and its good to have high expectations but for a young list that has never played finals together of course they're going to fade out near the end of the season. We have blokes like Aaron Joseph playing who was a rookie in the pre-season. It's asking a bit much if you want them to play with the same intensity that they showed earlier in the year for 22 weeks + finals.

They'd have to be just about knackered.

We set ourselves a goal of playing finals this year and if we do make the finals then it's progress and we'll be much better for it in seasons to come.

That said we'll smash the Cats next round.

AJ and big K look like they need a rest. Judd looked the same but he is carrying the ankle so hard to tell.

I was thinking the same thing... AJ and MK do like tired.

I wonder how AJ would go in the forward pocket...

One would feel that he would bring some forward pressure there and if Im not mistaken didnt he play there in small bursts with the bullants last year...

I'd like to see the following forward setup

FF Betts Fevola Kreuzer
HF Walker o'hAilpin Joseph

In saying that though, who would be our designated tagger?

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Bulldogs captain Steve Mortimer stood up to address his troops before they ran out. ''I'm a proud c---,'' he told them, ''I'm a winner, I wish myself a good g...ame, I wish everyone a good game. Let's get out there and f---ing bash them

Nobody can deny we have been playing pretty ordinary the last few games ... wonder how much this is just the players are knackered

I would be very happy if this was 90% of the reason ... would bode wellfor the future ... but I think its closer to 10%

Ratts

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Not sure what you guys watched on Friday night.

Big Kruezer was the one with petrol left in the tank late in the game.

He put two shots forward when no one else was running through half forward.

The only rest he needs is when he has a beer after a finals series.

One of the few who goes the same pace all day and hardly ever spills it

Krooz did play 56% game time on Friday night as he did the previous Friday.

It's good that we are managing him in this way.

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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.

I think we have managed Kruezer quite well, considering Jacobs and Warnock have been out. He's developing well, playing in the ruck and going forward. Getting one of the other guys in to ruck in a couple of weeks will let him have more time on the ground, but up forward.

As for AJ, even if he is getting tired, we have to let him have another go on Ablett this week. He did well in the preseason, and here's hoping he can replicate it this week.

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I would like to thank Collingwood for helping me keep faith in my old man. He always told me that 'People are thick'.

AJ needs a change in roles not a break from footy ... we have not hidde him ... always taking the hardest job ... a break from this and playing a natural footy game will enhance him as a player.

We need to rest the players this week who need a rest (Judd, Thornton, Betts, Bower, Kruezer, Joseph).

We are 2 games and % in the 8.

1 win and protection of % gets us to the finals.

Jeopardise our % this week and back our blokes to win 2 games in the last 3 or to keep our % above the chasers.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"

I think for our development as a team we need to hit Geelong with everything ... we have a 9 day break from them till Port.

Very crucial that we take Geelong on this week.

We will get smashed whoever we play.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"

you gonna get crucified for that one.

but i agree. if we were playing anyone inside the top eight we would have got smashed

Great positive posts here tonight.

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dane's trolling again

By whoever, I meant personnel against Geelong not Carlton against anyone.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"

Mate im not going to PRETEND everything is all hunky dory when its far from.

We got our of jail friday night and the honest truth is the Kangas looked a much sharper and drilled side than us........ and they are sitting bottom 4 FFS!

Luckily Sydney on the slide and the Hawks season ruined by poor preparation or we'd be sitting 9th or 10th.

And if the Lions and Crows lost 2 more games, The Pies and Dogs 3 more games, the Cats 7 more, and St kilda 9 more, wed be sitting 1st

It has been great seeing AJ take on his opponent each week, and doing it so well. He's a great shutdown player, especially for being in his first year.

I do agree with you though that it will be good to see him given a different role a couple of times before the finals. See how he goes trying to attack and create. We'll need him locking down on someone in the finals, but having that attacking edge and experience is important, even if it is just so he can hurt them going the other way.

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I would like to thank Collingwood for helping me keep faith in my old man. He always told me that 'People are thick'.