Negative-free zone

[pepalenko]

Over the last 7 weeks I have questioned some of the things happening at our club and internally and externally been critical of individuals.
It's amazing what a performance like last night can do to my thinking. Added to this, I was also spending less time on this board because of all the speculation and negativity.
I know deep down that any amount of venting and bitching about something I don't like will not influence a thing at the footy club. So I would like to propose that this thread be for posting only positives whether we win or lose.

Firstly great moves by coaching staff, in particular Duigan and Armfield's roles.
Amen to our BEST ruckman K.
Robbo, most consistent year yet.
Two guys that I want mention are Brock and Joseph, who played their best games last night.

So even in losses I will go against my instinct to be pessimistic and try and find positives. Over the last 2 months the emergence of Watson and Boots come to mind.
Hopefully everyone accepts the thread in the good spirit it was intended.
Cheers.
Go Blues.

 

[SE_Blue]

How good was Army last night?

 

[40yearBLUE]

Over the last 7 weeks I have questioned some of the things happening at our club and internally and externally been critical of individuals.
It's amazing what a performance like last night can do to my thinking. Added to this, I was also spending less time on this board because of all the speculation and negativity.
I know deep down that any amount of venting and bitching about something I don't like will not influence a thing at the footy club. So I would like to propose that this thread be for posting only positives whether we win or lose.

Firstly great moves by coaching staff, in particular Duigan and Armfield's roles.
Amen to our BEST ruckman K.
Robbo, most consistent year yet.
Two guys that I want mention are Brock and Joseph, who played their best games last night.

So even in losses I will go against my instinct to be pessimistic and try and find positives. Over the last 2 months the emergence of Watson and Boots come to mind.
Hopefully everyone accepts the thread in the good spirit it was intended.
Cheers.
Go Blues.

Nice thread.

The stand out thing about the Duigan move was that Ratts chose a bloke with the temperament to stand up. When he took the chest marks in the first and early in the second he showed everyone that he intended to take the responsibility of having a shot instead of passing off. He took it on and kicked them both. Great head on those shoulders. It gives the players around him a lift when someone takes on the responsibility and delivers.

 

[blue gunslinger]

How good was Army last night?

Ellard and Army =meat and potatoes = heart and soul

 

[Aphrodite]

This is a negative free zone.

Please keep it that way folks.


The same repetitive negativity does not have to spill over from other threads.

 

[rhys_22]

you guys played really well last night.It may sound a bit weird coming from a pie supporter but i have been a huge supporter of brett ratten this year.I have felt bad for him,he has had a lot of injuries to deal with not to mention the disgrace that is the media putting his head on the chopping block.I thought chris judd wasnt injured and just past it but last night he proved he is nowhere near past it he is a gun. It was good to see the carlton players make a statement for ratts. You guys wanted it more and deserved the win in the end. Maybe coz my mums a blues supporter haha.maybe thats why im being nice lol.

 

[OldBlueFan]

Nice thread. In recent times, this board has made a bad situation worse. Let's hope the club and the board have both turned the corner

While we're on the subject of positives ... can anyone remember a more poised and "looked like he belonged" debut than McInness' in recent times? I was thinking about it today while watching the replay and the best I can remember is Robinson's debut in the opening round against the Tigers a couple of years back.

I'm not counting mature recruits like Duigan, Laidler and Curnow cos they'd all been around a while. I'm thinking mainly of the young blokes.

But when you put it in context, the position the club was in, the quality of the opposition, the lack of big experienced bodies for support etc etc, I think McInness' effort shades Robbo's. Even when he made mistakes, it didn't seem to phase him, he just looked more determined in the next contest.

That tackle on the wing where he held up Dawes and caused the turnover was a pearler.

I'd be happy to be corrected, but just at the moment, I can't think of a better debut in recent years.

 

[Beloved]

Friday night's performance was so pleasing for me because it was the perfect game. We didn't go to sleep for ten minutes, we didn't have one bad quarter and made up for it, we didn't have one or two players that were cruising. Everyone played a great game and best of all, everyone contributed. It was a real team victory, the first we've had since Round 3 against Collingwood, and then not for a very long time before that.

We still have a lot of work to do this season and will need a similar effort against North next week at Etihad, but for now I'm happy to sit back and look at that team performance and raise a glass.

 

[pepalenko]

To me Watson is growing in stature with each game and I also noted that he sang the song with a bit of gusto.
At the beginning of the year I was worried that he lacked intensity or seemed isolated from the rest of the group, but now he is playing with more confidence.
That shot at goal he had from 70 meters out (even though he shanked it) told me that. I was also impressed to find him higher up the ground at times which suggests that his fitness is also improving.
He may turn out to be this year's Lachie Henderson, the guy who stepped up in defence due to injuries.

 

[Beloved]

To me Watson is growing in stature with each game and I also noted that he sang the song with a bit of gusto.
At the beginning of the year I was worried that he lacked intensity or seemed isolated from the rest of the group, but now he is playing with more confidence.
That shot at goal he had from 70 meters out (even though he shanked it) told me that. I was also impressed to find him higher up the ground at times which suggests that his fitness is also improving.
He may turn out to be this year's Lachie Henderson, the guy who stepped up in defence due to injuries.

I could only laugh when he was selected, not because he didn't deserve it, but because he couldn't hit a target 20m away at VFL level, yet his kicking is one of his best traits at AFL level. I think he's just one of those players that plays better at the top level.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Collins as o lead out fwd is the future. Had my $$ on casboult

 

[pepalenko]

The most positive thing is Ratts finally persisted with Lucas and Collins, they are both the big-bodied types of players we need. Collins will eventually take Waite's spot as a lead-up forward. His decision making is a bit suss, but give him a few games against some crap teams and things will click.

Lucas was really good, and will get better, and he has a beautiful kick.

BUT...we can kiss making the 8 goodbye, and that was the big disappointment this year, we really should have done better, and it's been the same the last 2 years...Our depth was found horrible wanting, and our ability to chop-and-change and adapt was left too-little too-late, so maybe dropping down the ladder will give us some draft picks to top up and plug the leaking holes especially in our Eddie-Betts-only forward line.

not convinced we'll miss the 8 yet.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

The most positive thing is Ratts finally persisted with Lucas and Collins, they are both the big-bodied types of players we need. Collins will eventually take Waite's spot as a lead-up forward. His decision making is a bit suss, but give him a few games against some crap teams and things will click.

Lucas was really good, and will get better, and he has a beautiful kick.

Err, with a positive happy face on, Lucas didn't play and Collins is more of a Walker type and probably won't take the place of a tall forward. However, don't worry, be happy.

 

[laminex]

How good was Army last night?

Army is the type of player who need to put in 110% every time or he look of the boil, He adds so much to the team and seems to work really hard at getting the best out of himself.

 

[pepalenko]

All of a sudden things looking up with improved performances in the reserves over the last couple of weeks. Suddenly a few fringe players standing up and rookies pressing. Players coming back from injury, and a sniff of confidence.
Season on.

 

[JustaBattler]

Outstanding games from Judd, Kreuzer Jamison and Carrazzo but was was really sweet was to see other players lift and perform at higher levels.

Armfield and Duigan played outstanding defensive roles on key wobblers - and not only managed to nullify their counterparts - but also kicked goals. Duigan being played on Maxwell was a fantastic move on the part of Ratts that paid off big time - eliminating their loved loose man strategy by making Maxwell accountable. Armfield stopped Shaws run of HB beautifully. Watson has good pace in a straight line a surprising ability to run with and I agree him appearing up front to take a booming shoot is a very strong sign for the future - few teams have a defender who can occasionally sneak a 60 meter kick at goal this really scares the living daylights out of any so called structured defence. Collins showed again that he is potentially a very classy player - he has skill and he is not afraid to get his head over the ball - execution will come with experience and confidence. Gartlett applied great defnsive pressure and at one stage I thought he was playing as an inside midfield - one remarkable episode saw him do three continuous separate efforts to stop the ball. he is badly out of form as far as kicking goes- but if his defensive effort is anything to go by - his goals will come as well. Yarran has the type of speed which is difficult to describe - he moves so smoothly it is as if opposition players are in slow motion - Chris literally sliced them up with his run and his kicking was back to elite he repeated his ability to run away with ease on so many wobblers it was amazing - and his beating 5 defenders and then goaling in just barely enough space to turn was as good as Eddie's from a few weeks ago - maybe better because he was 35-40 meters out. How good was Walker's goal turning on the boundat with a wobbler hanging on and then running to goal. He is best played in the forward line for sure. Mclean made two fantastic marks under pressure at HB and his inside play is obviously good enough to release Walker up front. If he keeps performing as well as this i wudl be great for the Club. Curnow and Joseph were better than solid both running with more pace than seen in a while.

The injury situation at the Club has been under estimated I reckon - not only were the missing players amongst our best 14 - but many players were playing exhausted from a 4 game 6 day and travel turnaround.

I think the win was an emphatic player endorsement of the Coach - and the win is also probably the biggest middle finger salute by the Club to the media one could possibly have hoped for.

As for players playing better in firsts - this is a natural phenomenon I would think - playing with the best players always gives someone more confidence. The success of Watson and Collins (and McGinness last night) so far will encourage more use of younger players if they earn their spot - I look forward to seeing Levi Casboult and his big frame let loose in due course. Lots to look forward to.

 

[Beer n Skittles]

Great thread
Loved McInnes getting into Dawes, that's another young defender with a bit of mongrel (Boots being the other)

 

[Stig O'Hara]

..........

I think the win was an emphatic player endorsement of the Coach - and the win is also probably the biggest middle finger salute by the Club to the media one could possibly have hoped for.

.......

Indeed.

 

[The Coach]

All of a sudden things looking up with improved performances in the reserves over the last couple of weeks. Suddenly a few fringe players standing up and rookies pressing. Players coming back from injury, and a sniff of confidence.
Season on.

I will put a positive spin on it but have to be factual.
We finally improved in the reserves this week against the bottom team.
But yeah - the additon of a hard nut like Ellard is what we need in NBs every week to show them the way. Positive less injuries will see this happening

 

[I bleed Blue]

How bloody good was Hammers tap to Collins against the Pies.

Yeeeooowww... gets me excited every time I watch it.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Tackling and pressure was terrific all night, even inspired the MCG security staff with their gang chase, run down and tackle of the ground invader!

 

[40yearBLUE]

Very difficult to make the negative of Hammers injury into a positive, but the truth of it is unless Casboult can step up we need 3 rucks on the list and Warnock will now get his chance again. We all know he can play, we just need him to become more consistent. Kruze may well revel in being the sole ruck but the fact is he wont be able to sustain that long term, his body wont hold out for it. So hopefully Warnock gets another go, has a real crack, Kruze settles in to sharing the role and providing the around the ground grunt work we know he loves and 206 signs back on. We cant afford to go in to too many games with only one ruck, and if 206 leaves for lack of opportunity then we would then either have to go find another or ensure Casboult can play ruck at senior level.

Its a shame for Hammer, he has played some good footy this season. Look forward to seeing him again next year.

 

[The Toad]

I was super impressed with Collins. Yes, he did make a couple of mistakes, but the one thing that got was his poise. He never looked panicked, very calm. This in time we might have a very good player there.

 

[HARKER]

I was super impressed with Collins. Yes, he did make a couple of mistakes, but the one thing that got was his poise. He never looked panicked, very calm. This in time we might have a very good player there.

Collins's time is now.
Beautifully balanced player with plenty of smarts and very good hands.
All he has to do is stop worrying about "what ifs" and just attack the game at full pelt.

Just on ages, isn't it hard to believe that Watson is still only 19? (O.K. he's 20 next week, but the argument sounds better this way)
Really liked the way he threw himself at some important contests on Friday night. I was very impressed.

 

[Azzurro]

Great thread!

I just love the passion the guys played with. In my experience, in competitive sports/industries, "mindset" is everything.

There is a massive difference between KNOWING you CAN do better and BELIEVING you WILL do better. It's a fine line, but it means so much.

The "reckless abandonment" Juddy was on about was there for all to see on Friday night, and I can't wait for the next instalment!

Special mentions: Duigan, Yarran, Juddy (naturally!)... well, when I think about it, there's not a single player I expected more from, in terms of their efforts. As for skill execution - well, that will follow with increased confidence from playing this way week after week, but Jeffy HAS to turn the corner soon surely, he just can't buy a goal at the moment poor bloke. Robbo is my fav of them all (he's on my member card!) but the errors he makes are so easily fixed - when that happens, watch out AFL.