a lock for the spoon.
some of the young guys are okay but when you're as bad as carlton you need your young kids to be stars to get you out of it, and carlton's quite simply aren't.

I suspect that any change to the priority pick system will be a modification rather than a baby out with the bath water response. I think the system that will be in place next year will be to look at a team's performance over a three year period so that at team that has consistently performed poorly will obtain the priority pick. I think any move to totally abolish the priority pick system will completely undermine the credibility of St Kilda's success which would be unfair on them because they have drafted very well with the picks they received. I suspect that such a response would be an untenable situation for the league. Just my opinion. Based on that kind of criteria, we should qualify for the pick. Having said that, I agree with Blue Bird let's defer any discussion of tanking until we at least loose the first 6 games.

If we don't improve next year, the knives may well be out for Pagan's head. As good as he is, I would expect some sort of improvement, at least by winning 8-10 games.

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

We dont have a platform to win 8 to 10 games next year CC..

Our problem is we think we have automatic passage to being a gread side FAST.. due to our mid to recent history....

Were going to take 4 years like ALL clubs that start with NOTHING.

In 3 years we should be like the Doggies but wont because the Doggies still have B Johnston, Darcy, Grant, West and Smith...

We have nothing so an extra year will be needed.

Players like Waite will be middle aged footballers.

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I dont care what the reality is.
I want to get down to PP for the first day of pre season with unrealistic hopes.
I'll watch AW run the park in record time, muse about the recruits, comment about how many kilos Waitey has put on.
I'll sit back with the sun on my face and dream about going forward.

All you realists can sit elsewhere.
Hope re emerges in a couple of months.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Over 2 years would be much fairer, for those clubs that haven't benefited so much from the system. And also it would mean weak sides aren't anchored firmly to the bottom for the foreseeable future.

Now that is some post BV! Stuff dreams are made of!

Thanks!

You can run but you cant hide....

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I agree with you fja. But, the only trouble is the AFL has proven they don't care if they put themselves in an untenable position. Stripping our draft picks after trade week is one example of this. Do you think Richmond would have traded pick #4 if they knew it was really pick #2?

That said, I think a tweak to priority selections will be what happens too.

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I think in 2006 we will be like Hawthorn this year. Fairly exciting team with some good youngsters and improving but not many more wins. I would be happy with that.

I would like to analyse this after round 5,2006. If Carlton are an improved team and can challenge for the finals then good and well - continue along that path. (I can dream if I want to Synbad) If they get thrashed by over 15 goals by anyone up to round 5 then i think it is time for bottoming out again.


Anything can happen in the first 5 rounds in this competition... Carlton could even win 4 or 5 of them. Imagine what may have been if we beat north in round 1 this year.


Don't get me wrong - I am glad we are getting priority picks but chance and injuries do have a place in every year's competition.

Bottom four, no finals for a while..agree with Blue Bird..
The task was greater than most of us realised and the fact we have had to take a few steps backward might give some ammunition to those who want Denis Pagan out. Likewise any poor trading ie Fev to Collingwood and Fev having a good year might also bring more pressure on DP..for mine I think we should retain both Denis Pagan and Fev and not expect too much too soon...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I have a mate who is well connected at the club and he told me that we will win 6 games next year. It is a done deal and this comes from someone VERY high up. I can't say who it is, but trust me it is high.

Not only that, he told me that we will win two of those games by 1 point and two others by over 10 goals...again that is a done deal.

Also told me that we will be trading Clarke for Judd...a done deal.

Don't shoot the messenger, but this comes from very high up.

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Number 17 - come on down!

I believe you....

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We may have ended up with 5.5 wins and Marc Murphy would be dressing as a jailbird every weekend for the next 10 years.

I would love to see Carrots, Bentick, Simpson, Waite, Fisher, Livo, AW really stand up and play 22 solid consistant games. We would also need to beat Collingwood, Richmond, and Essendon*.

......And Campo to win the Brownlow medal
.......And Prenda to learn how to kick, ruck, and handball properly

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

Id expect a similar year to this.

I believe though that this depends on how Pagan coaches. Quite often this year I was baffled by coaching decisions. I feel that they coaching staff were deliberately holding some back in the VFL while others were taken from their comfort zones and played out of position.

I would expect Setanta to play almost all senior games and his brother to start playing a role in the Bullants firsts. Hopefully elevating Setanta will continue a trend of young and enthusiastic players stepping up and putting more pressure on senior players to be accoutable.

The biggest variable will be how the trading season pans out. At present we a have forward that on its day could tear a new arseh*** against any other side. However our midfield is just to inconsistant to supply them with the ball often enough. Our defense is the worst in the comp. We have players filling key positions that they arnt suited to. and drop their heads far to quickly when things go bad. Maybe with a few badly needed KPP additions we could threaten the 8 but is this wise? Do we have enough young kids with the ability to continue this sort of rise long term?

I initially though Id be happy with us being very competitive but what would this do to morale. Competitve but still losing? Id rather see a few big wins a few hard fought victories, quite a few close losses and just a couple times being on the receiving end of belts from the top 4 sides. This would at least give the impression of improvement.

Franga told you this yeah?

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

He lied.

We'll win the flag now won't we ... now that the Messiah is ours for the taking.

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