Another long season will finally be over.
The tanking talk will finally end (or will it just explode?)
We will have secured Kruezer.
The tigers will have won the wooden spoon.
We can all look forward to 2008, what else is there to look forward to?
The trade rumours will be in overdrive.
The finals will be upon us minus Essendon*.
Collingwood will have missed out on the top 4.
The list culling will begin.
The chequebook and the kitchen sink will be thrown at Charman.
We will be 6 months away from another pre-season premiership, and hopefully this time we'll back it up with 10 wins in the season proper.

I think you're being a little naive if you believe that the tanking talk will end if we lose on the weekend.

couldn't give a rats if the tanking talk continues or not as long as we ve sewn up the PP by Sunday night without any tangible verifiable breach of any stupid AFL rule that may lead to a reversal or loss of anything other than a another spot on this years AFL ladder.

And while I'm at it Go Tigers.

This week has almost ( I say almost) been as full of anticipation as preparing for a final....

Why are people saying go Tigers? doesnt that mean its a tied PP?

They really need to change this rule so slow people like me dont get headaches

_________________
Lawrence Lawrence, The man who knows all the rackets and all the racketeers!

What is also naive is the thought that we can land Charman and keep the integrity of our rebuilding, and/or Fevola, intact.

_________________
Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

One less headache/stress to worry about it.

I'm looking forward to the team winning the wooden spoon not getting pick 1. That must hurt.

For me..................it's all a sense of De Javu' really. Just that familiar feeling of another poor season and another #1 draft pick to make us feel better.

Jesus Christ i want to win some games.

I'll admit thou...............there is something a bit better this time around.

Pagan is gone.
Malouf is gone.
A fresh young coach with some modern and energetic plans.
Bower, Murphy, Kennedy, Hartlett all maturing!

Sure, there is some exciting stuff..................but i tell you...............if we are in this same position this time next year and start @#$%&! tanking around round 12 just to get yet-another-priority-fucking-pick then we are in big trouble as a club!

We've blammed the loss of draft picks for too long. In our defense thou, The AFL & DEMETRIOU ONLY HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME FOR THE MESS THAT IS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT and the god-damn better be carefull what they say when asked about the whole situation.

But geez.......... I really hope i don't see another Top 5 pick for a few years after this year!

Kruzer will be a welcomed addition, as will a Cotchin or Palmer or Ebert if you like him, or Grimmes or whoever else.................. But please don't tell me that we're gonna wanna tank next year as well???

First it was Murphy & Kennedy
Then the biggest Tank in the history of Tanks in Gibbs.
Now it's Tanking to get Kruzer & another pick.......................

I'm all Tanked out to be honest.

With Stevens back next year - A fully fit Fevola - a more mature Murphy - Carrazzo & Simpson in their prime - Aisakie in the Ruck with the big bodied Cloke - Gibbs making the transistion from SANFL to the speed of the AFL - Fisher & Waite healthy and ready to go and the likes of Bower, Kenndy & Hartlett hitting the 'maturity' stage......................we should be aiming for nothing less than the finals!

That's right...............the Finals...............remember those?

And don't dare tell me we ain't good enough for em.

Look at Collingwood this year. Injuries to top line players like Waklien, Buckly, Rocca, etc..............but they're doing well!

Look at North's list of hard & devoted tryers..............they're looking at a double chance!

I'd expect Carlton to be similar next seaon.

Another bottom 4 finish would be nothing short of a disgrace!

C'mon Blues.................

_________________
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

He, he, he...

your post brings a wry smile to my face Ryan.

The reason is that I remember watching the final rounds of 2006, and thinking to myself - well that's the last time I'll have to worry about priority picks.

2007 and it is all happening again.

I agree with your overall point though. Footy in this day and age really has a hell of a lot to do with confidence (witness tha Kangaroos this year). In all seriousness, if Ratten can instill some belief and cohesion in the team then there is no reason we can't make up ground quickly. For the moment though, I'd take 8-10 wins next year.

I cant believe how many talkback callers on SEN are livid about how we are "blatantly" tanking. Some are saying we should be investigated by the AFL and have our picks removed.

Could you imagine the riots if that happened!!!

I cant wait for this week to be over. I think I might go into an AFL free cocoon until Monday because the whole situation is making be feel ill...

_________________
C'mon Blueboys!

North have bodies ...theyre much more ,mature than we are.
We will probably be bottom 4 or 5 next year but youll be able to see things taking shape.

_________________
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.

Considering that both our CEO and retired former captain have basically come out and said it would be better for us to lose, not to mention all our former greats and the majority of supporters, I wonder how they could get that impression

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

I jsut find it amusing that people are accusing a club that have barely won 25% of their games over the last 5 years or so of tanking - as if somehow we could be winning all these games now if we wanted to...

I'm not saying we aren't picking our team with certain objectives in mind, but history says it wouldn't make a difference anyway...

I just want this season over. I've hated the last five weeks or so - hoping the team loses week in week out isn't the way footy should be.

Hit the nail on the head. Seeing that we've lost 101 games from 2002 onwards I can't see why so much emphasis has suddenly been placed on whether Carlton will win or lose this weekend. If losing this week gives the club a chance to start winning 1 in 2 games instead of 1 in 5 then so be it.

It's great that they think that. I absolutely love it.

I would rather a kick in the aggots than having to barrack for the Scum and the Filth to beat us again

_________________
Ich bein ein Carltonian

Big bodies my foot.

Off the top of my head, next year:
Walker will have his 3rd preseason or 4th year. Russell his 2nd /3rd year, Hartlett, Bower and others similar. Steven will be back. Thornton the same as Walker if not more. Simpson his 4 th preseason, etc ... Waite, Fisher, Carrazzo been here long enough, etc etc etc ...

NO MORE EXCUSES. START WINNING in 2008 ELSE.

I don't expect much from Gibbs, Austin, Grigg or this year's crop but NO EXCUSE FROM THE REST!

Im still worried about our lack of a senior core
Fevs Sctoland Caraz Houlihan Stevens are all we have- and maybe Whitnall if hes there.
is this a talented enough five to guide us up the ladder in 08?

Thats right.. this year was basically a fill in year for the new board to get rid of the crap (players, coaching staff, off field shambles) left over by Pagan and Smorgon / Malouf / Williams...

No more excuses from 2008 onwards!!

_________________
James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

After what we've been through the last 5 years, I don't want just 1 premiership in the coming years, I want 3 in a row, at least!!
And I don't think finals are out of the question next year, but I think another bottom 4 finish would be disastrous. It's time for some success!!