In assessing Monday night’s match at Etihad Stadium against St Kilda, our boys, to be fair, really put in. Problem was that we gave the opposition too much of a head start, and through the course of the second quarter we allowed them to score more efficiently than we did by way of technique more than anything else.

Admittedly the losses of David Ellard and Chris Yarran in the first quarter didn’t help, but our second half was much better. In the end, we were unable to shake an opposition which had been around the mark having performed well against both Collingwood and Sydney.

While we unfortunately lacked four-quarter players, Chris Judd pretty much willed himself to win that game at the end, Andrew Walker was once again impressive off half-back and kicked that outstanding goal, and Robert Warnock competed well in the ruck, granted that his direct opponent also made an impact.
St Kilda won the match because it made more of its opportunities in front of goal, and clearly that’s an area we need to improve. Our midfield also leaked, although it must be stressed that Jack Steven, with 39 possessions, would have earned Ellard as a tag had the latter not been forced from the fray early.

We now have a short week to prepare for the Port Adelaide game, but we do hope to get a couple of blokes back from injury. Given the evenness of the competition, particularly amongst the top 12 sides, anything is possible – but we want to find ourselves in the right position come Round 22.

Kind regards

Mick Malthouse

Malthouse is creating some disarray down at Visy Park.

Duigan isn't playing as a result of interrupting a Malthouse spray, and questioning him in front of the group.

Marc Murphy's dad, who used to talk with Ratten every week, has been taken completely out of the loop. Malthouse won't take his calls.

Malthouse has also told his recruiters that Matthew Watson is not what he wants at the club.

Malthouse is creating some disarray down at Visy Park.

Duigan isn't playing as a result of interrupting a Malthouse spray, and questioning him in front of the group.

Marc Murphy's dad, who used to talk with Ratten every week, has been taken completely out of the loop. Malthouse won't take his calls.

Malthouse has also told his recruiters that Matthew Watson is not what he wants at the club.

Malthouse is creating some disarray down at Visy Park.

Duigan isn't playing as a result of interrupting a Malthouse spray, and questioning him in front of the group.

Marc Murphy's dad, who used to talk with Ratten every week, has been taken completely out of the loop. Malthouse won't take his calls.

Malthouse has also told his recruiters that Matthew Watson is not what he wants at the club.

Good calls on all fronts.

- Duigan should have voiced his opinion to Malthouse privately (if what you say is true). Sat opposite him and the other lads on Monday night (Level 1, Section 9, Row P for anyone that wants to get autographs each Away game). A few asked him why he wasn't getting a game. He was very diplomatic.

- Murphy's (or anyone's) dad shouldn't believe they have a right to be in the inner sanctum of the club if they don't work there. What does he need to talk to Malthouse about? He's not part of the board or the match committee. Murphy's captain, not his old man.

- Mathew Watson isn't what anyone wants at their club from the sounds of things. Poor recruiting choice if true.

If all of the above results in disarray, then we've got the softest bunch of primadonnas going around.

David Beckham once questioned the great Sir Alex Ferguson. Fergie threw a boot at him. STFU and listen to the coach.

How anyone at the club let Murphy do that promo a day after that result on Monday night beggars belief.

Also get rid of that mars promo off the radio....embarrassing to say the least.

With all due respect, it would have been booked in as part of a contractual obligation before Monday Night's game. Neither has a bearing on the other, so we can probably dispense with the notion.

The "Free Mars" promotion is something the club would have no control over. It's also completely questionable in its integrity.

- Mars promotes "Free Mars Bar for Australia if Carlton makes the Grand Final".
- To qualify, you must register on their website. Why? If Carlton make the Grand Final, they can pump out 23 million Mars Bars (at the cost of probably $460,000) and send the around
- To register you must give them personal details.
- Be prepared to have your details used by Mars, its subsidiaries and partners, and on sold to other groups for extra Mars profit.

Shady practises which I really dislike.

Seriously? What a retarded concept for a campaign (apart from the data dodginess). Amazing.

Seriously? What a retarded concept for a campaign (apart from the data dodginess). Amazing.

Malthouse is creating some disarray down at Visy Park.

Duigan isn't playing as a result of interrupting a Malthouse spray, and questioning him in front of the group.

Marc Murphy's dad, who used to talk with Ratten every week, has been taken completely out of the loop. Malthouse won't take his calls.

Malthouse has also told his recruiters that Matthew Watson is not what he wants at the club.

If true, this is particularly interesting as Mick seemed to take a shine to Matt when he first got here.

If true, this is particularly interesting as Mick seemed to take a shine to Matt when he first got here.

Whats so retarded about it?
The company associated itself with the club, it does it on the back of anticipation of the club having a good year, gaining above par exposure and therefore reaffirming its brand. what do you find so objectionable about the concept?

That is obviously not the way to leverage an association with a football club that has 9 rivals in it's media market. Is 90% of Melbourne that hate Carlton going to start hoping Carlton make the GF in 5 months, all for the sake of a frikkin mars bar? Who gives a flower? It's insane!

Not to mention that every time a CFC fan sees it they cringe. CFC would have signed off on this - they shouldn't have. They should have convinced the morons at Mars marketing how it was a fail.

I dunno, they got this stunt on Before the Game or Twitter engagement or whatever the flower they wanted out of this. Good luck to them. Carlton got paid. Who cares about making your club look foolish - at least they're outsourcing the job now (ie "can you smell what the Blues are cooking?").