My memory of that period is that Pagan told the board he can either go to the draft and pick kids and get smashed, or get a bunch of recycled players and be competitive. And the board chose option b.

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"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."

Its just another case of Carlton not having the balls to rebuild the list. Nothings changed since then.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

the recycled players was a brainstorm from everybody at the club... the club was in a financial perilous position.
They couldnt have empty home game lunch tables.. they couldnt afford it.
Collectively (including Sticks and Collo as well as everybody else they rolled the dice and went for recycled.
They had no bargaining power nor currency.. plus the largest debt of any organisation in AFL history which frightened them.

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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.

Pagan may have been past his use by date but he had a tough gig. Threadbare wooden spoon list, club broke, no decent draft picks for two years. Yes we should have gone for a rebuild, but when we did have many decent picks we didn't do enough with them. And as others point out, we were almost in receivership and really needed not to be totally dreadful, so 2004 we were reasonably competitive and we then won a preseason cup. In the long term of no value but maybe the difference betwen bankruptcy and survival. But we keep making the same errors over and over again, appoint coaches who are over the hill or mates, with no interview, draft consistently poorly and operate like a 1980s club. I doubt there are many on the list who will be in our next premiership team. I think 1915-1938 is our longest premiership drought, but we will smash that record.

A blog like this was in its infancy when Pagan was appointed. When Malthouse was handed the job on a silver platter there were ten years of blog posts to look back on, and there's no mystery as to why posters at the time thought history was repeating.

A terrible move.

They may have been stronger than draft picks but they werent experienced.

I havent hung ratten for the state of the list. Where did i write that? I was not a ratten fan, but the state of the lost was not his doing.
Looking at the two lists that pagan and ratten had to work with....they were chalk and cheese. Pagan had virtually no class to work with. Our # 1 draft picks were young and immature, and judd hadnt arrived. Of course ratten did better than pagan, he had the cattle by then. Pagan never had any cattle. Ratten did some good things but was ultimately limited. I believe our mental softness started during his reign. It was obvious to most , that he didnt have what it takes to take the club to the next level.

I don't post here particularly often, just when i feel strongly about where my club is heading. I have been watching the Blues since 1970 (not a bad debut year), and there was always an excitement and an anticipation on Saturday mornings. It was a badge of honour having every one of the 22 matches clipped off on your junior membership card. So not only was Thursday nights game a huge disappointment but i have to admit to being less than excited beforehand. The last few years have sucked the life out of the supporters, absolutely nothing has changed, no light at the end of the tunnel and no one to focus on and give me a reason to enjoy watching my footy. Even back in the dark dark days there was always Fev. Now there is nothing.....loved watching Eddie.....gone....Jeffy could turn it on and get your pulse racing.....gone....Waite (the good one).....gone. This game was a sad reflection on our once great club....and yes once great....we are so ordinary and dare i say a laughing stock of the AFL. I'm not going to sit here and pontificate on what the solution is, to be honest my footy heart is probably at it's lowest ebb and i have no remedies. I just want something different, give me a reason to shell out my dollars for a membership year in year out and actually enjoy watching the footy again. The game i saw on Thursday night was utter garbage. I got more enjoyment watching a VAFA practice match the following morning. Have a good hard look at what your serving up to your loyal supporters Carlton, for f*#k sake do something! That's it, not much more to say.

I got as far as 1970. Didn't they teach paragraphs back then?

yep, and now send this straight to the club.
the more we let them know..the more hope for change.

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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.”

I've seen a lot of teams play exciting football this weekend Kameraman.

We weren't one of them.
I'm hoping it was first game jitters but......

Hopefully some of our kids keep improving and and fill in some of those holes left by past players.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

When you're on a roll paragraphs don't count.

Or do they?

It's the sentiment that counts.

Unless the player is projecting to be a brilliant top liner from 23-28, then he wasnt worth a first round pick as the window of solid service is too short

They felt he would contribute year 1 though, so he'll need to improve heavily on his performances thus far

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I've watched every match this weekend...

Carlton should be VERY concerned - they are the slowest team with the least amount of intensity, skill, hardness and star power.

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"...that's the thing about opinion - you don't have to know anything to have one..." Andre Agassi commenting on Pat Cash 2004
"...the less you know - the more you believe..." - Bono 2006

All class verbs.

I read it. Quite moving indeed. Have similar feelings as would long long time Carlton fans and members.

If you can't be bothered reading it, then don't bother commenting on it.

I'll be nice. You are rude.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Unusual for you.

That's what I remember hearing on the BB selection.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I agree that he was expected to contribute from day 1 - the post was in response to the statenebt that ' the club was hoping for a really good player b/n 23-28'

And he definitely needs to step up a fair bit in order to justify the drafting - For a mid, 10 possessions in a reserves match after 'finding the footy early' isn't good enough (that is a pot at the recruiters, not the player)

Just watched the game and so ordinary in intensity, skills and effort. What were they doing all summer?

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.