lots of verbs' on here of late...

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There's so much I could say...

no its just interesting (to me) how people argue/make points one way yet expect those with contrary opinions to do it differently.

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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!

Yeah but we all know that you can write posts that aren't purposefully confusing danny. It's about standards.

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STURDYISM!!

Dammit.

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Cer 'ch 'n alluog Blues

What's up now? Your paranoia is starting to dominate your posting.

TC seems to be able to carry a few strokers, though. Houla was in the top of the stats for hard work.
Think before you post.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Opportunity squandered really hurts.

In retrospect Hadley was an important loss. Would have been very handy around those last quarter stoppages.

now I'm confused

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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!

Dissapointing is an understatement!!!
As long as they correct their errors and learn from their stupid mistakes then all should be good for next year.
Here's a list of what needs to be done:
Sack Wayne Hughes- can't be forgiven for not getting Rich, no need to mention others.
Sack Wiggins- hopeless
Sack Cloke- useless
Sack Stevens- game has passed him

Running out of time, at work will finish later.

Can't wait .

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end of message

I dont know if I can wait. Those pearls of wisdom have me bursting in anticipation.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Verbs is everywhere in this thread.

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STURDYISM!!

Funny that. I only have one log in name too, unlike some.

That last quarter was surreal.

I still can't believe what I experienced.

Gobsmacked...numb...confused to say the least.

Even if we did expect them to surge in the last, even with the pro Lions crowd urging their team, and the pro Lions umpires helping them along, even if our players were undersized and some Blue boys hobbling on one leg, we were winning in the midfield and that's where it counted for us. When we kicked the first in the last Q to get us 5 up, and even when we were 4 up, then 3 up, then 2 up....I still didn't believe we could lose that one. I was waiting for the sealer.....from us.

They got on top of an undermanned and undersized backline with the assistance of an awesome surge of pressure from their midfield; good luck to the Lions.

Very proud of our kids this year. Still can't believe the result. And with the Doggies next week, I could see us in the Prelim 09 with 15 minutes left on the clock. Much further ahead of any expectation I had of the kids in 09. It wasn't to be...I'm still numb but proud.

Anyone would agree that Thornton and Bower (on one leg) were never going to be a good match for the monsters Brown and Bradshaw. I suspect that Setanta was injured, so I let that one go to the keeper. We had no other tall to cover for the injured Bower. Lambs to the slaughter in the last as our midfielders tired?? or something like that. We can't blame the coach for going defensive because he chose not to. Maybe he should have. Can't win either way. What happened is now in the past.

There were some glaring defeciencies. Lets put the great fearless efforts of the team aside and look at the weaknesses.

Height/ weight requirements in the KP defensive posts missing against monsters.
Pace and options required in the forwardline were missing. The ball got out too easily from our forwardline.
A hard nut in the clearences was missing in the last in particular.

Class by hand and foot is a prerequisite in finals footy.

Following this match, big question marks on Cloke Wiggins Stevens Scotland Garlett and Grigg. Murphy Gibbs and Betts will learn from the finals experience and will step up.....they better.

We have Waite, Warnock, a fitter Walker, Jamison, Hadley, Setanta and pick 11 to join us in 2010.
We have the kids in Yarran, Robinson, O'Keefe and Austin to take the next step no doubt.
We have a Trade in mind????????....Get Lake!!!!!!!

I'm a very proud Blubagger.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I must say that reading the various strings on Talking footy has been pretty disappointing overall (with a few exceptions). Its felt like I have been reading a Collingwood or Richmond blog, where they simply attack their own, without trying to make any sober or constructive assessment of where we are or where we are going. There have been exceptions - there have been some who have tried and rationalise what has happened and where we are - but many postings do make you wonder if all Carlton Supporters are really true supporters at all! Sure - Sat was very very disappointing. I flew up for the game - and felt completely numb after the game, as I am sure most Blues supporters did. There is no excuse for such a disappointing fade out. But is it really time for a clean out as some suggest. Is Ratten really the worst coach in the history of the game as it seems some would like to suggest. The attacks on Stevo, Clokey, Gartlett, Murph, Thornton, and many others that I have read on Talking Carlton have been viscious by some authors. Lets think about where we are - we are coming!!!! We are not there yet ... did anyone really think that after where we have been for the last 7(?) years that we would win the flag this year (I put money on it, but didn't really expect it. This year was abouit setting oursleves up to be a chance to win the flag on 2010, and ensure we are well placed to win a series of flags over the next 5-10 years. We could be facing a dynasty. Many clubs waste such chances - Carlton usually don't. Every club has a top 6 and bottom 6 players. We can wipe out the current bottom 6, but we will still have a bottom 6 next year. But when you look at the positives as we walk into 2010 - they are massive .... massive!!! Bring Waite, Jamo and Austin into the back 6 - thats half a backline. Warnock into ruck which gives us flexibility with Kruzer. Gartlett after a year sitting in the Gym, Yarran with a full pre-season, Walker will be a new player next year, Russells actually finally started to repay the incredible faith paid in him (which I suspect very few of us could ever understand), Joey in his 2nd year etc etc. Sure - we are not perfect and there is room for improvement and list enhancement. But lets respond like Carlton Supporters, not Hyenas (or Magpies). Go Blues!!!

I watched the last quarter replay again and I know it is sometimes difficult to tell watching it on TV but when the surge came I couldn't understand why 18 players were not camped in their back half

Did this happen because it was difficult to tell on the TV and I have had several other opposition supporters ask the same question

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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

Geelong basically did this for the entire last qtr - no such thing as winning ugly in a final.

Bad luck guys. Hopefully the hurt burns over Summer and acts as a positive spur for future seasons.

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"You've got no fear of The Underdog, that's why you will not survive"
- Spoon, 2007
- Western Bulldogs, 2016

For the sadists among us.

[youtube]UofTkHx1bJk[/youtube]

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from where I sit I think our inability (due to injuries) was what enhanced their comeback ... Bower was really struggling and normaly we would have swung players around ... we had no chance of doing this with Jamison, Waite, Austin and OHailpin all out injured ... people will argue about Brisbane injuries but they were hardly impeding.

We played an interstate final and it took their 3 big guns to get them over the line Brown, Bradshaw and Black ... we don't have a similar three.

We may not have those three but I am convinced that we are a better team than they are anyway and I think the games this year between the sides reflect this. Not only this but I feel we have far greater scope for improvement than they do. Of course this is of little consolation here and now and if anything makes it feel even worse. But if you look a bit deeper there are some encouraging signs.

Let's look at the games against Brisbane this season. We played them three times this year and overall, across the three games probably led for at least 85-90% of the time (including two games at the Gabba where from memory they never led us in Round 11 and probably led us for a total of about 10 minutes on Saturday night (and never by more than seven points)). In all three games against them this year we could get well clear of them (at least five goals each time) but they could never get more than about a goal clear of us. Interestingly, the Gabba games were quite similar in that we got well ahead only for them to mount late comebacks each time. One time we held them off and one time we didn't. But I think this is quite telling and should give us heart for the future.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.