Finally.

[juddsentant517]

That win would've been fantastic, and we probably had a chance had we converted our opportunities in the third. Grigg's miss really stung, but that's football unfortunently. Nevertheless, there is a sense of relief that we were beaten by an outstanding football club. Some absolutely freak goals, and first class disposal. No one can criticize us for a lack of intensity, desire or enthusiasm. The skill may not be there yet, and we did fade in the last, but this loss was worlds apart from the Collingwood game.

 

[Blues in 3 yrs.]

Agree.

Catters looked like running away with it at several times during match but credit our boys with getting back into contest. More scoreboard pressure hen we controlled play in third would have made it different story. Score doesnt reflect how well we played.

Geelong just too smooth in the end

 

[Jabba73]

That win would've been fantastic, and we probably had a chance had we converted our opportunities in the third. Grigg's miss really stung, but that's football unfortunently. Nevertheless, there is a sense of relief that we were beaten by an outstanding football club. Some absolutely freak goals, and first class disposal. No one can criticize us for a lack of intensity, desire or enthusiasm. The skill may not be there yet, and we did fade in the last, but this loss was worlds apart from the Collingwood game.

Spot on, at least the effort was there for the vast majority of the game. Only seemed to fall away once the result was inevitable.

 

[thylacine60]

Had a crack, got dacked. No anger here. Boys made plenty of mistakes which you can't do against the striped juggernaut. We can learn from their strength, intensity and run.

 

[40yearBLUE]

That win would've been fantastic, and we probably had a chance had we converted our opportunities in the third. Grigg's miss really stung, but that's football unfortunently. Nevertheless, there is a sense of relief that we were beaten by an outstanding football club. Some absolutely freak goals, and first class disposal. No one can criticize us for a lack of intensity, desire or enthusiasm. The skill may not be there yet, and we did fade in the last, but this loss was worlds apart from the Collingwood game.

You're kidding yourself.

In fact, I would rather lose like we did against Collingwood where we got pantsed from go to wo, than to throw everything we have at a team and play near as well as we can and get pantsed by near the same margin. At least against Collingwood we played absolutely crap. It could only get better from there. But tonight we played pretty well but got shown up by a far superior team, in much the same way we did with the Bombers and Tigers, but really in the short term how much better can it realistically get from that performance?

Now I am a big believer in the direction we are heading so my above comment relate only to the here and now, not how we are building for next year. But we are building well for next year and beyond, so I dont much worry about either loss, but dont fall into this honorable loss bullshit. Neither were good losses to watch but at least we can keep learning from them. I enjoyed tonights game much more than the Collingwood game but in the end neither of them mean that much except in the value of the lessons we learn from them. I am however grateful that the morons on here think this was a "good" loss so at least we dont have to read sack this guy or sack that guy adnausium for the next week.

 

[BlueVision]

I hate losing but the guys busted their butts, some promising signs for the future

 

[Blues in 3 yrs.]

There is no such thing as a good loss. At least the boys showed some promise last night. Catters had more poise, skill and ability to handle the pressure. Result only ballooned because of the our lack of intensity after the game was beyond winning (would have preferred to play game out) and if game was tight intensity wouldnt have dropped off

 

[Big Red is back]

We gave 100% and got thrashed .. hardly good news.

They showed how far away we are from real success.

Key defenders got monstered
Kicking skills are horrible
Lack of depth in mid rotations

Only positives for me were

Robbie and our overall effort.

 

[Cazbah]

You're kidding yourself.

In fact, I would rather lose like we did against Collingwood where we got pantsed from go to wo, than to throw everything we have at a team and play near as well as we can and get pantsed by near the same margin. At least against Collingwood we played absolutely crap. It could only get better from there. But tonight we played pretty well but got shown up by a far superior team, in much the same way we did with the Bombers and Tigers, but really in the short term how much better can it realistically get from that performance?

Now I am a big believer in the direction we are heading so my above comment relate only to the here and now, not how we are building for next year. But we are building well for next year and beyond, so I dont much worry about either loss, but dont fall into this honorable loss bullshit. Neither were good losses to watch but at least we can keep learning from them. I enjoyed tonights game much more than the Collingwood game but in the end neither of them mean that much except in the value of the lessons we learn from them. I am however grateful that the morons on here think this was a "good" loss so at least we dont have to read sack this guy or sack that guy adnausium for the next week.

I think you're kidding yourself! When we played Collingwood you could tell they really dropped off in the last qtr and let us get a few late goals back. They really should of beaten us by 80+ The scoreboard nowhere near reflected the way we played against them.

The same goes for Geelong. We played a lot better than the scoreboard reflected. Hence, 'An honourable, good loss.' We showed a lot more heart than the Collingwood game, so i don't get how you would prefer the Pies loss over the Cats loss.

I get what you're saying with us throwing everything at the Cats and nothing at the Pies yet the scoreboard reading the same. But i think i'm talking for most when i say i'd rather die trying then never to have tried at all.

I also believe that Geelong are still a better team than Collingwood. I think Geelong are still the benchmark for 2010.

 

[Artie Bucco]

Really what was pleasing was so many of our guys (and theirs) had below par games, yet the pressure applied kept us in the game.

What we need

• Big bodied defender
• Mclean to get his body right
• The ability for Yarran, Garlett and Betts to have stints in the midfield and really add to our midfield rotations
• Keep bulking up, our pace is great for a lot of home and away games, but last night showed how easily most of the bigger Geelong players shrugged us off in tackles

We're not far off top 4...we're heading in the right direction, cannot wait until it all comes together

 

[40yearBLUE]

There is no such thing as a good loss. At least the boys showed some promise last night. Catters had more poise, skill and ability to handle the pressure. Result only ballooned because of the our lack of intensity after the game was beyond winning (would have preferred to play game out) and if game was tight intensity wouldnt have dropped off

Game beyond winning? If this were round 22 and we were out of finals contention maybe. But percentage may decide a home final. Nothing to play for? No the result blew out because we were not in the same class. Nothing to do with our desire failing, intensity would have fallen because we dont have the same fitness that the Cats have. Nor the same mental toughness. It will take a couple more seasons together to get to that level.

It is coming though. We are on track. Perhaps as early as next year we will make it into the top 4, not fall into it but deserve to be there. Not too unhappy with that game nor with the season. A first week final win would top it off nicely but playing interstate may make that a tall order. All possibly because of a fall off in the last 20 minutes. Another lesson the boys will learn.

 

[Blue and Silver]

I felt asthough we were out classed and out played, but not out fought.

In my mind the team that played Geelong this week will not be our best 22 next year, and that we have some talented players to re-join this outfit yet. While the spirit that Hadley and Ellard gave was welcome, we need players like Mclean, Kreuzer, Lucas, Joseph and Hampson back.

 

[40yearBLUE]

I think you're kidding yourself! When we played Collingwood you could tell they really dropped off in the last qtr and let us get a few late goals back. They really should of beaten us by 80+ The scoreboard nowhere near reflected the way we played against them.

The same goes for Geelong. We played a lot better than the scoreboard reflected. Hence, 'An honourable, good loss.' We showed a lot more heart than the Collingwood game, so i don't get how you would prefer the Pies loss over the Cats loss.

I get what you're saying with us throwing everything at the Cats and nothing at the Pies yet the scoreboard reading the same. But i think i'm talking for most when i say i'd rather die trying then never to have tried at all.

I also believe that Geelong are still a better team than Collingwood. I think Geelong are still the benchmark for 2010.

I dont think either loss was particularly good for different reasons, I have already highlighted why the Pies loss gives me more to be positive about than the Geelong loss in the short term but I dont much care about the short term other than the instant gratification that wins always give, but I am also enjoying watching this team grow. It was a loss no worse or with no more impact albeit for differing deficiencies in each game, both had reasons to be both disappointed and hopeful.

And I would find it particularly galling if as you suggest we scored goals against the Pies only when they let us but I found it equally annoying that we wasted so many chances to keep the Cats under scoreboard pressure (but a lot of the reason for that was their relentless pressure and as a result implied pressure that we must learn to deal with) and then they scored so easily in the last quarter to make the loss much worse and on a par with the Pies loss when it would appear that it wasnt. But the truth is it was as bad a loss. Neither mean that much in a learning year but are damning for different reasons. No matter. But lets no kid ourselves that one loss was any worse than the other, because history will reflect they were similar losses for differing reasons.

But I believe both losses were good for the same reason. They are lessons. Whether lessons about what you must bring or lessons about positioning or execution of skills or not to panic moving into the 50, or the level of fitness and body size needed, etc both provided the coaches with hours of good video lessons for the team to learn from.

Anyway, there is still always next week, and then in a couple of weeks (hopefully at least 3) there will always be next year.

 

[Cazbah]

I dont think either loss was particularly good for different reasons, I have already highlighted why the Pies loss gives me more to be positive about than the Geelong loss in the short term but I dont much care about the short term other than the instant gratification that wins always give, but I am also enjoying watching this team grow. It was a loss no worse or with no more impact albeit for differing deficiencies in each game, both had reasons to be both disappointed and hopeful.

And I would find it particularly galling if as you suggest we scored goals against the Pies only when they let us but I found it equally annoying that we wasted so many chances to keep the Cats under scoreboard pressure (but a lot of the reason for that was their relentless pressure and as a result implied pressure that we must learn to deal with) and then they scored so easily in the last quarter to make the loss much worse and on a par with the Pies loss when it would appear that it wasnt. But the truth is it was as bad a loss. Neither mean that much in a learning year but are damning for different reasons. No matter. But lets no kid ourselves that one loss was any worse than the other, because history will reflect they were similar losses for differing reasons.

But I believe both losses were good for the same reason. They are lessons. Whether lessons about what you must bring or lessons about positioning or execution of skills or not to panic moving into the 50, or the level of fitness and body size needed, etc both provided the coaches with hours of good video lessons for the team to learn from.

Anyway, there is still always next week, and then in a couple of weeks (hopefully at least 3) there will always be next year.

I agree it is a lesson for Carlton and they will take away things from both losses. I just still think our loss last night was a far better loss than the one against Collingwood where we looked disinterested. I'd take a lot more away from our game against Geelong over our game against Collingwood.

You're right about our body size and level of fitness, i think that next year we'll only go forward and hopefully push Geelong and Collingwood even harder and get closer to a win.

 

[No1Suspect]

We gave 100% and got thrashed .. hardly good news.

They showed how far away we are from real success.

Key defenders got monstered
Kicking skills are horrible
Lack of depth in mid rotations

Only positives for me were

Robbie and our overall effort.

hit the nail on that one!!

One thing i do notice in most games and it frustrates me beyond belief is,
for a club with some of the best onballers and thinkers of the game in the last 20 years ie; Diesel Ratts Bradles Harvey, our handballing in close, in general and thinking our way through situations is absolutely pathetic sometimes!
Example: Grigg marked and played on with 3 geelong players around him which he knew where there and got caught with the ball. Dumb.

Also i'd love a dollar for everytime Player X handpasses it to Player Y who is under more pressure than they are.. its almost like hot potatoe and they want to pass the buck and let someone else decide what to do with the footy. Thank god for Bryce's disposal and composure out of defence otherwise it'd be a bit more than 7 goals.

For me, last night certainly found out a few players when push comes to shove its left to too few all the time! I know everyone pats judd on the back for tryin hard but if everyone took a leaf out of Kades book it'd do wonders.

One thing is certain.. come draft day i'd be moving heaven and earth to secure someone like Watson... bower and jamo are simply to small and got school yard bullied last night and maybe instead of this superior athlete rubbish get some players with some smarts.

Geelong didn't play all that well last night and still done us by 7 goals... we're a long way off the mark yet...

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Example: Grigg marked and played on with 3 geelong players around him which he knew where there and got caught with the ball. Dumb

I don't think this example is fair.

Grigg managed to get it out to a player nearby. I think he knew that player was there, so decided to take them on, knowing he had support if it didn't come off.

Nothing wrong with that play.

 

[Malifice]

Thought we stood up fairly well last night aside from that last quarter.

If we hadve nailed our chances in the third... who knows.

The big difference for mine:

a) Marking forwards. They had them, we didnt.

b) Geelongs superior ball movement. Lost track of the number of times they were able to move the ball from one side of the ground to the other without a Carlton player getting his hands to the footy. Precise stuff from a team that runs hard for each other, presents well and backs its own players win the footy.

For the record:

Carlton: Ave. Age: 23 yrs 240 days. Ave. Games: 73
Geelong: Ave. Age: 26 yrs 277 days. Ave. Games: 137

Thats a whopping difference in experience and maturity - and it showed.

 

[No1Suspect]

I don't think this example is fair.

Grigg managed to get it out to a player nearby. I think he knew that player was there, so decided to take them on, knowing he had support if it didn't come off.

Nothing wrong with that play.

Trying to turn and run with 3 geelong players within 2 metres of you is blatant stupidity, he was on the edge of the centre square..
why not sprint back and try to hit up a forward?

Dumb.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

a) Marking forwards. They had them, we didnt

Pretty sure the commentators made a point of highlighting in the 3rd quarter that we had taken more marks inside our forward 50 - could be wrong though.

Carlton: Ave. Age: 23 yrs 240 days. Ave. Games: 73
Geelong: Ave. Age: 26 yrs 277 days. Ave. Games: 137

I assume it would have been similar earlier in the year, or possibly even a wider gap.

 

[No1Suspect]

Thought we stood up fairly well last night aside from that last quarter.

If we hadve nailed our chances in the third... who knows.

The big difference for mine:

a) Marking forwards. They had them, we didnt.

b) Geelongs superior ball movement. Lost track of the number of times they were able to move the ball from one side of the ground to the other without a Carlton player getting his hands to the footy. Precise stuff from a team that runs hard for each other, presents well and backs its own players win the footy.

For the record:

Carlton: Ave. Age: 23 yrs 240 days. Ave. Games: 73
Geelong: Ave. Age: 26 yrs 277 days. Ave. Games: 137

Thats a whopping difference in experience and maturity - and it showed.

Semi agree with the ave. difference mal... but having said that.. T.Hunt, Menzel even Duncan look smarter, harder more composed and better developed bodywise than some of the players we've had playing seniors for us for 3 -4 years!

 

[Malifice]

Semi agree with the ave. difference mal... but having said that.. T.Hunt, Menzel even Duncan look smarter, harder more composed and better developed bodywise than some of the players we've had playing seniors for us for 3 -4 years!

For similar reasons that Beams and Sidebottom from the Pies look so good.

When you have dangerous senior players like Chapman, Ablett, Bartell, Selwood etc running around, the lesser lights don't get the attention they might ordinarily receive.

You run off those lesser lights and they punish you going the other way.