Carlton Supporters Club

Just looked at AFL Tables, we are 7th oldest in average age

NM     26.9
FR     25.9
HW     25.8
ES     25.7
WC     25.7
GE     25.4
CA     25.2
AD     25
PA     25
SY     24.9
RI     24.8
SK     24.6
CW     24.5
WB     24.4
GW     24.3
GC     24
ME     23.8
BL     23.7

He's a grub and so is his old man.
Karma

He's a grub and so is his old man.
Karma

Some observations.

Walker been playing for 13 years, still won't do a drop punt when running into an open goal. has to do the stupid curl it around his shoulder, through his legs, up his clacker kick, and then cracks it when he misses. Has never learnt, and will never learn.

Nick Graham, just not up to AFL level. He's the type of player that I describe as being too good for VFL, but not good enough for AFL.

Gibbs did his usual, I have played one great game, think I'll have a rest, thing.

Kerridge was unimpressive early, but got better and better as the game progressed to be one of our best.

Love Weitering, no more comment necessary.

Gorringe getting better around the ground, but still got no idea at the centre bounces.

Ploughman improving.  Sam Doc, should get All Australian.

Now, I take into account the fact that they played out of their skins last week and there was a six day turnaround. I also take into account that playing at Etihad on what is a harder surface than the MCG, takes it out of players legs.

Notwithstanding all of that, they played like Millionaires in the last half, particularly in the last quarter. It should have been a 10 goal win which is about Brisbanes average losing margin this year. But it was a 38 point win, because they stuffed around with thoughtless play and stupid handball.

Frankly, it was sickening to watch.

Judging by Bolts understated comments at the Press conference, he is fully aware that what they produced particularly in the last quarter against a very ordinary team was not acceptable.

Let's just imagine for a moment that we are equal on points with another team after the last round. How are we going to feel if we finish 9th, but would have made the 8 had we kicked another 4 goals, or prevented Brisbane from scoring 4 goals in the last quarter as they did.

It was lazy, unacceptable football, reminiscent of the, dare I say it, Malthouse era.

As Bolts says, we are on a journey, and it is a continual learning process.

Lets hope that Bolton and the coaching staff can rid the players of this lazy type of play just because they think that they have a team on toast.

They have no better example than the way North dismantled Richmond on Friday night. Yes, Richmond had 3 down, but North put the screws in, and never let up, gaining a 70 point win.

That's what we should have done today.

Lets hope that the 7 day break and playing at 4.00 p.m. sees them coming out hard and tough and relentless against St. Kilda next week.

Almost forgot. LOVE BYRNE!!!!!!!!!!!

Some observations.

Gibbs did his usual, I have played one great game, think I'll have a rest, thing.

If Casboult gets cited for a late hit I expect the club to send a video of Robbo's even more blatant example from 30 seconds earlier to the MRP.

The umpire that failed to make the correct decision in the first place (pay the late hit) should also be held to account.  This is what happens when obvious  free kicks aren't paid.

Don't be too critical, it was obvious at last weeks game that playing the last 3 quarters 2 men down against a quality side we put in a massive effort, and i'm sure many guys did more game time and ran more km's than was planned, then we had the six day break, and a few guys looked like it really hurt them today, Gibbs the best example. But we fought together and won, yes the last quarter was a bit ugly, but i still enjoyed it. Winning is fun, and the guys are working so hard and getting reward, it will carry us well going forward

One good game???   Seriously pull your head in.   He was well held today by Robbo, but his "one good game" has been a purple patch of a number of weeks.   Amazing some people just can't wait to give him a clip.   What a joke

Hope you're right Prof. Common sense says he should be fine - it was late but just a bump mostly side-on.  My concern is the AFL highlights of the game show the Levi bump on Robbo 3 or 4 times... and nothing is shown of the Robbo bump on Levi a minute earlier 

On recent history (and seeing as it's us) I wouldn't be surprised if the bastards give Levi a week though. He should've just punched Robbo in the nuts instead as that's apparently not an offence any more 

I must have been at a different game 

I thought that the effort, pressure, tackling, team defence and polished ball movement was as good as I have seen from a Carlton side in many years.  Yes the opposition wasn't all that flash but they beat us by 64 points last time; that's a 102 point turnaround.

What gave me a great deal of satisfaction was watching our defence set up and effectively create a wall that Brisbane struggled to penetrate.  The transition from zone to man on man was seamless.  We did get touched up in the clearances but that's understandable with Kreuzer off and Gibbs blanketed by Robbo.  Our pressure was so effective that Brisbane's clearance advantage was negated.

One good game???   Seriously pull your head in.   He was well held today by Robbo, but his "one good game" has been a purple patch of a number of weeks.   Amazing some people just can't wait to give him a clip.   What a joke

Firstly, Shakin, I am entitled to my opinion.

You certainly have the right to disagree. The fact that you aren't able to do so without being abusive, is a character trait that you need to work on.

Secondly, overall, Gibbs has been an incredible disappointment for years. If he lacked ability, I could understand. If he was a number 110 draft pick, I could understand. If he was getting 150 grand a year I could understand.

But he doesn't lack ability, is a number 1 draft pick, and is on at least 500 grand a year.


He has been a pack skirter and receiver  since day one. His lazy,careless  shot at goal from 40 metres out on a slight angle when clear in the first quarter, was symptomatic of his whole career. And unlike Walker who swore like a trooper when he stupidly missed running into an open goal, Gibbs showed no emotion and shrugged off the miss as just one of those things.

This year, he has, in a few games, actually put his body on the line, and last week was probably the best, and most intense game he has played for us since he arrived at the club.

Now, I don't expect the intensity of last weeks level of performance from him every week, but it showed us what he has been capable of, but failed to deliver since he came to the club. 

Just  compare him to Kade Simpson.

Kade lacks the natural ability with which Gibbs is blessed, however, and once again in my opinion, I reckon he is probably the most courageous player for his size and weight who has played for Carlton since the great Ken Hunter.

And, unlike Gibbs, he has done it every week for 252 games.

I'm pleased that Gibbs has performed better this year than in previous years, but today, was a another performance of the Gibbsy of old.

Even you agree that "he was well held by Robbo", who doesn't have 10% of the ability in his whole body, that Gibbs has in his little finger. Perhaps 25% more effort by Gibbs, might have seen him have some effect on the game.

All that does is re-afirm my original comment about him.

[4] Tom Rockliff: never have I seen 40+ possessions be so ineffective and so non-damaging. I can count the number of really effective possessions he had on one hand. Cripps managed less than 30, but more lethal. Each kick and handball HURT.