A union run government is exactly what we need.
I think we'll push for around 10 wins. Injuries the deciding factor if we make the eight. Our best 22 is great. Our depth is still the concern.

Howard in government - between 7-9 wins

Rudd in power - between 8-10 wins





Don't ask me why, but that's the way it is.

Because Howard totally sold out his own country by allowing the entire Natural Gas Reserves in the North West Shelf to be all sold off overseas - leaving absolutely nothing for at all for Australians - 7 wins if the Liberals win - otherwise finals if Kevin Rudd wins.

_________________
My Blue Heaven

I'm a believer.

I was a believer that thigs were coming together in 2007. I saw a lot of good things on field (and a lot o bad).

I saw a strong team game in the preseason with Stevens providing the link and run. I thought Waite and Setanta were the revelations at the time.

I saw 2 amazing comebacks in the first few rounds against the Bombers and Tigers. Fev was unbeatable; he was at peak fitness, and Waite in the forwardline with the consistent Fisher looked formidable with their firepower.

I saw us kick huge scores win and losses over a six week period. Awesome display by the kids when Carrots and Simmo really stood up.

We finally gave Port (a finalist) a flogging, after 10 years of misery.

We outran the hard running Doggies.

Then we ran out of puff, but the kids showed something; even Gibbs, Bower Anderson and Jackson.

The end of the year saw the unveiling of Hampson and Jamison.

IMO Jamison is the key!

Setatnta is a CHB (I agree with jimmae) although I like what he offers at FB. Waite is dangerous as a forward, and gives the forwardline some real potency.

Add Judd and Stevens.

And, some astute commentators considered Kreuzer a walk up start for Carlton in the ruck if Carlton got themselves in a position to draft him...and guess what, he's a comin!

The ruck is the area I am living in hope with. I just want to see Kruezer, Hampson and Aisake rotated between Ruck, FP and the bench...and I reckon whilst they may not dominate, they will catch other ruckmen on the hop as the tear around the ground...they will and should be allowed to develop.

It'll be a developemnt year 2008, but I strongly believe if they can pull it together and develop the stamina required to run out a season strongly over the preseason, they may make the 4, let alone the 8.

We only have to be better than 10 of the 16 teams, and we should be playing finals. A lot dependes on FB, Jamo, and the Rucks and whether Waite is freed up to play forward, and of course everyone takes the next step and grow a few inches with Judd, Stevens, Hadley, PSD and Kruezer on board.

To make the 8, we don't have to be better than the really god teams Geelong, Port, WCE, C'wood, Hawks or...there's not too many terrifying teams for the 2008 Blues.

We finally have depth.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Geelong
Port
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Kangaroos
Sydney
West Coast
Adelaide
Fremantle
Bulldogs
Richmond
Melbourne
Brisbane
Essendon*
St Kilda

So for me, the bolded teams are demonstrably better than CFC. the italic teams are, arguably, theoretically better than CFC.

Bearing in mind that Carlton has finished bottom two for the past three years, I just don't quite get the leap into 3rd or 5th or even 8th spot.

Also bearing in mind that I know @#$%&! all about footy but even I know the basics of needing a good spine to set you up for the season. Our spine consists of:

A yet to be determined fullback
A yet to be determined CHB
(Depending on how you do your spine) A yet to be determined ruck but probably Cain Ackland
A yet to be determined CHF
Brendan Fevola

During the Brisbane Lions three big years I don't recall any discussion about who might hold down any of those key spots. Jeez, even Collingwood has a set structure - injuries permitting (bar the retirement of dingleberry - whatsisname - Clement).

A cracker midfield is a big help, and assuming Judd and Stevens are 100% for the season then they will help a lot. But what makes me scratch my head is how on the one hand we look at the Bulldogs and agree that they'll never be any good cos they're a midfield and nothing more, yet on the other hand we look at Carlton which is a midfield and one key forward and we're top eight / four material.

I dunno - maybe I'm in la-la-land - I just don't know how an unstructured team of misfits, and that's how I've seen Carlton for the last few years, can make these amazing gains in the space of a pre-season after playing like a bunch of no-hopers for five years. I just don't see it.

Stupid beer making me sad

Howard = Collingwood

Actually I dislike him more

_________________
"The Ox is Slow but the Earth is Patient" and don't forget it!

Having said all that - I'm a believer in anything blueman says - that man is @#$%&! uncanny.

I think we will be better than the Kangaroos, Sydney,Adelaide and Melbourne next year whilst we will start the year on par with the Bulldogs. Then there is Richmond and Essendon* for which we are both in agreement about. That's 6-7 teams I expect us to out perform.

With our favourable draw we are a good chance to play finals providing Judd, Stevo and Fev have good seasons IMO.

_________________
There is no footy god

The pro Santy's have him at FB because he's the best option - agree, SOS he ain't. Is Jamo physically ready? Thornton?

Would also prefer him out at CHB.

Your FB?

Sorry, I didn't mean to single you out, it's just an on-going thing I see with people naming him at FB.

But mine: Jamison, he was 87 kgs at pre-season last year, I suspect he'd be in the mid-90s right now, although he will shed a few kilos through the '08 season. Still good enough to compete if he has a good defensive coach who can educate him on body work. There's more technique to defensive work these days than some people realise.

Jamison will probably be able to cover most FFs in this league, here's a quick list of guys I think he should get first crack at (if the need for them to be shutdown arises):

Adelaide - Bock/Welsh
Brisbane - Bradshaw/Clark/Brennan
Collingwood - Rusling/Reid
Essendon* - Lloyd/Johns (*cough*)
Fremantle - Tarrant/Pavlich/Murphy/Longmuir
Geelong - Mooney/Nathan Ablett
Hawthorn - Franklin/Croad
Kangas - Jones/Edwards
Melbourne - Robertson/Newton/Neitz
Port Adelaide - Cornes/Tredrea/Ebert
St Kilda - no one comes to mind
Richmond - Riewoldt, Schulz, Hughes
Sydney - O'Loughlin (still playing?)/O'Keefe/Davis
West Coast - Hunter/Staker/Brown
Western Bulldogs - Walsh/Murphy/McDougall/Johnson/Akermanis

And as far as I'm concerned, that list covers about 12 teams options at FF (WCE, StK & Collingwood being the exceptions, with Richmond & Brisbane at a pinch [Richo & J.Brown]).

And in a couple of seasons he should be able to match up on just about anyone teams would consider slotting in at FF.

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

[quote="blueboysean"]What's all this fuss about a CHF?

Name me four sides that have two power forwards playing FF and CHF respectively.

It seems to me that era of football has passed. You want a really big guy, a sorta big and quick guy, a really quick guy, and the rest kinda depends on the team IMO.

Geelong have Mooney, Ottens and Nablett, but is Mooney really a CHF?

Brisbane this year had Brown and... no one really stands out.

St Kilda had Gehrig and Riewoldt

Freo had Pavlich and Tarrant (he doesn't really count though, does he?

Hawthorn have Buddy, Roughead, and then Williams when fit, sometimes Croad, Boyle, etc.

We have Fev, Fish, Waite + Harts - in terms of big guys in the forward line, I think we're fine. Waite isn't a gorilla but he moves like a gazelle.[/quote]