Carlton Supporters Club

We always get flogged last game. Year before down there it was a close one. Bar that game last year when we switched off for the year, no matter who we play we don't get flogged by anyone under Teague. So far that's included Richmond twice and the Eagles. Richmond both times got close after we gave away a massive headstart. They're better than Geelong. It's not that we are going badly generally, often going well, we are just going badly early and it's costing us.

Teague was coaching when they flogged us by 68pts

It was the wind what did it. All of a sudden now, it can't be the coach. And apparently, now honourable losses are ok for some, whereas before they were totally unacceptable.

As W.F Deedes would have said, "shurely shome mishtake."

My previous post was just me being a smart ar$e - it's not to be taken literally.

This idea that we are going to get a big jump in performance from Bolton to Teague is illusory, certainly in the short to medium term - just some supporters engaging in wishful thinking and going the early crow. We've all done it.

We still have too many issues across several areas to be taken seriously as a contender or a finals threat. Honourable losses and being competitive and jagging the odd win are the reality for now. Saying losses are unacceptable, won't be tolerated etc. are just pie-in-the-sky benchmarking IMO.

Hey, Pauly, there was merit in your 'sm@rt@rse' comments.

When the club declares it's now in the business of winning, and it loses, then we call them to account regardless of what we supporters think is reality.

If we are in the business of winning then 2020 must deliver more wins than loses and 2021 must see strong finals action. Delusional? Nuh. When we set winning as the benchmark (and not 'growth' or improvement only) then you must deliver. Things can change very, very quickly. There will be a tipping point and that has to be reached sooner rather than later.

FWIW, I still think we have a few passengers and hopefully, over this season they'll be weeded out to give us the best chance of 'winning'.

(As an aside, the sight of Simmo pulling the players aside last week and giving his talk was very disconcerting to me, he should have whispered in the ears of the skippers for them to deliver).

The point is, clubs and supporters can engage in as much tough talk, minimum standards and pronouncements as they want - until the reality matches the words, it's all hot air. Reality will continue to mock and laugh at us until that occurs. That could happen this weekend, or it could happen in 2025.

You have to start somewhere, you must set a goal -- to quote the corny old saying, but nonetheless true -- that is within sight but a little out of reach. You achieve naught without vision and goals and mongrel persistence.

Words, even those full of hot air, set standards, set a measurement for accountability and measurement of progress.

You speak of the 'line in the sand' game that turned around the Dawks... started with strong words, words that challenged a group, words that challenged a group to create a new culture and not-negotiable standards. Never underestimate the power of words, Pauly.

Suggestion from left field (well over the border!!) bring in Sam Ramsay to play on (run with) Ablett and lock down defender.  
cheers for now
Ab