Agree with Sticks cant see how making them could be detrimental given we would have to play Sydney Brisbane Dogs Hawthorn Kangas in the run home from here -so if we get there we will deserve it

Agree with Synbad -Parko whilst a good coach of older professional teams- is from the pre draft era -ie we never came to terms with the draft under his tutelage -hated Fev because saw him as precocious talent but couldnt control or understand him so he and Brittain were going to ice him

There is no too early or too late.
If it happens, it happens.
However, if we are not in the finals race in round 22 i would LOVE to see A. O'hAilpin in the team to take on Buddy Franklin.
And his brother playing on Roughead.
Would be great to have the brothers playing 1 game together before the MC makes their mind up on him, or before he makes his mind up about AFL.

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I have something to say, its better to burn out than to fade away.

Melvey, we ARE playing kids.

If the other kids EARN their place in the team, by all means play them.

The worst thing you could do right now for the playing group is drop a couple of popular players who have done a great job in two of our finest wins in recent times for players purely because of when they were born.

Those kids will value their spot in the team a lot more if they have to fight tooth and nails to get in than if they get handed games on a platter.

And I think you will find that Brisbane in particular had to get games into those kids because they had no other option due to a horrendous injury list over 2006 and 2007.


Anyway on the topic;

Finals would be the best thing possible for these guys. History shos you need a few finals campaigns into the group before you have a serious chance of winning - a taste this year will do them the world of good and whet the appetite for the future.

Would hate to make the finals, seriously what a dangerous thing to happen

We're either good enough, or we're not

Pagan said he woulda made the finals if he had Judd and Stevens

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

Carlton will do very well indeed in the finals series itself if we manage to make the 8 this year.

The doubters will be shocked and surprised saying that we need more development or it is too early - but they will have to have to eat their words..

But it is not essential that we make the finals in 2008, indeed, it is not a certainty by any means - although we are well placed and it does seem like we have the correct attitude.

Injury, suspensions and lapses in form happen just like that - and are impossibly difficult to predict - but what can be definately said is that we will be blessed with a wonderful run of good fortune in the year of our 17th flag.

This good fortune that Carlton experiences may well have started during the Port Adelaide match.

Then again, it might refer to a future year close to us in time - but we will win a flag with this group of players while they are young - it is just a matter of when this occurs.

We should watch for possible conflict in the Middle East during July 2008. Despite what everyone else says or thinks, A war in the ME would be a clear sign that this year is Carltons flag year.

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My Blue Heaven

Hell...... i reckon that half the reason we've been so shit these past couple of years is because we DON'T KNOW HOW TO WIN.......... Now we're winning a few and the boys are getting the feeling for it.......... Parkin wants us to be carefull?

I cannot comprehend that.

Pay no attention boys............. go out and treat each game like a bloody final!

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

Is blueman suggesting that someone from TC go to the Middle East and start a war to hurry on our 17th flag?

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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.

Can I nominate Biffin?

Hey Nostradamus...I work in the Middle East..can you work on new hypothesis please...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

I think the best thing is that when we reach the finals either this year, or in the next couple, we will be up there for a good few years as these kids aren't exactly nearing retirement age any time soon.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

haven't read other people's posts yet, but in reply to the article, I don't understand what is the difference in Parkin's argument.

He thinks it's too early for us to make the finals, because we might take it easy the next. so why is it more important that we make the finals next year rather than this year. we most likely won;t win the flag and both will achieve similar affect that we get finals experience.

Using both Geelong and the Dogs as example, both team went up quickly, and then went back down, to only absolutely dominate. what is wrong with that. if lets say we go up this year, come back next and go out there and dominate the following, i would take that with open arms.

nothing and i mean nothing can help develop boys into men like playing finals footy. Say we make it this year and lose in the first round, it doesn't matter because all the boys gets a taste of what finals feels like, and they'd want it more.

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cruise (Kreuze) missile:
a very accurate flying bomb.
SOURCE: http://library.thinkquest.org/3785/glossary.html

Nothing wrong with making the finals, it's how you approach it in the next season. We have to realise, if we make it, that we are the 8th best side, not 3rd , 4th or 5th even if we win a final. In other words not to get ahead of ourselves and keep working. That comes down to the players and staff.

What a problem to have, making the finals.

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It is not as bad as you are lead to believe.......it is %$#^& worse!!!

Cool, just go out a chuck a rock over that wall thingy, will ya .

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end of message

Based on Parkin/Melvey logic Essendon* should have pulled back towards the end of '93 and waited for their young kids to mature a little further.

I still think it's unlikely that we'll make the finals but I hope we do. Great thing for the kids to go in there and a) get smashed, realising they've got a long way still to go or b) win each game and claim one of the most miraculous flags in the history of the game.

Oh hang on...

Nah let's stop trying just in case we fail.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

I think you are always ready but the the question is

Are we ready for the next three weeks


There are 4 sides still in contention for the eigth spot

North , Port , St Kilda and Carlton

North have a tough run cant see them winning more than 8-9 games
Port could do anything from 9-12
StKilda - don't look good but could still win 9-11

We have to beat North , Port and StKilda and hope we dont lose to Essendon* and Richmond that will give us 11 and should be enough provided a few other results fall the right way- If we can do that we will be 100% ready no questions asked , but I don't know what it is but I can't see us doing it , maybe like most Carlton supporters of late we have conditioned our minds to expect the worst

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

The next 3 matches are one thing, but it's the run from there which will decide whether or not we deserve to play finals.

If we win the next 3, that's wonderful, but it won't count for a whole lot if we then don't stand up against Adelaide, Sydney, Port (beware the wounded ego), Bulldogs and Hawks.

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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.

Some people on here have commented that we'd be better off missing the finals because this would place us in a better position in the draft. I can't see how this can be a serious justification for not wanting to make the finals, or even a concern?

What's the difference between say pick 8 and pick 10? Technically we are better off position-wise but is it big enough a difference to really warrant concern? I don't see how this can be a serious consideration...

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.