main deficiencies ...

1. Lack of quality rucks. None of our rucks would be anywhere near All Aust calculations.As a result, we got smashed in clearances, arguably the most important part of the game.

2. Lack of quality, strong talls. Austin not up to it. Thornton terrible one on one. Bower fragile and weak. Warnock weak around the ground, doesn't take marks. Henderson all over the shop, actually better down back.

Club reported general soreness, internet rumor was hotspot in foot.

Somewhere in between I'm sure.

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

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

We missed Curnow & Robinson! = We got cleanup in the clearances.
WestCoast played a "dirty" game and got away with it because we didn't fight back and the umpires let it happen!
Jamo is the most important player in our side.
Not too disappointed however as we'll learn and be ready for them come finals, hopefully.

I think this game shows us (and the rest of the football world) that we cannot rely on 2 key backs against all opposition. WC knew they had the edge on us in that area, and exploited it beautifully. The Carlton MC knew as well, which is why Austin came in.

You can argue that we got beaten through the midfield, which is true. But we have to expect in big finals, that there will be times in games when Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn etc midfields will get on top of us. Cloke, Dawes and Jolly/Brown hurt us against Collingwood, Tippet, McKernan and Walker hurt us against Adelaide, and now Lynch, Kennedy and Darling.

What this means is that we have to have flexibility to play either 2 or 3 key backs. If we'd have played only 2 today, as some suggested we should, and then Jamo going down, we'd have been well and truly screwed.

The other thing to come out of today is lack of key talls. Without Waite, and with a subdued Kreuzer, we had nothing.

And I can't believe I'm saying this, but Hampson is looking like a huge loss. Warnock right now is ineffective around the ground.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Coutts says Waite, Duigan, Laidler, Curnow, Setanta all fit for next week
Geez reckon I'd take Setanta over Warnock right now

4 of 5 need to come in IMMEDIATELY.

We prob went into the game thinking we could rest players, not sure how extensive the injuries were. We brought in some players for experience and didn't quite work out in the end, I feel sorry for okeefe and austin because they probably wont get another game this year because of the loss. Can't wait for waite and setanta to come back into the forward line, henderson still shows he belongs at vfl level. not sure how some people on here think he is detrimental to us come finals time.

A reminder that there is still plenty of work to do.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Thanks Melvey...I mean hotcox...I mean Sugarcane!

Cheers Rhino!

3AW just quoted Ian Coutts as stating that available next week will be: Waite, Laidler, Robbo and Duigan

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".