A couple of articles on the club website give an indication that the team is on a bit of a high at present...and ready to go in 2024

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/147627...velling-up

Quote:"We’ve had two years now of everything stable off-field: the coaching group has been really stable, so we’re coming into an environment that on day one of pre-season, it’s not like the first day of school,” he said.

“You just know what to expect, the standards have been set and we feel like it’s flowed on from last season.”

While senior players weren’t expected back as early as the younger ones, Cripps said it was an unspoken commitment to come back and train as soon as possible.

Quote:“Stability has been great – last year we showed resilience and I think having the same coaches and same playing group staying together helps us through the ups and downs of the season.

“We feel like we’re a really resilient group because of it. We’re trying to continue to build that connection and get stronger.”

See, it's not just a Carlton thing.  
...or maybe it is, given the connection. :

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/foo...1bb4447d98

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1070840...ifi-sydney

Seems we are linked with every (wo)man and their dog.

My request for a clone of bri moody is likely to come true with us trying to get her twin sister Celine accross from the dogs.

Pies Father/daughter Tarni Brown is another recruit likely to come over.

Duursma sister wants to come over.

Pritchard and Arehns also possibilities.

Unfortunately, Mua Laloifi is set to leave. For whatever reason her performances last season were not up to scratch. Add that to her multiple concussions and perhaps thats why the club are not offering her another contract? Will be hard seeing her in another uniform as she was universally loved.

Brisbane prevailed with a (relative) flurry of goals in the last quarter.  The difference between the two teams was mainly  Brisbane’s ability to hold marks.

Watching without a dog in the fight provided a different perspective.  Mrs DJC commented on the players’ inability to hold marks and that extended to an inability to gather ground balls cleanly.  That contributed to opportunities for tackling as did poor decision-making; turning into trouble and ill-timed disposals.

Sexual dimorphism doesn’t help with marking and sure ball handling but I think there’s another factor; under-developed instinctive game awareness.

Despite all of that, it was an entertaining game with plenty of great passages of play and individual efforts.

What does it mean for us?

I think that our list is focused on speed and our players are too easily brushed aside.  We need to add size and strength without sacrificing too much run.

Amazing that he lasted so long, but while The Pogues had issues, what a great band!

I remember seeing someone wearing a Pogues t shirt in the late 80s.  Judging the person, I assumed Pogues were punk.

I was introduced to their music some years later (early 90s) and me and my mate laughed at how wrong I was - and how good some of their tunes are.

Dirty Old Town, Fiesta, Pari of Brown Eyes and of course (which we will hear heaps of now if it isn't cancelled) Fairy Tale of New York.

His last few years didn't look like fun - he took ownership and knew it was his fault.

He certainly had an impact on me, in my impressionable youth (early 20s!)

With the 2023 season done, and our girls improving, but still missing finals, it will be interesting to see how our list evolves towards next season.
Supposedly, we are after Yasmin Duursma, from Port. However, we are competing against North for her signature.

Glenn Strachan has been appointed as coach of our VFLW team.

Strachan retains his role as AFLW senior assistant coach and that will provide stronger alignment between the two programs.

I think it is a.very positive appointment.

OK, so everything you needed to know about our 'best 22' threads that we were all voting in throughout the year, all 7 of them, are presented below.

[table]
[tr][td]#[/td][td]Player[/td][td]80%+[/td][td]20-80[/td][td]<20%[/td][td][i]AVG%[/td][td]P1[/td][td]P2[/td][td]P3[/td][td]P4[/td][td]P5[/td][td]P6[/td][td]P7[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]1[/td][td]Jack Silvagni[/td][td]4[/td][td]3[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]77.3% [/td][td]97%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]61.6%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]33.4%[/td][td]62.5%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]2[/td][td]Paddy Dow[/td][td]0[/td][td]1[/td][td]6[/td][td][i]11.1% [/td][td]3.1%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]15.4%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]40%[/td][td]6.3%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]3[/td][td]Jesse Motlop[/td][td]5[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]79.4% [/td][td]81.9%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]46.7%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]68.8%[/td][td]86.7%[/td][td]87.5%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]4[/td][td]Lochie O'Brien[/td][td]0[/td][td]2[/td][td]5[/td][td][i]13.1% [/td][td]57.6%[/td][td]26.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]7.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]5[/td][td]Adam Cerra[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]99.1% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]6[/td][td]*Zac Williams **LTI[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]7[/td][td]Matt Kennedy[/td][td]4[/td][td]3[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]79.6% [/td][td]97%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]77%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td]46.7%[/td][td]56.3%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]8[/td][td]Lachie Fogarty[/td][td]0[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td][i]19.1% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]56.3%[/td][td]40%[/td][td]37.5%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]9[/td][td]Patrick Cripps[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]100% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]10[/td][td]Harry McKay[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]99.1% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]11[/td][td]Mitch McGovern[/td][td]6[/td][td]1[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]91.2% [/td][td]97%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]61.6%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]12[/td][td]Tom De Koning[/td][td]6[/td][td]1[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]88.1% [/td][td]91%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]46.7%[/td][td]92.4%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]13[/td][td]Blake Acres[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]96.4% [/td][td]97%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]14[/td][td]Oliver Hollands[/td][td]2[/td][td]4[/td][td]1[/td][td][i]56.9% [/td][td]6.1%[/td][td]53.4%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]25%[/td][td]73.4%[/td][td]62.5%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]15[/td][td]Sam Docherty[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]99.1% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]16[/td][td]Jack Carroll[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0.4% [/td][td]3.1%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]17[/td][td]Brodie Kemp[/td][td]3[/td][td]2[/td][td]2[/td][td][i]63.3% [/td][td]12.2%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]66.7%[/td][td]77%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]87.5%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]18[/td][td]Sam Walsh[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]97.1% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]80%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]19[/td][td]Corey Durdin[/td][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td]3[/td][td][i]33.7% [/td][td]60.7%[/td][td]60%[/td][td]80%[/td][td]23.1%[/td][td]6.3%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]6.3%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]20[/td][td]Lachie Plowman[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]3.2% [/td][td]9.1%[/td][td]13.4%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]21[/td][td]Jack Martin[/td][td]5[/td][td]1[/td][td]1[/td][td][i]69.4% [/td][td]81.9%[/td][td]80%[/td][td]20%[/td][td]23.1%[/td][td]81.3%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]22[/td][td]Caleb Marchbank[/td][td]0[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td][i]23.6% [/td][td]54.6%[/td][td]33.4%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]7.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]13.4%[/td][td]56.3%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]23[/td][td]Jacob Weitering[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]100% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]24[/td][td]Nick Newman[/td][td]6[/td][td]1[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]89.5% [/td][td]54.6%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]25[/td][td]Zac Fisher[/td][td]2[/td][td]2[/td][td]3[/td][td][i]40.5% [/td][td]91%[/td][td]86.7%[/td][td]53.4%[/td][td]46.2%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]26[/td][td]Lochie Cowan[/td][td]0[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td][i]13% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]33.4%[/td][td]26.7%[/td][td]30.8%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]27[/td][td]Marc Pittonet[/td][td]5[/td][td]2[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]78.6% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]37.5%[/td][td]53.4%[/td][td]81.3%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]28[/td][td]David Cuningham[/td][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td]3[/td][td][i]36.6% [/td][td]15.2%[/td][td]13.4%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]30.8%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td]53.4%[/td][td]50%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]29[/td][td]George Hewitt[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]94.4% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]92.4%[/td][td]87.5%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]81.3%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]30[/td][td]Charlie Curnow[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]100% [/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]31[/td][td]Harry Lemmey[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]32[/td][td]Jaxon Binns[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]2.2% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]15.4%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]33[/td][td]Lewis Young[/td][td]3[/td][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td][i]51.2% [/td][td]97%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]61.6%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]34[/td][td]*Sam Philp **LTI[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]35[/td][td]Ed Curnow[/td][td]0[/td][td]1[/td][td]6[/td][td][i]7.5% [/td][td]6.1%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]40%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]36[/td][td]Josh Honey[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]1.4% [/td][td]3.1%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]37[/td][td]Jordan Boyd[/td][td]0[/td][td]3[/td][td]4[/td][td][i]15.8% [/td][td]9.1%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]38.5%[/td][td]31.3%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]25%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]38[/td][td]Sam Durdin[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]39[/td][td]Alex Cincotta[/td][td]1[/td][td]4[/td][td]2[/td][td][i]44.2% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]13.4%[/td][td]66.7%[/td][td]38.5%[/td][td]87.5%[/td][td]60%[/td][td]43.8%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]40[/td][td]Hudson O'Keefe[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]41[/td][td]Dom Akuei[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]42[/td][td]Adam Saad[/td][td]7[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td][i]97.5% [/td][td]97%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]92.4%[/td][td]100%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]100%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]43[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]44[/td][td]Matt Owies[/td][td]2[/td][td]3[/td][td]2[/td][td][i]46.7% [/td][td]36.4%[/td][td]6.7%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]56.3%[/td][td]93.4%[/td][td]50%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]45[/td][td]Alex Mirkov[/td][td]0[/td][td]0[/td][td]7[/td][td][i]0% [/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td]0%[/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]46[/td][td]Matt Cottrell[/td][td]3[/td][td]3[/td][td]1[/td][td][i]59.1% [/td][td]33.4%[/td][td]20%[/td][td]26.7%[/td][td]84.7%[/td][td]75%[/td][td]80%[/td][td]93.8%[/td][td][/td][/tr]

[/table]

Opening Round

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/146537...WTlYJPc-Bc

We've potentially got a win in the draw already.

Playing Freo in Adelaide instead of Freo in Perth is a big plus, the win assumes that we either only play Freo once or that if we play them a second time it's in Melbourne.

And it's a lot easier for home town fans to get to Adelaide than it is Perth.