Our list is much better than at least two teams in the top four....but I get you have to clutch onto something...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

So you'd take us losing every game for the remainder of the year cause that's still a better position than what we were 4-5 years ago.
Look, Pagan was a long time ago. It's a new decade. Stop using that period as a yardstick. MM had the Pies in a GF in his 3rd year. AC had Haw winning a GF in his 4th year. Making the 8 and winning one final should be our minimum expectation this year. Right now, the 8 still looks shaky. I'm not filled with confidence that we'll beat Rich and Ess. Anyway, let's hope the last 5 weeks throws us up some pleasant surprises

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Yep.......but a better list doesn't equate to success does it?....in theory it should; but.....

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

And continually making wrong decisions is not the domain of the coach?????????
Using that argument, if your child continually mucks up their work at school, its not the teacher's fault, as the teacher didn't tell them to write the wrong answer

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

which 2 teams in the top four?

Oh and at least!!!!

so you think, what, our list is equal to or better than 3 of the top four

or maybe you think its equal to or better than all of the top four?

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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!

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

It's amazing how some people can interpret a post and then on that; deliver a lecture on how other posters should think.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

Like I said IMO our list is better than at least two teams in the top four...if you would like to keep blaming the players for under achieving no problem....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Are you for real?...You honestly think that our list is better than Collingwood, Geelong, St.Kilda, Western Bulldogs? My god you are a 'snip'.

What criteria do you use to conclude our list is better?

I reckon we are paper thin.

Geelong aside 'snip' please tell me where the major differences lie with the other three....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

skill, desire, size, consistency, depth, flexibility, experience, mental toughness, awareness etc.

I seriously believe we have the POTENTIAL of a good list but our players quite simply are not developing as well as other clubs plus we keep recruiting recycled hacks.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

No comment......

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

Id say he is talking about the number that players were drafted at.

I see our list equal to at least 2 teams below us.

Development desire consistency mental toughness are factors the off field personnel should be assisting the group in ...I am referring to player for player....we have more than half a side in first round picks for starters...look really hard at the Pies and Saints starting 22 and compare...you may be surprised how many average type players these two have..

We are just as skilled as any other team if we know what we are doing...we have recruited for depth and if this factor is not at 100% it certainly is at about 70% and other than Kruze we dont have many out at the moment..

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Have you had a frontal lobotomy?

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

Pretty sure Foxtel showed a few of our players not wearing studs.

Pretty sure McLean is injured, especially after reading the link above.

Pretty sure Ratts should give the media a rest for the remainder of the year so he stops putting his foot in it.

Let's start by looking at backlines...where most Premierships are won from.

Geelong -

Scarlett / Milburn / Enright / Hunt / Taylor / Mackie make up the back 6 more often than not. Taylor aside, the others have been together for some years now, understand each others roles to perfection, stick close together, tackle well, move the ball out of defence efficiently and are excellent overhead and by foot. Taylor's still a pick 17 and a very good defender.

They also have a host of midfielders who are very good in their defensive half. James Kelly and Paul Chapman go back and help out regularly and all this is without mentioning Ablett.

So if the Cats are the defensive benchmark...how do the other stack up against that?

Collingwood -

Pretigiacomo / Maxwell / Reid / Shaw / O'Brien / (Brown, Toovey, Goldsack)

Statistically, Collingwood were the 2nd best defensive team in 2009. This year, they've got far more consistency and better rebounding skills off half-back. That's largely in part to their mids who continue to gut run from the flanks and position themselves to assist their teammates. With the added bonus of O'Brien, Reid, Thomas and Swann having career best years, their premiership aspirations are well founded with such a solid defence.

Bulldogs -

Lake / Gilbee / Morris / Hargrave / Harbrow / (Williams, Everitt, Picken)

Best FB in the league in Lake and two of the most consistent in Gilbee and Morris. Think about their overhead skills, kicking skills and reading of the play....it's A+. Another reliable tall in Hargrave who runs the ball out well and Harbrow who is probably leading their b&f.

Carlton -

Bower / Jamison / Walker / Russell / Bower / Gibbs (Thornton, Joseph, Armfield)

Inexperienced, but improving. Haven't spent as much time together as the other backlines and a couple of them (Walker and Gibbs) still finding their feet down back. Jamison has good closing speed, yet is a little indecisive. Russell and Bower try their guts out, but you do not want the ball in their hands being delivered downfield. Our mids help out - but no where near as much as the aforementioned sides sitting in the 4.
Our mids often come in too deep...they're in no mans land and often can't even lay a shepherd to help a teammate out. All remnants of a zone go out the window when the ball is lobbed in deep.

To say that we need to fasttrack the likes of O'Keeffe, White, Davies, Tuohy are understatements - but more than that - we need to find a kid with a bit more height down there. White and Davies are too short for KP defenders. Tuohy competing with the likes of Joseph, Armfield, Browne, etc.

Operation recruit Matthew Watson...? A solid version of Harry Taylor/Michael Hurley IMO. Oh how I hope he's there for our pick...unfortunately - that's highly unlikely.

na, nope, nudda, no way hosie, your kiddin, na your freakin' kiddin', pull the other leg it plays dixie. @#$%&! me with a rake Jake!

we'll have to agree to disagree.

I think we have holes

We need at least 1 more Key forward

1 more key backman

and 2 good hard at it, gut running midfielder types.

and then

maybe

we could develop into the equal

but at this point in time

@#$%&! off we're not a top four yet.

But we will be...

I hope.

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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!

good post dr. - cpl of comments.

i think the popular opinion with bower is that his disposal isnt reliable. having been a fan of his since day one i barely notice him turn it over. he may not look stylish but he seems to work out exactly what to do with the pill most times. pretty sure he's been going at between 80-90% disposal eff in his games this year.

also, whilst the collingwood group is ahead in most areas, i think JATKs point may be that talent wise we dont lack much at all but we seem to be waiting around forever our guys to click. Walker, Bower, Russell, Gibbs are all early draft picks. Talent wise you would think they'd have Harry O, Maxwell, Presti, Toovey and the like covered. Wouldnt they?