can people get it through their heads its not Ackland people have trouble with its the club for going after him

I hope Tyrant is right and he does suprise a few - will he be an eilte ruckman? No at 196 he is too short.

Will he move us forward towards being a top side? No. Even St Kilda recognised he was not the answer (or why draft Gardiner)

so what is he? Maybe a better version of Prenda? Great, just what we needed

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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!

Ackland is a durable ruckman of average ability, who can stand up to the physical demands of playing against the #1 ruckmen in the competition. He will play 22 matches next year.

That is more than Carlton would have had for the next 3 years.


You were kidding yourselves if you thought Leuenberger would make a difference in his first 2 years at the club - Ackland will be a better footballer than Leuenberger in 2007 and 2008.

Who was going to ruck for the Blues next year? McLaren and Bryan?


If Ackland is a dud, then what have you lost? The chance to take Jason Cloke or Ty Zantuck in the Pre-Season draft?

Sugar will surprise many of you ... have a look at his stats I posted on another thread ...

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Go Saints

If Ackland was 4cms taller but had exactly the same or even less ability, the sheep would be bleating away what a great pick up he was.

It must be like a ray of sunshine for you people when you read my posts.

Always on the money
Loved and adored by millions
Carlton God

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"Davies could eventually become a player of Judd's ability" - Paganite03 Click here to see for yourself!

I keep reading how Aisake is our "white night in shining armour".

If we are all "hanging our hats" on his making it at the highest level, we have all got rocks in our heads.

Aisake in my book must still be rated a 50/50 chance at best.

Don't rip me apart for this but: when asked about Aisake a few weeks ago on SEN, Daniel Harford said that Aisake isn't as talented as Setanta... and I reckon that he'd have at least half a clue.

Can't recall exactly what else he said but I remember thinking that I'd better not expect too much from the big fella cos he's probably not going to deliver.

Lets face it, ruckmen that have been bought up on a diet of AFL are a bit hit and miss, and the ones that do make it more often than not develop quite late...we are asking a lot from someone like Aisake.

But then again though I admire Setanta for what he has achieved, I'm not totally convinced that he will cut it either...athletic ability is one thing, skills can be developed, but decision making is something you get from playing years of football starting from juniors...I'm hoping like hell that I'm mistaken!

It's just such a big ask!

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"The Ox is Slow but the Earth is Patient" and don't forget it!

He'll compete, which is more than Deluca can do.
He may be a stop gap measure but carlton is not in a position that we can accept many more 70+ point beatings. Rucking deluca and Bryan will make that happen.

I am OK with the signing and I think the club had little other option.
We can at least give the guy 11 rounds of footy to decide , French was no good till halfway through his second year at carlton

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T E A M

Welcome aboard Cain.

If you're still reading after this, you've got heart.

I'd be interested to see DP's plan for rucking next year though, will there be a heavy emphasis on rotating ruckmen or will he try and develop the Ackland/McLaren combo?

You'd have to say Gibbs is a dead cert now wouldn't you?

From another saint, and one more switched on to reality.

(Post copied from the saintysational board. it is not my work.)


"Personally I think Ackland going to the Blues is full of irony.

The Saints used to a be retirement home for Blues players that could no longer make the grade at a successful club.

Make no mistake...Sugar would have seen very little action in the Saints seniors in 2007. A back up in case of injury...and he knew it.


So it is off to the Blues (and good luck to him) where he will get a regular gig....they are short of talent..and Sugar will fill their holes in the ruck and up forward...at a GOP level.

The Blues are a rabble now....content to be a mediocre club...and are kidding themselves like we used to at the Saints.

They think grabbing Sugar is a huge coup.. LMAO

They also think that re-signing an ordinary full back for way above what he is worth is good for them..

They are stockpiling poor players...and will continue to be a poor club.....and how I love it. Smile"
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We have now adopted the modern game and the Saints will now maximise their chance of success.

Last edited by saintsRrising on Fri 27 Oct 12:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
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saintsRrising
Saintsational Legend


Joined: 15 Mar 2004
Posts: 6411
Location: Heaven

PostPosted: Fri 27 Oct 12:38 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
Oh...and on the retirement theme.

Sugar gets the sugar with a 3 year deal worth $250,000 per year.

So with $750,000 of sugar earned with some prudent investing he can put himself ina very handy "retirement" position.




Blues...the super for the future Wink

Sure beats the 9% he would have received at the Saints for only 1 more year.

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dane's trolling again

i'm going to laugh my arse off when gardiner plays 3 mediocre games for st kilda then his knees go.

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dane's trolling again

Me too. I am still pissed with the Board sacking Thomas, who would never have allowed thart piece of garbage to land at Moorabbin.

you better hope rix can ruck.

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dane's trolling again

Anyone who leaves StKilda to come to Carlton for whatever the reason, gets my vote.

He does also bring abit of agression with him. Good luck next season Sugar and welcome aboard to the mighty blues.

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Ich bein ein Carltonian

Ackland is not agressive ... he is a fairly soft player, but willing to crash and bash in the ruck.
He has other strengths that make up for his lack of agression, but I can reliably inform you that he is pretty laid back on the field ...

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Go Saints

Great, we'll get Lawrie and Karl back and they can smoke doobs together across the half back line

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

I went to a few Saints games this year and he is pretty soft. If you're expecting him to be a crash and bash style player you're going to be disappointed.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

dammit i want aggression!

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dane's trolling again

It's alright ... when he plays against Jason Blake he will go ballistic with agression and rage and try to deck Blake every time he can ...

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Go Saints

not to mention that little prick Milne

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Ich bein ein Carltonian

Aisake was listed at various times at 201 cm and 202 cm, but could be larger now. I will be interested to see how the numbers come at the start of next season. Especially if he can stack on the muscle like his brother has.

In some ways I can understand the thinking behind picking up Ackland. He is a part of a ruck division that consistently pounds us into the ground. I have never understood why our rucks have performed so badly against the Saints, but they have. Even in French's best years (2004 - 2005), we were flogged in the ruck by the Saints. Considering their ruck options and how they were generally (mis)used, I aways found that nothing short of mysterious. It is the plot that Agatha Christie would have loved to play with.