I just knew that someone was going to spoil this thread. Thanks mr negative.

I agree on the Simmo call (good one Camel). We need more onballers kicking goals and it appears that Simmo has arrived. Add Walker/Russell to the other wing and we will have two strong running, goal kicking wingman. Peter Matera eat your heart out.

Setanta is awesome. Love his intensity.

Some old heads still proving their worth - Lappin and Lance

Love the game plan... play on and attack at all costs...

Murphy is a gun and will be in the top 10 midfielders in the league shortly.

GOOD POST as a general observation if the youngsters we have in our team improve as much as Carrazzo has over the last 2 years we will really go places in the future -obviously he has worked extremely hard on rectifying his deficiencies.

Whats the matter with you??? I'm actually making a POSITIVE out of something NEGATIVE!!!

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Walk on, Walk on,
With hope, in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone,
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!

08/02/1981 - GATE 7...Our brothers will never be forgotten!!!

I hope this doesn't come across as a negative, because it's not meant to be, but I think the biggest positive this year is the fact that many of our guys are actually playing some pretty decent football, but we're just not getting over the line.

This says three things to me:

We have some talent coming through, so we shouldn't despair.

A new coaching set-up in 2008 could well improve us as a team.

We'll on the path to at least one quality draft pick this year, and possibly two.

Taken in the context of a us becoming an elite team from 2010 onwards, I think there is PLENTY to like about 2007.

From a personal point of view, the continued improvement of the two O'hAilpins gives me the greatest joy - just such an awesome story - and despite Greg Baum's assertions to the contrary, guys like Setanta are worthy of adulation beyond their statistical output... there's this thing called SOUL... true, the corporate machine that is the AFL is trying its best to remove it from the game, but people like us have to keep the flame burning.

I know it is difficult to see too many positives when we are losing however focusing on the positives is the only way this club will improve. And we all know there are positives. For me these are some of them.

-We are more competitive this year
-Not as many beltings even when it has looked we might get belted
-Form of Fisher
-Carlos is getting more games under his belt
-Gibbs although played out of position is getting senior exposure
-Walks has been great so far
-Lappin is having a good year when played forward where he belongs
-Lance has had a good last few weeks
-Bentick while maligned I think is good in close just needs a stevens type around him
-Murph will be better for the added pressure put on him recently. He will be a top class onballer.
-The playing of Ackland and loss of Cloke has emphasised to all at the club that we need a first class bigman.
-We also need a first class defender either CHB or FB to hold the developing defence together.

...In my opinion we are 3 players away from greatness:
1) True tap ruckman
2) Top CHB or FB
3) experienced mid other than Stevens

Now whether we go out and get these 3 or develop them in house is of no concern to me other than that these holes are filled and then...we will be flying.

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" Koutoufides has taken the last quarter by the scruff of the neck..." Commentary Drew Morphett Last Qtr '99 Prelim. Pure Gold.

Thanks for the memories Kouta. You are and always will be a True Blue Carlton Legend. #43.

If only he didn't double back and had more confidence in taking the first option his improvement would be exponential. Although I am thinking this is Pagan's fault as most of our mid-fielders have it drummed into them to look up and look for Fevola and if he is not available, then look up again and look for Fevola .

Once our mid-fielders start looking up to look for a player in a Carlton Jumper whether it be Fisher, Fevola or Kennedy then I think you would see a marked improvement in all of them (mids and forwards).

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

Winston Churchill

Ah ..... SOUL.


Well you are talking about Andrew Demetrispew aren't you.

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

Winston Churchill

Positives for my mind is that some of the players that lacked confidence last year are stepping up and are playing with passion and determination. Take a bow - JR, Fish, Blackers [I know only 2 games but he has excelled and he looks like he belongs in our midfield].

Mulitple goal scorers in games is going to wonders for the team as a whole.

Murphy's exposure to taggers this year will hold him in great stead in years to come. Next year it will be GIBBS' go, but he will have protection from Stevens, Scotland and Murphy etc.

Carlos' passion for a game he has only known for a handful of years is inspiring and one can only wonder what Aisake will bring to the team when elevated.

Take a bow Carrazzo and Bentick - working on the strengths, has minimised their weakenesses.

Take a bow Waite - when he has played down back has provided a great match up for opposition key forwards.

Take a bow Cloke - unfortunate to be injured so early in the season but has done enough to have his contract extended for another year.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

A stronger off-field team, an active club president and an injection of cash means we will still be supporting the Bluebaggers in Melbourne for decades to come.

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!@#$ off Essendon**** Just !@#$ right off. SCUM.

Anyone that can't find positives isnt looking. The easiest thing in the world is to be negative and find things that are wrong. It doesnt take much brain-power at all.

Wayne Carey last night was upbeat about the Blues on the weekend. Said thy are heading in the right direction witht the youngsters and the style of play but dont have the midfield depth for 4 quarters. I agree with that

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T E A M

I agree 100% Agro. Our decision making or instructions aren't helping our cause and the improvements that have been made this year. If we were a bit smarter tactically and our rotation of fresh legs was better I think we would've pulled out a few wins in the games we "should've" won. But at least we've been in that position more than a few times which is refreshing.

As everyone else has said Fisher has been a real positive. Leads hard at the ball and marking strongly. He's demanding to be kicked to this season and leading from the front as he said in an interview during the preseason that as one of the more senior players this was his responsibility.

Blackers looks like an AFL player and should play out the rest of the season. Good decision making and skills. Hope he gets game time.

I haven't found it difficult to find positives this year at all. We've played some really good football this year & we are actually exciting to watch! Our ability to find more goal kickers has been a positive for me, as has the continued improvements of Carrazzo, Bentick, Blackwell (when given the opportunity) & Simpson has been great.

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Witty signature required.

Isn't it great when everyones nice to each other!

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I see you watching me watching you.

Young kids just don't have the motor to go all day. Another couple of pre-seasons into the mids plus Stevens back in the mix and we will be able to run out the 4 quarters.
For me, the ability to kick big scores this year is a positive. We now need to work on the mids endurance and get a rock solid defence (or a mobile one, doesn't matter these days) and we are a winning side.

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

A crow and a soul were flying along together.......
The soul says to the crow, "Aah, Crow."
So the Crow says to the soul, "Aah, Soul."

Nothing to do with footy but my cousin told me that joke about 40 years ago and every time I hear the word, soul' or even 'Soeul' I remember it.
Sorry everyone.

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

Piss off!








That more normal?

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

Pretty hard to dispute any of the above.

Would be nice to get some rising star nominations, but we haven't been helped by injuries to Grigg, Edwards & Benjamin.

Looking forward to seeing a breakthrough game from the following:

Russell
Gibbs - solid every week, midfield opportunity please
Kennedy
Hartlett - when he gets in
Anderson
Jackson
Young
Bower

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Get comfortable being uncomfortable

I think that a bit more fitness to the mids and a little more confidence in defense and we might win a few more games. I honestly feel that once we string a few wins together that we will really take off, we just can't seem to get back to back wins once we do the confidence will come in and that is worth an extra elite midfielder.