Saturday was another building block into our future.
We took a few more kids with POTENTIAL and a very good work ethic to go with some of the other kids that have a bit of potential and great work ethic.
We recruited on character just as much as we recruited on talent.
We have to hope that some of those kids have what it takes to step out of the black shadows cast upon us by some of the blokes weve had running around not giving a toss abouyt the club but instead caring only about themselves.

For the first time in a couple of years or more im optimistic.
Im optimistic because were giving the club an opportunity to shine again with young raw talent .
Talent that hopefully isnt carrying the burdon of the baggage some of the senior players have cast upon us.
We need someone to lead us out of darkness and away from temptation to climb the peak of excellence. Where we belong.
Lance Campo Kouta etc have shown theyre not the ones .. so we must look elseswhere.
You cant stop for the ball of chain that is those blokes.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

I'm a bit strange in this area.

I am so fanatical that it almost (well...does) cloud my judgement so anyone who puts that navy blue on becomes one of my boys. So I actually take it to heart when any player gets bagged to the shizen...I get all defensive...

Iv'e said before that criticism and/or observations about their playing ability is ahelluva lot different to them getting completely bagged.....

I can cope though...I'm a big girl.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Based on what exactly? What is the criteria you are applying to such a statement? He has had two years at the role, and in that time, what has he done wrong? He was what, 30 years old when he was appointed? Perhaps watch a certain 4th quarter during the '96 season to see just what leadership qualities he has...and to this day, he hasn't played any other way...just not (every game) as good, which is expected as the body wears with age, but the leadership has never changed.

based on the fact he cant lead ....

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Surely there is a few blokes on our list that should have the blow torch applied to them before Kouta? I have no issues with the money he gets or his on field performance. You don't have to jump up and down and yell and scream to be a great leader? The troops he has been leading have been a bit thin on the ground over the last two years.

As my good mate says about Kouta;

"Twice the size of most men, prettier than most women"

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Forgotten, but not gone

When the game was in the balance it has more often than not Koutoufides who stood up and was counted, that's leadership. Kernahan was the same often. Bradley and Ratten, whilst superb players, rarely tore a game apart...Bradley may have once or twice. Andy McKay is the closest of the post-Kernahan brigade to really lead by example.

They all lead in every game they played...never gave less than 100%.

True leaders.

But only few, and AK is one of them, have been able to lead in attitude and performance...when needed, he has lifted the Carlton Football Club out of the shit, to higher levels than ever before.

He is, and always has been...a leader of men.

Good player not a leader...

Leaders marshall the troops when theyre gone on and off the field.. they stop morale from sagging... theyre are the single most defining cog in keeping things together.
They support the coach when others begin to doubt...
They may even sacrifice some $$$ for the good of the club...

Good player.. not a leader...

A leader would never say "CAMPPOOOOOOOO..,. where art thou Campo!!!!????"

He would instaed focus on the job ahead with the youngeters he has coming through....

<Personal jibe removed by Wolfister>

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The only thing Kouta lacks is an internet fanatic presence...he doesn't post on internet forums and make a fool of himself...ever. That is pathetic! The internet is The Way! It's where the people that matter are....people like Synbad....real leaders.

Koutoufides has done a huge amount, on and off the ground, for the Carlton Football Club since 1993.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Aside from the ppersonal jibe, I think Synbad has some good points about Kouta here.

Great player. Not a leader. He's the player a leader uses as an example to other players to help morale, and get the guys to put in everything on the field.

I'm a big Kouta fan, but even I can see that he is all at sea when confronted with the task of both performing on-field and getting everyone else in Navy Blue to do the same.

And yes, a leader should be the one to put the rockets up the downhill skiers and get them to put in in a meaningful way rather than amassing cheap stats.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

You're talking about a bloke who trained AWAY from the club until HE got the right deal.

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Patrick Smith - Just another reason to HATE Essendon*!

Depends on how you judge leadership – to my mind Kouta has always led by example. He may not be the most verbal of captains but surely deeds speak louder than words.

Synbad I’m curious what did you expect Kouta to say in the public arena about Campo?

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"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." - Gene Hill

When things hit rock bottom you've gotta find a scapegoat.

That rationale is well and truly alive here. What a complete load of bollocks.

Who will it be next year?

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Kouta was given the task of captain, as the most respected player on our list at the time, as no one else was capable.

I'm not sure if he had leadership aspirations. I'm not sure he even wants the job at the moment.

Until such time as we want a no name like Richie Vanderberg as our captain we're stuck with Kouta as captain and Kouta is stuck with the job, whether he's comfortable with it or not.

Real leaders don't need a title to inspire the troops. Prelim final 1995, Justin Madden addressed the players, just as SOS did in 1999. If there is a better leader at Carlton presently then he won't need the title, he'll naturally lead and the players will naturally look to him.

Kouta made one remark to the press about Camporeale, probably thinking he was saying the right thing, and now we're going to cop a year of every thread degenerating into a Kouta bagging session.

Synbad is right that Kouta is a good player, but not a great leader. Thats pretty obvious. Our leader's will show themselves though and Kouta's title will just be a public one.

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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

quite right Knackers which is why I said 'or even' - I do not rate Braddles high up as a captain but I do rate him higher than Kouta as a captain.

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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!

He's our reigning best and fairest winner (and a deserved one at that unlike the year b4) ... which means he still is the best performed player at this club FFS. Not bad for a 32 year old who is over it, can't jump over a jam tin and has lost his marking ability.

Rather than just bagging every player on our list over 30 or on a big contract, look at their output for a change. Round 1 last year he was clearly our best against North after having an interrupted pre-season while all the 'March stars' flopped badly. He was consistently good around the packs last year and while his marking and pace may not be what it was he's still way ahead of almost everyone on our list.

Lay off Kouta ... and focus on the players who don't perform regardless of how many chances thye get in the senior team.

PS I agree his contract hasn't helped the situation but the club really needs to take responsibility for the contracts they agree to ... Campo was a step forward in playing hard ball, long may it continue!

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In WADA we trust

I think Kouta has done enough for the club to deserve some respect and not be made a scape goat late in his career. Agree he is probably not the right captain atm but that should not result in Kouta bashing.