Toast Sunday

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Now that we have all come back to reality and realised that we are a side with still too many flaws to be considered a threat in the finals – allow me to be the first to say that whilst I’m not happy we lost on Sunday, I’m not exactly shattered. Namely for the reason that I feel this loss was a good one for us.

Now I know your sitting back and thinking “but C4 ..?! .. when is a loss ever good?” – Frankly, a win against North Melbourne on Sunday would be akin to that of season 2004 – and would have deluded us even further into thinking we were a genuine finals side, when facts are we are not … (not yet at least).

A win on Sunday and any subsequent good form in Rounds 21 and 22 would leave us languishing around 8th/9th - if we made finals, we’d face North Melbourne /Adelaide or Sydney which would directly result in instant elimination. Now I understand that playing in finals would be a moral boost for our guys and that you cant put a price on finals experience – however, I think that finishing around 11th would be of more value to us as a side in the long run and would be a truer reflection of where we are at as a side as opposed to finishing in the no mans land that is ‘8th/9th’.

In summing up – now that our season 2008 is over – we should be playing only kids, and hoping Essendon manage to get another win to jump us – allowing us Pick #5 and access to one of Hurley/Rich/Nat/Ziebell/Hartlett.

Note: C4 is not a pessimist.

 

[thylacine60]

Sorry to hijack your thread, C4, but didn't know where else to stick this. Just heard Nigel Lappin has announced his retirement, does this mean his farewell game is against us? Say it isn't so. Carry on, C4.

 

[blues4flag]

Sorry to hijack your thread, C4, but didn't know where else to stick this. Just heard Nigel Lappin has announced his retirement, does this mean his farewell game is against us? Say it isn't so. Carry on, C4.

Hasn't play since round 4, won' play again.

Big fan of Nigel - very disappointing to see him have to retire like this.

 

[thylacine60]

Motorcade? Meat tray raffle?

 

[Bluebear]

Now that we have all come back to reality and realised that we are a side with still too many flaws to be considered a threat in the finals – allow me to be the first to say that whilst I’m not happy we lost on Sunday, I’m not exactly shattered. Namely for the reason that I feel this loss was a good one for us.

Now I know your sitting back and thinking “but C4 ..?! .. when is a loss ever good?” – Frankly, a win against North Melbourne on Sunday would be akin to that of season 2004 – and would have deluded us even further into thinking we were a genuine finals side, when facts are we are not … (not yet at least).

A win on Sunday and any subsequent good form in Rounds 21 and 22 would leave us languishing around 8th/9th - if we made finals, we’d face North Melbourne /Adelaide or Sydney which would directly result in instant elimination. Now I understand that playing in finals would be a moral boost for our guys and that you cant put a price on finals experience – however, I think that finishing around 11th would be of more value to us as a side in the long run and would be a truer reflection of where we are at as a side as opposed to finishing in the no mans land that is ‘8th/9th’.

In summing up – now that our season 2008 is over – we should be playing only kids, and hoping Essendon manage to get another win to jump us – allowing us Pick #5 and access to one of Hurley/Rich/Nat/Ziebell/Hartlett.

Note: C4 is not a pessimist.

While I too am able to see the positive side of getting an earlier pick, and have the boys go into pre-season with a "fire in the belly" from narrowly missing the finals......I don't share your pessimissm about our finals chances.

Week 1 we would have played Sydney, Adelaide or the Pies.

Our recent form against all those would be enough to worry them, and probably result in a competitive loss, but possibly even a win.

Week 2 would have seen us play the Dogs or the Roos.

If it was the Dogs I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't feel a little confident.

There isn't a lot between the sides from 3rd to 11th on any given day............we put in a shocker on Sunday and the Roos are the form team of the comp..........

Anyways, to the draft we turn.

 

[BlueYoss]

Note: C4 is not a pessimist.

Perhaps not, but you did start the tanking bandwagon last year AND this year on these boards -did you save me a seat up front?

 

[Quid]

I tend to agree with you C4 (don't think Yoss would) but i am stoked with the performance of our boys this year and even if we did survive 2 rounds in the finals we aren't a chance to beat either of the top 2 teams (although Richmond winning on the wknd would perhaps suggest otherwise i am puuting that down to pre-finals Jitters... an anomaly).

One thing we must be conscious of is the fact that our team does still have a couple of defficiencies and now is THE BEST time to rectify them.

This is the the last worthwhile off-season as far as draft goes for a few years so what we have at the start of nxt year we use to propell ourselves toward a premiership. I'm not saying we should tank but i think in all likelihood we will lose our last 2 games and i'm just saying ..... it's a positive not a negativeand next year we'll beat em both and have a better draft pick up our sleeves!!!

 

[celtic_pride]

On a more petty level from me, I want to us to to Brisbane to completely stuff up Richmond's finals chance, and yes, I don't mind if Essendon finishes ahead of us, just means we get another spot higher on the draft table ...

Come on boys, lets do it for Brizzy and have an 'honorable' loss whilst Fev kicks 6 or 7 to stay within striking distance of the 'ton' .. .That would be ideal, I seriously don't want those Richmond ferals in the finals, so I think a 'loss' is going to be a blessing

 

[GottaLoveCarlton]

The last thing i'd want to do after a year like this is finish below Essendon. I'd hate to finish below Richmond too, but thats set to happen anyway. I'm happy with where we're at, and disagree with playing the kids. I however am all for playing guys that WILL be in navy blue next year. i.e not saddington.

I'm still confident for Saturday night, would love to end the year at 10-12, never know, 11-11. if Richmond can knock off the hawks, so can we

 

[HBF]

Just more disappointed in the way we lost on Sunday, and that we really couldn't stop their run on in the second quarter. As I have said many times before, considering where we have come from, I really believe this year was year no. 1 in our quest to jump back up the ladder, and into the finals. I can see us being very similar the Bulldogs, and could quite easiy expect us to jump up into the top 8 next year.

 

[jonoman89]

Tanking is not the answer, even if we can't finish in the 8. We need to keep that hunger for wins and carry it to next year.

The Hawks ended their 06 really well, look where it got them. We need to do the same.

Worry about draft picks in November.