I've got $500 @ 41:1 to say Blues win the premiership.

Gamble Responsibly!

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No Guts, No Glory

@#$%&! me dead. This mob hurts me enough without throwing my cash away on top.

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

RIP Charlie Kirk (was/were)

I'm not going to even bother making predictions this year.

Generally speaking, across all sports, teams that trade one superstar for a number of good-to-very-good players will come out the worse for it. On the other hand, Carlton has not wanted for superstars over the last 15 years, and it's hard not to argue that we have been over reliant on them. We've also seen that teams without star power but a high floor have been successful in recent years: Collingwood the obvious and annoying example, Hawthorn headed in that direction, even Richmond I would argue fall in this category (Dusty box office, but the rest were mostly just very good, and note how those who left didn't really shine at new clubs). There's also a big difference between losing a consistent star like Weiters vs a mercurial star like Curnow.

But regardless of whether the Curnow trade turns out to be a win or not, the aforementioned lack of KPP is hard to get around. TDK and JSOS for kids is a difficult trade, whatever caveats we put on our alumni's qualities.

Okay then I will predict a ladder finish between 5th and 17th.

For a team that played in a Prelim and was 5 goals up a few short years back the fall has been dramatic.
For a club that has been starved of finals appearances over the last 30 years the decision to go back to the draft and not top up has been mind boggling.
The club needed 6-7 years of making and playing finals - The type players they brought in this year should have been bought in over the previous 2-3 years .
Last year we lacked depth to many players not AFL match ready needing a few seasons under their belt.
Players dropped their bundle last year and now a few have left

I am even more pessimistic this year than last - I really hope I am proven wrong

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Not my money, part of Melbourne Cup winnings!

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No Guts, No Glory

Footy season starts Monday!

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@greatex and @sydney blue - 100%

You think we’ll be better than Adelaide, Freo, Geelong, and possibly Bulldogs?

I’ll have one of what he’s having, thanks


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We beat Geelong last time we played them. We've beaten Freo 3 of the past 4 games. We match up well with both teams.
And I'm tipping Adelaide to take a dive. They had the second least impact of injury upon their best team in 2025. With Burgess leaving, I can't see that luck carrying over. Their depth is poor and they'll be found out.
Just my opinion.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

That’s what i thought too….

but then i remembered the cold Lympics…
they’ll soak up a couple of weeks…and before
you know it…

So instead of waiting 4 and a bit weeks…we’ll
only need to wait 2 weeks….

KSSSSSS….


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

I agree with this except for the last line. I think the higher floor/lower ceiling will produce more competition for spots and hopefully/naively make us more of a HP program. I reckon we'll make the 'participation' final (finish in the 6-12 zone) after coming home with a burst.

Team has never hurt me before though so ......

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

RIP Charlie Kirk (was/were)

I think we could genuinely finish anywhere between 6th-14th.

The deficiencies are clear, but if we have luck with injuries, they won't matter (Walsh, Weitering, Mckay).

The new recruits could gel immediately, or it could take half a season. Reidy could do a solid job and leave us wondering why we lamented TDK's depature so much, or we could lament TDK's departure when we get smashed every week in the ruck.

I'm going to put a positive spin on Syd's prelim comment - yes, we were 5 goals up in a prelim final just over 2 years ago. Whilst we've lost a few players from that side, we've also still got a lot of the core talent on the list. A quicker than expected rebound is not out of the question (think of Collingwood in 2022). A lot of this group that was part of that golden run are still on the list!

The jury is still out on Voss - he cops a lot of criticism, but you can't ignore that under his tenure, we went 22-6 over a 28 game period. It's just a damn shame it happened over 2 seasons as we could've pinched a flag otherwise. You cant criticise him when we're doing bad but downplay his impact when we're hot. The changes around him could make a positive difference, but the uncertainty beyond this year could hurt and self-preservation could kick in instead of making the right selection calls and changes.

And as always, the mental fortitude of the group is the big question.

I for one am much more optimistic now after the trade period than beforehand, and last year was the year from hell where everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong.

Since Wright took over the reins full time from Mr Superannuation, the off field changes (and on field) have been targeted and have utilised the cards we were dealt with in the best possible way.

There are far too many variables outlined above, which is why my predicted range is so wide. If we split it down the middle, it's 9th/10th, which is finals. And trust me, we won't be hating the wildcard round if we're in it!

Lost too much height IMO

12th -14th

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#DonTheStash

I don’t give you zero chance.

There’s an argument for and against all top 8 teams.

It’s a new season.

The doubters cannot deny injury derailed seasons 22,23,24,25.

Our 23 season came together when we had our troops back, in particular Martin Cipuningham Marchbank.
Those 3 made a huge difference and Curnow did nothing in the 23 finals campaign. Nothing. One fkn goal.
So, if height is our problem because we lose SOS TDK and Curnow, let’s not forget in 23 these 3 did Jack shit and look where we got to. We simply ran out of puff. I was there. The boys went ballistic in the first. You could see their pace dropped off in the 2nd, and furthermore the 3rd.

So we topped up end of 25.
We got rid of the negative cancer of SOS and Curnow in the dressing room.
We heard about in come round 7.

TDK. He faded, and I think he’s good in the centre square but FMD around the ground he was really crap for a bouncy 204cm light weight with a big spring. He was good but so overrated by some imo. He did not take as many important marks as made out by….who cares. He’s gone.

Anything can happen….to every team in the 8 and the 4 who missed out. History says so.

I’m putting money on Blues and it would be responsible of me. That 500 could easily be spent on one night I coukdnt even recall.

Worth having skin in th3 game. Makes it even the more interesting. But you don’t need to bet to appreciate the possibility.

Suggesting it’s impossible for Carlton to make top 8 is a guess. Not even an educated guess. Suggesting Carlton can’t win the flag is fair is you don’t think they can make the 8.

If they can make top 6, they have a good chance IF the injury gods are on our side

SOS is just another player we hav3 let go who has been bonafide injury prone, as is Durdin, and Curnow gone will change our game plan as we have desired for years. Lower the eyes.

See last 4 rounds of 25 and you will see the impact of lowering the eyes…and no Curnow, no SOS and a half hearted TDK, along with another 15 out. Have a look at the additions to the team that won games end of season…..and you can’t see improvement on that with the addition of Jagga Newman Kemp? You saw what a fit Walsh did to turn around our season. Now add Jagga to him in the middle, free up Williams, and add Ainsworth to the mix. It’s a different team.


We won every game last year when we had less than 8 out injured. Against Geelong we had 5 out injured.

If you don’t mind a bet, pick a long shot and you never know

Gamble responsibly

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

In 2026 we will add

Backline: Newman Florent Dean Cowan
Midfield:Smith Walsh Elijah and Reidy
Forward: Hayward Ainsworth Kemp

We are expecting break out to huge improvement from

Backline: Carroll
Forward:OKeefe Moir

Wildcards for good reason Evans Byrne Chesser Wilson

Cottrell is back….Chesser looks the goods but too new to know

It’s a different squad to 2023 2924 2025.

How could anyone not be more optimistic than 2025?

Cancers have been cut out.

Pressure on spots

Injury can and will derail any team in the top 12 last year. How do you pick that in January?

That’s my take. Very optimistic.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I hope it’s a different squad to 2924 bondi or we’re going to have a very old list by then!

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Every club that wins the premiership has a bit of luck. If we have a bit of luck we can also win with this list.

Pointless predicting
Too many variables
In saying that I feel we may suprise
Simply have to move the ball better

I'm sick of all the media saying we will be crap this year. I believe.

we will make finals

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Comes down to Voss for me, minimum 10 wins for him to keep his job, prove to us that you have a clue.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world