Pros:
* Betts is super fit, was everywhere, even getting a run in the midfield. Hope with his fitness base he gets more of a run here this season as I rate him as a clearance player.
* Warnock's work-rate and discipline is sensational. Covers heaps of ground, gets behind the ball when we're not in posession, not afraid to get in and under, applies defensive pressure and always, always goes to the goal line when the opposition have a set shot. Great pick up for us
* Setanta has guts and flair if lacking a bit in nous and skill. Tap on to Betts instead of marking even caught the mercurial Eddie off guard. THink these two will enjoy playing with each other.
* Physicality: Walks is a ripper and in a young team, he strides the park like the enforcer. Completely knocked the stuffing out of a Crow at one stage (legally) and left him in the hands of trainers. Grigg and Robbo also were bruising in the tackle. Loved it.

Cons:
* Brock is a plus at stoppages but when we haven't got the ball he is a major major negative. Watch as every opposition coach instructs their team to play through his opposing player. He does not defend, can't with his pace keep up and looks to be little more than a blue witches hat when we're without the ball.
* Kick-ins has been done to death here but oh my gawd. How can a team train for 4 months and be so inept.
* the first half showed what a well drilled and disciplined team will do to us during the year. Unable to pierce the zone and with nobody working to make space, turnovers reigned. Hopefully it is just work-loads, but find it hard to believe that other teams aren't tapering towards the season in more or less the same manner.

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".

*ahem*

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Fair call Jimmae, you mentioned him and now so has LosAzules...other than that barely a mention. I get frustrated at games hearing nuff-nuffs sigh and abuse him every time he makes even the smallest of errors, reinforcing their miscued opinions. He busted a gut yesterday and kicked a few fantastic goals. Easily in the best.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

Made it to the game and was fairly entertaining and frustrating.

Walker hasnt improved and has gone backwards since his first game against West Coast. He has alot of go in him but not AFL standard. No point persisting trade him to Gold Coast for first round pick if lucky.

Russell is on the other end of the spectrum - started his career horribly and has improved alot. Leadership material moving forward for his strong ethic.

Yarran & Hendo not ready

McLean what a waste of a first round pick - Hadley is average and is miles in front. Hope Brock proves me wrong but not at AFL standard atm.

Robinson, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Bower, Betts are guns.

Good to see Murph and Waite having a crack.

If Brock turns out as good as Johnson (our previous year's trade coup from Melb) I'll spew big time on Ratts or whoever chose him given he's cost us a first round pick. It's not looking good.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Wasn't at any of the pre-season games. Interesting reading the reports, though. plenty of variety!

It made me think back to the Saints game last year when I thought we played some of our best football for the whole year.

That day, what made us look great (and helped us get back from being 6 goals down in the first) was:

- the run of the half back line (Bower was brilliant among others)
- the confidence our players had in each other.

I am a little concerned from the reports that suggest one or both of those have dried up a little.

In relation to the run off half back, I like the idea of having anderson in the team, as he is at least always willing to make the running, a la bower. Russell has also developed well in that area. Armfield also shows something in that regard. IMO the coaching staff need to ensure that guys who have the motor to run and break the lines (especially walker) do so in the right places and at the right time.

In relation to the confidence, I reckon fev played a big part in that as at least everyone knew there was a focal point going fwd. I suspect fev's absence filters into the confidence of the guys playing in the halfback and centre lines, and it will take a while for that to come back.

BTW love hearing that setanta kicked 3. Hopefully he has a few breakout games this year.

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"You're my boy(s), Bluuuee(s)..."

We should trade him for C.Jones, Gwilt, Blake, Dawson or Ray who get a game at the Saints, but are poor kicks or first 22 players.

Maybe there's some truth to Fev's comments.

When Fev first left we said it would take a season for the team to rediscover how to kick a winning score. That's what we are seeing now. Even the coaches are trying to work out the ways to kick goals.

Give the players the benefit of the doubt for the first half dozen games of the season at least. I only hope I remember that when I see the ball carried the length of the field from the opposition kick in because of our lack of proper zoning yet again.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

I agree with those views.

The practice games have done nothing to alter my perception that Carlton is in for tough year - especially for the first 8 or so rounds.

A win against Richmond followed by a string of losses - culminating in a big loss to the saints in round 7.

Performances will improve from that point but we will struggle to make the 8.

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My Blue Heaven

Thanks Jim.......enjoyed your report.....very thorough in the details.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

Kick ins, Game plans, disposal and recruiting from a wooden spoon side - would appear to be the responsibility of the coach. We can not progress with Ratten as coach. It is that simple. March 26th is the first day of a long long season

just a few things from the game,

-no ball movement at all.
-kick in's are a joke.
-disposal's are so poor it's not funny.
-judd starting in the back line after the main break.
-delivery to our forwards.
-when the crows kicked in they moved the ball so free it was hard to believe.

we have a long way to go!

So you have only negative things to say about our side?

I'm stunned!

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

watching lasts year grand finalist Stkilda having a hell of a time with their kick ins tonight

Dont think it is a problem just related to Carlton

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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

Yep, mentioned that 75% of St Kilda's kick-ins during this year's NAB cup haven't made it past the centre.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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dane's trolling again

This is of course why we will see 'the new young coach come to Carlton in a team building year.'

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My Blue Heaven

Well I can get on here "like a dog with two dicks" and tell everyone how great the season is going to be because robinson has improved and waite got through a game and Hendersen will be a player but unfortunately if large portion of the team can not kick, the backline can not kick out and game plans are not executed or developed----then unfortunately the bottom line is we will not play finals....and that is pretty negative.

The kickout game is hard going. Not many teams get it out easy. Saints and Dogs both struggled tonight. The kick taken quickly seems to be a teams best chance.

Our problem is more up the other end. Teams get out to easy. We need to set that up quicker and better.

Still believe if we come out tackling hard and applying loads of pressure on the opposition then the rest of our game will fall into place. Force loads of turnovers scoring will be alot easier. We rate high in scoring from turn overs. Lets use that and play to it.

Might be overreacting but I am getting quite nervous about the season.

It's been a truly uninspiring off season lets be honest. Apart from Henderson, maybe Robinson and Waite's successful return, there have been no great positives.

Bring on the season (hope it turns around) and the "it's all part of the workload" mob know what they're talking about.