The hunt for No.17

[Aphrodite]

Interesting article by Rohan Connolly ...................

Enjoy

The hunt for No. 17

CARLTON and Essendon have been punching back and forth for decades in one of football's great rivalries. The big difference these days is the weight division in which their bouts are played out.

In terms of status, the Blues and Dons have the runs on the board. Sixteen premierships each - the most in the competition - and huge followings. But their last true heavyweight bout was fought a decade ago. What's followed for both has been far more lightweight.

The hunt for No. 17

 

[Aphrodite]

Re: The hunt for No. 17

Found these paragraphs interesting ............

TALENT
There's not much doubt which of these faded powers has more cream on top of the cake. Chris Judd is, well, Chris Judd. Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs are on track to become superstars, And Carlton's third No. 1 draft pick, Matthew Kreuzer, could be in another league again.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheahan calls Kreuzer unique. "Once in a lifetime do you get a ruckman that can do what he can do at 20 years of age, and also push forward and kick goals," he says.

GAME PLAN
Carlton and Essendon have worn considerable flak about how they play football. The Bombers' breakneck speed game is, say the sceptics - including no less an authority than former skipper Lloyd - unsustainable. As for the Blues, even some insiders have trouble working out what brand they are trying to play.

Right now, Carlton appears closer to that long-awaited 17th premiership than its fierce rival.

 

[HBF]

Of course we're closer to our 17th than Essendon. Too many people have been over-rating their list for too long now. Great article.

 

[Dramoth]

And both covet something else the other has. Essendon would dearly love the silk that is in Carlton's midfield, while the Blues wouldn't mind getting their hands on the Dons' supply of young talls.

Sorry no... I am very happy with our supply of young talls... with the emphasis being on young.

And considering that Swann and the recruiting people have been working towards our true premiership window opening in 2012, we have a lot of young talent that the Bummers would be screaming out for because their list is shit and it will be about another 6 years before they have managed to cull their list and start filling up with quality players again.

It is a good read, and it touches on some interesting points, but it is written by Connelly and shouldnt be treated as fact.

 

[Azul]

Oh no! Infamous Essendon mouthpiece Ro-Con states 'Carlton appears closer'.

Let's not be complacent about this, we've been complacent about Essendon for several years now.

Anyone suggesting we're favourites today needs to study previous form and be afraid, very afraid... 100% commitment is required.

 

[Sin City]

Essendon assistant coach Gary O'Donnell calls the Bombers' curve "upward". "It hasn't been a good start, but you don't just look at two games. I couldn't tell you where we're going to finish, but we think we're tracking pretty well, and it's a promising situation."

I want what he's smoking.

 

[Faz 2000]

I'm disappointed it doesn't mention just how much I hate Essendon and want them to fail.

 

[ESKIE]

Not a bad article, he;s a quality journo considering he;s an Essendon man.

Our talented young talls are excellent...

It;s all about winning premierships.

 

[gbatman]

also I love that we are getting Dylan Buckley and they are getting a compromised draft straight to the face, bam!

 

[Jock]

Any fair minded person would think the Essendon curve is more pointing down than up from last year and we are more on a plateau
Whilst the gap isn't huge between the two currently we are slowly heading towards top four and they are slowly heading towards bottom four. I expect the gap to be considerable by mid season 2011

 

[Silvagnis]

No doubt they've got some quality young players coming through, but I disagree with these comments.

Link

The argument becomes cloudier in assessing the clubs' senior lists, with most observers believing Essendon has the slight edge in terms of prospects, and a longer roll call of capable senior hands.

Sheahan gives Essendon a slight edge in the emerging-talent stakes.

Link

Connolly is doing a job on us.

 

[BlueBias]

I'm disappointed it doesn't mention just how much I hate Essendon and want them to fail.

Yeah, caught me a little of guard too.

 

[zeeCFC]

Didn't they do an almost identical article last year?

 

[parrot]

Why does this Essendon supporter want to compare his team against a vastly more talented list like the Blues? He should be comparing Essendon and Richmond - both those clubs are in a similar situation.

 

[Lukesta63]

That's funny ...last night on 3AW he said BOTH sides were a million miles from a flag! He should spend more time at his Speech Therapist and leave Carlton alone. I want no association with the red and black cave-dweller's,I live near Windy Hill and on a quiet day you can hear the children's screams!!

 

[true blue19]

I find it interesting that any one would think that the bombers has better young talls than us.

Ryder is a star, hurley should become a star but he reminds me of fev, gumbleton if he can get his body right will be a good play. Then daniher, neagle and pear will be good player but are better suited to being 3rd talls or flanker not kpp. Laycock, hooker and bellchambers are just not up to afl standard. Bock, still and carlisle are still developing.

We have kreuzer who will be a superstar, bower, henderson and jamison are all developing into stars. Warnock is in the same boat as gumbleton and will be a star if his body will let him. Austin, jacobs and hampson are all developing well and casboult and donaldson will be interesting to see how there development goes.

 

[Aphrodite]

No doubt they've got some quality young players coming through, but I disagree with these comments.

Link


Link

Connolly is doing a job on us.

Similar to what Hird did last year on the "Fab 4" TG ............

 

[ESKIE]

Similar to what Hird did last year on the "Fab 4" TG ............

Yeh...that one !!

I think our boys won't fall for that garb any more, a bit more street wise I reckon.

Anyway, surely there must be link somewhere??

 

[Aphrodite]

Yeh...that one !!

I think our boys won't fall for that garb any more, a bit more street wise I reckon.

Anyway, surely there must be link somewhere??

Don't call me Shirley

Funny how all the "puff" pieces come out when we play the Scum

 

[thylacine60]

Come on you paranoid lot. No journo ever kicked a goal against us on the field. Fire up! Go Blueys! Feeling good about tonight and about to climb off the mountain and head south.

 

[Aphrodite]

Come on you paranoid lot. No journo ever kicked a goal against us on the field. Fire up! Go Blueys! Feeling good about tonight and about to climb off the mountain and head south.

Can you drop by & pick me up T


Looking forward to the game tonight

 

[ESKIE]

Come on you paranoid lot. No journo ever kicked a goal against us on the field. Fire up! Go Blueys! Feeling good about tonight and about to climb off the mountain and head south.

Yeh I must say I don;t feel too bad re tonight but nervous...

Yup up and over that mountain....marching on with the Blue Army

Go Blues

(did I mention a steely resolve )

 

[Dramoth]

I want what he's smoking.

I dont think that he is smoking anything mate...

but it is some decent acid that he is on...

 

[Dramoth]

That's funny ...last night on 3AW he said BOTH sides were a million miles from a flag! He should spend more time at his Speech Therapist and leave Carlton alone. I want no association with the red and black cave-dweller's,I live near Windy Hill and on a quiet day you can hear the children's screams!!

Do you take your hubcaps off every night?

 

[Silvagnis]

The hunt for No. 17

But a rival working at another club sees more deep-rooted problems in the leadership tone at both clubs. It's the dreaded "C" word. "They've both been down but still seem to have the same culture of expecting success by right because they're Carlton and Essendon," he says. "There's a lack of reality about where they're at. That gets passed down to the players, who as a result think they're a bit better than they actually are."

The hunt for No. 17

You can't argue with that.

Both sides are a few years away from a flag if they play like they did last night.

Essendon especially if they're going to rely on the 35 year old Dustin Fletcher and Kepler Hooker to hold them together down back.