Nice to see us fight it out like that, pretty gutsy effort in the last qtr.

Good games from Mclean, Armfield & Lucas, & thought Carraz did well in tough conditions. Got a lot of our goals from midfielders tonight. Our defence in fwd 50 was down on the previous games, but really the majority of the game was played pretty openly by both teams.

I thought Walker did pretty well, but finishing let him down. Robbo, Simmo & Yarran had games they'd rather forget.

Anyway, none of us here will give a stuff about tonight in 3 weeks.

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#DonTheStash

Disappointed but what can you do?

At least we fought it out.

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Blue is the colour, Blue is our colourful conversation, football is the game, talking carlton is our aim, we're all together, we're all together, winning is our aim, arguing is a pain, let's debate for gain. .. .!

15 10 to 15 7 in the regular season

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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

Terrible 3rd quarter. I really worry about the mental strength of this group. We are so good when we are hunting but very, very fragile when we become the hunted.

I reckon tonight was a really important part of our preparation. And here's why...
But first, to the 3 ruckman: for 3 years we haven't had the 3 of them properly fit at the same time, so this was a perfect chance to properly trial it and I think we confirmed alot. Warnock only a tap ruckman; Kreuz not a forward but can rest there; Hampson the weakest ruckman but the best forward of the 3. I like that MM went with no proper forwards in the side to get a real good look at what would happen: few marks, no leading up the ground, not enough spillages for the little'uns to tidy up, little forward pressure. This all confirms what we suspected last year. And I'm glad he resisted the temptation to change things up later in the game as it gave the team more time to work out how to fix it on the ground ie Walker became more prominent.
So this was all part of the (pre-season) plan and if we won, we won. Pretty sure the preferred set up will be Kreuz as main ruck, Hammer in various roles plus Levi and Rowe as pretty permanent forwards. And it will work pretty well (better with Waite instead of one of Rowe/Levi). And Hammer was very impressive tonight.
I think it was good for us to face a sterner test and be found a little bit wanting and this will keep the boys (and others!) with a bit of perspective. We don't need a big profile game next week - we've got 5 in a row from Rnd 1. We need another 'pre-season' game to work on stuff.
Backline not too impressive tonight, midfield ok.
Good to have the chance to fight back in the last so confidence not harmed.
Yazz needs to lift.
Hopefully, Princes Park next week!

Yep, getting the feeling a NAB GF against Coll would be far from ideal. Wouldn't mind at all if we play someone at Visy.


It'd be awesome if it was the dons

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#DonTheStash

I'm happier with another normal pre-season game than the final.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Krueze was great in the clearances and tough stuff, Hammer looked good in the air and up forward, Knockers dominated the taps but did SWA otherwise. Need to create a hybrid of all three big boys.

Dunno how we'll set up round 1 with regards to offensive talls, best guess is Krueze ruck, Hammer forward (swapping), Waite at FF with one of Levi/Rowe making the other tall. Infinitely better than building a forward line around ruckman. Brings Eddie and Jeff into the game nicely too.

You reckon we'll see Wait Round 1? I reckon we'll be lucky to see him Rd 21

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Congratulations CK95

True that. Well a two tall set up is preferable, so Levi and Rowe can hopefully bring their NAB form into season proper. Instantly makes our forward line seem more structured, making life easier for the midfielders going forward.

Don't mind a ruck spending 10 or so min there a quarter, but more so as a foil match up wise. I really think the rucks forward kills us defensively.

I thought Crows just had a few more clean hands in the clearances than us, and a few extra push in the back credits.

All in all there was probably more to like than dislike about the game, especially with Judd & Gibbs missing.

We were also really missing the one extra tall up front. Not having Levi crashing the packs really took Eddie and Jeffy out of it.

I have to say Lucas is growing on me. I was close to writing him off last week as the new Simon Fletcher, but he showed this week he can be a weapon if used correctly.

I am really excited about what we are going to see from Armfield this season. His gut-running & determination really make him an MM style of footballer, but he is also growing in confidence and self-belief. His exquisite little dummy in the first quarter while sprinting in to kick a goal was really cheeky and very impressive, not to mention his twice running down Dangerfield.

Yarran and Tuohy are looking a bit out of sorts. Would like to see Yarran get some time on a forward flank for spells this season.

Good post. MM really did need a game like this to try the 3 ruck set up.

Our boys will take plenty out of that, especially considering how far behind this lot we looked last year.

More scoring shots very significant too.

For the most part - it was justified. It was picked up every week in the video review that he didn't (or couldn't) get to repeat contests. His fitness levels have improved significantly, his ankle gives him less trouble and he's far less selfish a footballer than he was previously. He covers an enormous amount of ground and looks to be enjoying his footy. I don't hear anyone bagging him now because he's doing exactly what we wanted when we drafted him and gave up pick 11.

Duigan is pants!!!

and he and Laidler canot be in the same defence

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

A typical performance in Adelaide to be 5 or so goals down only to storm home and win by a few points...(regular scoring)

Take Dangerfield and walker out of that sideband they are nothing....Taylor too and they bare bottom 4!

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Excellent summary of the situation.

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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

Either have Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson, Carrazzo or Menzel.

How is that relevant at all?

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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

I was one and at the time I believe I was right. I am more than happy to be proven wrong and glad I have been. Credit must be given to McLean plus I believe the game has changed to suit his style. The more players we have on our list pushing for senior selection the better.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Lucas really impressive. Runs hard from start to finish.
McLean in really good touch.
Armfield really good, plays to his strengths.
Kreuzer got the better of Jacobs I reckon for most part when he was rucking.
Warnock can't go fwd effectively.
Yarran was too attacking at times and often his opponent was used.
Tuohy & Duigan haven't cemented possies thus far.
Walks kicking was atrocious.
Curnow although finds the pill doesn't do alot with it. Often turns it over or puts as to a disadvantage. If its between him, Ellard & bell the other two are my preferred by far.

And lastly umpires??? The frees tonight were ridiculous. If a player is flat footed and the opponent on the ground pushes into you to make contact it should not be a free kick. We got done countless times by crows just lifting/driving they're heads into us when we were stationary.