This game is listed to start at 10:15, so the seniors can start at 1:45.
Having a Curtain raiser is a great idea. Now, if only we could win....

Some great news: Bailey Rice is this week's 23rd man! Yes, you heard it right. Dean Rice's son will be playing in our colours this Saturday against the Evil Minions. He'll probably get more kicks than half of the other players in his colours.

By the way, the game will be telecast on delay on Channel 7.

My thoughts.

- Dew or Bolton appointed Senior Coach
- John Barker appointed VFL coach
- New Recruiting Manager
- Overhaul of our development staff
- Jono Brown to replace Brad Green as one of our Assistant Coaches
- Geelong's 1st Pick for Hendon, passed to Brisbane for Aish
- Keep Yazz, unless a super tempting deal is offered
- Carlisle for our 2nd rounder
- Nab one of Aish or Carlisle in the PSD if either Brisbane or predicable the Scum are being difficult in negotiations.
- Bailey Rice to choose us
- Grab SOS Jr Mk I with a late pick, so he can start his development through the VFL next year instead of another year of TAC Cup.
- Weitering with our 1st pick

This is the run home for all contenders (for pick 1 that is)

Carlton
Collingwood
Brisbane (away)
Melbourne
GWS (away)
Hawthorn

Brisbane
Gold Coast
Carlton
Adelaide (away)
Hawthorn (away)
Western Bulldogs

Gold Coast
Brisbane (away)
Richmond (away)
Essendon
Port
Sydney (away)


Gold Coast did us an enormous "favour" with their upset draw and will probably put themselves out of the running next week. Though a loss is likely to give them that last spot.

If it goes to plan though, then we'll most likely find ourselves on the same number of games as Brisbane the following week (don't be surprised by any omissions - expecting us to "manage" Cripps' young body and MK's fragile one myself) with a race to the lowest percentage from there - we'd need to out lose them by about 15-20 points per game probably less if they beat us by 5 or 6 goals.

I reckon Barker is in on this and is happy enough as long as there is effort. Not sure what the club has promised in return.

At least we played one decent quarter this round, but it was still very ugly in the last quarter.

Remember:
[1] At least 3 players need to get a mention.
[2] No more than 10 votes for any one player.
[3] Give a rating of team performance. It can be anywhere from A+ to F.
[4] Votes must add up to 15.

Thank God there are only a few games to go.

Doing what we do best...giving up!

The culture is just so putrid.

Same rubbish, different day.

sorry, night.

On the weekend, Carlton were belted by the best team in the competition. We were all expecting a loss and to some extent, the margin wasn't entirely out of most people's range of numbers.

Many people are lamenting the state of where we are but if you look at it honestly, the Hawks had just touched up the Swans & Frockers by 70-80 points each. Therefore, given they are the next two best teams in the league, the smacking we copped should not have come as a complete surprise.

What was on display for everyone to witness was the stark difference between our playing list and that of the acknowledged league leaders. We were given the biggest reality check we have ever had and hopefully, some of our supporters will look at our players without the navy-blue goggles on from now.

Yes, we do have a nucleus of decent players from which to build from but the simple fact is, we cannot keep persisting with anyone who would be ranked as a "fringe" player. We need top shelf players with a killer attitude and a set of skills to match if we want to get anywhere in this business.   

Something that did stand out to me in this recent match was that we have too many players who just don't want to keep fighting. For some, it just gets too hard so they stop chasing, shepherding, tackling etc.

Unfortunately, this is a culture that has been brewing for many years and is a genuine reason why we are behind the rest of the competition. Just look at Andre Everitt, when he first arrived, he worked his ring off all game. Now he too picks and chooses when to go because that is the norm amongst his team-mates.

If I look at the playing list, I think about if I was in the trenches at Gallipoli, how many of them would I want around me to cover my back ??

Sadly, that list isn't very long.

http://www.sen.com.au/news/07-15/patrick...ry-carlton

Forgetting the bias against the author....I'll take the pick if he can arrange it.

Quote:“I think that club is in real trouble, forget about priority picks to Brisbane there’s your problem club, Carlton,” said Smith.

“It’s probably one of the worst Carlton sides, I thought they were pathetic.

“This is an awful list.”

Quote:“This is such an ordinary group of footballers and I think they’re an ordinary collection of blokes in terms of how much they want to give the footy club,’ said Smith on SEN radio.

“My reaction to all of this is that Carlton is absolutely no good and to up to AFL elite measures – and I’m talking about board, football department, coaching and recruiting.”

Smith went further and said that the AFL should consider the Blues as the club in most need of serious help, both financially and maybe even via draft selections.

On Sunday at Eureka Stadium, Ballarat. It is going to be COLD. And there is a 1:30 start for those lucky or brave enough to make it.

To be honest, Eureka Stadium is not a great place to watch football in: there is very little banking, so unless you are in the front row you don't see the game. That should not be an issue with the typical VFL crowd, but.....

After the bye we just had, we have some chance of regrouping: we need it after our recent efforts. There may also be a player or 2 returning from injury (or being banished from the seniors). The Preston side of the equation is not going to change much: Wilkinson has gone and Box Bransgrove (one of the few with some talent) is injured (again).

Last time we played the Ballarat boys, they gave us a drubbing at Etihad, with both Kreuzer and Warnock playing. Since then the Rooster have been mostly feather dusters, but they did record a good win against Frankston. With our list of injuries I cannot see us starting favourite. Nor can I see much coming from some of our serial underperformers: none of them has shown much in the wet, wind and mud.

However, as I wrote in the AFL pre game thread, hope springs eternal.

More details as they come to hand.

Next Saturday night we have the chance for a little bit of redemption: we play North Melbourne at Etihad.
Chances are that we will loose: we have a huge way to come back from with a minimum of talent and confidence on the park. However, I do expect a better performance.
In many ways I would love to give it to North: they have been very vocal lately, claiming we do not deserve Friday Night games and that they do. I find this faintly absurd. It assumes the AFL can redirect the draw when it sees one team performing below expectations and another performing above expectations. I have real problems with this. Be that as it may, it would make them shut up if we could cook their finals' goose for them.
It would also give us a little something after they stole Waite from us for no compensation.

As I mentioned earlier, it would be a very low probability event if we could stuck it up the Road - Kills, but hope springs eternal.  : : :

We must be reasonable chance to get one or 2 players back. Certainly we have some underachievers who need more time in the VFL before their inevitable delisting.  ;D ;D >