Don't care anymore............ Just want to use it for a 'testing' ground to blood young players and try out a few different tactics.

With that said, i think the 05 & 07 wins were probably needed, even though nothing really eventuated from them in the real season.

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

Ratts has mentioned a few times that the NAB cup is a low priority and the focus is round 1. I think there was a feeling that Denis was too focussed on the NAB to the detriment of the season proper

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C'mon Blueboys!

It is important for coaches to see what pl;ayers deserve to be in the first 22 for Round 1. That, and being able to test young players and test older players in different positions, would be the main positives, outside of course generating revenue and memberships.

I'm in 2 minds about the Who Cares Cup.

I want to do well in it because:

We can do with the extra TV coverage, which may lead into the season proper.
We can do with the cash that the WCC pays as you progress
The membership boost is a good get for WCC success
The team won't have to play in meaningless praccy matches in some Godforsaken country town where there's chances of injuries for no net gain

I couldn't give a stuff about it because:

As we've shown fairly dramatically, WCC success is no indicator of real season quality
If we do well, the let down when "reality" hits is pretty shattering.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Even though the pre-season competition is low on the priority list, it still was great to get more silverware at a time when we were crap.

Having said that, I didn't enjoy getting the other 'trophies' during the same era.

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

If we happen to win it then fantastic - it may mean an extra 1000 members but it is not the be-all-and-end-all

I would like to see it mainly used as a vehicle for all the new/newish members of the squad to play in a real match conditions. There is no need (other than for gaining a bit of touch and team structure) for established players to be selected.

The last 4-6 spots in the 22 are up for grabs between probably 10 players. The Whatever Cup should be used to see who gets those spots and for giving guys like Aisake and Hammo more match experience.

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

Haven't got time ATM....but can put up a two page report on Carlton from then later today in the Scrapbook....it's an interesting lookback.

I want to see a side like this:

Anderson Jamison Bower
Browne O'hAilpin Armfield
Simpson(c) Bentick Grigg
Russell Cloke Wiggins
Betts Hartlett Kruezer
Hampson Jackson Blackwell
Aisake Austin Edwards Pfeiffer Dempsey Joseph

Win Lose or Draw ... who gives a stuff as long as we get to see the kids show what they are capable of and who can/wants to play AFL in 2008.

Ofcourse as we get closer to the GF, players such as Stevens & Judd will get introduced.

Kaptain Kouta doesn't want the club playing ''Meaningless practice matches in some GODFORSAKEN COUNTRY TOWN.''
A tad strong me thinks KK. Would these be the same Godforsaken country towns that have produced countless champions of the game for over a century.
There is an AFL practice match scheduled this year for Bendigo, and people will travel long distances to see it, especially if Carlton is playing.
The QEO will be packed out, and who knows we might even get a few venturing up from Bleak City.

Some of the playing surfaces that you play on (QEO excepted) can be fairly harsh.

Ask David Rodan.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

I miss the days of practice matches at the same venues every couple of years, I can recall watching us at Glenferrie Oval (buzzs first game), Rosebud against the bulldogs, Melbourne at Boronia - I don't see why the games have to be played 2-3 hours away, who here wouldn't prefer a game at MCLP? Better surface, better chance to get more members etc.....

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

OK, I overindulged in a little hyperbole, but you get my drift.

It's always been my contention that the game is strong already in towns like that, but practice matches need to be taken to suburban Sydney and Brisbane with BIG clubs (like Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon*) playing to get interest in the game beyond the Swans/Lions.

It frustrates me that if we win our first match of the Who Cares, then we're scheduled to meet Sydney (if they win) in Melbourne. Where there is a Dome match later this year against them already, and no Sydney match with Carlton. At the very least we should have lobbied for ONE match in NSW every year, even if it's a praccy or Who Cares match.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

I agree with you surrey, although I'd like to see guys like Armfield Pfeiffer Anderson Betts play mostly in the midfield. We know a lot of what AB & Blackers have to offer.
Definately have Jake playing FF and Mark Austin KPD.
Who's Dempsey?

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There's so much I could say...

Did it again.
I can't understand why Benjamin's parents didn't just call him Dempsey.

indeed it was, that was pretty BIG month for me if you know what i mean, so i'm a bit hazy on the details!

what did you do that month? the wiz cup was my bucks night - spent it at the game with about 20 people

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

its all about match fitness and havin a look at them young blokes..

stevens will play....

Dont give a shit about it.

The should get rid of it and make the true season longer.

Agreed!

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NOW YOU'RE JUST SOME CLUB THAT I USED TO KNOW.