Carlton isn't coming, they are here

[bLuEbOy1984]

• http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25293890-19742,00.html
  
  

  AT HALFTIME on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium, Carlton was 124 points in credit after just six quarters of the new season.
  
  After pummeling Richmond by 83 points in Round 1, the Blues led the Brisbane Lions by 41 points.
  No wonder we wanted to reassess Carlton's prospects for 2009.
  A spirited second half by the Lions saw them cut the final margin back to a respectable 19 points, but the Blues are an emerging force.
  Most neutral observers had them in their final eights; given a chance to review forecasts with the benefit of exposed form, they are top-four material.
  Beat Essendon next Saturday, as expected, and they will be 3-0 before a stretch of three games -- Sydney at the SCG, the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn -- that will tell exactly how far they can go.
  Carlton is a threat to the best because of its structure: a midfield that is both classy and runs deep, a gun forward, and a talented, if young, ruck combination.
  We know Matthew Kreuzer is a star in the making, what we are just finding out is Sam Jacobs is surprisingly accomplished for a 200cm ruckman still only 20 (until late this week).
  Yet there was a downside on Saturday night; potentially a significant downside.
  The loss of Michael Jamison with a shoulder injury in the first half puts the focus squarely on the defence.
  With Jamison in the team, there's no structural weakness. With him nursing another possibly serious shoulder injury, there's a problem.
  We saw it on Saturday night when Daniel Bradshaw showed Paul Bower just what it's like to go head-to-head with a star.
  The Blues rate Shaun Grigg highly and his imminent return will help, but Jamison is a gun, clearly the team's first choice for the best opposition key forward.
  Perhaps the versatile Jarrad Waite is in for an extended stay in defence.
  He has been on the cusp of elite status for two or three years. Now, at 26 and after 108 games, he might have taken the final step.
  Waite was superb when it mattered against Richmond and was the most creative player in the game in the first half on Saturday night.
  With Jonathan Brown and Bradshaw kept in check by Jamison and Bret Thornton, Waite repeatedly started Carlton's attack from defence with his clever reading of the play and sound decision-making.
  He had 17 possessions to halftime and finished with 26 and an efficiency rate of 81 per cent.
  Yet the gem in this handsome navy Blue collection is the 21-carat midfield.
  Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy, Richard Hadley, Kade Simpson and Ryan Houlihan, with Nick Stevens yet to appear this year.
  Gibbs was best afield on Saturday night with 34 possessions and a 91 per cent efficiency rating.
  He is a remarkably poised young man at 20, a reflection of his early experience against men in the SANFL at 16 and 17.
  He had seven or more possessions in each quarter. How he managed to find so much space so often is yet another mystery of the modern game.
  Carlton has not played finals since 2001. It has been a long and often humiliating period, but the wait soon will be over.
  The Blues will play finals this year and, whatever they achieve, they will be better next year and for several years to come.
  What is most impressive about this lot is the enthusiasm for the contest and the efficiency with the ball. Particularly where it matters most; out of the midfield and in front of goal.
  Brendan Fevola and Eddie Betts are superb converters; Fevola from anywhere inside 60m, Betts from any angle inside 40.
  Brisbane's current rating may not be high, yet the Lions are a capable team. They beat West Coast in Round 1 and hit back with an 11-goal second half on Saturday night.
  They got nine goals from Bradshaw and Brown and had Luke Power, Simon Black and Daniel Rich in sparkling form.
  They are travelling in the right direction. Just not as quickly or as emphatically as the Blues.
  If Jamison escapes surgery and plays the bulk of the season, Carlton can finish top four.
  From that point, who knows? What is known is that any spot in the top four in a year when it's an all-Victorian quartet is the platform to glory

• i hate the fact we even get mentioned as top 4 material so so so early on in the season.... tyres are being pumped up, before the engine really got a real tough corner to turn

 

[ECHUCABOY]

[ hate the fact we even get mentioned as top 4 material so so so early on in the season.... tyres are being pumped up, before the engine really got a real tough corner to turn
[/LIST]

Journalists are paid to write relevant articles...the blues are two from two and looking the goods, you can't blame him. I'd much rather this statement than Blues to win first wooden spoon...or carltank lose etc etc etc

 

[Doza]

The Blues rate Shaun Grigg highly and his imminent return will help, but Jamison is a gun, clearly the team's first choice for the best opposition key forward.

I love this line...and the fact that the journalists are starting to realise just how good/important Jamo is...been rapt on him ever since I saw him play his first game. Big loss

 

[I LOVE THE CFC]

I love everything at the moment!

 

[thylacine60]

Journalists are paid to write relevant articles...the blues are two from two and looking the goods, you can't blame him. I'd much rather this statement than Blues to win first wooden spoon...or carltank lose etc etc etc

Spot on, NW-Man.

 

[HBF]

i hate the fact we even get mentioned as top 4 material so so so early on in the season.... tyres are being pumped up, before the engine really got a real tough corner to turn
[/LIST]

This is where Brett Ratten will try to keep the players feet well and truly on the ground. And I wouldn't underestimate that influence that Chris Judd has on the players as well. I'd be very surprised if the players got ahead of themselves - particularly from where we have come from.

 

[bourbons]

Yeah just a bit early for those kinda statements.

And Waite now elite? Mike, please..

 

[Addzy4PM]

I love this line...and the fact that the journalists are starting to realise just how good/important Jamo is...been rapt on him ever since I saw him play his first game. Big loss

Dead Right Jamison has been underrated by most who dont follow the blues, but every carlton supporter has known his abilities since he emerged from the rookie list.

 

[Silvagnis]

Mike, can you write a puff piece to sell our tabloid to Carlton supporters? They gave you a nice trip to Malaysia, so you have to pay that off.

Why not? I don't have anything else to do bar narrow down my top 50 players in the game for my article at the end of the year.

Parrot is more switched on than Sheahan.

 

[ECHUCABOY]

Spot on, NW-Man.

NW-Man Mr. Thylacine??

 

[thylacine60]

Not really north west are you? Humblest apologies. North Central maybe?

 

[Pamam]

Not really north west are you? Humblest apologies. North Central maybe?

i assumed you were saying NW as in NoWhere Man, Echuca isnt nowhere but is close to it!!!

 

[ECHUCABOY]

Not really north west are you? Humblest apologies. North Central maybe?

Well I appreciate being a man in your eyes...actually a little closer to you these days in the CBD, but North West Central might be a bit more accurate.. Good to see the lakers got up on the weekend mate....hope you got down for a look....

I'll tell you one thing as well Mr.AW will be back in action and pull the navy blue jumper on again...Giving up isn't quite in the bloodstream

 

[ECHUCABOY]

i assumed you were saying NW as in NoWhere Man, Echuca isnt nowhere but is close to it!!!

Heyheyhey! Bit rough...you need to come check out the town its a thriving metropolis...paddlesteamers, old ladies, pokies.....paddlesteamers it really is a hoot!

No its not that bad...heading back for easter. Very good times had over the holiday period in Echuca my good friend

 

[Pamam]

Heyheyhey! Bit rough...you need to come check out the town its a thriving metropolis...paddlesteamers, old ladies, pokies.....paddlesteamers it really is a hoot!

No its not that bad...heading back for easter. Very good times had over the holiday period in Echuca my good friend

yeah i might be coming back soon since my last visit was about 2 years ago!!

another paintball weekend in Moama is just what i need!!!