Many Carlton people are spending time remembering the good old days when finals came around like Christmas cards and new flags fluttered like green leaves on spring trees. It’s been a hard time coping with the present these past few years; a hard grueling acceptance that that was then and this is now.

So hard that some have succumbed to that wistful gum smacking shown in many ‘Deep South’ movies. You know where the old timers stare at the youngsters getting out of their fast cars before shaking their heads and leaning down to spit out their tobaccy beside the old dog’s whining dreams.

Well this old Ghost says forget the looking back at what has been, just for the moment, or my next article. Forget it for the time being and look at what may be. Look at the future that shimmers gently like a mirage on a hot tar road, all silvery and filled with longing for those faraway days. Now the best place to look is at the kids we’ve got coming through the ranks: Kids who one day may stand as tall as any of our greats.

Kids whose names may rank with the Jezza’s or Stick’s or Silvagni’s or Swan’s. With this in mind, here are my ten young footballers embarking on their bluebaggers careers. A top ten based on things seen and things only glimpsed, almost half-remembered things, like the faint scents of past players and its about hope, oh yes, that most precious of all Bluebagger commodities nowadays, hope. You know I never understood hope in football, not as a Carlton supporter. Hope was a discarded nicety, like covering your mouth and stuff. A thing for other clubs and other kids and other times.

Now, now I live in hope.

So here they are; my top ten hopefuls!

1: Fisheeerrrrrr!!!!! I like the boy! Great hands, fearless, runs hard, does what Denis asks. If players have difficulty with DP this lad is not one of them.

2: AB - AB reminds me of me - 'cept of course far, far better - or the me I would like to be if i could be bothered (:oops: ). He works hard, at everything but especially he works hard at his deficiencies. He's at the bottom, he's tackling, he's chasing, he's feeding it out. Class comes in all shapes and sizes. AB's heart is all class.

3: Tex - oh that first game, that first game is like a subtle and brilliant incense. It lingers in the mind and sort of relaxes me from time to time. Having done it once, I know he can do it again and again. Patience is the word for Tex. He is a Picasso in the making.

4: Setanta - he's Irish so almost went number 1. But hey, I love fairytales and legends and I adore old Celtic myths. He’s making a new myth. I can't wait to have a distant grandson on my knee telling his bright-eyed glory about the Irish lads who sailed the sea to a distant land and donned the navy blue!

5: Aisake - see above. 'Cept he is taller and skinnier and, and hell I just want a great ruckmen to be Irish and play for Carlton. is that too much to ask?

6: Marc Murphy - Number 1's are all about hope aren't they. All about redemption and Calvary and we will rises again! He shines in my dreams.

7: Kennedy - I miss Earl. I miss his lack of elegance, his erstwhile doggedness, his all arms and leggedness! Perhaps this lad can bring a bit of that old Earl Trickster magic back to the club.

8: Simmo - Simmo runs, Simmo stands in front of bigger blokes and takes a grab, Simmo kicks on that left and our hearts stop while we watch the glorious spinning of skill over and over and over 'til he hits a target flush on the chest. I worried about Simmo, worried this skinny young 'un would never make it. He will; he's a 'cert I reckon.

9: Blackers - like the lad's hands: Can't teach hands. Can’t teach that first clasp in close where fumbles are death knolls. The lad has the hands. Every time I see him at training it’s like these two shining lights at the end of his boyish arms. O' I cannot wait for his debut!

10: Livo - has anyone been more maligned for no other reason than being cursed with poor timing. I want Livo to stick it so far up the doubters they'll have to purchase standing room tickets for the rest of the barracking lives!

So that's my ten. there are others of course. Russell and T-Bird and Butch's son and Bower-bird amongst them. But these are my top ten. What's yours?

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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!

Nice post danny. Our lists won't be too far apart, but here goes.

1. Fisher. Because he came to us in our darkest days, and shone. He should have been a failure, being drafted in the 70's by a team excluded from the quality-end of the draft. But to me he personifies the sheer pleasure you get when you beat the odds.

2. Jarrad Waite. Son of Vin... that Melbourne game. He's got courage and skill, and Carlton blood going through him. Like the Fish, he came to us when we were given nothing.

3. Marc Murphy. Because he just looks so damn sure of himself. All the greats have this. Lesser people mistake it for arrogance, but at heart it's the self-assurance borne of a deepseated belief in yourself.

4. Bower. Something about him just says 'I'm gonna go about the business of playing 150+ solid games for this club. And you may not notice me a hell of a lot, but I'll do my job. We need this.

5. Kennedy. Another Earl would do me nicely. There's plenty of hard work ahead, and by all accounts Josh is a hard worker.

6. Lil' Blackers. Because of Wayne, because he's a footballer not an athlete. Because he can be part of this cool 21st Century Mosquito fleet we're building.

7. The Irish Boys. Like you danny, I love a great story. And these guys are that, and more. You just want them to succeed, and the day either one of them wins a game for us, I'll cry. I really will.

8. Walker. I was there for his first game, and that was worth the year's membership alone. He's got plenty, Tex. And he's wearing the No.1. And by the time he's 22, he'll be ripping the competition a new arsehole.

9. Simmo. Goodbye campo. Hello New Campo, except without the attitude.

10. Terry Daniher. I reckon this bloke is exactly what all these young guys need: a nice contrast to Denis, and a real teacher. Because it's one thing to draft talent, it's another to nuture it. The appointment of TD is a step in the right direction.

How's Batson developing :?:

1. Walker - if one more moron bags this guy I'll explode.

2. Bentick - just a terrific footballer, leader and I'm more confident he'll make it than Simpson.

3. Fisher - Needs to add more bulk and improve his kicking to take it to another level

4. Simpson - needs to add more muscle mass so he can compete with the best but without losing pace.Still needs to improve his awareness and second efforts such as when Lovett ran down Walker because he didn't shepherd.A terrific kick.

5. Jordan Russell - has had added muscle which is good to see, but I wouldn't have him this high if we had had another couple of early picks.Needs to back himself with his pace but will adjust to senior footy with more gametime.Good kick despite some criticisms of this part of his game.

6. Luke Blackwell - another terrific footballer who really came on last year and was desperately unlucky to be injured when he was about to debut.Football smart and makes up for his lack of footspeed through smarts, apparently just like Marc Murphy.

7. Eddie Betts - great get for a PSD pick and I think he'll go on with it unlike Leon Davis.

8. Setanta - love his work ethic and what he could bring to Carlton as an allround package who wants to play rather than piss away his ability.

9. Adam Hartlett - just because he's this big http://www.talkingcarlton.com/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=224 and can kick the skin of the football.Would really add something with his size and kicking if he can get his body and attitude right.

10. Marc Murphy - just had to have him in the top ten, though I think Bower will play more games next year.

All of 'em

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Love Cricket? Love me

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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!

I'd probably say Hartlett or Bower are my main 2, because they're the "less certain" ones, and the ones that could hold down fullback.

With Murphy I just feel blessed to know he plays in Navy Blue

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Love Cricket? Love me

Great work Dan. Like Tyrant I believe Hartlett is still an unkown and it would be gteat to see him take the next step up as a KPP.
Go Blues!

While I agree with Tyrant's sentiments about all of them, for the purpose of the exercise, here are my top 10:

1. Walker: has all the right attributes, I believe it will all fall into place for him very soon.

2. Bentick: everyone loves a hard worker. What he lacks in natural talent he makes up for with hard work.

3. Simpson: needs to step up and become an important part of our running brigade.

4. Murphy: I have no doubt this kid will make it. I just hope we don't expect instant results from him.

5. Fisher: love the way he can take a contested one grab mark. Made a sensational comeback from a very serious injury. Watch out for him this year!

6. S. O'hAilpin: really hope the experiment works. Again, admire his work ethic and his desire to make it.

7. Russell: similar to Simmo. He will need to become one of our runners (not the fluro green kind).

8. Blackwell: we need in and under types. Blackers and AB are the most likely at this stage.

9. Hartlett/Kennedy/Bower/Edwards: this is kind of cheating but I felt that these 4 fell into a similar category. I hope they are all given the time they need to develop and find their spot.

10. Sporn: I don't know why but I really like Sporn. I'm hoping like hell that he can avoid injuries this year and cement a spot in the seniors. It's been a long time coming.

1. AB- the epitome of what carlton should be aiming for. works his butt off no matter what the scoreboard reads, never gives up, gets in an under....hey, is that brett ratten, oh, it's AB, give him the 7 he deserves.

2. Setanta- Put him at center half back and let him run guys like riewoldt and tredrea ragged. great endurance, looking forward to seeing him take the next step.

3. Carrazzo- Took a MASSIVE step this year. I saw him play in the TAC cup and was disappointed when geelong took him as a rookie and not us. Just needs to work on that disposal a little and then we have a longer serving tagger than anthony franchina on our hands.

4. Hartlett- What i've seen of him has impressed, although i haven't seen much. Big bodied, seems like this is where we are heading now. finally.

5. Murphy- Hell, he's the number one pick. but realistically i wont be disappointed if he only plays 5 games this year. give him time to develop.

6. Raso- basically for the unknown. Was touted as a top twenty pick for THIS years draft so the kid must be able to play. Will he be a bargain? i certainly hope so.

7. Edwards- The kid is 17 and look at his freakin arms on his profile on the official site. jeezuz.

8. Kennedy- I'm really hoping he takes a massive step on return from his shoulder reco...again, another big body, hopefully holding down CHF for many years to come.

9. Blackwell- Silky, class, just too skinny at the moment.

10. Saddington- an older guy but, hopefully just as good as getting a youngster. still only 26? and has had a reco but should now be back to full strength and provide some much needed experience and skill to a struggling backline.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

I'm on the Raso bandwagon......I was on the Merrington and Bannister bandwagon so the kid is probably going to hate me pushing up for him but I want to see him do well and Wayne Hughes get some credit for some creative recruiting....another is Jordan Russell...when he spoke about helping the newbies settle in he won me over...as much as talent I want to see some decent young blokes representing my club and JR seems that type of young bloke...ditto for Marc Murphy.
Prediction that Marc Murphy will lead the club one day and his offsider will be Josh Kennedy.....Marc no doubt will be in the Voss category of players but I reckon Josh Kennedy will be our J Brown and every bit as important if not more so to the success of the club....
Andrew Walker will plod along get bagged for not being as good as Cooney and the rest and then explode on the game a bit similar to Kouta.
Luke Blackwell will be like his father ...a reliable hard working player respected by his teammates and foes but probably undervalued by the rest of the football world....
Brendon Fevola...will have the last laugh on his detractors and kick a bag of goals in our first GF win since 95...his career will be up and down but Fev is a gun on his day and is a matchwinner.
Kade Simpson....will be a reliable player in the David Glascott mould who wont play many bad ones...
Setanta....will be the next successful Irish expat to win a GF and then will return home...
Jarrod Waite....probably will continue to be injury plagued but will get great satisfaction out of playing 200 games+ and winning a couple of GF's and dedicating them to Vin...

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

Nice post DB.

For what it's worth here are my thoughts:

1. Blackwell. Purely for sentimental reasons. His father was a favourite of my best friend. Sadly, he is no longer with us to watch young Blackwell play but I always watched “Young Blackersâ€

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In Bolts we trust.......Until we don't anymore

Fantastic post db.

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There's so much I could say...

1. Jarrad Waite- Huge talent. If he can improve his kicking for goal and play a bit more consistently he'd be a star.
2. Bret Thornton- Despite last years injury riddled season he's one of our most important players at 21 years of age and has been for years.
3. Kade Simpson- He's quick. He chases and tackles hard. He has excellent disposal and he's willing to put his body on the line when necessary. I just wish he could get more of the ball.
4. Brad Fisher- Very exciting. He'll have a big future if his games late last season are any indication.
5. Andrew Carrazzo- Super quick ball winner who can shut down a small forward or jump into the midfield and do some damage. I'm looking forward to watching him improve
6. Andrew Walker- Quick and has heaps of talent but he needs to work on his disposal. Can't wait till he puts it all together.
7. Setanta O'hAilpin- Quick, mobile key position player... if a little soft at times. He'll have an extended run next season so I hope he does well.
8. Adam Bentick- Good young inside midfielder. Not quick and lacks penetrating disposal but he gets the ball and plenty of it.
9. Eddie Betts- Super talented. A bit small but if he improves his tank and put some muscle on he could be anything.
10. Luke Blackwell- Very very clever young kid and I honestly believe that the sole reason the Bullants trailed off towards the end of the season and during the finals was because Blackwell got injured. Once he built his body up I can't wait to see how he goes at the highest level.

In no order Fisher,Blackwell,Bentick,Simpson,Walker,Carrazzo,Setanta

I am going to include Davies and Deluca.Davies has heaps of skill and lost his way this year.Purely his own fault.His second efforts are shit as is his discipline,but l still rate him because of that skill level.Deluca has the potential to be a quality ruckman and the work Dempsey is doing with him at the moment is testimony to the faith the club has in this bloke.That said DP needs to invest in some anger pills .Deluca reminds me of Harry Madden and big guys take time to develop.

bloody good post DB and great contributions all round from posters. Up to and including Keogh's post collective perspective has 21 hopefuls 23 or under (not including references to Saddington and Fevola)

....now that is something to get excited about. Perspective is a great thing and so are the odds. Of those 23, surely, just surely we are due to pull 10 future club champions.

I'm still waiting for Merrington to show something....

How good is it that we have more than ten young hopefuls?

Carlton 2005 is much more palatable than Carlton 2002.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

precisely deano!

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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!

Ive always said the revival will come from the kids...
Was Betts overlooked?
And when we get another handfull (with one or two being absolute elite) were BACK!!!

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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.

Carlton's senior leaders -

Kouta - not a natural leader
Stevo - maybe in a better team
Big Red - he should be a leader
Fev - if natural skill could carry him through
Skinny - the nickname highlights his limitations
Barnarby - has the workrate but not the skill level
Corey - ditto

Until these blokes grow an extra leg or are usurped by a group of young leaders, sorry to say it, we aren't back.