Does it hurt you?

[GottaLoveCarlton]

Does it hurt anyone else to see teams like Essendon and Collingwood, even Hawthorn, whom were down with us over the past 5 years, excelling in Round 1? while we still unfortunately sit through and wait for our players to mature.

It didn't hurt as much on Thursday night, in comparison to how i feel now watching Hawthorn demolish Melbourne and Essendon throw everything they have at the Kangaroos and make themselves look pretty bloody good.

When will our time finally arrive that we can do this to other teams? and have the critics drooling? I always feel like we're going nowhere, even though we are.

I'm so sick of waiting, but to me it feels like we may be waiting a while longer.

C'mon Blues!

 

[Sam The Doc]

yes.

 

[blue gunslinger]

I was most in pain Thurs and Fri. By Sat I was improving. I do not like to see the Bombers, Pies, Tigers, Saints etc do well but I do not care if we are also doing well. Call me selfish but I don't give a Ratts if others are playing well. If we are not winning then I am super annoyed! Win and all flowers smell better. All birds sing sweeter.
JUST WIN!

 

[thylacine60]

3 points.

1. It always hurts when you are the first game of the round, particularly a long weekend, and you lose. Takes the interest off listening to the other games a bit.

2. I'm afraid I've slipped back into the "expect to lose but if we don't that's fantastic" mode. Thought this summer's activities had erased that but my feelings before the game on Thursday night begged to differ.

3. Of all the other games, listening to Essendon play like the 1993 Baby Bombers is just about as painful as it gets. **** North Melbourne, **** the world.

 

[Scruff83]

Yes, it ****in sucks! But, theres always next week and you have to live in hope I guess, otherwise it's just pointless.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

could be worse, remember that

 

[GottaLoveCarlton]

3 points.

1. It always hurts when you are the first game of the round, particularly a long weekend, and you lose. Takes the interest off listening to the other games a bit.

2. I'm afraid I've slipped back into the "expect to lose but if we don't that's fantastic" mode. Thought this summer's activities had erased that but my feelings before the game on Thursday night begged to differ.

3. Of all the other games, listening to Essendon play like the 1993 Baby Bombers is just about as painful as it gets. **** North Melbourne, **** the world.

I'm 100% with you on points 2 and 3, especially 2. Thats the way iv been going into games now for far too long, and over the summer, i thought it was all over. Its more painful being in that mode a second time round, after you thought it was over.

 

[mediumsizered]

Does it hurt anyone else to see teams like Essendon and Collingwood, even Hawthorn, whom were down with us over the past 5 years, excelling in Round 1? while we still unfortunately sit through and wait for our players to mature.

It didn't hurt as much on Thursday night, in comparison to how i feel now watching Hawthorn demolish Melbourne and Essendon throw everything they have at the Kangaroos and make themselves look pretty bloody good.

When will our time finally arrive that we can do this to other teams? and have the critics drooling? I always feel like we're going nowhere, even though we are.

I'm so sick of waiting, but to me it feels like we may be waiting a while longer.

C'mon Blues!

The top 5 teams after Round 1 last year were Brisbane, St Kilda, Essendon, Western Bulldogs & Carlton. Can you spot what these teams had in common in 2007?

 

[GottaLoveCarlton]

The top 5 teams after Round 1 last year were Brisbane, St Kilda, Essendon, Western Bulldogs & Carlton. Can you spot what these teams had in common in 2007?

I know to take round 1 with a grain of salt, but i'm not exactly talking about the fact we lost and aren't in the 8 in March.

I'm talking about watching teams that were where we were when we were, rock bottom. Only now to see them speeding past, going forward and looking good - yet, we've managed to look the same and play the same for what seems like forever of late.

 

[thylacine60]

could be worse, remember that

True. We could have purple guernseys and a theme song like the Russian National Death March.

 

[Thrawn]

Yes, it is quite frustrating but it is only Round 1. I'll be worried if we see much of the same come Round 5 or 6. I don't buy the gelling excuse though, most of our players have played with each other for more than a year already. Once we get our two ruckman back, we will structurally be a lot better... and we will most likely see some fitness return.

It's all up to the players and their attitude - they need to commit themselves to the contest and work hard.

 

[mightymightyblues]

The top 5 teams after Round 1 last year were Brisbane, St Kilda, Essendon, Western Bulldogs & Carlton. Can you spot what these teams had in common in 2007?

And the top 5 2006 after round 1.
Bulldogs
Geelong
Kangaroos
Adelaide
Essendon

Only 2 out of the 5 made it with the dogs finishing 8th so they just crept in.

 

[windows]

No. I couldn't care less what they (other clubs) do. What hurts me is seeing obvious signs on the wall early in our pre-season that we weren't fit enough, see that continue through the practice matches, and then into round one.

This after we paid a fortune for the 'Fitness Coach of the Century'. What benefit are we getting for that guy's ridiculous salary?

What hurts me is seeing our heads drop so badly in round one against a shit side. What hurts me is seeing Bryce Gibbs run around seemingly more concerned about how he looks than how he plays (we get it Bryce, you have a great strut when you jog, you bloody poser). What hurts me is watching ordinary footballers out bustle us purely because we lack effort and intensity. "But we are young". If I read that again I will throw my computer at the wall.

What hurts me is players not getting the most out of themselves. Eg: Fev. Now how can you be out until 4am any time if you are serious about your footy? It means the following day was a write-off for him. It means he had no intention of doing extra weights, extra running, extra stretching/yoga, extra skills. Or even having a good 'recovery' day. Eating well. Hydrating. So that he could have an optimal training session the next day. Unbelievable really.

I think Judd already showed some (justifiable) frustration in his article yesterday. Clearly we are in for ANOTHER shit year. And that's what hurts.

 

[blue gunslinger]

The top 5 teams after Round 1 last year were Brisbane, St Kilda, Essendon, Western Bulldogs & Carlton. Can you spot what these teams had in common in 2007?

Hats off medium size. I may have said you do not grace us often but when you do, you do not muck around!
But the 8 after round 8 only changed by one team. It is vital that teams who want to win the big dance get off to a good start. We were not going for a flag but being in a good position early sets up a good year. We have already had clowns allude to the fact there is a big prize with the number 1 draft this year. I never want to be accused of tanking again!

 

[marcmurphy3]

Of course

 

[mediumsizered]

I know to take round 1 with a grain of salt, but i'm not exactly talking about the fact we lost and aren't in the 8 in March.

I'm talking about watching teams that were where we were when we were, rock bottom. Only now to see them speeding past, going forward and looking good - yet, we've managed to look the same and play the same for what seems like forever of late.

But the only team that has really gone ahead of us are Hawthorn & they had a couple of years head start on us & yet, as of Round 18, 2006 were sitting on 5 wins & I doubt anyone thought they were going to be playing finals just over 12 months later. They have turned it around due to getting game time into lesser lights like Ladson, Campbell, Taylor, Clarke, Gilham, Sewell & Young.

Collingwood were already ahead of us & their 2004 & 2005 seasons were an indictment on the players & coaches, given they had come off successive GFs. The foundations of their current list are those players that took them to those successive GFs.

As I have stated in another thread, do not get too carried away by Essendon's form today. They had similar impressive wins in Round 1, 2006 (over the reigning premiers, Sydney) & Round 1, 2007 (over perennial finalists Adelaide). A better indication of where Essendon are at will be displayed next week against Geelong. It won't be a true measure though, because I doubt very much that 'Bomber' Thompson has the Cats primed just yet. It is a bit early in the season to be playing at your peak.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

True. We could have purple guernseys and a theme song like the Russian National Death March.

speaking of the death march, we're out of drumsticks and was hoping we could borrow a couple of your wooden spoons to play the drums with as we only have one and thought that you might be kind enough to give us one or two, don't worry you'll get it back at the end of the year

 

[Brighton_Diggins]

no.
Just gonna be sweeter when it starts to happen.
This will be a frustrating year but I also believe we're
gonna finally see a spark.

Imagine being a cats or doggies supporter?!
We sound like babies compared to the pain
they've had to put up with.

pantene.

 

[MBIB]

no.
Just gonna be sweeter when it starts to happen.
This will be a frustrating year but I also believe we're
gonna finally see a spark.

Imagine being a cats or doggies supporter?!
We sound like babies compared to the pain
they've had to put up with.

pantene.

LOL

 

[blue gunslinger]

But the only team that has really gone ahead of us are Hawthorn & they had a couple of years head start

Maybe medium size red but on current form and I am not talking about results but actual form I have watched, we can compete with the Demons and Roos for sure. Maybe Tigers with a few more players in and the Dockers in Victoria is a given. Our destiny is in our hands. If we do not improve they ARE ahead of us. The Eagles, Lions, Power, Crows, Swans, etc have never dipped below us for ages. We know why we hit rock bottom but these teams seem to handle their clubs on and off the field better so do not sink too low. We should have things in place now with Dick and Ratts plus Swann etc but round 1 did not show us enough of what we wanted. Improvement in the fundamentals. Discipline, skills, fitness. We live in hope but need to get our asses into gear!

 

[thylacine60]

speaking of the death march, we're out of drumsticks and was hoping we could borrow a couple of your wooden spoons to play the drums with as we only have one and thought that you might be kind enough to give us one or two, don't worry you'll get it back at the end of the year

Nice one. Get back to me when you are relevant.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Nice one. Get back to me when you are relevant.

I think he is proud that they have won something and have a chance to do the same again. Dockers fans, like their team no idea! DILLIGAF

 

[mediumsizered]

But the only team that has really gone ahead of us are Hawthorn & they had a couple of years head start

Maybe medium size red but on current form and I am not talking about results but actual form I have watched, we can compete with the Demons and Roos for sure. Maybe Tigers with a few more players in and the Dockers in Victoria is a given. Our destiny is in our hands. If we do not improve they ARE ahead of us. The Eagles, Lions, Power, Crows, Swans, etc have never dipped below us for ages. We know why we hit rock bottom but these teams seem to handle their clubs on and off the field better so do not sink too low. We should have things in place now with Dick and Ratts plus Swann etc but round 1 did not show us enough of what we wanted. Improvement in the fundamentals. Discipline, skills, fitness. We live in hope but need to get our asses into gear!

You are right in saying if we don't improve this season, the teams you have nominated will be ahead of us. Do we know for certain, after just 1 game, that we are not going to improve? Is the gradual improvement in the fitness of Judd, Stevens, Fev, Cloke, Hadley not going to make a difference in the coming weeks? Would this, combined with the continued improvement of Murphy (he was sensational on Thursday night), Simpson, Gibbs, Hampson, Fisher (once back in the side) not eventually lead to some improvement in our performance.

I would be surprised if we aren't at least a 4 goal better side once Judd is back to full match condition, without factoring in the others I have mentioned. Who is to say that we won't turn it around like Hawthorn did in late 2006? Many people are getting down because we lost a Round 1 match against a team that had been prepared to be up & running as of Round 1 (this of course was based on the coaches need to get some early wins under his belt to save his job), yet in the last 2 seasons we have come out & won Round 1 & then the season has gone pear-shaped from there.

We should be looking for gradual improvement across the entire season, with the second half of the season being when we really start heading in the right direction. It is a long season &, with a young list, if we don't pace ourselves properly we will see a similar drop off in the latter part of the season as we have over the last couple of seasons.

 

[blue gunslinger]

[We should be looking for gradual improvement across the entire season, with the second half of the season being when we really start heading in the right direction. It is a long season &, with a young list, if we don't pace ourselves properly we will see a similar drop off in the latter part of the season as we have over the last couple of seasons.[/quote]

Yeah but is the off season just for fitness and strength?
We need a lot of work on skill and problem solving. The off season should have been 24 hours a day skills sessions, video analysis, mind expansion (not Eagles ans Hawks style) if you get my drift. The team should have been ready to go and at least shown improvement straight away. Judd, Stevo, Thornton etc were always going tp show a bit!~
I am not saying they will not but at the minute I am frustrated and hope to be shown they have done the work we need!

 

[Rambo Stallone]

Does it hurt anyone else to see teams like Essendon and Collingwood, even Hawthorn, whom were down with us over the past 5 years, excelling in Round 1? while we still unfortunately sit through and wait for our players to mature.

It didn't hurt as much on Thursday night, in comparison to how i feel now watching Hawthorn demolish Melbourne and Essendon throw everything they have at the Kangaroos and make themselves look pretty bloody good.

When will our time finally arrive that we can do this to other teams? and have the critics drooling? I always feel like we're going nowhere, even though we are.

I'm so sick of waiting, but to me it feels like we may be waiting a while longer.

C'mon Blues!

One way is the Sheedy way,try your unproven tall guys,ohailipin,Benjamin,don't let them play half the season in the VFL,to do a injury,so they never get a look at AFL and recruit some talls at later picks.