Thats some weird logic

I'm expecting us to be in the bottom four together with Brisbane, the Kangaroos and Essendon*.

2008 and beyond will be exciting years for us.

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There is no footy god

I agree.
8 wins is realistic.

My bubble will burst if we don't notch up 5-6 wins at least

Don't be disappointed if it's 4 wins Sumo.

Yeah, true, but kind of appropriate really.

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The argument that we will be worse surprises me...

you look at who we've lost from our best 22 in 2006, and the answer is French, and maybe you could make an argument for McGrath. Yes we'll have a lot of kids in our team this year, but they are replacing guys like Teague, Bannister, and McGrath. The output from those last three guys was pretty negligible last year - so I don't see how the three kids who replace them can do worse than break even.

The difference this year is that the core of the team is older and more experienced. That means guys like Walker, Simmo, and Bentick have now put a full season of AFL footy behind them, and that can only help. Then we have the kids who got a taste of the action last year such as Murphy, Kennedy, Bower, Blackwell, O'Hailpin and Russell. Even providing for a case of second year blues, there has to be a belief that most of these kids will be better for their learning in season 2006.

We also now have a group of young veterans who have been around the team for a while. This would include Thornton, Fisher, Waite, Carrazzo, Betts and Wiggins. The output from Fisher and Waite was minimal last year, and you'd expect at least one of them to have a much better season.

Then we head to the senior guys. Can we expect Kouta to be much less effective than last year? He'll probably be about the same again, so no loss their. Stevens is by all reports looking sound, and Scotland and Lance should be in their prime. Same goes for Fev. Saddington may even give us some improvement in the area of the senior players - if he doesn't we still haven't lost out from last season. And likewise, Ackland's output should break even with that of French.

So, I just look at it and think that we'll be better. We should have roughly the same output from our senior players. There is scope for improvement in our younger veterans - particularly if Fisher and Waite can stay injury free. The group of Simmo, Walker, etc now have a full year behind them and know much more about the AFL caper. The 2005 draftees have had a taste and so should be better. The 2006 draftees only need to break even with guys like Bannister and Teague to keep us treading water.

The real variable is the 2004 draftees. If two of Russell, Hartlett, Blackwell, and Raso can prove themselves (unlikely, I know but you can always hope) then we could make some strides towards the eight.

For the moment though I'll hedge my bets. I think there will be seven wins. Most of them will come late season, and they'll be based on the increased understanding and efforts of guys like Walker, Simpson, Bentick, Betts, Carrazzo, and Thornton. Plus the odd cameo from guys like Murphy, Kennedy, Bower, and Gibbs.

Tend to agree with Jarusa's initial post....4 wins it might be.....I think the hardcore fan who knows the cyclic nature of footy and the build up to being successful will accept that.
Not sure though if the fans in the outer who dont follow it so closely would accept that....we wouldnt want too many serious floggings this season to undo all the good work of recent times.
The average punter will alway judge the team on short term results rather than long term promises.......if Bryce Gibbs doesnt exceed Hansen, Gumbleton, Luenberger, Selwood in terms of performance then the media and the average punter are going to be getting the knives out...

The club need to spell out the goals for the club and players like Gibbs and Murphy clearer than they have done and dehype the expectations....
The Gibbs hype has placed a lot of pressure on the lad and I think its time to back off ....

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Have to agree Elwood.

I myself would accept a 4/18 scenario this year provided the kids are playing in the positions they have been recruited for and faith is shown in them.

None of this selected for their first game and give them 5 minutes of rubbish time in the last quarter crap.

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

Winston Churchill

Having a young list means we must prepare ourselves for mercurial performances over the course of the season. IF we can manage to create a run of form though, it also means that youthful enthusiasm might take over and surprise us all!

All I know is that we can't go any lower.

What are we Carlton supporters or cheer leaders for the next depression . Season hasn't started yet and we are already writing them off.

We are going to smash em

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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

EXACTLY!.....F$%K!.....

yep...some people just don't get it...

When you are lying in the gutter and you look up - the very first things you see are stars.

2007 NAB Rising Star: Bryce Gibbs

2007 Coleman Medallist: Brendan Fevola

2007 All-Australians: Marc Murphy, Brendan Fevola, Jarrad Waite.

Five or six wins, 4 losses by 10 points or less.

Membership: 28,500

Year One of the Resurrection.

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Princes Park - always was, always will be.

I am hoping for 6-10 wins and no SPOON
But another priority pick would be nice (perhaps we can get Mr Pratt) to scare the AFL in to giving us one

My wishfull wins

2 wins against the Scum
2 Wins agains the Filth
1 Win aginst the tiggers
1 Win against St Hamil (if he is playing)
1 win against west coast/finalist (aboloute smashing of them)

all seasons losses under 6 goals

= Happy season for me

But we have a young team, and i think they will run out of steam and expereience.
2008 is the year i am lookign forwrd to
As well as another NAB cup

I agree with Jarusa's original contention.

Look at Hawthorn last year - they are ahead of us at the moment (by 1 or 2 drafts) and they lost 13 straight last year. Be realisitic people - we aren;t gonna win much and there may be some hidings.

The difference is that it will be more enjoyable because there will be good signs of the future rather than sporns and prendos.

Another thing is that people expect radical improvements from players that have been proven to have serious skills deficits. People are expecting Waite and Fisher to dominate, but why will they be able to kick now when they couldn't just last August??? People will be disappointed by this.

The place to look for improvement will be the newer draftees WITH skills (Bower, russell and others I hope). Leopards that can't kick a footy will have trouble changing their spots (if ya know what I mean). Judging by the training reports, it will be another year where shit kicking makes us tear our hair out

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They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

I prefer an optimistic approach and maybe as suggested 6-8 wins

But i think we maybe surprised ... and if we dont achieve 6-8 wins then people can say well that was expected but new season ... great new talent ... Off field shaping up. So lots of positives to start off Season 2007

I find it hard to analyse the last 2-3 years as a lot of confidence in the club has been affected by all the off field dramas and talks of carlton surving / financial debts ect. That has to have had an affect on the on field performance... A club is no different to a Company. If you are working at a company that is financially sound and running smoothly you find everyone works efficiently. If you are working in a company thats finacially troubled has talks of going into admin and generally run poorly nobody works efficiently. A AFL club is affected in a similar way.. I think with the positive vibes coming out of the board and club off field will have a good affect on the players / coaches and they will feel more secure no that the club is resurecting themselves so expect a lift in the on- field performance
Look at the affect its had on sponsers and members ... that will also be similar in the affect on the players and coaches

GO BLUES

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CFC TAC Squad everyone over 25 must be traded sounds like Loguns Run

Wolfey that's a bit of historical revisionism there mate.

In the last 3 years we unfortunately suffered the ignominy of having to watch the worst teams that Carlton has ever placed on a footy field. My dad has been watching us for 50 years and says he's never seen starting 18's with that little talent.

While you're right that the off-field stuff didn't help, our talent pool was embarrassing and we shouldn't deny that.

Anyway, we should both be happy that from next year on things are gonna change!!!!!

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They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

Little bump here.

Interesting to see some of the expectations beore the year started.

I think the NAB cup might have raised a few expectations.

Seeing the young talent we do have the future is very bright, maybe not this year. But 2008 onwards should be very exciting.

... and yes a new coach may be a part of the catalyst for this.

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Bit more recruiting to be done....we look a year or two behind the Hawks.
They seem to have more options especially in KPP's...we are pinning all our hopes on too few.....Murphy and Gibbs need more assistance.

We need to appreciate that some of our kids wont work out and we need some more talent to cover for that....and that means another couple of years at least down the bottom..

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I disagree.