Recent tanking talk has focused on Carlton, due to a potential selection gain at this year's draft if it doesn't win another match for the rest of the season.

There's no denying some Carlton supporters want to gain an extra concession selection for the club's future – due to a lack of recent success – but there is just as much importance on the club developing from within, a fact not lost on new coach Brett Ratten.

Anyone who witnessed Carlton's spirited performance against St Kilda will testify they’re not tanking. The Blues displayed great courage to bounce back from a 35-point three quarter-time deficit, before falling 10 points short.

With 40 seconds remaining, Bryce Gibbs had a set-shot for goal. Had he landed it, one more straight kick would have meant the Blues recording their first win since round 11.

Does anyone seriously think Gibbs deliberately kicked a behind and the Blues' players wanted the result which occurred? That doesn't even require an answer.

There was no question Ratten played some of his charges out of positon and in different roles, but this was all about development and the dividends paid handsomely.

Marc Murphy was outstanding tagging in-form Saint Leigh Montagna, keeping him to just 13 disposals, and Ryan Jackson ran with one of the game's greats Robert Harvey, winning 23 touches to 19.

Ratten spoke with passion about his side's effort post-match. He was genuinely disappointed not to win. One hundred percent effort – a given at Carlton in bygone times – is Ratten's mantra. Tanking is not.

Source - http://www.afl.com.au/Default.aspx?tabi ... wsId=48251 posted this afternoon on the afl site, illustrated by a disheartened Mr 250 (and Carlos, too .. Fev just looked like he'd finished another game)

And its been 6 LONG years we've had to wait and bear with the shit that we've had to cop from an incompetent pathetic board ruled by Smorgon, malouf and Co.. Not to mention Elliott and thats just off field!!.

I hope the AFL flicks the PP system after this year entirely.

I found myself this weekend not going to the footy. I knew if I went, I would starting going crazy for the lads, when deep down I believe it's best that we lose. I was actually pleased when Bryce missed that late goal and made sure we had an 'honorable loss'. I know this is my problem, but the rules the league has put in place provides too much of a reward for underperformance.

There's no easy solution to the problem - the model some people want for draft orders, ie the NBA lottery system had massive issues this last season with teams sending all their players in for surgery half way through the season to try and maximise their chances of getting picks 1 & 2. It was a disgrace.

There's another issue here as well - what about the fans? Should we feel short changed that we are not seeing the best game possible? The Melbourne game in rd 22 is shaping up to be a virtual VFL match between Sandringham and the Bullants.

Get rid of the PP!!!!

(After we get Kruezer)

So what is 6 short weeks compared to the 6 long years we have suffered. We have been stitched up and hamstrung in our ability to recruit the best young talent. The first time we had a chance in 2004 we flowered that up by putting together a bunch of gutsy but less than talented hacks together which resulted in Pick 9 and 25.

6 short weeks compared to 6 years of shit is nothing.

The board, supporters and MC know we have some quality kids in our list - 2 more quality first rounders will be the final pieces in the puzzle and will cost us nothing.

We know we are going to improve and the opportunity for 2 early First Round Draft Picks will not be available to us (or probably anyone else) ever again.

This is an opportunity akin to recruiting Kernahan, Bradley, Motley and Dorotich like we did in 1986 and perhaps like Williams and Spalding in 1992.

6 short weeks will evaporate into a distant memory compared to the final pieces of the puzzle we will put into place with Picks 1 and 3.

Is there a dog in here?

You just proved my point.

And speaking of rude, you still have a person who has passed on in your sig, who you refer to in a derogatory manner as well as still taking pot shots at him. Irrespective of what you think he may or may not have done, don't you think that is the height of disrespect?

You just proved my point.

If you had read No.1 Blue's two posts you would have read a very intelligent and considered couple of posts. However, posters like you and Synbad (sometimes I think you are one and the same) decide to take pot shots at anyone that doesn't agree with your myopic views. If we get the PP because we don't win another game then so be it, but let's support out team and hope they win a couple of games this year. And they won't be meaningless, the best development for a TEAM is to win together and start winning together. And at least give other posters the courtesy of reading their posts and at least trying to understand what they are getting at, as opposed to reading a couple of lines and then trotting of some meaningless response. And speaking of rude, you still have a person who has passed on in your sig, who you refer to in a derogatory manner as well as still taking pot shots at him. Irrespective of what you think he may or may not have done, don't you think that is the height of disrespect?