We're right on the cusp of ultimate success with this team, but to take another step forward we need to improve in a few areas:

- Goalkicking: Sick to death of not putting teams away when we have forward line dominance. Missing easy shots for goal HAS cost us games this year, so this needs to be addressed
- Key forward: Goes without saying. We need a target to kick to. Yes, we have a fast, mobile group of smalls, but when things are going bad we bomb the ball on their heads. We need at least one FF like WC have. We have players who can 'potentially' fulfil this role...IF...and this is always the problem. There's no guarantee with any of them. There are doubts with all our prospects fitness-wise too, and it's related to the next point.
- Fitness & Management: All teams suffer injuries, but we always seem to suffer the same types of injuries to crucial tall players, always leaving us unbalanced and vulnerable to teams like WC. Seeing someone like Jamo or Waite hobble off is bad enough, but then to hear that they were sore beforehand but sent out anyway makes it even worse. We need to do a thorough review of our fitness and injury management, particularly in strengthening our big guys but also in our decision-making on who's in or out.
- In-and-under midfielder: Every year we've tried to fill this void, specifically for someone to give Judd much-needed assistance and support. First Hadley, then McLean, and now Curnow (who hasn't been the same since his shoulder injury), all showed promise at first but dropped off. Yes, we gave up too much for Brock and Ball would've been better, but that ship has passed. We need someone to step up to the plate here, Ellard and Robbo the most obvious candidates.
- Membership: Anything less than 50,000 would be unacceptable

Any other thoughts?

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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 backline is awesome , dilema whether to leave Hendo back , or put him back forward with Waite and Kreuz/Hammer. This decision will fix one end either way, so which one we will find out next year. Another Laidler like trade ( forward this time), would be nice. Bringing in Lucas and the intro to Buckley will help make us better too. We are so close to finalising our team now. Hopefully one or 2 of Kerr, Watson, McCarthy, Casboult and Mitchell stand up

Just give us the cup............!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Marking forwards of any size that might be able to kick goals from 40+m or even from 10+m

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A key forward has to feature in our line-up next year. That is what is keeping us from being a good side to a great side. Grand Final next year is a must... lack of a big KPF is what is standing in our way at the moment.

I expect to see it happen, anything less is unacceptable.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Areas for improvement are sadly the same as they were last season.

We need a big bodied KPF and an in & under mid.

Very proud of the boys for doing so well. And Ratts was fantastic also. With our list and the players out yesterday I think we did just about as well as we could...

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HENDERSONALENKO......YOU BEAUTY!!!!!

Learn to kick a goal from a set shot.

Would love to know how many we have missed over the last 3 seasons.

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

West Coast's goal kicking last night just drove the dagger in. From 55, from the pocket.....


Makes me cringe thinking of all the shots from 25 out that people like Warnock, Kruzer and Setanta have sprayed this year. Not to mention Garlett over the last few weeks of the season.

Surely this can be worked on and improved?

Given that subi is their home ground, you would gobsmacked if they weren't kicking goals from everywhere.

We didn't improve in those areas but we still improved - there has to be a message there, somewhere.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Levi Casbolt 2012

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All at Carlton are Equal, Except some are More Equal than others

Let's hope so. Or that Mitchell comes from nowhere and holds down FF (doubtful).

It's hard to put Ratts' comments into context given he was probably still absolutely steaming. But I can't help but think that we may see one of our 'favourites' pushed out in the pursuit for a key forward. I don't know who, but it seemed a pretty strong statement.

That said, it won't matter who we get, if our fitness and management of these guys doesn't improve we'll continue to be chasing our tails balancing the side.

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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

Ratten's commets were spot on. He knows what we need.

A power forward who can stay on the park and some midfield depth.

Can't rely on Hampson or Kruezer or Levi or Mitchell for various reasons, will be interesting to see if Blues go hard at trade week.

We have to learn to duck our heads like the Sellwood Bros.

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Bet the club chase Lake, not saying it would be the best move because he has injury issues and is no spring chicken but he is certainly top class and would be a genuine FF target (I say that in the view that Jamison and Henderson are our pillars down back IMO and Lake has shown he can do the job as a FF)

What other quality FFs are out there to be poached? hardly any exist. Lake though has Qn marks over his tenure at WB, despite having 2 yrs on his contract. What would Dogs want??

Our time had come and we néed to be aggressive in the trade period.

Key fwd yes. Warnock and Kruezer are our ruckman. Mitchell will be good but not on 2012.

More size and depth through the midfield. Judd needs help and blocking around the stoppages.

We desperately needed Gibbs kicking skills last night. Have have some guys that panic under pressure.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

What will be the ages of our current playing list going into the 2012 season? Anyone done the research?

Just for a different perspective of looking at things.

Next years side based on current list:

B: Touhy Jamison Laidler/Watson
HB: Yarran Henderson Duigan

C: Waite Robinson Simpson
Foll: Warnock Judd Murphy

HF: Gibbs Thornton Walker
F: Garlett/Betts Casboult/Mitchell Kruezer

Int: Lucas Ellard Collins Carrazzo Scotland McInnes White Kerr Davies Hampson McCarthy OKeefe

Side is better balanced to take on top sides and is a better kicking side.

I like AJ and Armfield but I think their disposal is a worry especially under finals pressure. Carrazzo a question mark as well. I also think Bower, Russell, Hampson, McLean may well be traded.


The weaknesses are body sizes through the midfield and at least one contested marking key forward.

I am a big wrap for Mitchell but to make an impact in 2012 is a massive call. Casboult has talent and needs a chance but still young as well but has the body.


Add to that line up "TYPES" like Boyd/Swan and Brown/Dawes and we would be a heck of a side.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

agree, and No.17 is ours

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one you knock back is one you never have

AFAIC, we need to find an additional mid to round off the on-ball group. And its not about quantity because we have sufficient numbers to provide depth with our on-ballers, it is about discovering another "quality" mid. I dont think necessarily must be in-and-under but just another quality midfielder to add to the A-team.

Curnow certainly showed enough at the start of the year but I am concerned how poorly he returned from injury. Hope he can rediscover his confidence over the pre-season. Maybe a Lucas? (although stagnated in progress, ??? on contested ball situations), maybe O'Keefe (needs continuity, I think he has the facets required), maybe a permanent role down back for Touhy releasing Yazz to the middle. Not sure but there is little scope to trade for a quality mid IMO without giving up too much. We need to find from within

I think defensively we may be set with Lachie and Jamo. I always though Hendo would be our answer at CHF but his performances down back have changed my opinion. He has been awesome. With Laids playing that perfect in-between role (can play the 3rd tall if needed), Duigs and perhaps JR (although you have to worry about where he is at @ present!) and Touhy to provide rebound (or Yazz if he stays there) then I think this is a formidable group to settle on.

The forward line remains the biggest concern - the KP's that is. Our luck certainly deserted us this year with Waite and Krooz never hitting his straps (no surprise considering his return from ACL). We need to establish a FF and CHF. Whether Waite can finally overcome his injuries remains to be seen. He is still young and fresh enough to dominate. The CHF is more hard to nail down. Krooz hasn't shown enough thus far to suggest he can be a dominant permanent forward and I certainly think his best footy is ruck/on-ball. I dont prescribe to the theory that a Mitchell, for instance, cant make an impact next year. A player like Darling illustrates that with a couple of Kp's beside him he can be a dangerous KP option. Watson worries me a tad, just looks SO slow. I hope it is fatigue as some suggest, we will see next year after another pre-season.

Look, there are still 4-5 pieces of the puzzle to locate and put in place. That is probably one or two more than you would like to seriously challenge the flag but I think there are options within to fill them so we are not required to recruit, just develop and cross fingers I suppose.

I though yesterday was a missed opportunity - thwarted at the selection table (again! ). 2 rucks and we would've won. Touhy instead of Davies would've added the run we need from back half, especially as Yazz was so effectively tied down. Anyway that belongs in another thread.

Our time is now, we have the cavalry. We now need to settle every line in the team, pray for some luck with injuries and give it everything we've got! No excuses for 2012

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C'mon Blueboys!