Carlton Supporters Club

back to earth, Excrement still taste bad when the sugar coating wears off. Its amazing these people actually get paid

We play on so slowly, it may as well be measured in geological time.

Thank Christ that's over.

We play on so slowly, it may as well be measured in geological time.

Thank Christ that's over.

Don't get too excited. We play them again in 6 weeks.
(http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/yes_napoleon_dynamite.gif)

Holman something to work with, Boeky should have kicked 4.

Forwards excremental...

I was at princess Park when we kicked 30 30 210 against hawthorn and Ian Robertson kicked a drop kick goal from the centre of the ground, and now this.

What now, Lagudice?????

I was at princess Park when we kicked 30 30 210 against hawthorn and Ian Robertson kicked a drop kick goal from the centre of the ground, and now this.

Look on the bright side, if we hadn't sacked Malthouse it would have been 200 points.

Don't get too excited. We play them again in 6 weeks.
(http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/yes_napoleon_dynamite.gif)

That gives me a month and a half to get as far away as I possibly can.

A little bit of Blue left my heart tonight. :(

A new low ... FROM THE UMPIRES.

back to earth, Excrement still taste bad when the sugar coating wears off. Its amazing these people actually get paid

You have such a way with words. ;D

Totally overwhelmed ... BY THE POOR STANDARD OF UMPIRING.

If it wasn't for those mongrels we could have kept it to less than 100 points.

 :'(

Totally overwhelmed ... BY THE POOR STANDARD OF UMPIRING.

If it wasn't for those mongrels we could have kept it to less than 100 points.

Fair call - the worst collection of decisions I've seen in the one game in my lifetime......without a doubt.

According to Lods' earlier post, this is a new record losing margin for us, beating 124 points against North.

Great way to salute Murph.

Totally overwhelmed ... BY THE POOR STANDARD OF UMPIRING.

If it wasn't for those mongrels we could have kept it to less than 100 points.

regardless of the result umps were very ordinary as they are EVERY Friday night, really don't know where to go from here but guys like Jones, Tutt and Boek are our solution

regardless of the result umps were very ordinary as they are EVERY Friday night, really don't know where to go from here but guys like Jones, Tutt and Boek are NOT!!! our solution

What now, Lagudice?????

LoGiudicide
noun, /ˈlo'goo'duh'saɪd/
Collective death of a football club.

Reckon SOS might have pulled Barks aside for a quiet chat in the last couple of weeks, regarding winning and its corrosive effect on high draft selections.

regardless of the result umps were very ordinary as they are EVERY Friday night, really don't know where to go from here but guys like Jones, Tutt and Boek are our solution

The Hawks were pretty much asking for free kicks in the first half and pretty much got them all the time.

Reckon SOS might have pulled Barks aside for a quiet chat in the last couple of weeks, regarding winning and its corrosive effect on high draft selections.

I doubt it, we are not THAT good at anything....even tanking!

Reckon SOS might have pulled Barks aside for a quiet chat in the last couple of weeks, regarding winning and its corrosive effect on high draft selections.

thats bullsyite
you dont loose by a record margin in the history of your club by design

I doubt it, we are not THAT good at anything....even tanking!

It's a shame flags aren't awarded for coach killing.

thats bullsyite
you dont loose by a record margin in the history of your club by design

I might have to start using emoticons. Take it easy ttb. I'm kidding.

So much for Hawthorn being the family club.

Poor kids...
(http://c1.thejournal.ie/media/2014/07/stop-7-390x285.jpg)

Remember the days when we'd lose by 60 or 70 points....*sigh*......I miss those days......

Good god what a wipe out.

Hope the players and the club can forget that one fast.

Better players were Kruezer, murphy. Bell and cripps did ok. Curnow kept putting in despite his glaring inadequacies.

But 15 years of incompetence was laid bare tonight. What a difference 20 years makes.

We have so many poor players that should be delisted as soon as possible. The club must have a list by now deciding who to delist first as a matter of priority as well as what we need to bring in. I dislike criticising players as they are human and trying hard, but this is the big league and if your best is not good enough then it is time to go.

We have several players that have been making the same mistakes year after year.  If buckly's father was not such a star for us then he would have been delisted. His decision making is not good enough and he has spent 4 years on the list showing little improvement. Jamison was unsighted and may as well retire as he is finished. Rowe is just too slow and his disposal not up to scratch.

Yarran is a mess, so why is he playing?  Tutt is like ellard mach 2, just looks even smaller. And henderson is a wasted talent. Jones cant seem to hold on to the football and, and, and...why bother, it has all been said before.

This is a team that has been poorly coached for many years. The rot started during Pagan and continued with underinvestment in coaching and development. I am struggling to think of players that have genuinely improved and progressed over the course of several years. The likes of Murphy are talented but are playing little better now than they were in their first 2 or 3 years. The skill level shown tonight highlighted how we have neglected the skills and development part of the game in an era where it has been the most important factor in determining success in the league.

We all like to see endeavour and players running hard which is why a player such as Simpson is appreciated. But his staggering inability to kick off both feet which therefore has compromised his decision making epitomises the underinvestment by the club. This is not picking on Simpson as such, but too much of this has been accepted. With the poorer player the deficiencies are even more glaring.

Like it or not, the game is becoming like soccer, and hawthorn do it better than anyone. They dont run harder nor are they stronger than anyone else. But they have skills that are better than anyone else and they have built a winning style around it.

And we play them again.

x2

On a positive note, AFL license renewal took a 50mil hit tonight

Cam Mooney just said on SEN (regarding Liam Jones and Jason Tutt) something along the lines of "I worked with them a bit [at the Dogs] and I was surprised Carlton went after them"... and on Jones "he used to frustrate me so much. He doesn't have the work rate for AFL football"

Cam Mooney just said on SEN (regarding Liam Jones and Jason Tutt) something along the lines of "I worked with them a bit [at the Dogs] and I was surprised Carlton went after them"... and on Jones "he used to frustrate me so much. He doesn't have the work rate for AFL football"

cam mooney wasnt exactly a poster boy for hard work early on

cam mooney wasnt exactly a poster boy for hard work early on

That makes his comments even more damning.

That Blaine Johnson goes alright doesn't he? ::)

Did anyone hear that huge "THUD" tonight ? I did. It echoes for absolutely miles. We have hit rock bottom. Might not be on the bottom of the ladder, but this club has hit a low it has never seen before. Losing by 23 goals ?? Seriously, losing by how much ? It couldn't get any worse. We lost one of the best players we ever had this season to a career ending injury. We lost a coach who has coached more AFL games than any other ever in history. We lost by the largest margin we ever have in our history. We can't get any worse than where we are as a club at the moment.

Call the fire brigade to put out the fire after that crash to earth. That was a crash like we might never, ever see again. So hard to watch that game tonight. It hurt way to much to ever see another game like this ever again. I almost want to be a Brisbane supporter. Hang on we play them soon. It could be another loss we hope we don't see too soon. Back to the grog and smokes for me. I should have chosen a better season to look after my health. :-\

Mark Thompson sent Mooney  to anger management  counselling to change his ways...some of our blokes need to go to passive counselling, apart from the inept skills we looked like a bunch of little kids from some surburban comp who were too scared to make a statement....took a novice in Holman to strike a blow in anger and that was about it for the night....although Murphy to his credit tried to impose himself but when you are such a little bloke you get trampled underfoot.

That Blaine Johnson goes alright doesn't he? ::)

As long as he keeps going ...back to WA...

Just think people - this Club has been in existence for over 150 years & we've just witnessed the biggest ever loss in that period......that's a humiliation beyond words. That magnificent win against Port just a few weeks back now a distance memory.......maybe even an aberration.

I've never seen a display so inept in all my Carlton supporting years.....it spread like wildfire throughout all but a couple of the playing group tonight & it affected every facet of their footballing 'skill' set.......it was friggin' laughable.

I never wanna see Chris Yarran take to the field in a Carlton guernsey ever again.....his head clearly isn't right & he is nothing short of being a liability out there. Why Barker persisted with him in defense is truly mind blowing.

Congratulations to Murph for never throwing in the towel & for very clearly leaving nothing out there tonight. I felt sorry for the guy being surrounded by such spuds - his personal performance was memorable for his 200th, pity about the rest of them.

We needed a hell of a lot to go right tonight to get within 6 goals and very little of it did.

Murphy lots of it but not much impact.
Cripps okay.
Bell not bad towards the end.
Some brave moments from Doc
Kruezer lots of tapsstraight down Lewis's throat.

It was chaos in the backline and a barren wasteland in the F50. Which was probably our best chance given the delivery from our mids.

Just think people - this Club has been in existence for over 150 years & we've just witnessed the biggest ever loss in that period......that's a humiliation beyond words. That magnificent win against Port just a few weeks back now a distance memory.......maybe even an aberration.

I've never seen a display so inept in all my Carlton supporting years.....it spread like wildfire throughout all but a couple of the playing group tonight & it affected every facet of their footballing 'skill' set.......it was friggin' laughable.

I never wanna see Chris Yarran take to the field in a Carlton guernsey ever again.....his head clearly isn't right & he is nothing short of being a liability out there. Why Barker persisted with him in defense is truly mind blowing.

Congratulations to Murph for never throwing in the towel & for very clearly leaving nothing out there tonight. I felt sorry for the guy being surrounded by such spuds - his personal performance was memorable for his 200th, pity about the rest of them.

I know we had our worst ever loss but the loss to the Kangaroos was actually worse, just not by as much. I was at that game and the disunity and lack of cohesion in that group was palpable. That Kangaroos side was okay but not great whereas this Hawthorn side will have to play poorly for them to lose another game this year.

  Bang there goes barkers coaching aspirations another one bites the dust

It was chaos in the backline and a barren wasteland in the F50. Which was probably our best chance given the delivery from our mids.

There were numerous times we had our entire team well inside their half of the ground, yet they still had free blokes everywhere and well within scoring range......wtf was going on with this headless group??? What a mess.....

Reckon some people are getting a touch overemotional and melodramatic.
The Saints were copping floggings every week last year, and people predicted they wouldn't win a game this year.
Now suddenly they re the new black.
A few weeks ago, we were winning a few games, the kids were playing well, and there was a great vibe around the Club and amongst our supporters.
Then we run into a red hot Hawks side at the peak of their powers (probably the best side since the Lions 'threepeat' side) with over 1000 games more experience then us, and then lose Menz before the game even starts to make things worse, and get predicably flogged, and people lose the plot and start saying we have to tear the place down and start again.

the saints list is much better than ours

There were numerous times we had our entire team well inside their half of the ground, yet they still had free blokes everywhere and well within scoring range......wtf was going on with this headless group??? What a mess.....

No leadership from players like Jamison, Rowe, Henderson etc down back...Touhy just wants to kick the running glory goal and Yarran couldnt be bothered especially when the ball is in the air and he
has to lay some body on opposing players....half of Hawthorns contested marks were stat sheet lies..there was no contest..
As you said we flooded down back yet there were giant gaps to run into for Hawthorn players....we helped by kicking it backwards, then to the side then backwards again...after about 3 kicks we usually turn it over and gift a goal...

this crap will continue whilst we have this board......

Reckon some people are getting a touch overemotional and melodramatic.
The Saints were copping floggings every week last year, and people predicted they wouldn't win a game this year.
Now suddenly they re the new black.
A few weeks ago, we were winning a few games, the kids were playing well, and there was a great vibe around the Club and amongst our supporters.
Then we run into a red hot Hawks side at the peak of their powers (probably the best side since the Lions 'threepeat' side) with over 1000 games more experience then us, and then lose Menz before the game even starts to make things worse, and get predicably flogged, and people lose the plot and start saying we have to tear the place down and start again.

Probably the level of flogging is the problem this time...Hawks are good but no team should get beat by 20 -plus goals IMO...

True, but we re not that bad, just like as you said. Hawks aren't that good.
What's clear to me though, is that its obvious that Jones and Tutt were both MM inspired mistakes, and BB is looking like another Lucas/Watson/Bootsma howler type pick at this stage

Roughead 5 tackles, Rioli 6 tackles, Sconemaker 3 tackles....Gunston 4 tackles

Henderson donuts, Casboult donuts, Jones donuts, Everitt was the hardest working forward with one tackle....

Kruezer with 4 tackles was our best on the night...newbie Brad Walsh had 3 tackles along with a couple of other players....

We dont work hard enough and dont have the appetite for the modern game plan that includes having forward pressure to create turnovers and opportunities...

That has to be the worst flogging of the CFC that I have ever witnessed in 35 plus years of supporting them. I will just settle back now with a very large scotch and read the rest of this thread.  :(

That has to be the worst flogging of the CFC that I have ever witnessed in 35 plus years of supporting them. I will just settle back now with a very large scotch and read the rest of this thread.  :(

Im having a scotch right now buddy...

How to remember your 200th game Marc Murphy with a massive game with stats. Trade yourself to a club where you will see some return. You won't ever see anything in the Navy Blue and you have seen so little but pain so far. Brave heart is all I can say for you. You will have battle scars that run so deep for little to no rewards for many years. You were drafted by the wrong club at the wrong time.  Sorry captain.

How to remember your 200th game Marc Murphy with a massive game with stats. Trade yourself to a club where you will see some return. You won't ever see anything in the Navy Blue and you have seen so little but pain so far. Brave heart is all I can say for you. You will have battle scars that run so deep for little to no rewards for many years. You were drafted by the wrong club at the wrong time.  Sorry captain.

That's a ridiculous statement on so many levels (in bold). He was drafted at exactly the right time, by a club he chose above Brisbane, knowing full well we were rebuilding. The blame falls squarely on our recruiting department and the board who signed off on the spuds we've gifted AFL games to. They're just not good enough. Russell, Watson, Hampson, Bootsma, Lucas, McCarthy, Mitchell, Bower, Armfield, Joseph, Davies, the list goes on... and the players we have drafted that were any good are gone... Jacobs, Kennedy, Betts, Garlett, Grigg, and let's not forget Fev.

If buckly's father was not such a star for us then he would have been delisted. His decision making is not good enough and he has spent 4 years on the list showing little improvement.

Rubbish. Has improved dramatically this year, was BOG last week. Yes he kicked poorly inside 50m last night but who did he have to kick to? He certainly wasn't on his own, except for being prepared to take the game on. Even wanks like Lingy and co can see through their anti-Carlton agenda to say he is one of our shining lights yet you want him delisted. Seriously Viv, with some of the calls you've made thank God you're not in charge. Mick would be still be coach and blokes like Graham and Buckley would be in the twos.

One of the only good stories for the year.

That's a ridiculous statement on so many levels (in bold). He was drafted at exactly the right time, by a club he chose above Brisbane, knowing full well we were rebuilding. The blame falls squarely on our recruiting department and the board who signed off on the spuds we've gifted AFL games to. They're just not good enough. Russell, Watson, Hampson, Bootsma, Lucas, McCarthy, Mitchell, Bower, Armfield, Joseph, Davies, the list goes on... and the players we have drafted that were any good are gone... Jacobs, Kennedy, Betts, Garlett, Grigg, and let's not forget Fev.

Watch a replay of the 2013 Elim final, take note of who our better players were that day, and see how many are still at the club. Here is a hint....Waite, Betts, Garlett, Robinson and of course Judd. The list had the heart ripped out of it by a delusional overpaid coach that everyone wanted to support, and now we are left with Tutt, Jones, Johnson, White, Rowe, Ellard, Everitt......all Mick's plodders.

Just on Walsh, a little harsh to have a crack but fork me, he got the ball across half back, turned and passed nicely to the wing. I then watched him, he had all this space to sprint into to provide another option, get another kick, he was after all very fresh. He just slowly started to jog up the field at a snail's pace. Compare the to Puopulo who worked his ass off when he came on for 10 touches and 3 goals. Surely if you are a rookie playing sub for the second week in a row you are sprinting up the field trying to provide an option and get that next kick? I mean how bad does he want the thing?

Henderson is just a disgrace, so overrated, has never won us a game in his life. If this guy even hints at holding us to ransom we should show him the door Yarran if the rumours are right we need to support him but if not, another that can fork right off.

Marc Murphy got half his touches behind the ball running loose across half back and chipping sideways. His game was overrated last night.

Really disappointed with Barker, after doing so well early he has tried to tinker with the gameplan to go after against the better sides but his backwards tripe looks stupid, and seems to get the side in trouble over and over again. I mean fancy deliberately conceding so much ground against the best sides in the comp.

In the end, the sky is not falling, Sydney lost to them by 90 points and Freo 60 points and they had a decent gameplan. We are not far off them on this performance! :))

Rubbish. Has improved dramatically this year, was BOG last week. Yes he kicked poorly inside 50m last night but who did he have to kick to? He certainly wasn't on his own, except for being prepared to take the game on. One of the only good stories for the year.

And the above shows why we overestimate our players. If buckly is a good news story of the year then we are setting the bar awfully low. Our skills development is so poor it is a major factor in explaining why we got our backsides handed to us. All the caveats in the world dont hide that we stink and most of the players have not been coached well and dismally low standards have prevailed for too long.

Buckly is by no means alone, and plenty had shockers. But the lack of development and progress with many players is deeply worrying, with major flaws simply not being addressed. As i mentioned in the post, we applaud effort and endeavour, and the likes of buckly and simpson have plenty. But their skills are not good enough for league football as it is currently being played by the best and the club, if they were doing their job should have known this for years and either invested accordingly or moved them on, rather than hanging on in hope.

Perhaps its a good thing we play hawthorn again in 6 weeks. We will see how much changes.

No one is overestimating anyone. You said Buckley had not improved in 4 years. That is utter BS. Just another wrong call.

Trade Cripps
He won't be part of our next premiership.  :(

Sorry....lame
But that's about how long it's going to take.

The thing about rebuilds is that you usually have a base group to build on.
In our case we have a lot of players who are OK in some respects but fall short to the point that they're never quite going to make it.

For us, a rebuild will be an almost total turnover.
The three years SOS talked about is probably pretty conservative.
For a start we need quality in our key forward and back positions.
The players who are out injured at the moment would make a bit of difference but everyone of them has been criticised for some aspect of their game.

The concerning thing is that we had a few passengers last night but for the most part we still seemed to be trying. We were just totally out-positioned, out-played and just plain outclassed.

Off-field there must come a point where Carlton men of substance say enough is enough and demand review and change through-out all levels of the club.

We need to find 5-7 players, to replace the likes of Jones, Ellard, Tutt, Rowe, White, Johnson. We desperately need another Carrazzo type workhorse, we missed him big time last night. Yes he turns it over and is a lot slower but he is still our clearance king. Without him we are lost.

Our base Lods is Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps, Buckley, Menzel, Holman, Yarran (?), Hendo(?), Kreuzer, Graham, Sheehan, Bell, Boekhorst, Jaksch, Casboult, Docherty, Byrne.

That's a good start, 17 players, like I said, we need 5-7 more players. That could be done in 15 months, should we draft well and pick up a couple of good players via FA.

Yes we got pumped last night, but only by 6-7 more goals than Sydney did at home, and we have a lot more injuries, and a piss poor backwards gameplan.

Our skills stink, our decision making stinks, we don't work hard enough and we panic. Apart from that everything is fine!  ::)

Here's a ripper stat for you blokes to consider, and a great example of how forked up our gameplan has been for the last two weeks. In disposing of the ball 37 times, how many metres did Marc Murphy gain for his team?

-208.

Lots of robust discussion as you would expect after the worst loss in the history of the Club.  Here's some more.

Murphy is probably the worst kick of the football in the AFL at the moment.  Even when he's not under pressure he's absolutely atrocious.

Kreuzer took one mark.  So there's two number one picks - a small man who can't kick and a tall who can't mark.

Yarran is gutless.  Pure and simple.

We're not that bad?  Not that bad? I actually think we're done as a club.  Since the 1990's the AFL has been like a shark looking to devour the weaker clubs and reduce the number of teams in Melbourne down to a level more commensurate with the population.  I just can't believe we're now the team most likely.  We might survive if they implement a Division (UK) or Conference (US) system.  Even then we'd probably languish towards the bottom end of the second division.

I'm still feeling sick.
Woke up this morning hoping it was just a bad dream........but alas :'(

Whats happened to the aggressive approach to tackling we started with under JB ? There was just no fight. Thats what dissapointed me the most. NO FIGHT.   No mongrel.

The players have stated they want JB as there coach. They back him. Really?? By putting in a performance like that he'll be lucky to get an assistant coaching job next year. And if its JB's "game plan" to kick the ball sideways and backward and not use any ' run and carry' whatsoever.......then I hope he doesnt coach us next year.

Hawthorn are a great team....probably as good as there has ever been. But if you were to take their team and spread their list amongst the 17 other teams, I reckon they have 5 or 6 players who'd still be guns but the rest would be average. What I'm getting at here is that they have a system and every player on there list, not just the starting 22 understands it. They each know their role . they have a complete understanding of what is required, when its required. They know when to run off, when to flood back.
There workrate I50 is phenominal. They never stop working to find a teammate in a better position to make certain of the goal.

We take a mark I50 on the boundary and stop the play to pull our socks up and almost wait for the entire opp team to completely flood our fwd line and then think......hmmmm I cant get the distance so I might look for an option now!


We are too disjointed atm. Heaps of young kids, which isnt all bad, but "team football" is just not what we seem to be about.

Here's a ripper stat for you blokes to consider, and a great example of how forked up our gameplan has been for the last two weeks. In disposing of the ball 37 times, how many metres did Marc Murphy gain for his team?

-208.

would he be one of the Hawks' best for metres gained?  :-[

We even managed to turn it over regularly when kicking backwards!

would he be one of the Hawks' best for metres gained?  :-[

Well considering a good game of metres gained is around 300, he's not far off!

Our base Lods is Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps, Buckley, Menzel, Holman, Yarran (?), Hendo(?), Kreuzer, Graham, Sheehan, Bell, Boekhorst, Jaksch, Casboult, Docherty, Byrne.

That's a good start, 17 players, like I said, we need 5-7 more players. That could be done in 15 months, should we draft well and pick up a couple of good players via FA.

Yes we got pumped last night, but only by 6-7 more goals than Sydney did at home, and we have a lot more injuries, and a piss poor backwards gameplan.

MurphY and Gibbs are both ' good ' players at best. They are not 'A' graders.... and boy that hurts us.
Those in bold are the future for us I reckon. The rest are a waste of time. get rid of them!!

Probably a bit harsh on Jacsh.

Our base Lods is Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps, Buckley, Menzel, Holman, Yarran (?), Hendo(?), Kreuzer, Graham, Sheehan, Bell, Boekhorst, Jaksch, Casboult, Docherty, Byrne.

That's a good start, 17 players, like I said, we need 5-7 more players. That could be done in 15 months, should we draft well and pick up a couple of good players via FA.

Yes we got pumped last night, but only by 6-7 more goals than Sydney did at home, and we have a lot more injuries, and a piss poor backwards gameplan.

Carrots the players you mention as our base have so many question marks over them.
Some of them show potential but also limitations or faults with their games that needed to be eradicated.

You haven't got a base unless it's a proven one...and the only players that fit that would be Gibbs, Murphy (and even with those two there are doubters), Kreuzer (if he can stay fit), Cripps (has shown enough) and perhaps Docherty.

Folk look at a player and think he's going to be a gun...when what they should be thinking is he could be a gun... I hope he continues to develop.

The Irish guys showed glimpses in their games and they're suddenly the future. ???
We have to get them back on the park first.

Players will always have question marks over them Lods. The aforementioned players are definitely a base to build upon, some may not turn out, but others may take their place. For example, Yarran and Henderson may be traded and replaced by other players of the same age, or early draft picks. They still have value.

The sky is not falling.

Players will always have question marks over them Lods. The aforementioned players are definitely a base to build upon, some may not turn out, but others may take their place. For example, Yarran and Henderson may be traded and replaced by other players of the same age, or early draft picks. They still have value.

The sky is not falling.

Their value is diminishing by each game !

We forked up when we ditched the heart and souls of the team in Betts, Robbo and Waite. These guys bled blue and loved the club. Garlett wasn't too bad either. We've replaced them with Jones, Tutt, Everitt and Johnson. No wonder we are struggling to some extent. White, Curnow (who admittedly has not been bad) and Rowe who were peripheral are now major cogs in the side. Instead of looking to replace these guys we amazingly made them regulars.

Here's a ripper stat for you blokes to consider, and a great example of how forked up our gameplan has been for the last two weeks. In disposing of the ball 37 times, how many metres did Marc Murphy gain for his team?

-208.

I'm glad you found that stat, I was arguing all last night with my mate that his disposals were cheap and ineffective.

I'm glad you found that stat, I was arguing all last night with my mate that his disposals were cheap and ineffective.

And he receives the ball as well, not like he's winning it himself.

The sky is not falling.

We've had our biggest ever loss....in our 151 year history, but the everything is fine and the sky is not falling.

(http://i.imgur.com/xcB7mZI.jpg)

Their value is diminishing by each game !

Yes, on last night's efforts we have few potent weapons in our armoury atm.

What I saw was a bunch of fumbling, half-hearted amateur individuals take to the field against a ruthless, slick team comprised of skilled, well drilled guys who each knew exactly their own role and what was expected of them. We were lambs to the slaughter from go to whoa. I now have close to zero expectations of significant improvement in the foreseeable future unless drastic action is implemented at all levels of the club.

Meanwhile, here is a news flash..............

(http://www.defendclevelandshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/sky-is-falling.jpg)

..and meanwhile....the board directors drive back from the underground car park at docklands to their multi-million dollar homes and their billion dollar businesses ...and nothing changes...

Yes, on last night's efforts we have few potent weapons in our armoury atm.

What I saw was a bunch of fumbling, half-hearted amateur individuals take to the field against a ruthless, slick team comprised of skilled, well drilled guys who each knew exactly their own role and what was expected of them. We were lambs to the slaughter from go to whoa. I now have close to zero expectations of significant improvement in the foreseeable future unless drastic action is implemented at all levels of the club.

Meanwhile, here is a news flash..............

(http://www.defendclevelandshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/sky-is-falling.jpg)

Well Sydney must be in a fair bit of trouble as well I guess. Geez would hate to be them.....

Being at the game, it didn't feel like it was 'rock bottom' at all - I barely knew half the players FFS, we were not a fully fit team, we have had a lot of bad luck injury wise and just too much inexperience.

I have felt a hell of a lot worse after a loss than this game.

One thing that pisses me right off and has made me wonder if I should throw my hat into the ring to be coach, is the going backwards.  We are in the middle of the ground.... we kick backwards alllllllllllllllll the way to the Hawks goal square FFS and then panic, lose it, they get a goal.

What the F*** kind of game plan is that?  Who in their right mind thinks that is okay?  On that alone, whoever implemented it or instructed it should be asked to leave immediately.  So we're not only gifting them goals, we're also gifting them not having to work hard to get them.  Get the F*** out. Seriously.

I love Yaz, well I loved Yaz.  I have seen the rumour of what's going on with him.  Something more is going on than just that - because it's not that he looks disinterested or that he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders, he is intentionally not going for the ball - intentionally.  Watch him in the first half and tell me I'm wrong.

Missing from the vs Port Adelaide game:
Graham
Menzel
Armfield
Wood
Carrazzo
Gibbs
Walker

Replaced by:
Boekhurst
Jones
Johnson
Holman
Tutt
Walsh

Always going to be painful.

The score is irrelevant .

SOS is running the show, we are just looking at players.

We won't win another game, bet your house on it. ;)

Being at the game, it didn't feel like it was 'rock bottom' at all - I barely knew half the players FFS, we were not a fully fit team, we have had a lot of bad luck injury wise and just too much inexperience.

I have felt a hell of a lot worse after a loss than this game.

One thing that pisses me right off and has made me wonder if I should throw my hat into the ring to be coach, is the going backwards.  We are in the middle of the ground.... we kick backwards alllllllllllllllll the way to the Hawks goal square FFS and then panic, lose it, they get a goal.

What the F*** kind of game plan is that?  Who in their right mind thinks that is okay?  On that alone, whoever implemented it or instructed it should be asked to leave immediately.  So we're not only gifting them goals, we're also gifting them not having to work hard to get them.  Get the F*** out. Seriously.

I love Yaz, well I loved Yaz.  I have seen the rumour of what's going on with him.  Something more is going on than just that - because it's not that he looks disinterested or that he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders, he is intentionally not going for the ball - intentionally.  Watch him in the first half and tell me I'm wrong.

Pretty much my thoughts as well. Townsend has just posted our outs compared to the Port game. Fair whack of experience there. I think Barks said 1500 games difference between us and them.

But completely agree about the kicking. Going backwards and smack bang into the corridor, and turning it over, in our D50. Hopefully we never see this again.

Missing from the vs Port Adelaide game:
Graham
Menzel
Armfield
Wood
Carrazzo
Gibbs
Walker

Replaced by:
Boekhurst
Jones
Johnson
Holman
Tutt
Walsh

That makes a huge difference in just how competitive we can be. But the big problem here is our obvious lack of depth. None of the 'Ins' made significant contributions. The "Outs" may not have been in best form, but they represent talent. We basically had the Northern Blues out there last night and we got pounded accordingly.

That makes a huge difference in just how competitive we can be. But the big problem here is our obvious lack of depth. None of the 'Ins' made significant contributions. The "Outs" may not have been in best form, but they represent talent. We basically had the Northern Blues out there last night and we got pounded accordingly.

This is unquestionably true.

We looked much better with Wood and Kreuzer both rucking. Wood had more clearances than any other ruckman this year before he was dropped/rested.

We looked much better with Wood and Kreuzer both rucking. Wood had more clearances than any other ruckman this year before he was dropped/rested.

Agree.

I posted during the week that we had to play Wood but we went with the super spud instead.  Best ever pre-season... I'd hate to see his worst. 

I was there for the loss versus North and that was far, far worse.  We played an unbelievably good side who received at least 6 goals directly or indirectly from criminally poor umpiring.  The coaching was appalling – quick ball movement is what we need not a chipping game.

At least we had blokes that tried this time around, but it is clear that our list management and development has placed us in a very weak position.  Why are we so bereft of taller options?
The first bloke who needs the coke and sars is Webster.  As Carrots points out, Walsh did not front up to play with the requisite knowledge, instilled by drills and training.  You train as you play.

The rest of the cultural issue(s) need to be addressed by the players themselves…  professional standards 100% of the time.

I won’t address all the players but a few comments… Murph, Cripps, Curnow, Kreuzer, Docherty, Buckley, Bell (second half), Levi, Holman, White.  At least they tried…. mainly ineffectually but tried.  That’s what we have to play with going forwards – this group.  Ain’t much is it?

I thought Docherty’s efforts on backing back into Roughead was, for a player criticised as lacking a bit of physicality, inspiring.  The subsequent goal from a free to Hawthorn …  I still don’t understand what that was for.

Holman… as for our players not improving, this kid has improved his disposal infinitely since being drafted.  I reckon he will make it.

Levi… Had zero chance with the short gameplan but had a purple patch in the third were he influenced a number of contests in a row and we, for a brief period, looked to have a functioning forward line as a result.  Rucked ok.  Where are the small forwards to crumb from him? 

The middle tier;
Boekhorst… yes he panicked horribly in the first half but kicked 1.2 and should have kicked 4 from limited opportunities.  He needs time in the seniors to gain touch and confidence and appears to be a one –way runner suited to the front half of the ground, but if he becomes a consistent goal kicker he will become handy.
Rowe… playing in such as key role but got swamped… decision making (invariably poor) under pressure got horribly shown up.  This needs to be improved with drill after drill after drill.
Buckley… still needs 5+ kilos in the gym as a priority – can’t shake physical pressure off.
Touhy…  not a defender’s jock strap.  Play higher up the ground.

The write offs…
Hendo…  should put out an APB missing persons alert on him.  I thought that he was a key retention item, but Carrots is right – not interested, trade him out.
Everitt…   horrid.  All the skills, none of the appetite to get involved.
Yarran…  if he has off field issues grant him leave and help him out.  Otherwise drop him as letting his opponent mark unhampered not once but twice was deadest criminal.
Johnson… too slow, not enough tricks. 
Jamison…. Looks to be running in wet cement… time looks up.
Tutt… plays scared, falls over all the time and gets knocked off the ball… cut price version of Armfield.  Pay him out now, de-list and de-list the idiot responsible for acquiring him.
Jones…  ditto x 2.  The worst player I have ever seen wearing Navy blue, ever.   

We looked much better with Wood and Kreuzer both rucking. Wood had more clearances than any other ruckman this year before he was dropped/rested.

Agree.....since Wood has been out we have dropped away badly, with Wood doing the hack work then Kruezer can be used in other more attacking roles.
I also think Wood has a bit more agro to his game and having another big body out there would help our younger slightly built players..

This is a team that has been poorly coached for many years. The rot started during Pagan and continued with underinvestment in coaching and development.

Pagan was a realist who knew what it took to succeed and knew that Carlton didn't have it, he delisted 17 players after his first season and only Simon Fletcher, who subsequently played 8 games for Richmond, was picked up by another AFL club.
Our list was shocking and he had no draft picks to improve it, then when he wanted to drop Fevola for taking his boots off during a game he was over ruled by the committee.
He didn't stand a chance but he took the fall, and coaches have been taking the fall for our gross mismanagement ever since.
So here we are, a basket case.

The backward kicking against a team who thrives on locking the ball in their forward 50 must have been one of the great tactical blunders of our time.

A concern for me after the game was Macca talking about what we wanted the players to do. Who is running the show?

What's clear to me though, is that its obvious that Jones and Tutt were both MM inspired mistakes, and BB is looking like another Lucas/Watson/Bootsma howler type pick at this stage

So he gets the credit for Docherty, Cripps and Holman?

Well Sydney must be in a fair bit of trouble as well I guess. Geez would hate to be them.....

What Sydney do and where they stand is pretty much irrelevant to me atm, I'm interested in and focused on where we stand. We were measured last night against the league's benchmark team (IMO) and came up woefully short, demonstrating quite clearly that we have a long long way to go.  Feel free to spin that fact how you like Carrots.

There is an opportunity to test ourselves again in 6 weeks time, so let's see if that was just a one-off eh? I sincerely hope it was BUT..............

I saw no where near enough pride in the jumper from the players last night.

And no where near enough tactical nous, innovation, or inspiration/motivation from the coach either.

Very poor effort by everyone IMO

What Sydney do and where they stand is pretty much irrelevant to me atm, I'm interested in and focused on where we stand. We were measured last night against the league's benchmark team (IMO) and came up woefully short, demonstrating quite clearly that we have a long long way to go.  Feel free to spin that fact how you like Carrots.

There is an opportunity to test ourselves again in 6 weeks time, so let's see if that was just a one-off eh? I sincerely hope it was BUT..............

If we have the same injuries and a backwards gameplan it will be the same result.

I put a decent portion of blame right on Barkers shoulders. For the second week running he has stated on many occasions that it will be a great learning experience for our team, translation I don't think we have a chance.

If the coach is talking down your chances then your confidence is already gone before you run out.

Umpiring decisions were just terrible in fact just wrong, I actually stopped watching after the Buckley free against and 50, the replay clearly shows Dylan grabbing his jumper by around the numbers and Puopolo ducking to get out of the tackle. It should have been A free the other way for not disposing of the ball and trying to take the tackler on. What about the no call when Rioli grabbed Simpson around over the shoulder and when that wasn't called nearly ripped his head off. Murphy getting hit in the head and sent off bleeding by high contact when both players were going for a mark and not getting anything yet just minutes before hand the same happened but the free was given to Hawthorn.

Between the drugs in football, the same teams being propped up by the AFL, free agency keeping the good teams still good, the umpiring and the sh1t place Carlton is in at the moment, for the first time in my adult life I can say I have little interest in football.

Don't think in my 55 yrs as a Blues supporter have I ever seen a display like that. Agree Hawks are the benchmark and will win the flag again, but we seem to be at least 3-5 years away from even being competitive with the top teams.

When you look though our team last night, apart from the skipper and the next skipper (cripps), Kruez the doc and  simmo; we a very skinny on talent, strength, motivation and endevour.

Doesn't help when you have 1500 games less experience than the opposition. I try and look for some positives and I'll be honest there isn't a lot. F**ck knows what would of happened if MM was still in charge.

I look at our list and think who would get a game with the big boys and I'm struggling.

My 5 cents re trade/recruiting -

Trade - Hendo/Yarran while they have some currency. I don't think we have anyone else who we would get a deal for apart from some steak-knifes.

Draft - Must be smart and I think we will be.

I STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD OF FLUCKED UP SO MANY DRAFTS AND TRADES OVER THE LAST 10 TEARS. PAY PEANUTS YOU GET MONKEYS AND BOY DO WE HAVE A ZOO AT CARLTON

Keep the Faith....

One of the problems I have is I don't see us trying a lot tactically.
Maybe that's because I'm only getting the television view.

Yes, we're playing kids, and it's good to get games into them, but we don't seem to be experimenting with the side once they're out there.
If we're going to get beaten by 100 points lets shake it up a bit....try the players in different roles.

You don't trade Yarran, you play him as a small forward the rest of the season and hopefully he can race back to goal and get us a couple of cheapies. Increase his value cause next season he will be a free agent and we want as much as we can in compensation coming back.

I put a decent portion of blame right on Barkers shoulders. For the second week running he has stated on many occasions that it will be a great learning experience for our team, translation I don't think we have a chance.

I don't know what a 140 point beating teaches anyone to be honest.

It wasn't all doom and gloom, the bay I sit in won chooklotto! :)
On a more serious note, there are seven players out because of injury, Walker, Menzel, Gibbs, Armfield, Graham, Thomas & Carrazo. Wouldn't win the game with them but would have made us more competitive.
On top of that over the past four weeks we have had two six day breaks, a trip to WA and then another six day break. Once again it would not have changed the result but once again would make us more competitive.
On top of this we could consider the players we should have had available if they hadn't left or been traded, Waite, Gartlett, Betts, Jacobs, Robinson Hampson & Maclean. I think if we are start putting all this together, I believe we would make serious inroads into the gap between Hawthorn and us.
We have consistently wasted our draft picks, we have mismanaged our playing list and we have failed to develop our players skills, leadership and there commitment to put the team first.
I believe we currently have a club that has four different factions vying for Board control which is impacting adversely on the football department as a whole as well as the individual coaches and fitness staff through the lack of development and security for them, and which is infiltrating into the psychology, beliefs and attitudes of the players.
We need people who will unite the Club's administration and provide certainty for the football department so that the players can gain some certainty around there careers.

Don't think in my 55 yrs as a Blues supporter have I ever seen a display like that. Agree Hawks are the benchmark and will win the flag again, but we seem to be at least 3-5 years away from even being competitive with the top teams.

When you look though our team last night, apart from the skipper and the next skipper (cripps), Kruez the doc and  simmo; we a very skinny on talent, strength, motivation and endevour.

Doesn't help when you have 1500 games less experience than the opposition. I try and look for some positives and I'll be honest there isn't a lot. F**ck knows what would of happened if MM was still in charge.

I look at our list and think who would get a game with the big boys and I'm struggling.

My 5 cents re trade/recruiting -

Trade - Hendo/Yarran while they have some currency. I don't think we have anyone else who we would get a deal for apart from some steak-knifes.

Draft - Must be smart and I think we will be.

I STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD OF FLUCKED UP SO MANY DRAFTS AND TRADES OVER THE LAST 10 TEARS. PAY PEANUTS YOU GET MONKEYS AND BOY DO WE HAVE A ZOO AT CARLTON

Keep the Faith....
Amen Big Ken

Between the drugs in football, the same teams being propped up by the AFL, free agency keeping the good teams still good, the umpiring and the sh1t place Carlton is in at the moment, for the first time in my adult life I can say I have little interest in football.

+ 1 Raydon

I put a decent portion of blame right on Barkers shoulders. For the second week running he has stated on many occasions that it will be a great learning experience for our team, translation I don't think we have a chance.

I just think the first half game plan was ridiculous. Played right into their hands.

Umpiring decisions were just terrible in fact just wrong, I actually stopped watching after the Buckley free against and 50, the replay clearly shows Dylan grabbing his jumper by around the numbers and Puopolo ducking to get out of the tackle. It should have been A free the other way for not disposing of the ball and trying to take the tackler on. What about the no call when Rioli grabbed Simpson around over the shoulder and when that wasn't called nearly ripped his head off. Murphy getting hit in the head and sent off bleeding by high contact when both players were going for a mark and not getting anything yet just minutes before hand the same happened but the free was given to Hawthorn.

And what about Simmo's perfect tackle in Q1 which was paid 'in the back'?!?  :o You could almost hear the hiss as that decision deflated our tyres when, in fact, it should have fired us up by showing the younger players that you will reap the benefits from playing tough and close.

Between the drugs in football, the same teams being propped up by the AFL, free agency keeping the good teams still good, the umpiring and the sh1t place Carlton is in at the moment, for the first time in my adult life I can say I have little interest in football.

Yep, nice to see the draft has levelled the playing field. Hawthorn are now a monty for 3 in a row. For 15 years now it's either been Geelong, Hawthorn, or an interstate club. Great.

99,000 at the 'G to see the soccer.  My St Kilda mate texted me this morning asking if I wanted to take up a Saints membership.  I gotta admit they're playing exciting footy - and showing some ticker.

Fortunately didn't go the match.

Unfortunately watched it on TV and suffered through McAvaney's commentary - not sure which was more painful. If only someone would introduce him to the Richie Benaud commentary theme.

Fortunately didn't go the match.

Unfortunately watched it on TV and suffered through McAvaney's commentary - not sure which was more painful. If only someone would introduce him to the Richie Benaud commentary theme.

 :))
Bwecie has never heard of the "golden silence" for sure. Being at the game was really bad but at least we didn't get the BM commentary!

:))
Bwecie has never heard of the "golden silence" for sure. Being at the game was really bad but at least we didn't get the BM commentary!

Despite his stalker-like, bromantic obsession with "Delicious", I'd much rather listen to him than Taylor and Darcy.

Despite his stalker-like, bromantic obsession with "Delicious", I'd much rather listen to him than Taylor and Darcy.

That's like being asked if you prefer a punch in the head or a boot up the ass Paul.  :)

That's like being asked if you prefer a punch in the head or a boot up the ass Paul.  :)

I know what you mean cookie. Slim pickings all round on the commentary front.

This result is not nearly as simple or bad as it seems, IMHO.

Singling out JB is pointless. You grab any positive you can, we've got an average list with important talent missing. I wholeheartedly agree with JBs summation re 'education'. He's right.

What we witnessed on Friday night were all the cracks in recruiting and development violently exposed. No papering. And a Premiership club in scintillating form. Remember they towelled up the Fluffy Ducks and Dickers, also.

 

Check David Rhys-Jones' facial expression on our website. I don't think he is happy. If looks can kill.

Check David Rhys-Jones' facial expression on our website. I don't think he is happy. If looks can kill.

Yep, he wasn't pulling any punches - basically saying to players "shape up or ship out!"

We went into this game crapting ourselves on what they would do to us and played conservative "minimise the damage" football (kick backwards, hold onto the ball etc). That coupled with the the CLEAR one rule for Hawthorn one rule for everyone else umpiring manifested into a 130+ defeat rather then the 100+ it should have been.
We are shizen of that there is no doubt but I'm just over the continual reiterations of what our problems are and have been. Carlton in crisis, yet again. No crap Sherlock. Just want someone at Carlton to come through with some positive change rather than repetitive platitudes.

I remember watching a game a few years ago where we had McLean, Cachia and Curnow lining up in the middle with either Warnock or Casboult. I thought this is the worst bundle of players to ever set up for a centre bounce for Carlton.

I watched a bit of an outstanding forwardline (two of which should be playing for us) take Sydney apart tonight. Is this the worst forward line we have seen take the field for Carlton?

Tutt, Jones, Bell
Casboult, Henderson, Everitt

Average goals between them: 4.7  :-[

Yep, he wasn't pulling any punches - basically saying to players "shape up or ship out!"

Reckon if Rhys was coaching it may have got ugly in the dressing room and a few players might have got told some home truths about attack on the footy and supporting your teammates.

Agree.....since Wood has been out we have dropped away badly, with Wood doing the hack work then Kruezer can be used in other more attacking roles.
I also think Wood has a bit more agro to his game and having another big body out there would help our younger slightly built players..

Agree as well - our best form this year (i.e. the Adel game through to the Bulldogs game) was with Kreuzer & Wood rucking in tandem. It meant Casboult (who has no tank whatsoever) could anchor himself in the forward line as our key forward, with Hendo & Everitt by his side. I thought it was more than clear that ruck pairing was working an absolute treat & I was mystified at Wood's omission.......and still am. Barker's fault.

Yarran is a complete & utter liability in defence right now.....blind Freddy can see that - here's an idea (which a lot of us have pitched over the past 2 weeks in particular), how 'bout moving him up the ground onto a wing or better yet, a forward flank or pocket. Armfield had been flying as a small forward & is out for a month, so what better opportunity than now to swing Yarran into that role? But no - we get yet another week of watching Yarran attempt to play a role he simply cannot & will not do at the moment for whatever personal (or other) mystery reasons people keep banging on about without actually saying anything & his opponent(s) have a scoring feast. Barker's fault.

I thought we'd turned the corner with that bullshyte backwards football and decided that forwards was the direction to go - with results to prove it......well done Johnny - big tick for you, but 3 weeks later here we are again kicking the friggin' thing backwards ad nauseum, all the while our opposition simply let it happen 'cos they know we're gonna cough it up.....and we do, over & over & over again.....Barker's fault.

Give me one good reason why any of us should bother turning up next week?

Feck this Club craps me at times......

Agree as well - our best form this year (i.e. the Adel game through to the Bulldogs game) was with Kreuzer & Wood rucking in tandem. It meant Casboult (who has no tank whatsoever) could anchor himself in the forward line as our key forward, with Hendo & Everitt by his side. I thought it was more than clear that ruck pairing was working an absolute treat & I was mystified at Wood's omission.......and still am. Barker's fault.

Yarran is a complete & utter liability in defence right now.....blind Freddy can see that - here's an idea (which a lot of us have pitched over the past 2 weeks in particular), how 'bout moving him up the ground onto a wing or better yet, a forward flank or pocket. Armfield had been flying as a small forward & is out for a month, so what better opportunity than now to swing Yarran into that role? But no - we get yet another week of watching Yarran attempt to play a role he simply cannot & will not do at the moment for whatever personal (or other) mystery reasons people keep banging on about without actually saying anything & his opponent(s) have a scoring feast. Barker's fault.

I thought we'd turned the corner with that bullshyte backwards football and decided that forwards was the direction to go - with results to prove it......well done Johnny - big tick for you, but 3 weeks later here we are again kicking the friggin' thing backwards ad nauseum, all the while our opposition simply let it happen 'cos they know we're gonna cough it up.....and we do, over & over & over again.....Barker's fault.

Give me one good reason why any of us should bother turning up next week?

Feck this Club craps me at times......

Agree also, it is deeply frustrating.  Our terrible skills and a lack of confidence goes some way toward explaining the lack of attack. Hawthorn set up so well and are very disciplined so it is either sideways or a 50 metre bomb over the top which is odds on to be cut off.

The only thing more dispiriting to watching it would be playing like that. Wood's absence did mean Casboult had to spend time in the ruck, and he did take a few marks in the third quarter when deeper forward. But while a marginal difference may have been made it would have meant one less running player, which is probably the only way to beat hawthorn at the moment as they are not a fast running side, more just very fast ball use. In any case, Casboult managed to take a fine mark and then punt it out on the full. If wood played casboult may have managed to chalk up a couple more like that. His kicking is a disgrace.

At least this may have ended any new coach rebound effect so barker can be assessed (in his interviews etc.) on the basis of what he can offer from 2016 and onwards. I doubt he is the man but it is a level playing field now.

Reckon if Rhys was coaching it may have got ugly in the dressing room and a few players might have got told some home truths about attack on the footy and supporting your teammates.

Why doesn't this happen anyway EB?
FMD they are all men aren't they, big boys who can handle the heat.
...Or maybe they have told they are crape to ad nauseum and we are just wasting our time  ???

His kicking is a disgrace.

His kicking has been pretty good, if you bother to look at the stats and not just follow in mindless media.

Why doesn't this happen anyway EB?
FMD they are all men aren't they, big boys who can handle the heat.
...Or maybe they have told they are crape to ad nauseum and we are just wasting our time  ???

Normally when someone tells you you're crap the reaction is to to tell them to stick it up their jumper and prove them wrong.

Our delicate violets are demoralised and can't compete.

Pretty poor.

Normally when someone tells you you're crap the reaction is to to tell them to stick it up their jumper and prove them wrong.

Our delicate violets are demoralised and can't compete.

Pretty poor.

What you describe is one reaction.
Personally I'd never hang around in a situation where someone didn't value my efforts.

I'd do the 'stick it up your jumper bit', but as far as proving them wrong....I'd do that in another position, preferably one in direct opposition to my former employer.
I suspect there might be one or two of our group who've already moved on, mentally, if not physically.

His kicking has been pretty good, if you bother to look at the stats and not just follow in mindless media.

Yep, 20 goals 12 behinds for the year is not bad at all and an improvement. Good thing the stats dont collect out of bounds though. His field kicking is not so sharp either.
He was recruited as a rookie with his major weakness being his kicking, but with potential in other areas. Yet it is only 5 years later that we get him a kicking coach.

It is disgraceful for a supposedly professional football club and I'm a little over paying a membership to a club that keeps stuffing it up.

Other stats that matter include a season percentage of 66 and a 138 point defeat this round just past.  I attended our previous record defeat and this was worse because it looked like the players were actually trying. It shows just how far behind we are.  We can look for silver linings by all means but im struggling to find them in many numbers at the moment. Except only 6 weeks till the end of the season.

None of us on here know exactly how our players are spoken to.

Speaking purely on a general level, I find it both laughable and concerning that there are still dinosaurs out there who think that because someone is a professional athlete, is a "big boy", that they can be spoken to any which way, be abused, be bullied etc., and somehow, because they're "big and tough", they should be able to take it. Physical strength has nothing whatsoever to do with emotional strength, receiving and learning from criticism etc.

Communication lines must be clear and unambiguous at all times, people must be able to be corrected, taught well, and encouraged to do better. There are ways of communicating to someone that they've done something wrong, disobeyed team rules etc. Several decades of studying humanity, and expressing that knowledge through Psychology, Psychiatry etc., have shown that giving someone a bake or a spray in the old fashioned way rarely works. If you have to do it, do it properly.

I also think that sometimes we forget that a lot of these guys are just kids.
You can't excuse attitude in 100 game players...they've been in the system long enough.
...and you get exceptions like Cripps who has a strength of purpose far in advance of his years (future leader).
But consider that for all of their football careers these kids have been the elite.
The best!
They've dominated their respective competitions.
In their first few years of senior competition, for the first time in their lives, it's the opposite.
They're not the best....they're the least.
Coupled with that is the speculation.
Will they make it?
Do they really belong at this level?

Now in a strong team like a Hawthorn or a Fremantle there are role models.
There are "protectors"
...and importantly players are allowed to develop at a lower level (VFL) and just given a taste of senior football as they're deemed ready.
When they do get to play in the top side it's usually with strong support all over the field.

Contrast that with a young player at Carlton at the moment.
If you're called up it's an "everyman for himself' situation.
Chances are you're thrust into a pressure situation and every mistake is highlighted.
There's no opportunity to develop any type of on-field connection or to understand your role in the team because the team changes on a  weekly basis.
As far as support....forget it.
Other players have enough to do.
If you get a head pat you're going OK!
If you do get a game you're probably only going to be there for a week or two....they're doing a little 'list management' exercise at the moment.

Now some people have expressed the opinion that there has been a huge over-reaction to last Friday's loss
In light of the above you can understand that point of view.
It's a young inexperienced side who haven't played a lot together.
But here's the problem.....
We've been saying these exact same things for over a decade.

Pagan was a realist who knew what it took to succeed and knew that Carlton didn't have it, he delisted 17 players after his first season and only Simon Fletcher, who subsequently played 8 games for Richmond, was picked up by another AFL club.
Our list was shocking and he had no draft picks to improve it, then when he wanted to drop Fevola for taking his boots off during a game he was over ruled by the committee.
He didn't stand a chance but he took the fall, and coaches have been taking the fall for our gross mismanagement ever since.
So here we are, a basket case.

Yep, the rot set in in 1995.  Parko experimented with player empowerment and it worked well.  But that was an unusual team as it had a large core of elite veterans who were hungry for a flag.  Parko's solution should have been seen as an ad hoc measure which should have been mothballed soon after we won the flag.  Instead, it has become a birthright of any Carlton player no matter how lacklustre or irresponsible he might be.

It's mind boggling that we have a club whose DNA includes the fact that players regularly go on strike when the coach gives them directions they don't like.  They talk the talk about loving the coach - Malthouse and JB most recently - but they don't play for them.  And the coaching merry-go-round continues while the players largely stay out of the firing line. 

We are now where Richmond was in its 20 year drought after its '80 flag.  Like us now, they had a powerful group of senior players who held coaches in contempt.  I still remember seeing the then captain, Wayne Campbell, standing on the outside of the 3Q time huddle with his back to Robert Walls as he was addressing the players. 

I still can't believe that so-called supporters could have been in ecstasy over senior players going to the Board to get Pagan sacked.  When that happened at Essendon, those players were kicked out of the club and a premiership followed.  And to jump for joy when our players tanked against North and Brisbane as if they were only doing the best for the club was moronic.  At some stage, this club has to learn to back coaches against bludging divas.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/david-parkin-led-a-player-revolution/story-fnelctok-1226462782260

What you describe is one reaction.
Personally I'd never hang around in a situation where someone didn't value my efforts.

I'd do the 'stick it up your jumper bit', but as far as proving them wrong....I'd do that in another position, preferably one in direct opposition to my former employer.
I suspect there might be one or two of our group who've already moved on, mentally, if not physically.

I've played team sports.

Criticism of one or two efforts is necessary and requisite to letting players know when they have performed poorly and how to fix it.

We however use them as examples of a player being berated daily, weekly, monthly to the point where they are emotionally dead.

Very extreme view.  Likely to be the stuff of fiction.

We are being let down by years of mismanagement.  Nothing more, nothing less.

I have a hard time, blaming any one person at fault for our currently predicament.  You can point the finger at Malthouse, but he has removed the players mentored by our previous coach who were also not exactly the most consistent players on earth.

People like to stick up for Ratten, and I think he did the best he could to work with what we had, but it looks as though the current predicament is the future he nurtured or failed to nurture.

Ill put this down to his inexperience and lack of support by our club, rather than him not quite working, as he was able to achieve some good things during his tenure.

Moving forward, Barker has seen the Malthouse method, and the Ratten method.  He knows the club and the players well, which means he will know better than most which reigns to pull on to get better reactions, as well as what the balance of power is like at the club to enable the requisite.

The last few weeks have proven something though.  Playing on emotion will only get you so far.  We had the emotional pressure release make us competitive again, but unfortunately the baseline has returned of where we usually sit in terms of our competitive ability.  We need to improve more, rely more on the younger players and less on the older players and the usual suspects.

From the article linked by PaulP:

What he learnt, he says, is that "your leadership style should be specific to the situation you find yourself in with the individual and the group".

"That was the great change in my thinking, having been pretty much an autocrat for a long, long time," he said.

"I came to understand that (being an) autocrat works for a younger group that needs direction and wants to know what, how, when and why, but as they mature there is that changing relationship with the leader, to the point where they will take control of their own situation."

That is perfectly consistent with my comments.  Player empowerment may work with highly-motivated veterans but it isn't appropriate if you have young players or lazy older ones.  Parkin notes that a more authoritarian approach is appropriate then. 

In 2002, we finished last and our veterans were mostly on the wane.  That was NOT a time when the players should have still been empowered.  We had a team that was playing dress-ups in the clothes of the 1995 Premiership team and they weren't worthy of being treated in the same way.

Players are adults not children. The coaching staff can state in clear terms what they want them to do and why. If the players don't/can't do it they should be assisted in whatever way necessary. If they still persist in not doing it then eventually they get dropped to the seconds until they do, with further assistance.

If they still can't get the message(s) after that they simply get moved on, with the reasons made clear to them.

No need for histrionics or melt downs. We should have a professional enough environment for that to be the basic MO at the club.

I've played team sports.

Criticism of one or two efforts is necessary and requisite to letting players know when they have performed poorly and how to fix it.

We however use them as examples of a player being berated daily, weekly, monthly to the point where they are emotionally dead.

Very extreme view.  Likely to be the stuff of fiction.

We may be arguing different things.
I totally agree that there are times when you have to point out individuals that have performed poorly....and make an example of them.
But it's not isolated disciplinary incidents that I'm talking about.

We however use them as examples of a player being berated daily, weekly, monthly to the point where they are emotionally dead.

As a group that's exactly what's happened.
From the start of this season both the club and the coach have said to this playing list ...."You're not good enough as a group."
We're going to get rid of a large percentage of you...in fact we're going to turn the list on it's head.
In player selections they would have  a fair idea where they stand in this pecking order.

The players are hearing, and reading, that they're 'hopeless' on  a daily basis.
It's happened again today.
It'll be all over the footy shows tonight....and it's a line of thinking that the club is probably quite happy to let run because it takes the heat off those outside the playing group.
"Don't worry about results, we're rebuilding"......(means.... "This lot of deadbeats won't be around too much longer.")

Now there's a line of thinking that players should  "suck it up and go out and prove the club wrong by their efforts."
In my mind that's the stuff of fiction because players are individuals and each will respond differently.

It's actually some of those on the fringe that are putting in superior efforts.
They're playing as well as they can but because of skill deficits they're still marked for "demolition."
Many have become fearful of making errors and will hesitate and concentrate solely on their own opponent rather than supporting others.

Now a strong club administration, coaching panel and leadership group can help overcome such problems but we have none of those.

Obviously a very disappointing result, we did not expect to win and the team was probably the worst we have fielded all year
 
BUT

Barker has had success in backing the players and getting them to go for it, take the game on and run.
Now I think he thinks he can coach.

What is it with numbers behind the ball.

We had the whole team in their half for most of the night, it did not work it didn't work for Malthouse it doesn't work for us, we don't have anyone who can play the role of the loose, +1 or whatever it is.

The other thing I don't get is why is Yarram constantly isolated in the back pocket playing a negating man on man role?

It is not his go, he is the only person we have who can run and carry and they are trying to turm him into a Johnny O'Connell for the older folk or a Wayne Harmes.

We should have gone out and played man on man Football, beat your opponent, be accountable, attack if you can, not this tempo hold on to it crap that the supposed thinkers of the game talk about.

Barker said we were going to learn from the best and whilst we know the team aren't good enough I think we found out that going forward, nether is he.........................sadly I had some hope.

Pagan was a realist who knew what it took to succeed and knew that Carlton didn't have it, he delisted 17 players after his first season and only Simon Fletcher, who subsequently played 8 games for Richmond, was picked up by another AFL club.

Fantastic story there mate. Did you make all that up yourself?

Barker showed - to my mind - that's he's not up to it on Friday night.

There was simply no point whatsoever reverting to the kick it backwards/sideways/retain possession at all costs mantra of yester month.

That must have been a coaching instruction?

Funny part is Hawks backiline is not big or quick - fast ball in and d Levi/Hendo/Kreuzer have a chance.....

Was Wood dropped? If so, another farcical decision.

I'd be giving young Foster a game ahead of Henderson. the latter looks and acts pathetically out there - maybe he has decided to move on....

everyone names the tutts, boekhursts etc  - they're not the problem - it's the senior/experienced crew doing jack - Murphy (stats galore but nil effect), Jamo (gone), Everitt (soft), Hendo (gone), Yarran (mentally missing).

If the young blokes see these guys being half assed, why should they bust the gut?

For mine, the biggest mistake in recent years (other than not fighting to keep Betts/Robbo/Jeff G.) was making Murphy Captain.

I'm sure he's a lovely fellow but a Captain he is not imo.

We may be arguing different things.
I totally agree that there are times when you have to point out individuals that have performed poorly....and make an example of them.
But it's not isolated disciplinary incidents that I'm talking about.

As a group that's exactly what's happened.
From the start of this season both the club and the coach have said to this playing list ...."You're not good enough as a group."
We're going to get rid of a large percentage of you...in fact we're going to turn the list on it's head.
In player selections they would have  a fair idea where they stand in this pecking order.

The players are hearing, and reading, that they're 'hopeless' on  a daily basis.
It's happened again today.
It'll be all over the footy shows tonight....and it's a line of thinking that the club is probably quite happy to let run because it takes the heat off those outside the playing group.
"Don't worry about results, we're rebuilding"......(means.... "This lot of deadbeats won't be around too much longer.")

Now there's a line of thinking that players should  "suck it up and go out and prove the club wrong by their efforts."
In my mind that's the stuff of fiction because players are individuals and each will respond differently.

It's actually some of those on the fringe that are putting in superior efforts.
They're playing as well as they can but because of skill deficits they're still marked for "demolition."
Many have become fearful of making errors and will hesitate and concentrate solely on their own opponent rather than supporting others.

Now a strong club administration, coaching panel and leadership group can help overcome such problems but we have none of those.

Hmm

we are and we are not arguing different points here and a mish mash.

The comments made by CEO Trigg and MLG have deflated this group more than anything our coaching or playing group have offered up.

Since then, the club as a whole, have put the queue in the rack from round screwing 2, and given up, costing us real chances at winning games, moreso than any lack of ability.

Destroyed by a lack of belief but not in themselves, but in each other.

Here is the kicker.  We can't even help them.  Our method of making things not functioning currently, function, is to replace it.  Its the only way we know.

We go out and get something else, because anything else is always something better.

Never mind there is always next year.

The comments made by CEO Trigg and MLG have deflated this group more than anything our coaching or playing group have offered up.

The coach consistently letting the entire world know the list is no good. Actually identifying individuals and comparing them to opponents and telling the world they come up short. Short changing the players in their development. Running a razor through the list at the end of each year. All good culture building stuff.

The CEO mentions a rebuild and that kills everything?

Further, the guy who took us off the bottom of the ladder is to blame for the work done in taking us back to the bottom in less than 50 games.

Your mind must be a wonderful place.

The comments made by CEO Trigg and MLG have deflated this group more than anything our coaching or playing group have offered up.

Hahahaha OMG in raptures! Some of your finest work there Thry. I'm tipping you never listened to one of Mick's press conferences ever? Because surely one person could not be that delusional? Then again.....

Mav and cookie.

Mav, my intention was to show direct quotes from Parkin to reinforce what you were saying.

cookie, I agree with you.

I would also add that I believe the "younger=authoritarian, older=empowerment" model is probably simplistic. I think it should be done on a case by case basis, with each player being given a level of direction / empowerment that is appropriate for them, young or old.  With power comes responsibility, and the more responsibility you show, the more empowered you are allowed to be. I would also add that in general terms, the best model would be to try and find a "sweet spot" between a Barassi style dictatorship, and an Animal Farm tail-wags-the-dog setup. There is no substitute for being an astute judge of character.

Hahahaha OMG in raptures! Some of your finest work there Thry. I'm tipping you never listened to one of Mick's press conferences ever? Because surely one person could not be that delusional? Then again.....

We just had our worst loss in the clubs history and you think  I'm delusional?  Malthouse has been gone for months now.

I reckon you and your keyboard warrior mates are proving just how wrong they were about this group and it stings.

But back to the original comment you made.....

The comments made by CEO Trigg and MLG have deflated this group more than anything our coaching or playing group have offered up.

I'm tipping you never listened to one of Mick's press conferences ever? Because surely one person could not be that delusional?

Well, did you?

But back to the original comment you made.....

I'm tipping you never listened to one of Mick's press conferences ever? Because surely one person could not be that delusional?

Well, did you?

Tell us again about the premiership we would have won if Malthouse hadn't hurt our players feelings.

Tell us again about the premiership we would have won if Malthouse hadn't hurt our players feelings.

I can tell you how many spoons we would have won if he didn't give up.... Sadly we didn't believe a numpty like Barker could get that much improvement out our side.

Tell us again about the premiership we would have won if Malthouse hadn't hurt our players feelings.

Delusion it is. Certainly explains a lot!!

It's mind boggling that we have a club whose DNA includes the fact that players regularly go on strike when the coach gives them directions they don't like.  They talk the talk about loving the coach - Malthouse and JB most recently - but they don't play for them.  And the coaching merry-go-round continues while the players largely stay out of the firing line. 

What's even more mind boggling is that many of our supporters want the coach sacked when they deem that he's "lost the players".
The tail's been wagging the dog for way too long at the CFC.

One thing we should consider about Fridays performance is after we play North this week, we will have played seven of the top eight teams over the past nine weeks. The two teams we played who are out of the eight are the teams we have beaten. Our draw has been tough. Put together with our injuries and the six day turn arounds and the travel to Perth provides some context, however it is not an excuse
Additionally we have played forty players so far this season so I would suggest that we are looking at our list and determining who is staying and who is going to stay. There will be some pain, but this is what we want.

Normally when someone tells you you're crap the reaction is to to tell them to stick it up their jumper and prove them wrong.

Our delicate violets are demoralised and can't compete.

Pretty poor.

'Normally' You're talking about a different generation Thry. Kids today don't have that same drive....unless it is forced upon them by a good culture and proven veterans.

Our boys could've/should've learned a lot from someone like Juddy.
Perhaps they learned too much from someone like Fev.

Who knows. They don't learn from anyone. Time to shake it up.

What's even more mind boggling is that many of our supporters want the coach sacked when they deem that he's "lost the players".
The tail's been wagging the dog for way too long at the CFC.

The club was happy to let Mick weaver his magic and keep us at the bottom of the ladder. Mick gave up. The sacking was just because he didn't want to walk away from his money, we effectively had no choice but to do it.

What's even more mind boggling is that many of our supporters want the coach sacked when they deem that he's "lost the players".
The tail's been wagging the dog for way too long at the CFC.

Can't sack 40 players unfortunately. Sadly the tail might wag the dog, as it did at Richmond for years before Hardwick, but that unfortunately a job of the coach to change that culture. Some coaching jobs are harder than others but that's the coach's job. Mightn't be right but that's how it is.

Can't sack 40 players unfortunately. Sadly the tail might wag the dog, as it did at Richmond for years before Hardwick, but that unfortunately a job of the coach to change that culture. Some coaching jobs are harder than others but that's the coach's job. Mightn't be right but that's how it is.

That culture will only change if we let the coach actually change it rather than focus on a couple of poor results.

We have cut out a contingency of players who were undoubtedly too much for our leadership to handle, in an effort not to wreck the next generation players too negatively. This action is going to accompany some pain.

It's happening now and we sacked the coach again.

How moronic of our club to allow so much power to a coach it had no faith in to do the job.

We should have made our call prior to last years trade period if we knew we were going to hang the bloke on this year's ability to compete given our exits vs recruits.

Amateur hour stuff.  we will go backwards again this year.

Carrazzo
Jamison
walker all looking fragile combined with one or both of Henderson and Yarran leaving....

Sadly the tail might wag the dog, as it did at Richmond for years before Hardwick, but that unfortunately a job of the coach to change that culture.

He can't change it if he's been sacked.

Hang on, I just read that Gibson got off and Holman got 1. WTF?
A veteran deliberately punches a junior in the guts and Polaxes him and gets off.
A junior who hasn't played a handful of games yet is marginally late and accidentally hits someone in the head with his forearm get 1 match. FMD.
The MRP are fucced an the AFL is deadset out to bury Carlton by any means they can.
Next time we play them someone bigger than Gibson like Casboult or Wood need polax him or at least make him aware you don't pick on our juniors. Make a stand boys.

Wtf the right.

I have just watched both.

Gibson was a punch to the guts to a player that wasn't really holding him. Player went down. Gibson has form doing this, at least once according to the commentary.

The second one happens every screwing week and gets a free kick - how is that a two week ban coming down to one for an early plea???

How many times has that happened and been reportable?

I have put up with a hell of a lot with this Club but if they don't take a stand against this clear bias now I can't take them seriously.  A bloody joke.

Pure stage management by the AFL. The Hawks are the Vic great white hope for the finals and we don't count atm.

That culture will only change if we let the coach actually change it rather than focus on a couple of poor results.

Three years of poor results, results that were getting worse and worse. The club going backwards at such a rate of knots that we could've been extinct by the end of the year. Culture just getting worse and worse, a finger pointing blame laying culture that started from the coach and was eating it's way through the club. Malthouse was toxic, he set this club back years and years and here you are saying we should've let him keep going so he could continue to destroy our club. The more and more you talk the more delusional you become, unless of course you want to admit that you did indeed have your head stuck in the sand throughout his tenure.

But hey, lets not stop there. For someone who complains about focusing on a couple of poor results, you seem to be basing all this on one result only. A little hypocritical Thry, one poor result and now you're telling it like it is. The contradiction is no great surprise however, you are still burning from getting it so wrong your comments constantly reek of desperation, trying to gain back some form of credibility, yet just managing to dig yourself deeper into your hole every time.

'Normally' You're talking about a different generation Thry. Kids today don't have that same drive....unless it is forced upon them by a good culture and proven veterans.

Our boys could've/should've learned a lot from someone like Juddy.
Perhaps they learned too much from someone like Fev.

Who knows. They don't learn from anyone. Time to shake it up.

These 'boys' no matter what age know they are in a performance based competition and as such they are employed by Carlton based on their performance.

It's pretty simple, perform or move on. You don't need to be Einstien to be aware of this.

Why can't a boss come out and point out that performances are below par, just like in sales.

We need players who can perform consistently with a Team first attitude, not when it suits them.

Carlton is the employer and pays these boys to perform. So if they are not performing they need to be told shape up or your position is in jeopardy.

Pretty simple really ::)

Three years of poor results, results that were getting worse and worse. The club going backwards at such a rate of knots that we could've been extinct by the end of the year. Culture just getting worse and worse, a finger pointing blame laying culture that started from the coach and was eating it's way through the club. Malthouse was toxic, he set this club back years and years and here you are saying we should've let him keep going so he could continue to destroy our club. The more and more you talk the more delusional you become, unless of course you want to admit that you did indeed have your head stuck in the sand throughout his tenure.

But hey, lets not stop there. For someone who complains about focusing on a couple of poor results, you seem to be basing all this on one result only. A little hypocritical Thry, one poor result and now you're telling it like it is. The contradiction is no great surprise however, you are still burning from getting it so wrong your comments constantly reek of desperation, trying to gain back some form of credibility, yet just managing to dig yourself deeper into your hole every time.

Three years?

The coach was here for less than that but, he had to go and that's fine, but clearly you can't read, because he had the mandate from our footy club to do what he did, and that is what I am currently taking exception to, not some silly point about the coach.

You don't give a coach a mandate to change what he has changed and then sack him for it.

Its stupidity not being able to forecast the results accordingly and its equally asanine to try and turn this into something so petty as sticking up for the coach.  Im looking at the methodology not the individual, you are still hung up on childish crap.

You mean stuff like....

I reckon you and your keyboard warrior mates are proving just how wrong they were about this group and it stings.

Tell us again about the premiership we would have won if Malthouse hadn't hurt our players feelings.

You're right, it is childish, hard to ignore it though.

You're just hung up on trying to prove you didn't get it horrifically wrong to the point where you're making stupid comments and then refusing to answer to them. Usually called trolling. I'll try to ignore it from now on.

Re the stuff about the board, you were right behind them continuing with Malthouse, you knew very well there was a chance he would lose his job but you supported them supporting him no problem and then lashed out at the club when they had no option left but to sack him. You refuse to acknowledge any bad that Mick has done to the club and look to blame everyone but him, because that's what you were doing when he was in charge and anything different would make you look a tad foolish (that's being kind).

You mean stuff like....

You're right, it is childish, hard to ignore it though.

You're just hung up on trying to prove you didn't get it horrifically wrong to the point where you're making stupid comments and then refusing to answer to them. Usually called trolling. I'll try to ignore it from now on.

Re the stuff about the board, you were right behind them continuing with Malthouse, you knew very well there was a chance he would lose his job but you supported them supporting him no problem and then lashed out at the club when they had no option left but to sack him. You refuse to acknowledge any bad that Mick has done to the club and look to blame everyone but him, because that's what you were doing when he was in charge and anything different would make you look a tad foolish (that's being kind).

You don't give a coach a mandate to change what he has changed and then sack him for taking us backwards when it was the most likely out come, regardless of what you have to say about it.

Cause and effect Carrots.

Malthouse went not because of what he had done to our club, but rather, his prickly personality and his breaking relationship with the incumbant CEO and President.  Likely because he was alligned to the previous faction at boardroom political level as Mosquito Fleet keeps telling us, and Jeannie Pratt reinforces.


The only people looking foolish are those in charge of our footy club.

Malthouse went not because of what he had done to our club, but rather, his prickly personality and his breaking relationship with the incumbant CEO and President.  Likely because he was alligned to the previous faction at boardroom political level as Mosquito Fleet keeps telling us, and Jeannie Pratt reinforces.

Bulldust. Results speak volumes, everyone knows that. If he produced results, he would still be there. Fact is, he was an epic fail. Yes blame the people behind his appointment and those who were the driving force are now gone. Unfortunately for us, it was too little too late, especially with Swann who brought this club to it's knees.

Trigg obviously knew I was a bit upset after Friday's loss so he's taken the time to write to me personally. I'm sure he won't mind if I share. :D

Hello Lods,

A quick message after the Hawthorn game last Friday night. For all at Carlton, it was hard to watch. Obviously we were comprehensively beaten by a powerful side in rare form. But we want to assure our members that we don't just wipe it and accept that sort of performance as 'part and parcel' of our development process.

Emotion aside, the game clearly demonstrated where we are at, and it showed where they are at (and of course where we want to be). We recognise that and we understand that our team is currently depleted, and that there will inevitably be some bumps along the way. But we have to learn from it and importantly ensure that those results are not taken as 'the norm'.

Clubs – and in particular players – must value every single game of AFL football. Which means we've still got an important six weeks ahead of us, especially in terms of individual responses and performances.

Briefly, the search for our new senior coach continues. After an exhaustive process of scouring lists, names, references and referrals – we have undertaken a series of preliminary interviews with potential candidates. Those preliminary discussions have centred on assessing the candidates’ 'fit' with our Club and our needs. That is, their personal qualities, experiences and their capacity to be able to specifically lead and develop.

We have been asked many times about the names of potential candidates. While a couple of other clubs have revealed their hand regarding a potential candidate coming from their ranks, it's our concrete policy that we won't talk about any names – out of respect for those people and the process.

What we can say however, is that from the 150+ currently active coaches, development coaches, and indeed ex-coaches – as well as the emerging 20 or so who we have engaged in discussions – there are several who emerge as strong candidates for our Club. We will take them through as rigorous a process as we can, and later next month should be in a position to make a call on it.

Hope to see you at the footy for the North game on Saturday night – another against a top eight team. We'll be looking for a strong on-field response – and everyone's support at the game would be appreciated and obviously very helpful.

Steven Trigg

That is a nice letter to get, Lods. Now all we have to do is back it up on the field. That always appears to be the hard part.

@Lods

I got a similar letter funnily enough. My response is "Thanks Trigger but show me, don't tell me!"

That's what she said  ;D

Interesting comments in the email as Ithink the club has been pretty open about the coaching appointment myself.

These 'boys' no matter what age know they are in a performance based competition and as such they are employed by Carlton based on their performance.

It's pretty simple, perform or move on. You don't need to be Einstien to be aware of this.

Why can't a boss come out and point out that performances are below par, just like in sales.

We need players who can perform consistently with a Team first attitude, not when it suits them.

Carlton is the employer and pays these boys to perform. So if they are not performing they need to be told shape up or your position is in jeopardy.

Pretty simple really ::)

We can't move on 90% of our list in one go unfortunately.

Trigg obviously knew I was a bit upset after Friday's loss so he's taken the time to write to me personally. I'm sure he won't mind if I share. :D

Well and good but he made no mention of our terrible list and what steps we'll be taking to improve it.
We could roll Jock McHale, Leigh Matthews and Norm Smith into one and appoint the resulting mutant senior coach for life and we still wouldn't win games with the playing personnel at our disposal.

We can't move on 90% of our list in one go unfortunately.

And we keep giving them 3+year contracts...for Spuds...makes it doubly hard to move the Turnips on.... :o