Ok so it's reported Carlton requested to play the pies round 2 instead of the usual round 3 or 4.

Previously we had a great start to the season Richmond into Brisbane who had a short break before rolling into the pies again who had a shorter break than us

This season start was and has been a dream with more rest than our round 2 and 3 opponents

For some strange reason we have moved an 85k crowd pulling game from round 3 to 2 which just took away a huge advantage we had

Baffles the pies game will draw the same crowd whenever it is played but we now forgoe a huge advantage

Blues v Pies will be on a Friday night, round 1 we play the Thurs they play the Sunday....

We'd be playing the Pies on the back of a 8 day break vs. their 5 day break... That is a substantial difference in recovery time.

I think the club (and most supporters) would be thinking to play them on a shorter break would be a bigger advantage than playing the Lions on a shorter break and the pies on a shorter break than us but nothing like the 72 hrs seen in 2013...

What exactly is a 'Cartons fixture'?

Something to do with VISY?

I think it is to sell memberships.
Clubs do not base their fixture requests on potential Ws. They base it on $s.

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T E A M

IMO, that thinking is bass ackwards.

Get the wins, and the $$ will follow.

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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 would be carton fixing

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Isn't the round 2 Collingwood request got more to do with the early Easter dates in 2013?

I'm actually glad we've got a tough draw to begin with. I want to see if, after all the changes, we're ready to really compete with the better sides. Far better to know where we're at early in the season, then to start well and then have everything fall apart again.

people are afraid that cartons will run amok if not tethered? how strange.

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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.”

We just beat them twice, why be afraid? Much better to start the season with two Vic based games (or more if possible) so that memberships sold can be maximised.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Rumour is our first 5 games are Tigers, Filth, WCE, Geel and Crows... That's pretty tough!!!0

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Not rumour... reported on Fox Sports from Mick Malthouse mouth...

You could say that is a tough start... May need to stay away from TC for a few weeks... Imagine the negativity!

Or the positivity.......imagine starting 3-2 or 4-1 or god forbid 5-0.....

Should make it interesting for the annual mid season slump

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"I will rejoice in their anguish, delight in their failure and revel in our success"

We are Carlton, @#$%&! the rest !!!!!!

At least we'll get to see our strengths and weaknesses early.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

We seem to hit the ground running in the first few rounds and fall flat after round 5-6
It that continues you want the good sides early so you might pinch a win

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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

And the MCG being unavailable the first week of the season.

Nothing to worry about here.

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"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

Did we reappoint Ratten !!

That would usually be the time our ex coach's game plan would be found out and he would have no plan B. I am hoping that the pattern would be positively different under MM.

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Scott, things aren't as happy as they used to be down here at the unemployment office. Joblessness is no longer just for Philosophy majors - useful people are starting to feel the pinch.

wins finals and gfs get memberships

My thoughts exactly.

Win matches. Get support on the ground and in the media. Make finals. That will get the waverers on the bandwagon and spending their money with the club.

You can't get wins from high membership numbers.

Inverse logic.

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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.

Prefer the harder sides early. Clubs gearing for a flag arent usually running on all cylinders in April.

Middle of the road sides can be more dangerous early due to longer and harder preseasons. Other factor can be that their best 22's arent bad, however they lack depth. Fail to cover injuries in the middle and later parts of the year. Also younger sides will tire. (See our recent early and return bouts v Essendon*).

Of course there are plenty of exceptions to all these 'rules'.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Soft draws, Lull us into believing we are a top team.

I would rather play and beat the better teams early in the season and get softer teams in the middle.

We need to get Pies, Hawks, Cats, Dons and Tigers twice.