For Bower, Kennedy and Hartlett we have an opportunity to give them 10 games of AFL Football to see what they can do - The Match Committee should know by know what they can do at VFL level.

These guys are all high draft picks - now is the time to find out what they can do.

If they are no good at least we will find out and its not like its going to cost us a finals berth.

If they show something that is 10 games of AFL football experience in the bank which will prove invaluable in 2008 and beyond.

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

Winston Churchill

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

"For gorsake stop laughing, this is serious!"

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

Winston Churchill

I'm not joking - this is my job.

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

Winston Churchill

Synbad,

I wonder if Pavlich would want to come to Carlton?

Surely we can free up quite a lot of room in the salary cap at the end of this year.

Interesting wording.

Knee injury sidelines Whitnall

"Lance has been restricted in recent weeks and, following further medical reports on his knee, it was decided Lance requires more time than the one week mid-season break to recovery from the injury and ensure he's in a position to prepare for games," Blues chief executive Greg Swann said last night.

"At this time, it's not sure when he will be available as this will depend on how his knee responds to rest."

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

My god, I go away for a week and look at all the fun I've missed out on....

Lance in AFL standard condition and fitness is a very good footballer. Those that believe otherwise are narrow sighted IMO. He proved that last year and those that think he didn't have a good year overall are kidding themselves, just to try to justify their negativity towards him. He makes up for his lack of speed by smart positioning, quick hands and use of the ball. Quality footballer when fit.

Lance unfit or injured is an average footballer and can be a liability. What I saw from the Hawthorn game was a player unable to get to positions where his brain told him to be. He's second efforts were non existent.

So in a nut shell, if Lance can get his health and body right he could be an asset to the team. But it also must be in the forward line. Unfortunately having degenerative knee problems myself I can't see it happening.

At the beginning of the year I was defending Lance because it appeared it was just form (brought on by family issues) that was slowing him down. He proved that in a number of games he is a more than handy contributor to the team and worth his place. However as his injuries have taken their toll his effectiveness is decreasing quickly. I hope he can bounce back but given his knee issues and metabolism, it is a recipe for a downward spiral.

Good luck Lance I hope you can make it back. It will take a huge effort.



One last thing Synbad. You are so far off on Kouta. The guy was given a large contract at the time when he was considered the best player in the league. Heck, he was the best player I had ever seen in 2000. He got what he deserved. Unfortunately, the injuries hit and we never got full value out of his large contract. However, he worked his ass off to come back from 2 knee reconstructions and then did right by the club by accepting back ended contracts as well as pay reductions each year as his contract was extended. Even this year he has been an effective contributor to the team. I don't think he will go on next year, but Kouta has added enough to the team this year to justify his inclusion. Go ask some of the players if they walk taller with Kouta in the team. Ask Setanta (I have). Saying Kouta was selfish or gave less than 100% for the club is completely unfounded.

If Setanta walked around Robert Harvey Nathan Buckley James Hird Brad Johnston hed be walking much taller.

(Dont ask him... he only knows what he knows from what hes been given)

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

I'm not sure you can walk any taller than playing with one of the best footballers to ever play the game. And Setanta knows that. Go have a conversation with Setanta and find out for yourself. He'll tell you about THAT Kangaroos game in 2000. It was quoted in an article recently (can't remember the exact player now) that the players walk taller with Kouta in the team. That's what a true champion player does. And not only that, Kouta contributes. Watch the Kangaroos and Bulldogs games again and see for yourself. I agree he doesn't chase like he should sometimes, but then again, there aren't many in and under players like Kouta in the comp. Certainly Bentick doesn't come close. So you take the good with the bad sometimes. Just don't throw Kouta's name around like he's taken advantage of the club. That's niave and untrue.

Ive had plenty of conversations with Setanta . .. believe me...
And Kouta never once featured.

Its all about how much work he still needs to put in.. how much more he needs to learn... how much he yearns ..

Thats what Setanta talks about ... How much effort needs to go into it to be satisfied... Setanta never sits back and rests on his laurels.
He cant afford to and he knows it.
You also get the feeling no matter how dizzy the heights he reaches... he wont slacken off..

Anyway.. thats what i get from Setanta on the numerous chats ive had with Setanta.
Yours have obviously been about Kouta..

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who does Setanta mention then?

Interesting, now I am an a Elliot fan!?!

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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

Setanta is the ultimate team man.
He loves the opportunity hes been given.
He loves being at the club.
He is passionate.

Alot of people can learn alot from Setanta.

Mark.. no youre just terrible at comprehension..

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

And you're terrible at interviewing/questioning in a balanced fashion.

Nytdog claims to have had dealings the O'hAilplin family, and given he has a been a fairly front on (if confrontational) kind of guy, I'm willing to back his word as much as yours.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

i met Setanta on the very day he arrived in Australia through shane O in the social club where Setanta was sitting up there in his new navy blue tracky suit and ive spoken to him numerous times since. (Not this year as i havent had an opportunity to see him....)

So what???

Setanta talks about how MUCH WORK he needs to put in to be succesful!!!..
Setanta talks about how he wants and needs to REPAY the club for the faith they have placed in him.. .. that is the kind of theme Setanta talks about...

To get anything else out of Setanta you have to prompt him..

Setanta is tunnell visioned about making it. and being succesful.. about being great... and about the footy club...!!!

My point is... thats what we lack from senior players... and thats why he will make it!!!...
He is passionate !!!

Thats why we love him!!!

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Sorry, I thought I was entering a thread about Lance's injury. Obviously this is the Setanta thread so I'll just go and find the Lance one.

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

It is a thread about Lance...
Its how much effort Lance puts into his footy...
Compared to someone like Setanta...

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

My family and I know Setanta (and brothers) on a social level not on a club level. Hence we don't get fed the normal standard line. We get an understanding of the real people. And I can't speak highly enough about him and his brothers. Down right terrific guys. They don't expect anything handed to them, they push themselves 100% to get it for themselves. And I know all the boys idiolise Kouta. And why wouldn't they. One of the best players ever to play the game. Only knee injuries stopped him from a brownlow and further greatness. We don't have many mentors at the club, but Kouta is one and if having him in the team this year lifts the guys around him, it's well worth it. Plus he puts in a contribution on the field himself.

I may have only spoken to him once before on a plane flight back from Brisbane but he really is one of the nicest guys going around. Just got talking to him about the coaches and players and must say he was a HUGE wrap for Kouta and was really excited to take me over to him and introduce me. Definately seemed like he idolised him but hey thats just the way i interpreted it.

Synbad,

Whether Setanta does or does not talk about Kouta does not diminsh the fact that Kouta is;

- a Carlton legend;
- at his best ( pre-injury) one of the best players to have ever played;
- a person whom ALL of the players look up to;

and most of all will always be a true Carlton person.

He is nearly ready for retirement, but don't take away from all of the great things he has been to our club and to each of our supporters. Injury and time have diminished what he can now give.

Can you think of anything more stirring than playing at Princes Park, Kouta dominating and the crowd as one chanting the great man's name!

Remeber those days because they are once in a lifetime stuff.

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.