As disappointed as everyone else with yesterday given 17 points up at half time and 24 points uphalf-way through third quarter BUT I havent given up on the team that played yesterday and the other members of our squad.

We havent yet played a whole game of team football and yet have lost by 20 points in 2 games and there is still plenty of improvement left.Having said that we need an even team performance for us to be competitive and win AFL games as we have not got the talent some other sides have.We also need our best squad on the park to win as well .Longmuir in this regard would have also been handy.

We will most probably lose against Port and Fremantle away in the next few weeks and then the draw opens up for us

Dont necessarily agree with some others comments that we havent missed players who are not in the side at the moment.
We still have 3 of our best young players out of the side at the moment thorton walker and fisher.
We have missed our only true key defenders thorton and livo for the 3 matches.One or both would have been more than handy yesterday
We have also missed the pace of chambers and walker in the first 3 games.
Whilst yesterday and round 1 was disappointing there are still signs of improvement in this squad and we will eventually reap the benefits of continuing to play the younger players

De Luca continues to improve and probably takes more contested marks than anyone in the team.
Waite played well yesterday kicked 3 goals and took 8 marks - still needs to work on his disposal and could have kicked 5
Betts is a genuine forward pocket /crumber who at 18 could be anything.
Davies is an enigma but is still learning and has some talent
Each of betts deluca and waite have contributed to us being less one dimensional in the forward line and we now have a multi-pronged forward line with these guys fevola and whitnall.

Karl Norman is also developing as a player and whilst beaten yesterday showed some good signs.
Still a supporter of Carrazzo after yesterday and yes he gave the ball back but its only his 5th AFL game - do you recall how ratten sexton and brown were performing in their 5th game - give the kid a go he beat Jason Johnson last week -had a poor one this week but will bounce back
The guys who really need to be consistent is sporn and wiggins (two of my favourites) who really arent that young anymore and have almost played enough games and have enough experience that they should have a consistent output most weeks.
Lets continue to be patient -I know sometimes it is hard and yesterday was a bitter pill to swallow but lets support our young team.There is still a long way to go even if we lose the next few matches
FAAD

Well said Frank.

A great, positive post...we needed that here

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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 agree Frankie....see my post about ending the season in the 8.

I still think it's definitely possible.

I guess the diamond is a shade rougher than we thought.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Haven't given up either Frankie, theres a lot to like about the squad and some things not to like, but I have confidence in the coaching staff to instill the important things that makes a good team......a great team, ie playing for each other and the team........ at all times.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

If there's anything good, at least we're starting to talk like people who expect to WIN games rather than guessing how much we're going to lose by (like in 2002 and 2003).

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

Good post, Frank.

I think it is a matter of Denis finding out where the weaknesses are coming from and eradicating them out of the side.

We just need a bit of luck, things to start clicking together and not going into a game disrespecting our opponent before a ball has even been bounced.

These last 3 weeks have been a huge reality check for us.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

no one's giving up on them

we still have the bones of an excellent squad......

.... the pessimism is driven by our realisation that that "excellent squad" is probably further away than we thought.

"Drop Carrazzo" proponents aren't implying the guy can't play and will never be good. He just needs more time in the oven

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Love Cricket? Love me

Yep, there is no other choice, but to move on and believe in the hardwork that has been put in, preseason and the like....

I have a theory that our game will improve when the weather becomes cooler..i think our gameplan is extremely energy sapping, having to get numbers behind the ball, flooding an opposition fwd line,and quick movement where possible to our Fwd line...so i think they will be more able to stick to the plan when this happens...maybe i am full of shit

We all are mate , thats what makes this place function !!!

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Well it's all good shit.....$#$# i'd rather our shit than anyone elses..

yeah its not like we're bigfooty full of shit

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Yep Bigfooty is a Copophilacs vision of poo heaven.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

word of the week : Copophilacs !!

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

BM, slight pedantic note: It's coprophiliac for a sexual lover of shit, or coprophagic, for one who gets sexual satisfaction out of the eating of it.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

I dont mind admitting that around 1989 - I declared that Fraser Brown would never make a League Player and that we would never win a Grand Final with Brown in our side - I think he had played about 6 or 7 games up to that point. My footy going mates have never let me forget it.

I am prepared to give Carazzo - till at least the end of the Season.

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

Winston Churchill

... now how would you know something like that KK?


I am also optimistic about this playing list, most of the structure is already there, it really just needs more time and a bit more tinkering.

I love the fact that we have played 4 pre-season games and 3 regular season games and we have been in front at various stages after half time in each of those games.

We are a much more competitive outfit this year.

Does not mean we will play finals this year though, if we win 8 or more games this year I will be happy enough. Just so long as we see the team improving and being competitive, especially against the best teams in the competition.

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|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

Lets not forget collingwoodsupporter - one who speaks it.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Sat with a vociferous bunch of Carlton members on the car park side of the ground in the late 80s and early 90s who shuddered when Michael Sexton went near the ball in his early days - a few years later they were ready to murder anyone who dared be critical of him.
I know what you mean with Browny he had his doubters but he had the luxury of developing in the reserves for a number of years given the smaller lists these days our young guys generally dont get that luxury

Well he did kick it very high.

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

Winston Churchill

Much like Carrazzo...

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Cer 'ch 'n alluog Blues