We might have been able to convince a side who had a poor year and already thought they had the number one pick as a father-son to give up their first round pick.

Selwood.

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Probably the MOST important item we need to address. How we develop our kids is vital. They need to learn a culture of discipline, no short cuts and team work (one in all in). It is interesting to watch how Murph, Gibbs, Kruezer, Grigg, Browne, Anderson, Walker all get along so well. Gives me confidence for the future. For me this is another reason Stevens should be used of the bench in an attacking role.

There is no point arguing over him being dropped it won't happen. He wont be traded and has 2 years in him max. So, use him the best way we can as a support to the kids and to take pressure off them when required. Using him as a key & vital member of the side has to many negatives.

yeah I kind've thought that and then wondered about dropping him to see if we could get more - I know it will never happen, its the discussion I like, not the fantasy I might actually be right

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

I think that bit has been a real bonus that Stevens is actually out on the park

he could have easily been finished as a footballer

2008 was about returning and gaining confidence

...and getting some respect back.

NO MORE TEAMS JUST TURNING UP AND WE HANDING OVER 4 POINTS LIKE WEAK FLOPPY FLOWERS.

Opponents this year will feel the power of generations of BLUES - the past will re-surface and EVERYBODY in the football knows this.

We have teams that are on the slide and they may get over the line this year (like the swans did last week) BUT they know that the Blues have awoken.

AND the blues wont piss their oppurtunity for a flag up againstthe walll like the saints will, like collingowood have done.

We will strike - and the opposition wont know what hit them.

doesnt matter if we win 8 games or make the finals this year.

THE GIANT HAS AWOKEN - WHO WILL STOP US GOING FORWARD NOW?

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Blood must be spilt on the fields of pain and henceforth OUR cup will runneth over

Sounds good to me.

Well said Hellenic Genius . Other clubs now know that the Carlton of old is on the way back and that puts the fear of #3?*!(@ or whoever into them . It's great to see and be part of . Look forward to 2009 when we go that step further . Flower 'em all .

We must be better than I thought.

Here we have a player who is top 20 in the AFL for clearances.
Top 30 in the AFL for kicks and total disposals.
Top 30 in the AFL for first possessions and top 10 in the AFL for inside 50s.
He's also top 50 for contested possessions (even though apparently he doesnt work hard ) and amazingly so, top 50 for tackles.
Yet we can afford to drop him!

Geelong (who apparently have no passengers have 4 players with more tackles)
Does that mean they'll be dropping 18 players this week?

I think we're letting frustration get in the way of reality here.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

so BV you're happy with him then?

I accept its all about perception and as we win more perceptions will change - so stevo's as finished a product as an afl footballer can be?

Was that chase just one poor moment amongst a stellar year of hard chases, strong tackles, excellent defensive marks etc.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

I'm reasonably happy Danny.
Sure there are areas of Stevos game I'd like improved but that is the case with every player.
Stevo is a front runner but I dont see that as a negative. Good teams require players who run hard and create an option ahead of the play. These players are as important to your structure as your grunt players. They give you balance and a completeness (is that a word? )
And credit where its due, the stats tell you he wins the contested ball and works hard to tackle as well.

The more our team improves, the more value Stevo's finishing will become. Some people may not like it but the ability to bust your arse to create an option ahead of the ball is as dificult as running defensively.

I'd drop 10 players before I'd consider dropping Stevens. He offers a skill that very few players on our list are capable of.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

yeah but those 10 players may not be around in the finals over the next 2/3 years - stevo will be and that's what i was thinking about.

I see this year as finished - so what can be accomplished?

The easy part is giving some kids a go - hence austin in and harts, probably Hammer soon and 1 or 2 others.

But the other thing to focus on is our best players - hwat can we do to develop them? (if we can)

so it wasn't about stevo should be dropped before players x,y,z

rather

stevo is one of the players that will be part of our finals attack next year - can we improve him, will dropping him help?

I admit I am worried about our lack of hard defensive runners, have felt for a while that this is often left up to too few, too often. But it is a perception based on the last few years and often perceptions change slowly compared to reality.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

It will be another test of Ratten's strength of character that next season he must make Stevens understand that to be of value he has to be at his fittest by Round One. No excuses.

Maybe it is worth him having the last 4 weeks off as his break and start pre season early under a special program with Cordy. Then he wont need to do extra sessions every year to catch up. He must earn his position like everyone else if we are to progress.

For what its worth I would like to see how the kids go without him. It is amazing what can happen when they are given an opportunity.

So the stats say he is a gun midfielder


Then why was he in the back pocket on a midget for the whole of the last quarter when the game was in the balance

Probably needed a rest

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

LOL....that's funny TC, but what's your real answer??

My real answer HB is I'm not sure. Maybe he was stuffed & needed a rest, maybe thats the job he was given, maybe he was lost & had no idea where he was. Not sure HB.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

I hardly think Stevens himself actually wanted to be in the back-pocket. People make it sound like it was his decision to play there. He obviously went with his man in Luke Ablett. Perhaps it was just poor coaching by Ratten to leave him there or at least (seemingly) not attempt to move him away?

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

Your hard one to figure out Con


Bit like JFK was only killed by Oswald

That's not bad.

Seriously tho Keogh. I was rather hoping you could tell us what Stevo was doing there in that last qtr & the significance of it, seeing as you brought it up, IYO.

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"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"- Michael Jordan

Well He hardly touched the ball the first 3 quarters and once again had succumbed to a hard tag.

Perhaps Ratten thought of the freo game where Stevens outpointed a midget who recently retired that being Bell.

Moore would looked Bell in the eye


You see Stevens is hopeless overhead. At least agree with that one Con So he has to play on guys 6cm shorter.

I would have thought that Rattens idea was to play Stevens down back to deliver the ball with purpose and run as well

The ball hardly got to him in the end


We really need a defensive player like Gilbee with good kicking skills

Trouble is Stevens has liitle in this area(defensive skills)


Hope this satisfies your need Con