Ratten

[Bluebear]

Maybe Ratten has lost the players?

Maybe they don't want to play for him either anymore.

 

[bLuEbOy1984]

1. drops houlihan. in our best 8 players for the year and if you don't think so, then you just don't watch carlton closely enough
for an experianced player he didnt put his body on the line last week.. cost us dearly ... deserved

2. has a guy named brad fisher in the two's. a more than capable footballer and at his best a very very good AFL footballer. also dont like paying reserved players around 300k
fisher is not showing any signs of improving at the moment, his not setting the 2nds alight at the moment, when his right he will come back

3. cloke is useless and has been given to many chances. 3 worst on grounds given by 3aw in six games, say no more

maybe the only point you have,

4. jordan russell possbly the biggest joke to represent the carlton football club, yet continually gets a starting game each week
does his job week in week out... he works hard for the team unlike others around him

5. heath scotland was dropped for 2 games this year. who do we think we are n who does ratten think he is to drop a guy of his calibre
understandabley probaly the only thing worth mentioning.. but it did the trick he said himself he was shocked but made him more hungrier.. hence the good performances the last few weeks

6. carazzo has 46 possessions yet he has to get the 55 the week after to get back in. his first vfl performance didnt cut it :0
last year we went into games underdone.. he came back from an injury he had to go back and play a few games under his belt get his fitness up a little... pretty clear cut and simple if you ask me

7. at no point this year has he picked his best available 22 for a game, always leaving someone out who is more capable than another

irrelevant point

8. how naive he was against hawthorn. this is just how stupidly he thinks - ohhh hawthorn are tough in clearances and sewell is a big body so i will play this guy 'bentley' who is the same. pitty bentley is no better than VFL average, whilst hadley sat in the two's. think about it F*ck
9. same theory applies this week when he played hampson because he is tall and so is sandilands. well the glaring issue is that HAMPSON IS FOOTBALL ILLITERATE!
bently was doing very well in the 2's his selection was justified by his attack on the footy and how well he has been playiong in the 2's... hence we even upgraded him from rookie ...
Hammer everyone knows is a long term prospect, his not going to be dean cox over night, but for him once in a while you need to show him the big time to give them a helping and show them what its about...

10. YOU ARE COACHING YOURSELF TO AN EARLY SACKING!!!!!!
come on mate you honestly think that ?

p.s to the ratten lovers who feel he is flawless and does nothing wrong are going to think i am just a basher because we are losing. open your eyes and realise these flaws because they have been going nearly two months now and are costing us badly and is clearly the common dinominator to why we have lost more than we have won.[/quote]

 

[Go_Blueboyzzz]

- Russell = PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A FOOTBALLER! Does absolutely nothing, in his 5th year and is a top 10 pick and is absolutely nowhere to be seen. Look at a guy like barham from collingwood, and i am not comparing the two. he has no skill whatsoever yet in his first game he had 30odd touches. When is russell going to have one of these games. High possesison stand out games. answer NEVER! If he is not the first guy dropped this week, well the facts will forever back up my ratten comments

- HOULIHAN - sorry the guy had a bad game, F**K the world is ending! I would not even classify it bad, i would classify it average. One game does not result in a dropping, specially when you offer his skills. Russell may do some good defensive work which i never ever seem to see, nor does it ever get commented on by the wider community, does not even compare to the class poise and decision - making in which houlihan offers

- BENTLEY - The thing is i don't blame bentley, he has a crack but he is just not up to senior standard. You keep repeating his twos form and how GOOD it has been. Thats all good but he is keeping out a guy who has had good 'SENIORS' form. See the defining words between these guys form is one has done it at VFL and the other at AFL

* I will never forget reading an article that stated how committed ratten is and how he works from 7am - 7pm. What does he do there for 12 hours? How can you spend this many hours coaching a side and make the most basic of errors? In your planning can't he see russell (mr. pick 9) cloke (dud) hampson (football illiterate) and bentley (VFL legend) don't cut it!

 

[40yearBLUE]

^^^^ was gonna launch in but in the end I can see it would be a total waste of time.

Barracker.

 

[dc king]

Care to dissect each point he made and explain without the benefit of hindsight the merits of each selection or non-selection? If not, you too are a hindsight detractor.

Alright. For one, you just don't drop the best kick in your team after playing 1 or even 2 bad games. Sure Houlihan is soft and what not, but you need players like him in the team that can set up goals with pin point accuracy etc.

Why would he waste his time with Cloke and at least give Fisher a shot? Doesnt make sense to me. Fisher at least has enough speed to chase and put some pressure on. He's even a better mark than Cloke.

Hampson hadn't done much in the seconds to warrant a selection this week so why was he given a shot? Just because Sandilands is the biggest player in the AFL doesnt mean we should bring in our tallest available player just so we can attempt to win some hitouts. Id prefur he stuck with O'Hailpin or just Kreuzer who would at least have beaten him around the ground...

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Alright. For one, you just don't drop the best kick in your team after playing 1 or even 2 bad games. Sure Houlihan is soft and what not, but you need players like him in the team that can set up goals with pin point accuracy etc.

Why would he waste his time with Cloke and at least give Fisher a shot? Doesnt make sense to me. Fisher at least has enough speed to chase and put some pressure on. He's even a better mark than Cloke.

Maybe because Fisher had done nothing playing for the Bullants and probably showed a little something for the first time on the weekend, not a lot, but something. Cloke on the other hand was giving 100%, tries harder to exert pressure on the defenders and makes his tackles stick. He also pinch hits as a ruckman so provides some versatility that Fisher does not have. I'm a supporter of Fisher but I can understand why the decision was made. You are only coming out in hindsight once we lose and Cloke plays poorly.

I wouldn't be adverse to making the change this week however but maybe the MC will expect Cloke to lift against his old side and will give him another chance.

Hampson hadn't done much in the seconds to warrant a selection this week so why was he given a shot? Just because Sandilands is the biggest player in the AFL doesnt mean we should bring in our tallest available player just so we can attempt to win some hitouts. Id prefur he stuck with O'Hailpin or just Kreuzer who would at least have beaten him around the ground...

I already explained this and you go and write the same crap as your predecessor did. Firstly, Hampson was in the Bullants best in rounds 2 and 3 of the VFL season and was serviceable in round 4, the week that he came in. That probably takes away from your 'hadn't done much' comment which was ill informed.

Secondly, Hampson in a practice match against Freo overseas a couple of seasons back, was jumping over the top of Sandilands in the ruck. Perhaps we were trying to catch lightning in a bottle but we knew the other rucks did not have enough of a leap to do the same. So he had decent VFL form and the possibility of getting over Sandilands. O'hAilpin had no hope.

There is plenty of rhyme and reason for selections if you take the time to think about it.

 

[dc king]

Maybe because Fisher had done nothing playing for the Bullants and probably showed a little something for the first time on the weekend, not a lot, but something. Cloke on the other hand was giving 100%, tries harder to exert pressure on the defenders and makes his tackles stick. He also pinch hits as a ruckman so provides some versatility that Fisher does not have. I'm a supporter of Fisher but I can understand why the decision was made. You are only coming out in hindsight once we lose and Cloke plays poorly.

I wouldn't be adverse to making the change this week however but maybe the MC will expect Cloke to lift against his old side and will give him another chance.



I already explained this and you go and write the same crap as your predecessor did. Firstly, Hampson was in the Bullants best in rounds 2 and 3 of the VFL season and was serviceable in round 4, the week that he came in. That probably takes away from your 'hadn't done much' comment which was ill informed.

Secondly, Hampson in a practice match against Freo overseas a couple of seasons back, was jumping over the top of Sandilands in the ruck. Perhaps we were trying to catch lightning in a bottle but we knew the other rucks did not have enough of a leap to do the same. So he had decent VFL form and the possibility of getting over Sandilands. O'hAilpin had no hope.

There is plenty of rhyme and reason for selections if you take the time to think about it.

Mate fair enough thats your opinion but dont go callin what i say crap. You cant honestly sit there and tell yourself Ratten is that great a coach. He's made some seriously questionable mistakes this year that cant be denyed.
Bringing in Bentley...what the hell...after Hadley was playing great football.
Dropping Houlihan was a joke, as i said i couldnt care if he has 1 or 2 bad games, he has shown on many occasions this year he is a very skilled player and can be more than serviceable.
What kind of coach brings in a ruckman based on what happened 2 years ago?

He's made too many obvious mistakes for my liking. Tell me if we didnt have Niel Craig or Rodney Eade we would be at least 5-2.

 

[cookie monster]

Maybe because Fisher had done nothing playing for the Bullants and probably showed a little something for the first time on the weekend, not a lot, but something. Cloke on the other hand was giving 100%, tries harder to exert pressure on the defenders and makes his tackles stick. He also pinch hits as a ruckman so provides some versatility that Fisher does not have. I'm a supporter of Fisher but I can understand why the decision was made. You are only coming out in hindsight once we lose and Cloke plays poorly.

I wouldn't be adverse to making the change this week however but maybe the MC will expect Cloke to lift against his old side and will give him another chance.



I already explained this and you go and write the same crap as your predecessor did. Firstly, Hampson was in the Bullants best in rounds 2 and 3 of the VFL season and was serviceable in round 4, the week that he came in. That probably takes away from your 'hadn't done much' comment which was ill informed.

Secondly, Hampson in a practice match against Freo overseas a couple of seasons back, was jumping over the top of Sandilands in the ruck. Perhaps we were trying to catch lightning in a bottle but we knew the other rucks did not have enough of a leap to do the same. So he had decent VFL form and the possibility of getting over Sandilands. O'hAilpin had no hope.

There is plenty of rhyme and reason for selections if you take the time to think about it.

that kind of thinking would have seen bannister playing against essendon. rhyme and reason much kent?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Mate fair enough thats your opinion but dont go callin what i say crap.

I said one of your contentions was crap because it had already been answered and you ignored it. You have gone on to do it again below yet again, but let's not spoil the ending just yet.

You cant honestly sit there and tell yourself Ratten is that great a coach. He's made some seriously questionable mistakes this year that cant be denyed.

I didn't say anything about Ratten and his worth as a coach. I am just responding to hindsight claptrap from cherry picking supporters.

Bringing in Bentley...what the hell...after Hadley was playing great football.

Newsflash. Bentley did not come in to replace Hadley. Hadley was dropped after round 4 after two ordinary games which we lost. Bentley was doing well in the VFL at that time but did not come into the side until round 6. If players in the AFL are out of form, they get dropped and players in the VFL in form usually get a chance to show something. You see how selection works?

I would never have Bentley in the side ahead of Hadley but what do I know .... I couldn't understand how Jamison got elevated for his first game and Flint got delisted either. Lucky the coaches know more than we do huh, and occasionally they get one right that creates a whole career and plenty of supporter enjoyment.

Dropping Houlihan was a joke, as i said i couldnt care if he has 1 or 2 bad games, he has shown on many occasions this year he is a very skilled player and can be more than serviceable.

Well his 68% efficiency against the Hawks was sub par considering only 5 of his 19 possessions were kicks and 5 of his possessions were contested. Factoring in a lack of accountability, intensity and possibly taking some short steps, after he went public and announced that Ratts had told him to work on the physical aspect of his game.

Two players came in to the side that could possibly be considered to have replaced Houlihan. Hadley, who you surely couldn't complain about considering you thought it was a joke he was dropped in the first place and Yarran whose debut was encouraging and who is one of the future group to take us forward.

If Houlihan did not meet KPI's expected of him, then the coach has every right to drop him. He is hardly a developing youngster any more.

What kind of coach brings in a ruckman based on what happened 2 years ago?

Ah, at last we get to it. Time will tell if it was worth the wait.

So you chose to totally ignore the bit about Hampson's good VFL form .... which happened in 2009 ... which incidentally is this year?

The fact that he has jumped all over Sandilands once before merely shows that he has the leap and ability to do it, not that he will do it. I'd rather take a chance on getting a heart transplant from a surgeon who has done the operation before, even if it was 2 years ago, rather than an Irish GP who will give it a go.

He's made too many obvious mistakes for my liking. Tell me if we didnt have Niel Craig or Rodney Eade we wouldnt be at least 5-2.

The same Neil Craig who has his Crows side sitting at 3-4, coincidentally the same points as us, or the same Rodney Eade who has his highly rated Dogs side sitting a 4-3 after a similar slump in forward before this week?

Impossible to tell.

I've read the pamphlets from the 'Grass is Greener' party. Just not sure I am ready to vote for them without seeing what the worm says.

 

[cookie monster]

Mate fair enough thats your opinion but dont go callin what i say crap. You cant honestly sit there and tell yourself Ratten is that great a coach. He's made some seriously questionable mistakes this year that cant be denyed.
Bringing in Bentley...what the hell...after Hadley was playing great football.
Dropping Houlihan was a joke, as i said i couldnt care if he has 1 or 2 bad games, he has shown on many occasions this year he is a very skilled player and can be more than serviceable.
What kind of coach brings in a ruckman based on what happened 2 years ago?

He's made too many obvious mistakes for my liking. Tell me if we didnt have Niel Craig or Rodney Eade we would be at least 5-2.

totally agree DC. ODN, how can you justify a coach bringing in a player based on a game played.... wait for it.... in south africa and wait for it.... 2 years ago! Everyone knows the players dont giv a shit about nab cup... let alone a friggen exhibition game! By the way, we lost that game, so Hampsons ruck efforts couldnt have been all that spectacular.

By the way, I just had a cracker of an idea. Trent Sporn played this really good game in 2002. Why don't we bring him back? just for the hell of it!

 

[bLuEbOy1984]

- Russell = PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A FOOTBALLER! Does absolutely nothing, in his 5th year and is a top 10 pick and is absolutely nowhere to be seen. Look at a guy like barham from collingwood, and i am not comparing the two. he has no skill whatsoever yet in his first game he had 30odd touches. When is russell going to have one of these games. High possesison stand out games. answer NEVER! If he is not the first guy dropped this week, well the facts will forever back up my ratten comments

- HOULIHAN - sorry the guy had a bad game, F**K the world is ending! I would not even classify it bad, i would classify it average. One game does not result in a dropping, specially when you offer his skills. Russell may do some good defensive work which i never ever seem to see, nor does it ever get commented on by the wider community, does not even compare to the class poise and decision - making in which houlihan offers

- BENTLEY - The thing is i don't blame bentley, he has a crack but he is just not up to senior standard. You keep repeating his twos form and how GOOD it has been. Thats all good but he is keeping out a guy who has had good 'SENIORS' form. See the defining words between these guys form is one has done it at VFL and the other at AFL

* I will never forget reading an article that stated how committed ratten is and how he works from 7am - 7pm. What does he do there for 12 hours? How can you spend this many hours coaching a side and make the most basic of errors? In your planning can't he see russell (mr. pick 9) cloke (dud) hampson (football illiterate) and bentley (VFL legend) don't cut it!

lol... i dont think you watch football ... Russell doesnt need to have 30+ possesstions for him to be considered a good player if you think so then your a fool of the highest order.. there was an article earlier on in the season when Mark Riley explained the roles and what not of every player and pre season and so on... they dont expect for him to have 30+ possies, other than the fact he does his job... and he does do his job.. you think the match committee are dumb? they know what they are doing.. there is a reason behind every thing they do.. i could go on forever but i i belive it will be like talking to a brick wall..

 

[thylacine60]

Anyone else notice ODN is well back?

 

[dc king]

I said one of your contentions was crap because it had already been answered and you ignored it. You have gone on to do it again below yet again, but let's not spoil the ending just yet.



I didn't say anything about Ratten and his worth as a coach. I am just responding to hindsight claptrap from cherry picking supporters.

Newsflash. Bentley did not come in to replace Hadley. Hadley was dropped after round 4 after two ordinary games which we lost. Bentley was doing well in the VFL at that time but did not come into the side until round 6. If players in the AFL are out of form, they get dropped and players in the VFL in form usually get a chance to show something. You see how selection works?

I would never have Bentley in the side ahead of Hadley but what do I know .... I couldn't understand how Jamison got elevated for his first game and Flint got delisted either. Lucky the coaches know more than we do huh, and occasionally they get one right that creates a whole career and plenty of supporter enjoyment.



Well his 68% efficiency against the Hawks was sub par considering only 5 of his 19 possessions were kicks and 5 of his possessions were contested. Factoring in a lack of accountability, intensity and possibly taking some short steps, after he went public and announced that Ratts had told him to work on the physical aspect of his game.

Two players came in to the side that could possibly be considered to have replaced Houlihan. Hadley, who you surely couldn't complain about considering you thought it was a joke he was dropped in the first place and Yarran whose debut was encouraging and who is one of the future group to take us forward.

If Houlihan did not meet KPI's expected of him, then the coach has every right to drop him. He is hardly a developing youngster any more.

Ah, at last we get to it. Time will tell if it was worth the wait.

So you chose to totally ignore the bit about Hampson's good VFL form .... which happened in 2009 ... which incidentally is this year?

The fact that he has jumped all over Sandilands once before merely shows that he has the leap and ability to do it, not that he will do it. I'd rather take a chance on getting a heart transplant from a surgeon who has done the operation before, even if it was 2 years ago, rather than an Irish GP who will give it a go.



The same Neil Craig who has his Crows side sitting at 3-4, coincidentally the same points as us, or the same Rodney Eade who has his highly rated Dogs side sitting a 4-3 after a similar slump in forward before this week?

Impossible to tell.

I've read the pamphlets from the 'Grass is Greener' party. Just not sure I am ready to vote for them without seeing what the worm says.

Hadley gets dropped and has a pretty good game in the VFL in round 5 and they chose Bentley over him, who is basically the shit version of Hadley. Id say thats just as bad. There are no similarities between Jamison and Bentley because Bentley came from a club who had given him a chance and knew he was terrible. Thats why they got rid of him.

Why would you say that bringing in Hadley for Houlihan shouldnt make me complain? Fair enough i wanted Hadley in the team but you dont replace an outside midfielder/half forward for an in and under midfielder. Another thing you dont notice. Fev hasn't been up to standard most of the year but you dont see Ratten dropping him do you? Same goes for Stevens. Why should Houlihan be treated any different to them?

Ratten has a way better list than Craig or Eade do and yet they are on par with us right now. They know how to change the game plan during a game and not sit and do nothing while the opposition continues to do what they like.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

totally agree DC. ODN, how can you justify a coach bringing in a player based on a game played.... wait for it.... in south africa and wait for it.... 2 years ago! Everyone knows the players dont giv a shit about nab cup... let alone a friggen exhibition game! By the way, we lost that game, so Hampsons ruck efforts couldnt have been all that spectacular.

By the way, I just had a cracker of an idea. Trent Sporn played this really good game in 2002. Why don't we bring him back? just for the hell of it!

Well, you two are obviously not Siamese Twins because there should be one brain in there at least.

Did you also miss the bit about VFL form? Let me explain. Carlton has 38 senior listed players and 8 rookie listed players. We select 22 players to play in the AFL every game. The rest of our players if not injured take part in other games for our VFL affiliate (look it up), the Northern Bullants.

Now the curious thing about this practice is that these players do not have to stay in the side that they are originally placed in. These players tend to exhibit something that I like to call 'form'.

Now 'form' comes in many different guises (or forms if you like, but that may confuse further). It can be good form, bad form, indifferent form.

Good form is as the name suggests ... 'good', and therefore desirable. Those selecting the AFL side like to see the listed players in the VFL side exhibit this good side ... because it makes them feel good, just like a warm fire and some hot chocolate (mmmm).

If this good form happens to coincide with some bad (boo) form from a player in the AFL side, then the player with the bad (hiss) form, may be asked to play in the VFL side, so that they too may exhibit some good form (hooray). The VFL player with the good form then gets a chance to exhibit some more good form in the AFL. Let's hope so anyway, because we are all a bunch of Oliver Twist's when it comes to good form (MORE, you want MORE!!) Yes sir, we certainly do.

Sometimes however, we have situations where we have puzzles to solve. Do you like puzzles ... I do.

When we played those nasty Fremantle Dockers, they had this really big Purple People Eating Monster. We had nobody in the AFL side that knew what could be done about this monster (Let's call him Sandy, because monsters have feelings too). So nobody knew what to do with Sandy because he was very very big and nobody wanted to get eaten.

So we looked at our VFL side and found that there was a player there who once upon a time had jumped on Sandy's head and hit him with a Hammer. Maybe he could do it again they thought. The best news was yet to come when they discovered that the Hammer wielding player was also possession of this desirable trait known as good 'form'.

Now the story did not have a happy ending, but doesn't mean we weren't buying off the right shelf.

 

[Gibbs_09]

Well, you two are obviously not Siamese Twins because there should be one brain in there at least.

Did you also miss the bit about VFL form? Let me explain. Carlton has 38 senior listed players and 8 rookie listed players. We select 22 players to play in the AFL every game. The rest of our players if not injured take part in other games for our VFL affiliate (look it up), the Northern Bullants.

Now the curious thing about this practice is that these players do not have to stay in the side that they are originally placed in. These players tend to exhibit something that I like to call 'form'.

Now 'form' comes in many different guises (or forms if you like, but that may confuse further). It can be good form, bad form, indifferent form.

Good form is as the name suggests ... 'good', and therefore desirable. Those selecting the AFL side like to see the listed players in the VFL side exhibit this good side ... because it makes them feel good, just like a warm fire and some hot chocolate (mmmm).

If this good form happens to coincide with some bad (boo) form from a player in the AFL side, then the player with the bad (hiss) form, may be asked to play in the VFL side, so that they too may exhibit some good form (hooray). The VFL player with the good form then gets a chance to exhibit some more good form in the AFL. Let's hope so anyway, because we are all a bunch of Oliver Twist's when it comes to good form (MORE, you want MORE!!) Yes sir, we certainly do.

Sometimes however, we have situations where we have puzzles to solve. Do you like puzzles ... I do.

When we played those nasty Fremantle Dockers, they had this really big Purple People Eating Monster. We had nobody in the AFL side that knew what could be done about this monster (Let's call him Sandy, because monsters have feelings too). So nobody knew what to do with Sandy because he was very very big and nobody wanted to get eaten.

So we looked at our VFL side and found that there was a player there who once upon a time had jumped on Sandy's head and hit him with a Hammer. Maybe he could do it again they thought. The best news was yet to come when they discovered that the Hammer wielding player was also possession of this desirable trait known as good 'form'.

Now the story did not have a happy ending, but doesn't mean we weren't buying off the right shelf.

Top post, couldn't help but laugh at it
In all seriousness though, the point is clear in that post. Hammer was brought in because of good form in the VFL, AND the fact that the MC thought he was a better option than Setanta to tackle big Sandy.

Fact is, what's done is done, there isn't really much point complaining about it now, lets all just look to next weekend and taking on the Colliwobbles.

Go Blues.

 

[Kramer1]

Anyone else notice ODN is well back?

Yeah, but without the reponsibility of moderation it's like the old bloke has a little more spring in his step.

Just like the original ODN, but now with an extra shot of guarana so you can slam it down fast.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Hadley gets dropped and has a pretty good game in the VFL in round 5 and they chose Bentley over him, who is basically the shit version of Hadley. Id say thats just as bad.

I am almost certain that there is no write up at the club that says that Bentley is a shit version of Hadley. I am thinking that is your opinion. Bentley had also been in great VFL form but had one thing going for him, he had not been involved and played poorly in two previous AFL losses. They knew that with Hadley they were either going to get a round 1 or 2 performance or a round 3 or 4 performance. 50/50 bet. Bentley hadn't been seen in the AFL home and away games at that point so they took a punt his form would follow him from the VFL. It didn't, he got dropped immediately, such is life.

There are no similarities between Jamison and Bentley because Bentley came from a club who had given him a chance and knew he was terrible. Thats why they got rid of him.

And Jamo was playing for North Ballarat at nearly 20 years of age and had not shown enough to get picked up by an AFL team. He is the quintessential late bloomer. Andrew Carrazzo got dumped by Geelong's rookie list, picked up on ours, makes our leadership group and wins a best and fairest.

The point if you have missed it, is that players are dumped all the time or develop late all the time. Their die is not always cast on the first cut.

Why would you say that bringing in Hadley for Houlihan shouldnt make me complain? Fair enough i wanted Hadley in the team but you dont replace an outside midfielder/half forward for an in and under midfielder. Another thing you dont notice. Fev hasn't been up to standard most of the year but you dont see Ratten dropping him do you? Same goes for Stevens. Why should Houlihan be treated any different to them?

Of course I noticed Fev's form, I'm not blind.

The answer to your question is that these players are more valuable to our structure than Houlihan is and have more runs on the board than Houlihan does. Houlihan is great when on song so don't think I am knocking him, but I at least have the objectivity to see when he is not giving his all and or down on form. I believe Stevens should be rested but probably won't be, and will probably have a great game and all will be forgotten for another week. If we had another full forward and if we were sitting 5-2 instead of 3-4, I'd be teaching Fev a lesson too, assuming that injury is not a valid excuse for his game on Saturday night.

Ratten has a way better list than Craig or Eade do and yet they are on par with us right now. They know how to change the game plan during a game and not sit and do nothing while the opposition continues to do what they like.

Geez, let's make a final first before we assume our list is better than recent finalists. At the moment we are potentially better but still have heaps of holes.

 

[thylacine60]

Yeah, but without the reponsibility of moderation it's like the old bloke has a little more spring in his step.

Just like the original ODN, but now with an extra shot of guarana so you can slam it down fast.

Er, you might wanna check out his status one more time...

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Er, you might wanna check out his status one more time...

Yes, I am engaged but until she gets that ring on my finger, I am open to offers Kramer.

Oh, that status ... never mind.

 

[FRUMPY]

When will people realise Russell does his job every week. Thats why he doesnt get dropped. We have players like Judd, Murphy, Stevens, Gibbs and co to get 25 possies a game. Russell is a lead up half forward who is also required to do the defensive forward pressure.

I would think he would be required to try and take 5-8 lead up marks a game and hand it off to the likes of Murph and Judd.

And the fact he went number 9 in the draft (proven to be a poor draft by the way) has nothing to do with whether he should be dropped or not.

Houlihan got dropped because they wanted more defensive, hard edge from him this year and against Hawthron showed none of it and was punished. Will no doubt be back this week.

Carrots getting 40 odd touches in his first game means nothing. Read the match report and apparently he used it terribly and they were easy/soft possessions. He would have needed match fitness too.

Ill stick with Ratts and not jump ship after a few below performances. Just support the club

 

[Kramer1]

Er, you might wanna check out his status one more time...

What was all of the hysterics a few weeks back then??? April fools prank?
It's been hard to keep up around here, especially with all of the insightful, through provoking commentary that has popped up over the last few days.

 

[Kramer1]

Yes, I am engaged but until she gets that ring on my finger, I am open to offers Kramer.

Thanks but no thanks ODN.
Certainly not a catcher, and don't think I would fancy pitching much either.

 

[Big Red is back]

When will people realise Russell does his job every week. Thats why he doesnt get dropped. We have players like Judd, Murphy, Stevens, Gibbs and co to get 25 possies a game. Russell is a lead up half forward who is also required to do the defensive forward pressure.

I would think he would be required to try and take 5-8 lead up marks a game and hand it off to the likes of Murph and Judd.

And the fact he went number 9 in the draft (proven to be a poor draft by the way) has nothing to do with whether he should be dropped or not.

Houlihan got dropped because they wanted more defensive, hard edge from him this year and against Hawthron showed none of it and was punished. Will no doubt be back this week.

Carrots getting 40 odd touches in his first game means nothing. Read the match report and apparently he used it terribly and they were easy/soft possessions. He would have needed match fitness too.

Ill stick with Ratts and not jump ship after a few below performances. Just support the club

Come on re Russell I haven't come across an opposition fan who doesnt think he is an absloute spud ..

 

[cookie monster]

Well, you two are obviously not Siamese Twins because there should be one brain in there at least.

Did you also miss the bit about VFL form? Let me explain. Carlton has 38 senior listed players and 8 rookie listed players. We select 22 players to play in the AFL every game. The rest of our players if not injured take part in other games for our VFL affiliate (look it up), the Northern Bullants.

Now the curious thing about this practice is that these players do not have to stay in the side that they are originally placed in. These players tend to exhibit something that I like to call 'form'.

Now 'form' comes in many different guises (or forms if you like, but that may confuse further). It can be good form, bad form, indifferent form.

Good form is as the name suggests ... 'good', and therefore desirable. Those selecting the AFL side like to see the listed players in the VFL side exhibit this good side ... because it makes them feel good, just like a warm fire and some hot chocolate (mmmm).

If this good form happens to coincide with some bad (boo) form from a player in the AFL side, then the player with the bad (hiss) form, may be asked to play in the VFL side, so that they too may exhibit some good form (hooray). The VFL player with the good form then gets a chance to exhibit some more good form in the AFL. Let's hope so anyway, because we are all a bunch of Oliver Twist's when it comes to good form (MORE, you want MORE!!) Yes sir, we certainly do.

Sometimes however, we have situations where we have puzzles to solve. Do you like puzzles ... I do.

When we played those nasty Fremantle Dockers, they had this really big Purple People Eating Monster. We had nobody in the AFL side that knew what could be done about this monster (Let's call him Sandy, because monsters have feelings too). So nobody knew what to do with Sandy because he was very very big and nobody wanted to get eaten.

So we looked at our VFL side and found that there was a player there who once upon a time had jumped on Sandy's head and hit him with a Hammer. Maybe he could do it again they thought. The best news was yet to come when they discovered that the Hammer wielding player was also possession of this desirable trait known as good 'form'.

Now the story did not have a happy ending, but doesn't mean we weren't buying off the right shelf.

it will never cease to amaze me how much of a w***er you are ODNs. You were the worst moderator on bigfooty, and I'm sure many a poster took a sigh of relief when they heard you would be relinquishing your duties.

go running to your moderator friends, i will cop the inevitable yellow card to say what needs to be said. everybody is entitled to their opinion; you don't always have to be right mate. right or wrong, there is no need to get onto the blower and write a freakin theses showing everybody how much of a smartarse you can be.

and by the way, dont talk down to people. truly the sign of a big, strong man when they belittle people on a faceless internet forum! What makes you think you're so high and mighty? of course i understand how the afl playing lists system works, if not, i probably wouldnt be posting on this site. probably not the right way to earn somebody's respect, whether you want it or not. we are all the same mate

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

it will never cease to amaze me how much of a w***er you are ODNs. You were the worst moderator on bigfooty, and I'm sure many a poster took a sigh of relief when they heard you would be relinquishing your duties.

go running to your moderator friends, i will cop the inevitable yellow card to say what needs to be said. everybody is entitled to their opinion; you don't always have to be right mate. right or wrong, there is no need to get onto the blower and write a freakin theses showing everybody how much of a smartarse you can be.

and by the way, dont talk down to people. truly the sign of a big, strong man when they belittle people on a faceless internet forum! What makes you think you're so high and mighty? of course i understand how the afl playing lists system works, if not, i probably wouldnt be posting on this site. probably not the right way to earn somebody's respect, whether you want it or not. we are all the same mate

No worries mate, I will add it to my collection of well wishers. Not sure we have clashed under your current guise however. You've only been around less than a year. What was the previous alias?

If you care to revisit the thread, you injected yourself into it responding to my posts twice, one a sarcastic remark about my tip that they might retain Cloke because we play the Pies (not my preference by the way, just a possibility). I ignored that.

You then tried to belittle my reference to Hampson's practice match against Sandilands in South Africa, despite me repeating myself that his form in the VFL warranted selection and the South Africa game was just a little bonus. To get that response after I had clearly explained myself ... well let's just say, it is not bound to earn you a friendly response.

You're communication skills to begin with weren't up to scratch, you had a shot, I fired back and now you are sooking.

So be it.

When I left, most posters were very supportive. Many PM'd me and asked me to reconsider in fact. It is generally only the ones that are lacking in civility towards others that get pulled up for it that have an issue.

In case you didn't notice, I have no need to go to my 'moderator mates' to deal with any issues on this board as I have the ability and inclination to deal with them myself.