Rnd 1 Carlton vs Richmond - Pre-Game

[PaulP]

Murphy will move aside, just not this year, the time is not yet right. Long term candidates to replace him are now in their final year of preparation. Better not to thrust them into the deep end prematurely and until they are fully ready and available. That could be a disaster as we have seen elsewhere. I will be fascinated to see how we play this year, especially in the light of the last batch of list changes.

No doubt cookie. I guess my point is that either :
a. Murphy isn't that bad, or
b. He is bad, which means the rest of our recent teams, past and present, have been positively dire in terms of leadership. 

[flyboy77]

Including Judd, ever the obedient one.

One has to wonder why, despite never ending proclamations of a full cultural reset, big big changes at the club's upper levels, unprecedented levels of player turnover, the club cannot find one player, not a single one, to replace Murphy the Marshmallow as captain ? 60, 70, 80 ? players have worn the Navy Blue in the last few years, and yet here we are.

Maybe the problem isn't Murphy ?

Why dwell in the past? Murphy may well still play in a flag but not as Captain.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Why dwell in the past? Murphy may well still play in a flag but not as Captain.

Murphy may explore free agency to extend his career and look for a premiership......

[PaulP]

Why dwell in the past? Murphy may well still play in a flag but not as Captain.

Not dwelling on the past, merely providing a context for my opinion.

I'm the last person you'll find dwelling on the past. 

[cookie2]

No doubt cookie. I guess my point is that either :
a. Murphy isn't that bad, or
b. He is bad, which means the rest of our recent teams, past and present, have been positively dire in terms of leadership.

I don't think our ranks were exactly bursting with leadership potential P. I have confidence though that this is being seriously addressed but it just takes a bit of time, especially with the focus on youth.

[madbluboy]

No doubt cookie. I guess my point is that either :
a. Murphy isn't that bad, or
b. He is bad, which means the rest of our recent teams, past and present, have been positively dire in terms of leadership.

The answer is B but our future looks to be in good hands.

[PaulP]

I don't think our ranks were exactly bursting with leadership potential P. I have confidence though that this is being seriously addressed but it just takes a bit of time, especially with the focus on youth.

I guess that's fair enough cookie.

[Thryleon]

Or was he trying to get the designated minder to do his job; I don't really see Gibbs as the right match up for Dusty, not that we have to worry about that anymore 

I'm in two minds about how to deal with Dusty.  I think Thry has a point about not being Dusty-centric; stop his team mates and his influence will be limited.  However, I don't think he can be left to run riot, particularly when he goes forward.

I reckon Alex Silvagni could be the man for the job, but perhaps only when Dusty goes forward.  A tag team of Ed Curnow, Kennedy and perhaps Byrne could put some pressure on him in the midfield.

They used to do it to Judd.

This was the main reason 2012 was so embarrassing.

Think back to the St. Kilda game where they went after ED curnow and ended his game.  Then they smashed Carrazzo, and later on Murphy copped the same treatment.

Do the same to Richmond.  Smash the little twerps into the ground!!

[PaulP]

The answer is B but our future looks to be in good hands.

Nothing if not consistent, mbb.

[DJC]

Including Judd, ever the obedient one.

One has to wonder why, despite never ending proclamations of a full cultural reset, big big changes at the club's upper levels, unprecedented levels of player turnover, the club cannot find one player, not a single one, to replace Murphy the Marshmallow as captain ? 60, 70, 80 ? players have worn the Navy Blue in the last few years, and yet here we are.

Maybe the problem isn't Murphy ?

Have a listen to Murphy's interview on the club website; he is not a problem and never has been.  The problem was lack of talent and lack of support (both physically and in leadership).  SOS's focus on drafting lads of good character and Bolton's focus on leadership have addressed the lack of support and, hopefully, the lack of talent is also being addressed.