Not a great night to be a blues fan. Boys against men.....literally! I guess this is the pain we have to endure

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

BS, can you point out which of your posts above you're referring to?

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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

It looks like Murphy finished with an injury. Spent most of the last quarter? off.
Probably most disappointed with our leaders tonight. Too many times I watched our young players like Polson and especially Fisher win the ball, only for the older players like Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson and Cripps calling for the handball receive when they're in a worse position. Even Silvagni called for a ball from Fisher when Fisher had time and space on his left. Silvagni took the handball receive, kicked a shit kick on his left and we lost possession.
The kids aren't bought in so the older players can bludge off their hard work.

The kids in the back line will make mistakes but they're all courageous.

Charlie showed a lot of great signs tonight. Really encouraging. Also seeing Doc spend a bit of time in the middle was good. Great to see Wayne Carey nominate Sam Rowe as one of the best 4 players on the ground. Those 4 possessions and zero marks must have been spectacular.

Probably the most disappointing was our lack on offensive intent. Where were the sharp 45's or the running into space to create an option? We kicked down the line and showed little creativity.

I've been a huge fan of Murphy but I thought he was poor tonight. Didn't work hard enough defensively, tackling efforts were putrid and I thought his leadership was terrible.

From about half way through the 3rd quarter I forgot about the score and focussed on how the players responded. At least they fought it out. Fisher looks super impressive and Polson will be better for the run.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Green Shoots for Round 5:
- Polson's chase down tackle
- Another small bag to Levi
- SOS never stopped trying
- Charlie Curnow prob showed his best stuff so far, particularly in the 1st half
- Cripps return to decent form
- Charlie Dixon kept quiet
- We didn't lay down in the last term
- With 10 players 21 and under, we were never going to go anywhere near a win.
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Unfortunately, we will always get cut apart by our opponents because we don't make them pay on the scoreboard when we should, and our skills are pathetic and we all too often turn the ball over to them.
Our supposed senior leaders always were and always will be 'downhill skiers'. Again for the second week in a row, they were invisible in the 3rd term when we were crying out for leadership.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

coach killers

I only had reception at the start of the third, and I only had the AFL app as reference, and I most definitely didn't come back here until after the game, but I thought the final quarter effort appeared encouraging. Guys like Fisher and Petrevski-Seton got mor of the ball and fought it out. Silvagni didn't give up. Polson a few more touches. And Williamson up to almost all 20 possessions in only his third game.

Play the kids, play the kids, play the kids. We have been screaming out for a coach like Bolton since 2003.

Can't complain.

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#DonTheStash

Poor Phillips ..... underdone and rag dolled by Ryder. That was a shocker !!
Sydney will be 0-5 when they face us next week. Will be interesting .... and they'll probably have their best 22 this year playing with McVeigh coming back to join the 4 they brought in this week.
Will be watching the VFL game v Williamstown tomorrow with interest.

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"IF YOU FAIL TO PREPARE, YOU'RE PREPARED TO FAIL" - Mark Spitz

We are going to see a lot worse than that this year.

Liked Doc onball. Would be great if he can do a Ratts or Dane Swan and turn himself into a gun onballer.

Can we replace his intercept marks and rebound play down back?

How can we make it work?

Byrne or Sheehan ?

... and Jacob.

Can be done.

The one where I talk about his game. There are three pages on this thread. It's on one of them.
(Hint)
It's before page 2

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

I find it amusing you take every opportunity to criticise Murphy, but defend Thomas

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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

I think you're referring to the Elliot era.
These days we get them via the draft or trade for them.

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

We look worse than we are because we have no midfield. 3 genuine mids
Silvagni is the best of the kids at this stage.
Charlie Curnows disposal and decision making worries me.
We need to run and carry the football.
Kerridge in for white. I accept his clangers to protect the kids around the stoppages.
Buckley takes the game on. He has what we need

Thought that showed how important Kreuz is to our midfield
Not in possessions, but blocks and bumps and tackles and follow up - we got smashed in there without him
I think longer term Phillips might be OK, but at the moment completely underdone
Overall just too young, happy to play plenty of kids - but think it was overdone tonight, just so many broken tackles because the strength is not there YET

Carlton FC‏Verified account @CarltonFC 4m4 minutes ago
Replying to @CarltonFC

Bolton: There were some tough lessons to learn tonight. They'll serve us well.
Bolton: We're not going to shy away from giving our youngsters a go.
Bolton: We've got a fair bit to work on with our ball use.
Bolton: Charlie Curnow took some great intercept marks. Williamson had composure.
Bolton: We review with absolute equilibrium.
Bolton: Polson showed some signs. He and our other youngsters tried hard.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Was that for me?

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

You're on a hiding to nothing when your captain lays no tackles

Only positive was Curnow and Silvagni getting plenty of it. Jack any chance of becoming a midfielder in time?

Yes

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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