Blu3_Boy
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Ratten: Hawks our ultimate test
Carlton coach Brett Ratten admits a clash with reigning premier Hawthorn this week represents the ultimate measure of just how much the Blues have improved in 2009.
The Blues have won three of their first five games and are coming off a significant 43-point win over last year's preliminary finalists Western Bulldogs as they attempt to reach the finals for the first time since 2001.
However Ratten has no doubt that Saturday's much-anticipated clash against the Hawks at the MCG will give him a much better guide as to whether Carlton is again ready to match it with the competition's big boys.
"They have given us a few nasty whacks over the last few years and they look like they are getting their form back," Ratten said of Hawthorn, which won its second game for the season on the weekend by beating West Coast in Launceston.
The Blues' recent record against Hawthorn makes for ugly reading for Carlton fans. Not only have the Blues lost their past five matches against Hawthorn by an average of 51 points but in their last two meetings they have been humiliated by 100 points and 78 points, although both those games were at Etihad Stadium.
"It will be a challenge for our players to respond and see if we have taken the next step against a team that has bullied us in the past," Ratten said.
While the Hawks have started their premiership defence slowly, Ratten can see signs that Alastair Clarkson's team is just about to hit top gear.
"They are getting their players back, with (Jordan) Lewis back and (Brad) Sewell getting the (Anzac) medal for best on ground (against West Coast) and then there is their forward line with 'Buddy' (Franklin), (Jarryd) Roughead and Cyril Rioli."
In fact Saturday's clash throws up this season's four leading goalkickers to date with Franklin and Roughead and Carlton pair Brendan Fevola and Eddie Betts all locked together on 16 goals in the early race for this year's Coleman Medal.
But Ratten believes the ever-improving Rioli could be just as dangerous to the Blues' hope of a first win in four years against Carlton as Franklin and Roughead. "He is very talented," Ratten said of Rioli.
"And they have got some other kids that are really underestimated like (Thomas) Murphy and (Brendan) Whitecross and (Garry) Moss have also come in and done a super job."
Ratten: Hawks our ultimate test
Carlton coach Brett Ratten admits a clash with reigning premier Hawthorn this week represents the ultimate measure of just how much the Blues have improved in 2009.
The Blues have won three of their first five games and are coming off a significant 43-point win over last year's preliminary finalists Western Bulldogs as they attempt to reach the finals for the first time since 2001.
However Ratten has no doubt that Saturday's much-anticipated clash against the Hawks at the MCG will give him a much better guide as to whether Carlton is again ready to match it with the competition's big boys.
"They have given us a few nasty whacks over the last few years and they look like they are getting their form back," Ratten said of Hawthorn, which won its second game for the season on the weekend by beating West Coast in Launceston.
The Blues' recent record against Hawthorn makes for ugly reading for Carlton fans. Not only have the Blues lost their past five matches against Hawthorn by an average of 51 points but in their last two meetings they have been humiliated by 100 points and 78 points, although both those games were at Etihad Stadium.
"It will be a challenge for our players to respond and see if we have taken the next step against a team that has bullied us in the past," Ratten said.
While the Hawks have started their premiership defence slowly, Ratten can see signs that Alastair Clarkson's team is just about to hit top gear.
"They are getting their players back, with (Jordan) Lewis back and (Brad) Sewell getting the (Anzac) medal for best on ground (against West Coast) and then there is their forward line with 'Buddy' (Franklin), (Jarryd) Roughead and Cyril Rioli."
In fact Saturday's clash throws up this season's four leading goalkickers to date with Franklin and Roughead and Carlton pair Brendan Fevola and Eddie Betts all locked together on 16 goals in the early race for this year's Coleman Medal.
But Ratten believes the ever-improving Rioli could be just as dangerous to the Blues' hope of a first win in four years against Carlton as Franklin and Roughead. "He is very talented," Ratten said of Rioli.
"And they have got some other kids that are really underestimated like (Thomas) Murphy and (Brendan) Whitecross and (Garry) Moss have also come in and done a super job."
