I’ve been saying Plowman’s no good since we recruited him - you say the cupboard is bare, we’ve had 5 years to replace him but we haven’t.

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

Winston Churchill

We don’t have as good a side as Dogs.

We aren’t great, but blowing the side up making 13 changes, and bringing in literally anyone regardless of performance in VFL or ability isn’t the answer.

You know what you are right , I really hope Murphy or docherty don’t get injured

We will need to hand the keys to our football club to the afl and say sorry it’s too hard and we have no one that can replace these legends of the club that has bought us such a great success

I hope they never retire the doom will be too great

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#sayerscouldbetheman!!

I hope we win just to give the Chicken Littles a week off.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

You know what you are right , I really hope Murphy or docherty don’t get injured

We will need to hand the keys to our football club to the afl and say sorry it’s too hard and we have no one that can replace these legends of the club that has bought us such a great success

I hope they never retire the doom will be too great[/quote]

I just want you to propose actual solutions rather than talk about the world ending

And therein lies the problem.
We have posters like you making weekly calls on players based on nothing more than ignorance. Docherty was given best on ground the previous week by the coaches. You're proposing we drop the player who was given the most coaches votes 7 days earlier.
Against Port he injured his shoulder in the first quarter and went into the rooms to get it treated. He returned with it strapped up and probably medicated. I watched him return to the ground and he couldn't lift his arm above shoulder height. So yes he struggled to take marks but blame the medical staff or Teague for not subbing him out of the game.

I suspect keyboard heroes like yourself would have been lying on the ground in tears had you received the same injury but you prefer to take potshots at players armed with nothing more than blissful ignorance.

We've just lost a game against a team tipped by many to win the flag and this site has gone into @#$%&! meltdown.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I'm one of those. We win, big deal. Sustained success is what I want to see, not 'responses' and 'statements' 3 or 4 times a year. We'll probably do ok, off Broadway. Wait until the next big game, big team, big stage. We'll fold like a cheap suit. Nothing is more certain.

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"I had to eat"

This is a big game - Lions played Preliminary last year if I'm not mistaken.

Team needs to do better but we are not a top four side yet either.

Agro, the question.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

It wasn’t the loss , Because sport is all about winning and losing

But it’s all about intent , playing as a team , cohesion , relevance , mentally tough Enough, which we failed miserably in !! So please before you talk about docherty , have a look at his composure is last weeks game and last 10 minutes in the tigers game

But hey , you clap for him today !! I’m quite he will get his usual stats and impress everyone

The good ole days of racking up stats , I bet you used to love it when Gibbs racked up stats and Murphy back in day

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#sayerscouldbetheman!!

I don't want Murphy playing and I've ben saying that for more than 2 years.
Too hot and cold for an experienced player and his shoulders....

Other than 23rd man for 10 more games I don't want him anymore.

But its not that easy as you say. We don't have a player named "Anyone" in the Twos.
Is it that hard for you too to name a replacement? I've asked twice now.

There's no one ready other than those we have dropped.
Dow? He's lost his game sense imo, and I believe he needs to develop upper body strength to break tackles.

The Docherty statement re survival does not address the main reason he is there.
Does he make us better?

I don't think you know what happened to doc early in the game with his shoulder.
Explains the dropped marks.

On one hand you are suggesting we are better off without him, then on the other he shouldn't be playing intercept.
Is that Docherty's fault or the coaches, or are you becoming over the top bitter and getting caught up with the agenda ridden media vitriol too?
Think about it.

Docherty is in our best 22, and every other of the 17 teams too.

You've heard the saying we are as good as our bottom 6 that take the field. There lies the answer.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Couldn’t agree more !! Until they win 4 games in a row as a bare minimum , this a definitely wait and see

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#sayerscouldbetheman!!

I know mate.

I have 2 kids, 16 and 13. One's name is Carlton.
They are still proud of their club's history, but also saddened, and at times sickened.

My cousins are Carlton supporters. I apparently punched it into them at an early age.
They saw 13 Grand finals and saw 8 Premierships.
They have a clan of kids who are Carlton mad and they all fork out over $1000 for best seats in the house.
Win or lose, and losing bloody hurts they stick fat and turn up week in week out

History repeats itself.
Prior to 1968 we had a drought between flags dating back to the 1940's.

As I was growing up, Footscray, Melbourne, Fitzroy were perennial losers as some of those supporters remind me.
Look where they are now.
I'm not jealous of them one bit, because I know we are a huge club with a huge following.

I will never forget the roar of the crowd of 34000 at The Dome 2 years ago when we beat the Lions from 42 points down.
Never heard anything like it. My 14yo son then said we are something special.

Our turn will come, and I really believe that because I can see we have the foundation now for sustained success.
We just fix the things that aren't right.

The media have real agendas to see Carlton fail. Ive outlined some of them and there's more.
Some of what they say will fire us up and focus on fixing.
Most of their vitriol is unbalanced, bias and frankly not true.
Don't fall for them.

Carlton Football Club is bigger than the yobbo Mark Robinson, more popular than Sam Landsberger, more successful than Nick Reiwoldt, has more integrity than Kane cornes, and is smarter than Gary Lyon.

You son and my sons will see Premierships, and if they don't, that's life, not death.
So stick with the club and stop being like those who want to destroy the image of carlton as a destination club.

Stocker plays today
Cuningham is back
Newman will take his spot at HB
Charlie will be back
Jack will return
Fisher will be back
Martin will be back
Kemp will be a star
Carroll will be a star
Philp is getting minutes up and we already know how quick and tough he is.
Honey has strength and speed and is building minutes
Marchbank is next year, if needed

Did I mention we have a once in a generation star in DeKoning who will lead the ruck?

I'm glad Dow and Setterfield have been given a kick up the arse, and they can also be great players if they get tougher and stronger at the contest. Durdin looks the goods as a specialist small FP

Then Cripps feels like he doesn't have to do it all by himself and plays a selfless game for team success.

And you know what, if half of the above come in, who do you think gets pushed out?
I tell you who. Murphy after he plays his 300th, Betts, Gibbons, Newnes, Ed, Levi, Plowman, Cottrell till he's ready, ditto Samo...

Its just a moment in time. At years end, with the abovementioned back, we win and build momentum in the 2nd half, and may or may not make finals. But we will look like we are going places.
We might snag Merrett (which Robbo fears). We have 2 First rounders, 2 second rounders and a couple players to Trade.

Its a formula. Injuries hurt.

Now lets give our team the support it needs whilst the injuries are hurting us.
Its the best looking jumper in the land.

If we don't embrace the club now and the years to come, believe me, the next generation of Carlton supporters will.
We are free of debt for the first time since the 1990's. We are free from the shackles of the AFL Commission, and creating our own destiny, coz no one else wants to.

If it is to be its up to me.

Carpa Diem

Lets hit the Lions hard today like our lives depend on it. I hope they do, and the fans that have dropped the ball, start to believe again, and the raw will tell the story. If not today, then tomorrow.

Bluebaggers

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I dig it, and they are good points you make backed by stats. Appreciated.
Its a moment in time. Possibly players have lost a bit of confidence.
Give you a heads up. You know Murphy's shoulders are busted and he can't tackle.
Docherty's had testicular cancer, 2 knee reconstructions but they haven't stopped him: character.
He has hurt his shoulder and should be rested, but he is OK, and I'm sure you will see this improve.
The cupboard is bare. There is no one there to give Doch a rest.

Williamson is not ahead of Docherty, and imo neither is Plowman, but he plays a different role on smalls and talls....how many goals has he leaked? SPS better than Doch? Please. I understand your disappointment, but he has done more positive things than others playing a similar role:


The answer to the highlighted bit: if that's their attitude, get rid of them.
There are no kids busting their guts and deserve to be selected due to form, other than Stocker imo. There are no kids ungrateful for the opportunity to develop their undeveloped skills and young bodies. Things take time. Injuries haven't helped.

Add 11 more experienced bodies to the VFL side, and I tell you, the developing players in the VFL will learn to play and develop quicker with more system, and we will see a different player from that. I am talking about Dow, OBrien and Setterfield...who need to sharpen the sword. I'm talking about Philp, Honey, Ramsay, Owies and Durdin. That's it. The rest of the VFL team is made up of mostly make shift players filling in gaps...11 of them. Its a problem.

Pressure on spots is gone for the time being, and that's a fact of life. No good throwing in a half fit Philp, Durdin, Honey, they've just played one week after interupted preseason.

The season has been derailed by injury. Pre round 1 we were all acknowledging this in shock. The problem hasn't gone away. We are playing players who are carrying injuries..Docherty, Levi, Saad, Williams, Cripps, Murphy.

The cupboard is bare. Have to be realistic.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I love your optimism bondiblue.
I'm old enough to remember six of our premierships and yearn for us to be successful again.
Go Blues!
Let's win today and win well.

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Our tradition demands success!

I haven't considered this.

Lowey, that's clever, and hey, maybe try in part.

The sum is a collection of parts.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Shit,thats darn good Bondi....................anyhow,i reckon we are going to win this with a leg in the air.Really feel the boys are gonna gellJust be hard like an old style Carlton.Let 'em know they have to earn everything against................and just play like your coach used to play.Dave Teague was no super star but was COURAGE as good as any player i have seen at the Blues.He was Kenny Hunter like.Yeah,Kenny Hunter like..........if these blokes take a leaf out of Teague's book the will go a long way to squaring the ledger.Forget about fancy new age game plans,make it a scrap.

Regards Mick.

The Carlton Football Club...............Now,Always,Forever.

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All my dangerous friends

Its not just optimism.

I'm a welded on supporter.

I'm also a realist.

There's a half full and a half empty outlook one can have.
Believe me, I adopt both. I need to to make sure I see things as they are without bias.

I can see what the problems are. not all of them. Some.
Are they fixable? Yes.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Today's game is so important to win but not the end of the world.

I just hope the players commit like it is the end of the world.

Hopefully the media vitriol this week gives fires up something that drives them for 4 quarters.

No time for resting today.

Lets see the character of the players.

Do I think we can win with the 11 injured, and carrying 5 injured, therefore carrying 2 kids with less than 10 games to their names, and 3 to 5 VFL level senior players representing carlton Football Club?

NO !

Do I think we can win this battle today from something powerful within the human soul, by playing collectively a selfless game, with no fear and never give up the fight as if our lives depend on the win.

YES!

Today we find out what this group is capable of. I expect a very different Cripps today. A ferocious leader who brings his team mates into the game. He is always fearless. I want to see mature strong bodies Gov, Newnes, Gibbons, Ed and Levi hit the opposition harder than ever. Murphy to play with pride and not self preservation. Hopefully Saad's corky has improved to get the run we need from the backline.

Stocker is going to be a factor. he's tough and has a point to prove (and Teague?), and complete footballer who can play midfield and hit hard (I believe Hodge like), and also provide relief for sammo to play further up the ground.

Hopefully Teague works out that the opposition see his team and game plan as predictable. We need some players to position themselves to change things. This is where Murphy, Betts, and Gibbo have to use their footy smarts.

Today is Cuningham and Stockers day. Midfield pressure and a win in that area will bring relief to the backlines big boys.

Speaking of big boys, whilst we have to spread the goals, Harry has to play a blinder and kick straight.

Go Blues

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

What sort of a culture will we have if we gift games to kids who don’t deserve it?

I recommend you look at the team we are fielding in the reserves today. Tell me who is physically ready and in form to play AFL.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.