He didn't panic because he didn't touch the ball.

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

What is Judds injury? Are you sure resting is going to help? Could be that it requires an operation.

Watson is a long way off Keogh. I have watched his last half a dozen reserve games and he is lucky to be playing in the Bullants ones. He doesnt need the stress of playing for carlton. He needs to get fit, work on his running and most of all learn how to defend. So far he is a good kick and occasional link up player out of defense. Give him a couple of years.

Am neither a Houla fan or a hater... I believe that he adds to our depth and is more than handy 15-25 on our list.

In saying that, i thought his job on Hurn in the first half was a highlight. Hurn has been tearing it up for the last few weeks and was almost non-existant. Sure he could have gotten more of the ball, but his opponent was very quiet.

Also, its 1 loss people. We are 4th at the midway stage of the season. We are well placed for an assault in the second half of the season and should finish strongly.

As for our defensive problems, the previous weeks our midfield helped stem the tide of ball coming into our defensive 50 cleanly..yesterday, their mids cut us up..(no Curnow, Mitch to do the dog work)

Also, it would be nice for the media to provide some acknowledgement regarding our injury hit squad. Hawthorn have 3 players out (Stratton, Gilham & Roughead & Bruce according to some papers ) but they are looking out for Essendons mantle as the bravest team in the league..

17 marks inside 50 to 3 on top of 17 to 10 last week...

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"I said I'd tell you the truth. Didn't say you'd like it." - Finch

Spot on re: Houla

He wasn't flashy but he did well on Hurn.
When asked to go into the middle later in the game he didn't disgrace himself.

He didn't set the park on fire, but solid return in his first full game in a long time.
He should keep his spot

I think Carlton couldn't play much worse and to lose by only 36pts isn't too bad. We only had a couple players that stood up in Yarran, Scotland, Murphy (but not his normal brownlow form).

Last year we would of lost this type of game by 72points, it was completed dominated by WCE and we were still a chance to win in the 4th.

I still remember a couple years ago Geelong getting smashed by Pies by 90pts and l think Geelong won the grandfinal that year. Correct me if i'm wrong. So it can be turned around.

Blues just didn't come switched on, gave Eagles a sniff and thats football.

The club should come out hungry this week and smash the Tiges.

In our case I think ours was one injury too far.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Agree, and further to this..he needs a chance to play when we have more of our regulars on the park too..so match comittee can work out the best team possible by finals time.

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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.”

Worrying indeed. That 3 is appalling.

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

Just horrible to lose to the Weagles when you live in WA. It was gut wrenching yesterday.

We were out-muscled and second to the contest for much of the day. Their size up forward and the press did their job on us. Hopefully we learn from this and then cope better next time against the Pies or Eagles.

Agree that selection issues didn't help. I am an Ellard fan from Swan Districts days but he looks like he needs a run in the twos or has not recovered from his concussion. Agree that McLean should have been in. Prob should have kept playing earlier instead of rushing curnow back so soon. Let Curnow recover and McLean get a proper run.

Should take care of the Tigers but am will be suitably nervous in the lead up.

Just had my 50th 'Your uniform needs some yellow in it if you want to win". So I'm sending up 16 cups from the kitchen to the office. Let them get confused and then send a note asking for 13 back 'Sorry, forgot you've only won 3'.

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I would like to thank Collingwood for helping me keep faith in my old man. He always told me that 'People are thick'.

I was a bit shocked to see Ellard playing after the concussion worries during the week.

Has a player ever had a great game the week after a serious concussion?

Warnock looked a little rusty hopefully he comes up better next week.

THIS!

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This is generational trauma, Dad.

hang on Jimmae, we if we had won the game we would be 10pts clear of WCE, but we lost it and are 2pts ahead of them, that sounds very much like the result made 8 pts difference

There's no question we need some of our talls, both forward and back, to step up otherwise we may as well put the cue in the rack this season.
With Jamo in trouble we have to persist with Hendo Austin Bower et al and hope they can become productive.

I'd rather players have a week off after concussion. Most importantly
for their own well being, but in any case they rarely play well.

Looking from the outside in, (which is always risky), I'm starting to lack confidence in our medical staff. When Curnow did his shoulder Ratts put him back because the "medical staff said he was right to go". Same deal apparently with Jamison yesterday, (who could barely run).

It effects team performance which is bad enough, but what bothers me more is prospect of the player doing further damage.

Thanks for both these posts.

It's good to read observers' posts who know what Houla did do rather than what he didn't do.
I thought his class stood out when he did get the ball.
Laid a couple of good bumps too.

I don't think Houla was the problem in the engine room, and I don't think we can blame him for the height deficiency in the backline either.

Whilst the engine room was flat, and Ellard wasn't very good imo, the illegal holding of Judd (especially) and Murphy is an area where the umpires let themselves down.

We could have won that game if the umpires were onto the illegal WCE tactics.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Hawthorn in 2008 lost to Richmond who finished 9th and North Melbourne who finished 7th (with a percentage of 96.98 mind you) They also lost to Geelong, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda who finished 1st, 3rd and 4th respectively. Opposition supporters like to claim 'but who have Carlton beat??' or 'they haven't beat anyone above them!' Well, look at Hawthorn in 2008!! I know it doesn't mean much but it makes me feel a little better after a loss like that .

Juddy can usually cope with that sort of stuff but as you probably have heard he wasn't well yesterday. Be thankful he took to the field though or
we'd all have to put up with another "No Judd, No Carlton" barrage.

Nah Bondi, while the umpiring was poor, they smashed us.
Houla`s miss just before half time was costly.