Rob's Rant........

Just let me start by saying I tipped Essendon* and I was confident that Carlton would stumble. Most people called me a pessimist but I made my decision based on past experiences and logic - This was the absolute perfect stage for Carlton to display all its frailties; Everything to play for, carrying the weight of expectation, playing against a side on their knees and just to top it off throw in excessive backslapping from a win the previous week. Really it was like the perfect storm!......and sure enough Carlton lived up to my expectations.

I could write a scathing review about how missed shots at goals cost us but even a football novice would realise that kicking 9.22 is inexcusable at any level of football.
I could tell you that more often than not if you waste opportunities it will come back to bight you but hey we saw that in round 11 when we lost to Essendon*.
I could tell you that our list is not good enough but that just gets repetitive.
I could say that 20 tackles in a half of footy and 50 for an entire match is insipid and reflective of a poor work ethic but I don't want to bore you.

Tonight was the night that Carlton broke my heart. They have done it many times over the past few decades but tonight was different........Tonight they made me loath the club. Tonight they made me ashamed and angry in fact they may have broken my heart for the last time.

As I write this rant I am NOT upset. I could not give a stuff whether we played finals or not. 2013 has been a shambolic disaster from round 1 and had we snuck into the 8 on some technicality we would go down as a side that was merely making up the numbers and possibly the worst side to play finals since the inception of the 8.
Honestly I am not upset. I am angry!!!!!

I am angry at the culture that has become so ingrained in this once proud club. I am angry at the complete and utter lack of leadership at every level throughout the club. I am angry that when things are tough our immediate response is to look for someone else to fix it. - Off filed we looked for Pratt to save us. In the coaching box we looked for Mick, On field we only look for Juddy. How about for the first time in a nearly 2 decades we actually look at every bloody player to provide some F*&#king leadership!!! You dont have to be the biggest star to be a leader.... Have a look at what Simmo does he is now our only leader.
How about instead of looking for the cheap handball over the top or easy ball out the back of the pack, or look away handball how about we actually say "I am going to do my bit to drag this club to a victory".

I have heard Malthouse talk about our poor goal kicking half a dozen times this year on top of the dozen times Ratten mentioned it in the previous few year yet nothing has changed - why is that??? I will tell you exactly why..... its not technique, it is that the players are so mentally weak that half the time they have talked themselves out of it before they even kick the ball.

This club can spend all the money they want on altitude training, high performance coaches, rehab facilities etc... BUT the simple fact is until the culture changes in the club it is all just a waste of time and money. The only way to change culture is to be ruthless and turnover at least a dozen or more players and not just the second tier players. A strong message must be sent to every player that it is "all in every week" not just when things are running smoothly. Turnover the assistant coaches that have been there for too long (Capuano, Barker, Brown etc..). For Carlton to develop the hard edge its not about wasted money on bonding sessions or pointless meetings with "leading teams" It is about filling the club with people who have the right leadership qualities and work ethic.

Carlton I will never give up on you and you will always be part of me but tonight you broke my heart because you are a DISHONEST team and to get me back is going to take more than some catchy slogan like "I AM CARLTON" because after what you have dished up this season that is nothing to be proud of.

GO BLUES

P.S. Kade Simpson you were an absolute star tonight form start to finish and never abandoned the sinking ship.

Hard not to agree with this.
I must admit i almost tipped Essendon* too but stupidly picked Carlton, will probably cost me my work tipping competition.
We are all hurting, i have barracked for Carlton for over 40 years.
i have said it before i dont like this group.
Lets see what happens during the off season, hopefully this year we can get some players into the club.
Massive cleanout is on the cards and about time.

spot on. I @#$%&! hate this current Carlton side. insipid and mentally weak. Right now, for the first time in 15 years I cannot see myself renewing my membership next year. This club that has been a part of my life for my entire 36 years on this planet is rotten to the core. I am completely over it.

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Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

2013

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Reality check.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Well said Headcutter. Sad but true. I feel sorry for the younger Carlton supporters that have never seen a successful CFC. I've been fortunate to have witnessed 8 Carlton premierships. Watching these types of performances compared to the old Carlton is embarrassing. The worst part though is that it's not unexpected. I am hopeful Mick can put a list together that will at least show some character and pride in themselves as well as the club. We are crying out for leaders and it baffles me how bereft we are of them. I suppose time will tell.

My 12year old son thinks we've had a good year because we nearly made the final eight. That's how far we've fallen. likewise, no membership renewal next year. I'll get a new tv instead.

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Simmo - the true spirit of Carlton

Spot on.

Felt the same tonight. Pissweak. Mentally fragile. Doesn't matter who were the last minute outs. Other clubs deal with it. Poor kicking isn't due to injured players. Too often in the last possibly ten years we've had players who can kick goals out of their proverbials (some aren't even capable of this, of course) but can't kick sitters when it matters. Or, accuracy aside, we have players who dither - I'll say that again...DITHER - instead of just taking the game on - they look like they're there to do an unfulfilling job then go home rather than play passionately for a win. How did we ever get to this?

If ever there was a game to be won - finals aside, but that's for other clubs to deal with these days - this was it. If only the players wanted to smash these hurds as badly as the fans. (Agree that Simmo is the honourable exception.) I'm as spent as anyone can be without taking the field. Screw this. I don't feel like sleeping on it. This is a new low.

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'People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.'
Soren Kierkegaard

Think I'll get a new microwave first

Excellent post headcutter.

Totally gutted.

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The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

#DopeThenStash

Can't disagree with a word of that.

I think Jeannie may have to buy 10,000+ memberships next year

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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

We can't @#$%&! kick

I have been saying it for 10 years

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

agree with the original post. Last night was a new low. However for me, not totally unexpected.

I actually think that in the most part our efforts have been good this year. Haven't been blown away that often.

we lack quality, list balance and depth. Our list has been overrated (by me too).

too many battlers that keep us in games

our so called A graders have let us down this year eg Murphy & Gibbs

unfortunately we have a losing culture at the club which has created weak and losing mentalities. The dark period of 2002-07 is still having its effect.

agree that the focus should be on changing the culture (and the list). This starts from the top.

Can't agree enough with this. We've had this attitude of thinking things will just work out because we have draft picks, Juddy, Pratt, Mick etc. It began with the tanking years and we're seeing the fruits of those labours.

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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

Agreed, it's no coincidence clubs that embraced tanking to position themselves better in the draft have paid the price and subsequently struggled.

There is no substitute for building a culture based on wanting and expecting to win every game you play to bring long term success.

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Last night was the last decade on display. It was only compounded by the fact of the cheats' expectation that they were shot and we had a free swing at them to knock them off. In true Carlton fashion, we kept them in the game, and low and behold handed them the game and gave them the little confidence they needed.
Club needs to wipe the slate clean and start with a blank canvass. New Prez, CEO, and an exceptional hr business partner. Why hr? Need to rewire the club with a new culture and rid the current one! And the players, will get the wraith of MM at seasons end!

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

There isn't a single player on Carlton's list who I would want kicking at goal after the siren to win a GF.

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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

I can only hope that 2013 is Ground Zero for the club finally waking up to itself about what is required for success in 21st Century footy.

The 150th next year should be seen both as a celebration of the past, and a rebirth for the future. Because we're sure as shit not going to be a contender.

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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

If it was within 40m I would actually get Brock to do it. Wouldn't trust anyone else.