I agree DUC, you know my love for AB, he's a hard nut that would help ease the pressure off Judd and your SMurph.

The Eagles and Hawkes have proven you don't need a list full of superstars - you need half a dozen talented players and another 18 that are focused and committed to the cause. It's Ratts job to get these blokes playing for each other and helping out the blokes who give the same 100% commitment every week.

I totally agree with cj, Fev is the leader of the inconsistent - he is NOT a superstar until he can turn up with the same attitude every week. If he can't, he will be remembered as a flashy type FF like Capper and Jacko.

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The key point is Duke that with his personality/traits and at his age it will NEVER change.

The decision for the MC is to decide is he worth persisting with which apparently they do.

IMO we will NEVER win a premiership with Fev in the side. On that I will stake my 20 years of practice although I have minimal background in child psychology.

His effect on the subconscious of the team should never be underestimated. I remember discussing this with David Parkin and Wayne Brittain years ago who were very much in agreeance.

I agree cj, as I have in the Fev thread - A mate of mine went as a sponsor to a coaches 'round table' and was told they wanted to trade him but their hands were tied.

Firstly, no other team would offer anything significant (warning bells) and secondly he was worth too much to membership .

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Yep. I know for a fact that a deal was done in principle with Richmond but was knocked after a recommendation from a leading Sports Psychologist.

As for membership I have always asked leading administrators what is worth more? An individual or team success?

In so many situations a club/coach etc can actually be to close to the individual that it affects their decision making without them even realising.

Sadly an opportunity lost.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

Hey cj, you spend a lot of time on TC - Who's fixing the head cases?

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Still, in the post-apocalyptic world we faced after Black Friday, he provided hope and entertainment that was sorely needed as our results fell through the floor.

Most of them are on here, so can you think of a better way to monitor them?

Joking ...

Yes Indie, but we don't now the extent the team was held back over those 4-6 years. It's never too late to move on.

I have no doubt he'll come out and kick 8 this week and will love the attention. He'll be hailed a hero and the key to our success. I don't think he's interested in team success at all - he likes the big games on the big grounds and laps up the attention.

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I am lucky enough now that I work mostly on contract and from home in my own office. My work generally is in business these days. Always have TC available in case anything interesting happens!

Very true - I bet he's listening to someone's problems right now at the same time as thinking about who we could get in a Fev trade.
cj - 'Hmmmm, I see . Well that's the end for today Barry, that'll be $180 for today's session, we'll see you again next week'.

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I am massively frustrated with Fev's little-boy tantrums, like everyone.

If it's true that no other teams really want Fev, then we'll be able to sign him up on next contract for a LOT less.
I agree that he is inconsistent & can never be a genuine superstar until he becomes more consistent, although I think he could be a "Richo level" star rather than a Capper....

However, I think his capabilities have changed since the days of Parko/Britts views when he was disruptive and non-productive.
He was not kicking 80-100 goals in those days. Tolerance levels are a lot higher now b/c we all know what he is capable of. He is not the only reason we lost last week. If we were able to get to the finals, I think you would be hard pressed to find a better finals performer.

I am not saying we should keep him at all costs or we should trade him. I am saying it is a bit speculative to suggest we cannot win a flag with him in the team. I would sooner look to offload 5-6 others as the route to a premiership.

And I am starting to be more concerned with our ability to devise a strategy for bringing the ball into the forward line than with Fev's tantrums, that are at least fewer & further in between than in the past.

PS. We simply MUST win this week, Fev or no Fev!!

So who will they be missing?

Didak?
Medhurst?
Davis?
Cloke?
Fraser?

If we don't do a number on them with this sort of personnel missing, I won't be alone in declaring 2009 a lost cause.

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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

We should have traded Fevola and Whitnal years ago.

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

You can't be sure abouth that 17th, he is THE single most unpredictable personality of the 650 odd players playing.

My tolerance has lowered because I now know he is 28 YO, 160 games, leader of the club (suposedly) and he continues to do this to you and me and his team mates.

I do agree that this is a must win for not only the players, but also the coach. Personally I'd prefer to see us go into the game without Fev.

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Let's get back to the topic of this week's game rather than trade Fev, which can be discussed in the Players forum.

Ins - Robbo, Houla
Out - Cloke, Wiggo

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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.

OK DUC

But there is no way I can include Houlihan

In: Anderson Browne Hartlett Garlett Robinson
Out: Cloke Wiggins Fevola Stevens Russell

Too many changes I think for our MC cj.

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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.

Probably but I just hope we don't keep going down the same old path!

Whatever happens we iwll beat C'wood this week. If we pick the same old people and we win the MC will just stick with them for a while no matter what happens. IMO that achieves nothing.

and the probability of those 5 changes for this week being made is what?

I'd submit it was a theoretical possibility but a realistic impossibility. No way those changes would be made for Round 8, 2009.