could the reason for pagans nack of not playing kids for long enough be a tactic? could he be saving them for next season and we just come out with a boom...no one knows what we can do...we will be the unpridictable surprise packet...

this is the only logical explanation for his actions...if he is doing it for some other reason then he is simply a fool...

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R A D I C A L B R O T H E R S

Inspired by the One-Minute Sculptures of Erwin Wurm

"All in all is all we are..."

He obviously sees certain qualities in some of the young guys and different qualities with others.

Walker got a pretty full game for his debut, as did Fisher, and to an extent Bettsy.

Simpson, Russell and Setanta only got a few minutes and then dropped the following week.

It would be nice to have a coach who was a little more forthcoming with his philosophies.

I remember one of the things that was said about Pagan when he came to Carlton (it was implied by Teague I think at the time too) that Pagan's philosophy with the kids was to put them on the griound and if they didn't have an immediate impact bring them off again.

Some of the young guys like Blackwell would be battered if they played senior footy now. I like the idea of playing them in the Bullants. At least they're winning.

Makes you think though, that if Blackwell, Russell, Hartlett, Raso, Carlos and other acquisitions all have big summers and pre-seasons, it's going to be a very different Carlton team we see next year.

Funny thing is maybe it's worth our youngsters getting battered, it would mean they are going for the hard ball

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Why play youngsters in a team that is getting thumped?

Particualrly when the 'Ants are playing good winning football.

Give them a taste, and send them back to continue to play good footy, and pick it up a notch.

I maintain, DP is great with blooding young kids, and he's bringing a few through, whom we will see over next year or two.

No point in destroying the kids for a short term solution. Let's blood them slowly, and build for a dynasty.

Makes sense to me.

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"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

Lets not push too hard with too many youngens!

Let some of the smaller, younger players get use to winning. That way, the ones who do develop over the summer and get a run in the firsts next year will be far less tolerant of getting the crap kicked out of them week after week as most of our current senior lineup seem happy to accept!

And I totally agree with the idea of not risking them in the firsts where there smaller bodies won't cope with the impact of oppositions who have little regard for life and limb, their own or opposition players, however young and inexperienced they may be!

Rich

On the one hand people are pissed that yougsters like Livingston & Sporn were thrown to the wolves so early in their careers and on the other hand people are pissed that the youngsters aren't being thrown to the wolves.

Go figure

So true.
I think Pagan and the match committee are much more knowledgeable than I about where our young players are situated so I try not to analyse their selections too deeply. I agree that if the players can develop the winning culture playing for the 'Ants that when they finally get their chance at AFL level they'll have an expectation to win. Playing in a side getting thumped by 10 goals every week would surely dampen the enthusiasm of even the hungriest draftee.

[quote="BlueBern"]Some of the young guys like Blackwell would be battered if they played senior footy now.

After his performance for the Bullants yesterday, I'm of the mind Blackwell could handle AFL level by season's end, on the proviso he was offered some protection/assistance from senior players.

Now I am being naive.

Yep i think Blackers will be good for us and as most people have observed will build up a bit over next pre Season... But a skillfull In and under midfielder is desperately needed in the side ..and yes i agree hopefully by 2006 our side will also start to protect each other a bit more like some other sides do

Yep, there is certainly no Big Nick, Fitzy, Dean or Earl Spalding out there to protect the younger players.

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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

This is why our captain needs to lead from the front. Voss kicked a goal on Saturday night, then smashed into a bloke for absolutely no reason. All with-in the rules - no free kick just a hard nut letting the others know he won't take their shit.

Our captain who's 6'3" and 100k has been out bodied by Kerr and flattened by Cook - not good enough for me.

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