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Messages - Mantis

1
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
You can’t always blame the result on the players that are selected by abilities. Their attitudes are wrong at critical moments. Stark trying the belt the leather off every ball was not a great choice. Smith playing timid at the other end like he was protecting his batting average doesn’t show real leadership. If this was Steve Waugh as the other Steve in this chase, and maybe a late bowling batsman with more composure it was an easy win for us. The bowling was exceptional. It was very good. From a guy with a busted up toe and in hospital the night before. We can’t expect to win purely on past reputation. We lack proper leadership with the bat. When bowlers are on the run with momentum you need a level head to steady the ship. Steve Smith didn’t do this. He didn’t take control of the game the way Stokes, Waugh, Ponting, Border, Kholi and others would have. Don’t even dare state he wasn’t in the same caliber as the guys I have mentioned. His reputation is above what he could really deliver in my opinion. One of the best with the bat as an average in the world needs to show more leadership. The bowling was great. The batting response was one of expecting to win on reputation. Don’t underestimate your opponent. You last win isn’t a measure of your ability. Your last loss is now a measure of your future weakness. Fix it and do it now. Not always by a change in cattle. Maybe by a change in attitude and leadership. Don’t forget what junior group beat you. Not Viv Richards. Not Joel Garner. Not Walsh, Patterson, Lara, Holding, Anderson, Hames, Golmes, Lloyd but a junior list that is on the rise. It might not be a bad way to reconstruct the Australian squad. Look at a few that haven’t had the opportunity to be in the squad as young fellas. Otherwise rebuild the mental leadership. This was not an oops. This was what I would see as a wake up call. Our reputation is higher than our actual ability. The squad needs to learn how to switch momentum. How to be composed. I won’t question our captain but I am not sure he is what is best for this squad. Only my opinion.
3
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: The classic/fave car thread
Speaking of Chargers, my friend owned an E55 Charger. 340 V8 which was factory 275hp. Changed to a better camshaft profile and a set of Extractors, along with a big open air cleaner. Changed the diff gears to 3.23:1 if I remember correctly. It gave GT Falcon owners a hard time in Dandenong back in the late 80’s. Didn’t look as tough as the E49 but it went like stink. Not the best around corners and not the best brakes.
4
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: RIP Bill Hayden
RIP. One of the guys I thought would have made a real difference for the better of the people he would have served.
5
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: The classic/fave car thread
The most favourite car of all cars on this earth was the XY GTHO Phase 3. The fastest 4 door production car in its sat in 1971. The funny thing is it could be bought for around $5,500 dollars in its day new. Limited numbers but available. Ever since it was first sold, it never dropped in value. Not even 2 years later when it was second hand. It was never bought as a second hand car for less than the original price. Now a version full of rust and needing thousands to restore (80-150 thousand dollars) will still return more than $500,000 if not more than $1,000,000. Which has happened before. I own a 2005 Nissan Pulsar Q. Automatic if that counts. Electric windows, air conditioning, power steering, cruise control, factor sunroof, and a few more options. I hope as unwanted it becomes a car that someone might appreciate. Especially considering a 18 year old car had 45,000 original kilometres on the clock. NO, not wound back or a dodgy done here. I am not even sure what to insure it for. Definitely not a market value policy. Sorry guys. It isn’t a GT Falcon. Not a GTS Monaro. Just a Nissan with almost minimal genuine miles. Body and interior rates as at least 8 out of 10. Here is the funny thing. It is my every day driver. I don’t ever want to sell it. Not fast. Not exciting. Very economical. Zippy yes. Easy to park. Very clean and almost new.
7
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: State Elections
Don’t say Dan Andrews didn’t do much for the people of the state he represented. He did one huge thing that many people will appreciate and clap and cheer him for. He even gets my applause. He quit. Thank the lord. Don’t let the door smack you on the way out. At least I will never have to listen to “I don’t recall, I can’t remember, and it wasn’t my job task to address that issue”.  It would be interesting for those experts here who could find out what his retirement entitlement would be, alone with all the other perks and benefits he will enjoy for the rest of his life. He announced a few times this since he won the last election that he might not try for another term in office. He also spoke to the public a few times that he might not stay for this full current term. Dan had to use his powers to win office and keep his party in power. He did that. He has had to go about business as usual to keep his constituents thinking he is still working for them. Unfortunately the financial position this state is in is in trouble like never seen before. We will all suffer as tax payers. At a guess our kids will too. Maybe their kids also. Missing out on funding in areas that will benefit those that need it the most.

Good luck to the new leader. You know you can’t continue your role based on the reputation of your past leader. You now need to dig deep and make some new changes and choices. A larger population of Victoria will not even know who you are. I wish you the best being given a huge task with the worst budget going around in the political world. I am seriously thinking of moving to Queensland. Way before my property has little worth.
8
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: 2023: A review
I am sad for the missed opportunity but happy with the season recovery. If I had some say in how the board at the club operates I would demand Cook calls Voss into the office. I would have him ask what do you need from the board, coaching staff, medics, players, recruiting etc. You have the club in your hands. You tell us what you want and need for the next 2 seasons and I will see you get it.

Your job is to review all the players efforts and performances. We will review everything else and strive to be more unified at every level of the club and get the long term sustained results other clubs have achieved. We can’t expect a good result next season based on this season. We need to eliminate losses that repeat for 2, 3 or 4 games in a row. That is not a result of a true successful club. This is the foundation we have created. Now we build on it to be better. Not just next season, but every season to come. That is when multiple flags happen. Take a rest for ow, but the plan for the future is ready to begin soon. “If you fail to plan, you actually plan to fail”. Start on the new plan and get to work.

Cerra and Acres are two examples of players I thought were good at best, but lazy too often in the past. The roll up the sleeves and do the hard work was not in their DNA, rather than look fancy when they feel like it and let other players do the real work. I apologise for any original comments about my expectations with these players when they played for other clubs. They have leadership written all over their paperwork now. Sure they have quiet moments but they have got us out of trouble more often than not. Just like Saad. Find us a couple of fast by foot, ball carriers one in the middle of the ground and one more rebounding defender and a couple of potential small forwards with evasive abilities and we are well on the way to being a super threat. A special-k type ruck might be a good future project if there is something in the system or available to mature in the next few seasons. They take time to develop. So a junior project is a perfect start for the future.

I would like us to keep TDK as a part time ruck that can swing forward as a target or be an extra tall defender. That damaging utility that is hard to find. He just needs to keep working on getting bigger and stronger and keeping his feet. He is one that has the tools but chooses when to do what needs to be done. When he is hot, he looks like the real deal. Maybe it is a maturity thing. Maybe Voss can teach him how to be consistent.
9
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
I heard the interview with Voss. Made some comments that can’t be argued. Especially the fact that Brisbane have been in finals for a few years and working towards a flag opportunity. These opportunities take time. I hope as supporters we don’t assume a potential flag next season. If might take time to get to the ultimate opportunity. GWS is a good example. They had a chance on the big stage and lost. This season they fell short in a preliminary final by 1 point. Sydney had an ultimate opportunity and failed. Then to be eliminated in the first final. Melbourne going out in straight sets 2 years in a row. It takes minimal injuries and everything falling in place at the right moment. For now any players with potential surgeries should do what needs to be done. Take a break, and then plan how to change and improve before next season. While the club looks at better development of the youth and what needs to come to the club with other players.
10
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
There really isn't a gap.
This is already a premiership capable side...
Our best players are in their prime.
Another year for our young players like Hollands and Motlop
Injured players like Williams and Silvagni thereabouts and available
Plenty of competition for spots and versatility to throw players around when needed.
Some good solid finals experience behind us, when just about all players stood up at one stage or another.
Get that top 4 spot next year, and don't have to travel.
Home and hosed ;)  ;D


No gap then. We must have the equal best squad. How did we get beaten up in 3 quarters of football. Sure e did well to limit the damage. However we might have only limited the damage. Same squad and the same result at the MCG in my opinion. We need a couple of skilled small forwards. Another mid with genuine speed. Another speedster defender and a ruck with strength. We are not closer to a flag before we address these issues. We either develop the stock we have or find a few new guys that have physical capabilities. We looked far weaker than our opponent tonight. They look physically bigger in body mass. Just an observation. As an average over most positions.
11
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
There isn't a gap, we were completely buggered and banged up after a very long run. Any side would look good then. If we finished 6th, hence got a much softer run through we'd be playing next week. Sydney and Melbourne were always going to be brutal, contested games. Not so much the other way. Last week for GWS, v Port, was near bruise free in the context of a final.

So if we had to play GWS in or the Saints it would have ended any different. We lost against GWS if I remember. It wasn’t about the run in. Eventually you lose to a better squad. Pick 6 players from the Brisbane squad you would swap for our squad. If the result is Nill, then we lost by being too tired or just by bad luck. We did well to get the result we finished with.
12
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
Yes of course they are, they finished second. We scraped in after capitulating halfway thru the season. And have done damn well,  our first quarter was a (wonderful) aberration but was never really sustainable at a ground we haven’t won at for 10? Years.

We did damn well. Should be proud. I am. Learning experience that will hold us in good stead for the future!! 

That is almost 100% true wise one. However you don’t win a flag by ground advantage or past records. I am most certainly proud of our end result. I am just saying we need to work on so many things next season. If we don’t then we may just be similar to sides that fight to be in the top 8. We got there through miraculous pressure and effort. That is taxing. We need more class and speed. Plus a genuine ruck. On a good day we wouldn’t have caught Brisbane sleeping at the wheel. Don’t get me wrong. We didn’t get spanked. We should have. Look at the US open result. Two great players. One got completely smashed in the final in straight sets. We did well and need to build to a better result next season. A few players need to be moved on. I think we finally have the coach to get us a result.
14
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
Good ladder result. Obviously need to work on body strength. Inject some speed by foot, and class by disposal. Much work for Voss, but something to show that you can only work with the stock you have. We went far further with a squad that would never beat Brisbane. If we didn’t start as we did it would have been a humiliation. We have some needs and Voss needs to see where he can find what he needs. Great result for the season, but not a flag winning unit just yet. Keep shopping for better stock and develop some of the youth. Well done for the seasons result. Now is time to build on a better 2024.
15
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Pre Game Prognostications
No matter what side is selected, I hope we bring our best pressure game on. Our best pressure game bringing on the heat has beaten Melbourne twice, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, and Sydney. When all sides were in form and had just as many or few outs as we have had. I hope we bring enough hungry efforts and desperation to the contest. That will get us over the line. A genuine team effort. I feel we won’t win this for a fairy tale story. I hope the boys prove I should have never had a doubt.