Not only is it due to the complete capitulation of the West Indies today, but I look forward to the next football season with excitement levels unparalleled since CJ arrived at the club.

The past 3 years have been excruciating to watch. Errors from the top - throwing money at a fossil in a get-flag-quick scheme, to errors on the football field. Even when we played some decent footy - it just seemed a little uninspired. Flat. Dour. A game plan that was tired and one that opposition teams had worked out in 2011. Going each week of the last 3 years seemed more for a sense of duty (and an excuse to consume amber fluid) than an actual want to go.

As it stands on 12 December 2015, I want to go to the football to watch my beloved Blues. There is a chance that a wooden spoon beckons for 2016. There is also a chance that we can get it together, win a few games and give some much more fancied opposition a real scare. If you put together a 'best 22' - it really doesn't look disasterous. Yes there are flaws and we will need time to address those and for players to develop. But it is the journey that has me excited.

It is the journey that we will all participate in with our new young recruits. We will watch them grow. They will frustrate, but they will excite. They will keep us coming back, wanting to watch the unfolding scene before us.

And what of our existing players? What will a positive change do for them? We now have a progressive teacher for the modern age, rather than an old school headmaster. A coach coming from a top shelf organisation and culture. Rather than one coming from a football divorce who, in a way, coached to spite his former team. Questions rattle around in my head:
* How much better can the likes of Buckley, Docherty and Boekhorst get?
* Can Viojo slot into the team and add some delivery class - and a bit of dash?
* Jaksch, Whiley and their new ex-GWS counterparts - what can they become? Are they GWS outcasts or high quality players who will excel in a new environment? Same with Kerridge & Wright from Adelaide.
* Gibbs - could he become an elite of the competition? Moreover, how good can Cripps get?
* What could Kruze become if fit? Can the new coaching team help to keep him fit? Ditto Thomas.
* Can Clam respond after his indiscretion and become a Pearl?
* Could one of (or god forbid both) Jones and Foster become something? Can the big fella master kicking under pressure?

Add this list to the new blood, and there is so much upside to the Blues. So much to look forward to.

What has impressed me in this off season is the subtle (and not so subtle) distancing of the last 3 years. And a distancing from the Carlton way of - lets chuck money at a problem. A realisation and acceptance that we need to start from scratch - not putting band aids over bullet holes.

Maybe I am buying into the PR spin of the club. I dont really care. I also am ready to distance myself from the last 3 years, and face 2016 with more enthusiasm and hope than I have for many a season.

See you in the Social Club in 2016.

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A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject - Winston Churchill

https://savemidownload.com. Authorised Game and Software retailer.

Yep.

I'm over the off season.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

I sense entitlement

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Fill the gap with a league

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

OK which league?

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O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

After 3 terrible years under Madhouse, the curtain of gloom has been lifted ... just really looking forward to 2016.

It can't come soon enough ... I wish they could play a practice match before the end of year break.

GO BLUEBAGGERS!!!!

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

BBW, how long until the reign of Boltbrain has begun and we need to turn things over?

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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.

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Our club does its best work during the pre season, I don't want it to end.

Hahahaha woof!!!

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dane's trolling again

My quality of life improves immeasurably between September and March.

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Audere est Facere

we would get killed. Lets train for 15 more months but have weekly practice matches so we can get excited.

The Madhouse was always the wrong decision ... neh ... DUMB decision. If you look back at my posts I was against it from day 1, but seriously, you did not need to be Einstein to see a disaster unfolding.

Bolts has so much more to offer and coming from such a low point I would be very surprised if the turn around isn't dramatic. As long as we see a continuing upward curve he should have the job.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

bring on the SMASHBALL !

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

I don't expect much in 2016. Even a spoon wouldn't cause me to freakout. My biggest fear for the season is injuries. Like a bloody recuring curse, we've had a woeful run with injuries over the years.

Success to me in 2016 (spoon or not) would be an injury free season. A healthy list going into 2017 and beyond. We get this right, and I'll be one very happy chappy.

Just because a coach is replaced and the team underperformed, doesnt make it a disaster. How many coaches have been victim of a poor list and impatient board? Many i would suggest. It doesnt make the coach a disaster.
Every club has its dark periods , and not even a solid coaching appointment can make a difference.
Barassi melbourne
Roos melbourne
Jeans richmond
Blight stkilda

The list goes on. So even undeniably great coaches can be made to look average by a poor list and culture. Additionally you can argue that many potentially good/great coaches are fatally wounded by taking on the wrong club early in their career, so that they are replaced without proving themselves.

Its easy in hindsight to sit back and snipe at mick , but the reality is that we had a poor list, selfish players and massive injuries during his tenure. He tried his best to install some leadership and accountability, but our so called leaders decided to piss off to greener pastures. Betts, waite, henderson, to name a few.

Mick was the start of the rebuild and change in culture, that was needed after the ratten years. Ratten had the benefit of some great talent coming in and maturing all at the same time, but he neglected what was also needed... List depth and leadership. Judds performance papered over a very thin list, and it showed in finals.

So lets not shoot mick , the first messenger.

I agree our injuries have been woeful, but more important than this was our lack of depth. Hopefully our recruits this year will go some way to solving this.
Injuries happen. They happen to all clubs, but it is how a club prepares for these inevitable injuries that determines team performance

You're dreaming. It was a disaster by any measure.
Financially, it cost a mint to pay out the existing coaching panel and Mick was on top dollar.
Then he bought in his underperforming mates on top dollar.
He was happy to preach unity and a team first mentality but once again he put his own interests before the clubs when his time was up.
As for installing leadership and accountability, I'm unsure if you're taking the piss or you really believe that nonsense. He refused to implement leadership programs and refused external assistance to develop leadership.

There was no change in culture, just more of the unaccountable, selfish, insular crap the club had specialised in for years. If anything, his selfish ways reinforced the behaviours we were all bemoaning.

I'm happy to look to the future but please, spare me the twisted reflections. He's a very average individual and the best decision our club made in 20 years was to toss him out on his arse.

Talk to the players now and with the short exposure to Boltons coaching, they realise how much they have to catch up in tactics, strategies, professionalism and football knowledge.
There's not enough hours in the day.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Yeah we know you despise him. Hardly a great platform to stay impartial on.

Yeah, I despise him and you're a sycophant.

Lets be honest, thats a soft cop out.
Debate the facts. If you disagree, tell me why I'm wrong.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.