Gee, you must have been devastated a month ago when we won a couple of games. Sitting there wringing your hands in front of the TV clutching your Mick Malthouse photo.

We got belted by the team that smashed Freo and Sydney the past 2 weeks. Instead of wetting his pants and stocking the side with experience like Mick would have, Barker stuck to his guns, did the right thing by the future of the club and kept playing the kids.
12 players with 50 games experience or less. Look at the improvement in Nick Graham of recent by simply getting an opportunity instead of playing under a coach who looks after his own arse instead of the clubs interests.

Full credit to Barker. He knew it would be ugly but he stuck the course and exposed the kids to the most ruthless team for years. They've seen first hand what's required to be the best. What overwhelming pressure can do to teams.
They tried strategies that would open them up under extreme pressure but they'll learn far more from that than they will by going down the line and trying to limit the damage.
Its an education process now. We need to find out what capabilities the players have and they need to find out what's required if they are afforded the luxury of being retained on the list. They need to be exposed to different strategies and game styles to see whether they can adapt. Not just against the lesser sides but the very best.
Try looking at the big picture for a change.

Instead of wetting his pants and stocking the side with experience like Mick would have, Barker stuck to his guns, did the right thing by the future of the club and kept playing the kids.

I agree with most of what you wrote BV, and whilst he's long down the line in people to blame for last night I'm not sure Barker can take much credit for this as due to injuries there was effectively no other choice - which in itself is a case to defend him for last nights effort.

The one selection choice he did have actually goes against your point and that was Jones over Jaksch, but I know you've explained elsewhere that KJ got an arm knock last week so there was resasoning behind it, but not sure some would have given MM the same out.

True but look at the players we played in the senior side this year who were clearly injured Blueboy.
Jaksch back in 3 weeks after suffering 3 broken ribs and a punctured lung. Dale Thomas couldn't lift his arm above his head, Bryce Gibbs clearly hampered, Chris Judd playing his last game when he was still limping from the previous week.
We could have played Cam Wood last night, Nick Graham or the hampered Jaksch or Carrazzo but we did the right thing. Kids were given opportunities and as much as some want to kick Barker for it, he's doing the right thing by the clubs future.
Its painful now but you can't make good list decisions without being informed first. Barker is giving us that opportunity. Mick didn't.

Cimm, BBW and Redback,

Replacing the coach is making a huge difference isnt it? Was I hallucinating or was that the biggest losing margin in the clubs history? According to your simple thinking does that make Barker the worst coach in Carlton's history? Shhh maybe its the list shhh!!!!

Spot on. The whole game we intentionally avoided kicking to a contest down the line. We were never going to win anyway so rather than bottling the game up and losing by 70, why not try the style of footy we'd need to play if we were a contender? Players and coaches would've learned much more from last night than they would've if we'd just tried to minimise the margin.

this whole 'minimising the margin' thing is oing to drive away fans while we rebuild.
It doesn't work..
we sacked Malty because he wanted everyone tagged, and playing boundary line safe.

Who is going to coach?
if it is Sos, then hire him as coach.
If we only want a coach that will toe the line and follow instructions from Sos, then sack the club.
I don't mind us losing.
I do mind that it was exciting and refreshing to see we had players who actually had skills for 2 weeks,
and then..
what?
someone says that's not ok?
don't play like that.
It's no good for our future?

Listen
we won't have a future if we don't play an exciting brand of footy.
People will come to watch a rebuild sure..
they'll accept a lot of losses,
but not chip kicking, handballing too often into danger..
going wide way too often, kicking backwards.....etc.

Horrible, isn't it.

The people making these decisions either don't think it matters or just think it's worth the risk.

I hope they are right. Tough to get enthused about even watching kids, although I did think BB made a bit of progress.

I like Barks as a person. Apparently the players do as well.

But for me, Barks being at the club under Ratten & Mick means he shouldn't get the job. We are in desperate need of a fresh start from top to bottom.

Not only that - but I think it's clear that as a line coach Barks was very buddy buddy with the players. I think that would make it difficult to become a long term senior coach who is capable of taking the hardline approach. Short term it could work - but long term when the honeymoon period is over, we're going to need a coach who is able to go the tough love route. Not that Barker can't do that - just the players having been used to him as the friendly assistant coach and then happy interim coach - IMO going to the tough senior coach they wouldn't take him seriously.

Spot on. The whole game we intentionally avoided kicking to a contest down the line. We were never going to win anyway so rather than bottling the game up and losing by 70, why not try the style of footy we'd need to play if we were a contender? Players and coaches would've learned much more from last night than they would've if we'd just tried to minimise the margin.

Gee, you must have been devastated a month ago when we won a couple of games. Sitting there wringing your hands in front of the TV clutching your Mick Malthouse photo.

We got belted by the team that smashed Freo and Sydney the past 2 weeks. Instead of wetting his pants and stocking the side with experience like Mick would have, Barker stuck to his guns, did the right thing by the future of the club and kept playing the kids.
12 players with 50 games experience or less. Look at the improvement in Nick Graham of recent by simply getting an opportunity instead of playing under a coach who looks after his own arse instead of the clubs interests.

Full credit to Barker. He knew it would be ugly but he stuck the course and exposed the kids to the most ruthless team for years. They've seen first hand what's required to be the best. What overwhelming pressure can do to teams.
They tried strategies that would open them up under extreme pressure but they'll learn far more from that than they will by going down the line and trying to limit the damage.
Its an education process now. We need to find out what capabilities the players have and they need to find out what's required if they are afforded the luxury of being retained on the list. They need to be exposed to different strategies and game styles to see whether they can adapt. Not just against the lesser sides but the very best.
Try looking at the big picture for a change.