It doesn't surprise me that high praise like that would be off-the-record.

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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 wonder if you can Wikipedia "whoosh".

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

We won't win because we are developing as a team and we still have a list with too many poor to average players. You know it, I know it, and the staff including the coach also know it. But as far as being shot for the season already, that's just pessimistic crap based on what has happened from previous years coaching and planning. It's true the after the 15 minute of the third quarter against GC we dropped off, thats what developing sides will do when they give there all but are let down by poor execution and turnovers, especially against fast teams like GC that punish mistakes. Bolton will have the boys up again this week, morale will be good, structures will be great, and the Bulldogs will have to earn it. Which they will. But we are not shot yet. And when there is an opening, we will take it. Maybe not this weekend, but it will happen. And when we start to win a few, we will build and suddenly we will look OK. And then we can start next year knowing we are OK. And we will build on that.

We need a tall forward in and then we have the balance pretty well right. Time to bring Jones in and see what he's made of, he's been performing in the VFL and it's now or never if he wants to make it in the AFL. We need a small forward laying tackles and sneaking goals and Galluci was the best at it in the VFL on the weekend. I'd give Simon White the job of nullifying Stringer, tough job for anyone but he's probably our best option. Philips out and Casboult to play as the second ruck when required with Kreuzer to spend a lot more time in the ruck than he has been. Whiley stays but needs to show something quickly and I'm not sure if Everitt is back or yet.

B: Tuohy Jamison White
HB: Docherty Weitering Simpson
C: Murphy Cripps Thomas
HF: Wright Curnow Kerridge
F: Galluci Jones Casboult
R: Kreuzer Gibbs Curnow
INT: Graham Byrne Whiley Boekhorst

IN: White Galluci Jones
OUT: Rowe Philips Buckley

hey guys we are all disappointed but we have improved and contesting
the way i look at it is that at least I look forward to seeing us play this year and sometimes believe we are in with a shot which is more than I could say in the previous 3 years
the bright side
cripps is being tagged and will learn (after his frustration subsides)
weitering is three games in and needs time in one position (leave him there)
Curnow 2 games and doing some nice things
buckleys has speed and tenacity but he needs coaching and the rest of the kids a getting experience so let’s not get overly emotional
let’s look at the positives and growth for a few months first

I do agree with Bolton making a statement though but start with the seniors, he needs to drop some seniors that are comfy (everitt, ?) and bokehurst needs a kicking also
I also liked jamo going forward last week which would be a way to start as at least he leads up and maybe can give some instruction out there

You've identified the problem areas, but aside from picking Jones due to uncertainty with Everitt and Walker, I don't think the best solution is taking a direct approach to solving the problems.

Injecting someone like DVR to aid our run off HB and the wing, as well as our foot skills, allows someone like Wright to spend more minutes snapping around the packs up forward and running a small defender ragged, which in turn releases Boekhorst and Buckley to play their natural games instead of filling a structural void closer to goal because we need Wright's run up the ground.

Adding Cuningham means someone like Kerridge isn't playing 110 minutes in midfield because Murphy can only manage 90 right now, versus someone like Whiley who played about 70. That's horrendous for a senior player who played out the game, and again ties into Wright, Buckley and Boekhorst.

Gallucci will no doubt get his chance, but he needs to show some ability to escape in close at VFL level or he'll get burned at AFL level. So far, his read of the play in the VFL has him coasting, but I think that'll disappear in senior ranks, so personally I'd want to see some evidence he has more tricks to fall back on. Hopefully that's been shown on the training track.


I'll pay it if you can explain the joke

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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.

Hopefully Kristian is ready to come in and play forward. Really want to see this guy settle there shortly.
Other than him I would send Rowe or Jamison forward and see how they go.

I reckon we'll win by 12 points.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Just kick more goals than we did again GC please

I'm going to agree with all those members/fans who are suggesting we should calm down a little and remind ourselves what's happening at the moment.

We were prepared by Carlton Media, all pre-season, to be ready for a difficult year but most of us bought into the 'reset' anyway, because we were relieved that it was finally being done the right way. With a new coaching team, many list changes, and what was bound to be a fairly significant change in our game plan and structures, it was always really hard to know how it would look on game day. I love our Club and with that comes the ridiculous notion that if everything goes right, we CAN win each week...lol. While I don't tip them, I tell anyone who will listen just why I think we 'could' win. It's a brain vs heart thing. The losses still hurt despite the brain expecting it.

I remind myself, like other's have mentioned in earlier posts, that we are only 3 games into the reset. When you look at those games, we should have beaten Richmond, and were soundly beaten by Sydney and Gold Coast, who are the top 2 teams on the ladder at this time. This weekend we'll be playing the Doggies who are 4th. It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with whether they belong there or not. At this time, they are and we played them while they were in form. I never expected we'd win those games but was reasonably happy that we didn't seem to roll over. I'm more interested with how we perform against the middle and lower tier teams this year to judge how our team compares. To paraphrase Gibbs, it is hard for them to maintain that intensity for 4 quarters when they aren't getting reward for effort. That will obviously change depending on opponent, and the game margin, but this year I fully expect that we will drop away against top 6 teams for this reason. Once they develop that confidence, they will be more capable of finding that little extra. Sadly, developing that confidence comes from a deep seated confidence that you can beat your opponent; that the team can win. It only comes from winning. We know our list needs work for us to get there. Yeah yeah, green shoots right....

So the Richmond game was amazing to me because I expected it to be a 60 point smashing, but couldn't believe we got so close without the 4 points. I felt deflated at just how easy Sydney made clearance work look. I really thought our midfield was looking complete and that game reminded me that my love for the club had clouded my judgement. I really appreciated, though, that in both the Sydney and GC games, that while it ended up as a blowout, we held on for big chunks of the game. I remember myself telling the TV that I could't bare to watch us kicking 5 goals in 3/4 of football. Sadly, it ended up being 5 goals for the entire game. So it'll be more of the same this weekend, with the Doggies playing a fast style of play similar to GC, but faster. So i'd be happy with a similar outcome but looking for them to not drop their heads, not give up. I can live with being outclassed, but they simply have to work hard or be dropped. Talent or not.

Some stray thoughts though. We've been talking a lot about dropping Phillips and giving Casboult 2nd ruck, which I agree completely with. However, many are also saying the Kruez is baked. If that is true, we have to get games into both Phillips/Gorringe to either determine their future as players or to develop them. Only the club would know for sure, how temporary Kruez's injuries are, but if we're going to speculate on him being baked it seems logical to have some sort of contingency speculation on what we do if he is spent. Bottom line, we know he's not at anywhere near 100% but he might still be better than the next best option. But not developing a replacement seems short sighted.

I've never been a Boekhorst fan to be honest. I was pissed when they called him because it just seemed another speculative draft pick that needn't have been. Watching him last year only justified my reaction during the draft. I've swallowed humble pie though, as he certainly has made some significant improvements during the pre-season. That speed and low, precision passing is awesome. Seeing him laughing and grinning after the game gave me knots in my stomach. I'm a member, sitting on my couch watching the game and feeling the pain. He's a damn player, wearing the jumper. Doesn't it hurt? I stopped and considered, however, whether or not he has just become accustomed to losing. Desensitised. I didn't bother looking up the stats, but just how many wins has he played in with the Blues? We've got many more losses to go, and I'd rather not have our players turn up next week feeling deflated after starting 0-3. Still BB, have a word with the lad.

Is Gallucci nominated rookie? I've noticed a few suggesting he should get a run this week. I know that McKay was moved to the long term injury list so he could be elevated anyway. Just wondered. I don't watch the reserves games so it's impossible for me to know who deserves a game, but looking at the other posts, and the stats, it seems like Gallucci should get a run. He really looks like he's got a bit of mongrel about him, a cheeky sought who might get the boys firing. Our forward line needs something... If Jaksch is ready, he needs be playing at AFL level. We probably need to see Jones in the forward line too, to see if his form translates to better senior performances.

What I'm not interested in doing, is watching all the players that won't be on the list next year, playing all year just because they are on the payroll. If there is a junior player who can benefit from the game time, please rotate them through it. To hell with the best team on the park. I'm not talking tanking, but development. I'm not suggesting burning them out, when they aren't ready, but I'll take losses this year to allow us to determine who has something to offer going forward, and to see the future players getting some experience at AFL level. I know it's a balancing act because we don't want to create a losing culture, but we're losing anyway. Let's actually develop some players. What's happening with Foster? Does he have anything to offer?

Sorry if this is a little off topic. Go Blues!

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I will always love this club, no matter what. But I ride the roller coaster like I'm in the front seat and the losses really hurt.

You're right regarding gun shy.
Call it what you like but last weekend I watched someone run through the F50 and pass it off instead of running another three metres and slotting it. I can't remember who it was, unfortunately but at the time I was surprised and disappointed.

Then there was the Murphy one where he took the footy on the wing and ran towards the F50. There were four players inside fifty, to of ours and their defenders, all close-ish together and at about 25-30 metres out. Neither of ours ran at Murphy for the lead and pass option. They ran towards the goal and he was forced to kick it long for no result.

These things are easy to fix. What is of more concern to me is the lack of accuracy when we finally do get a ping. Love Everitt or hate him, he is a dead eye dick. Gibbs too. We need then in the front half and scoring. Levi is the tall option but would I pass it to him after gut running patterns for two minutes across the half back line and then receiving a handball on the opposite wing? That's what is going through the minds of the mids. It has to be.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

was buckley

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

The games I have been watching we just stop at times. This is backed up by our coaches comments that we need to play 4 quarters. We contested around 2.5 quarters last week. Fair enough it was hot, however we only played 3 quarters against the Swans. This is either a mindset issue or the players don't have a tank to go 4 quarters and need another preseason.

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It is not as bad as you are lead to believe.......it is %$#^& worse!!!

Or they could be working themselves into the ground trying to be competitive and are tiring as their inefficiency is causing more work than they can deal with.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Clayman you cannot deny we are competing more than previous years,
are we a top eight team, no
but we have improved in our approach, our system and our game plan
do we have a long way to go, yes
but where we are coming from we need to take small steps in order to get to where we need to be and I think Bolton has started that process
yes we still have may stragglers and plodders that shouldn’t be in the side but it’s been a huge overhaul over summer and he is asking questions that need to be answered by the remaining list
frustrating , yes
necessary, yes

best post i've read for some time!
sensible and calm.

we as supporters are dropping our heads quicker than the players.

go blues!

Many players were not even born when this began

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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.

You should have boarded it.

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dane's trolling again

Out: Rowe, Phillips, Bucks, Whiley.

In: White, jones. Rainbow, Gallucci

White. Jamo. Tuohy
Byrne. Weitering. Docherty
Boekhorst. Cripps. Kerridge.
Simmo. Curnow. Gibbs.
Gallucci. Casboult. Wright.
Kreuz. Murph. Curnow.
Rainbow. Graham. Thomas. Jones.

Reluctant to bring Jones in but when Kreuz is resting, Casboult rucking he should be down there due to lack of options. Maybe playing old team may make him lift.

Is it too early to bring in Sumner?
Probably on second thought.
Lets give him and Plow a couple of weeks and bring them in against the pin cushions..

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_________________
Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.