Where to for this year?

[thegreenmachine]

We're now a game and a half outside the eight and our percentage is inferior compared to the other teams. I'd just like to ask my fellow Carlton supporters, do you think we can still make the eight? Or should we try and think about 2009?
I am personally always an optomistic supporter and I haven't completely given up yet. It should always be a club's aim to make the finals, even though we never expected to make it and it would take something special from here to make it.
So yeah, I am interested in hearing from Carlton supporters what you think?

 

[serenityNow]

I dont think the 8 will change. Blues and Tigers to be better next year and will get in. Crows are gone,Bombers are dreamin.

Still would like to see the club fight out the year and get as many wins as possible (as im sure they will) as it will be a good lead into next year if we finish off this season strong. Keep the confidence up and get games into the younger less experienced players.

 

[thegreenmachine]

It's a bit of a tricky situation isn't it? If we're going to decide we're not going to make it, then playing the youngsters would be a good idea. I'd imagine that's what Carlton would be thinking anyway to be honest with you, despite my opinion in the OP.

 

[Alpha1]

What is this crap about making the top 8? We are nowhere near a top eight side. I am happy that the boys have exceeded my expectations for this season. I have seen them improve, they now have the will to fight to the end. And that's all I have ever wanted from them, in a way it's is good they didn't make the finals, we still have a lot of work to do but we have taken so many positive steps forward this season. And like I have kept saying we have to take 2 steps back to move forward again, I am happy at the development of our kids and next season it's going to get even better. So don't worry about the 8 and crap like that we are almost there but we have to go slowly.

 

[I LOVE THE CFC]

What is this crap about making the top 8? We are nowhere near a top eight side. I am happy that the boys have exceeded my expectations for this season. I have seen them improve, they now have the will to fight to the end. And that's all I have ever wanted from them, in a way it's is good they didn't make the finals, we still have a lot of work to do but we have taken so many positive steps forward this season. And like I have kept saying we have to take 2 steps back to move forward again, I am happy at the development of our kids and next season it's going to get even better. So don't worry about the 8 and crap like that we are almost there but we have to go slowly.

calm down......breathe.....calm, peaceful feeling, we are all on the same side here.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

I doubt we'll play finals, but i'd like us to play whatever the MC considers to be our strongest 22 each week, coz i reckon our young group would get a lot out of a win against one of the sides we are still to play and haven't beaten in ages (Dogs, Hawks, Adelaide, Brisbane etc).

Having said that, I also think it'd be beneficial to leave Hartlett in for the rest of the season, and perhaps Austin so that they get a bit of a taste of the pace and standard of play at AFL level.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

At the begining of the year most suggestd that 8-10 wins would be acceptable and a position between 12-8 would be likely. We are currently on 7 wins & in 11th position with "winnable" games in Port Adelaide & and Adelaide coming up in the next few weeks. Clearly we are not a top 8 side, which has been shown in the last 2 weeks agaisnt top 8 sides, but are moving in the right direction...

Hopefully the coaching staff leave Austin in the side for the rest of the year, to allow Waite to move forward when Bower comes back...

We should finish above Richmond (i hope) but still the anywhere from 11th-9th would be a very good return..

we have to remember that Gibbs and Grigg have had a full year, Murphy another year to develop, Judd & Kreuzer will have a full pre-season, ect, ect ect

 

[thegreenmachine]

What is this crap about making the top 8? We are nowhere near a top eight side. I am happy that the boys have exceeded my expectations for this season. I have seen them improve, they now have the will to fight to the end. And that's all I have ever wanted from them, in a way it's is good they didn't make the finals, we still have a lot of work to do but we have taken so many positive steps forward this season. And like I have kept saying we have to take 2 steps back to move forward again, I am happy at the development of our kids and next season it's going to get even better. So don't worry about the 8 and crap like that we are almost there but we have to go slowly.

I said I was an optimistic supporter, yes, overly optimistic. True, we're not yet a top 8 side and I don't expect that Carlton would make the 8. But you don't know how the cards will fall.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, I gave mine, then asked what yous thought and what we should do for the rest of the year. I think we'll finish somewhere between 9th-11th and I said it would take something special, I'll even add extraordinary, to make it. I simply gave my opinion, in reality unlikely to happen but in theory stranger things have happened.

 

[FevolasFox]

I said I was an optimistic supporter, yes, overly optimistic. True, we're not yet a top 8 side and I don't expect that Carlton would make the 8. But you don't know how the cards will fall.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, I gave mine, then asked what yous thought and what we should do for the rest of the year. I think we'll finish somewhere between 9th-11th and I said it would take something special, I'll even add extraordinary, to make it. I simply gave my opinion, in reality unlikely to happen but in theory stranger things have happened.

 

[Blueinblood]

Should try to win this week and if we arent successful then we should firmly focus on list managment but still go all out to win. Would put Fev in for all his surgeries to so we an work on other forward line options but i would like one match where we field our best 22 available when hadley houlihan armfield bower and all them are back. Maybe against A good side.

 

[The Real Deal]

We beat the Dogs last year. OK so they've improved, but so have we....

 

[Crippa#9]

Its funny, once you lose the chance of playing in the finals, winning becomes less important and development takes priority. I would prefer to finish 11th than 9th and I think we will considering our run home.

Next year it will be unacceptable not to make finals in my opinion considering the giant steps we have taken this season.

 

[Dustyjackman]

Personally, I reckon the match committee is all out focused towards winning everything possible, 'cause at this stage it's all about instilling a winning mentality into the group, not about picking up the next new young thing in the draft.
85 to 90 % of our playing list is developing pretty damn good and the thing they need now is to firmly entrench that belief in themselves that every game is winnable, that every time they run out they are a red hot chance and that can only come by winning as many games as they can now.

We won't make the eight this year, but we will help shape the eight and we're gonna' rattle a few f______ cages along the way.

 

[HBF]

We beat the Dogs last year. OK so they've improved, but so have we....

True, but we beat them at the 'G last year.
With regards to the OP, we should always aim to win every game, so the last 6 games should be no different.

 

[Big Red is back]

We nearly beat sydney, beat the pies twice and given what the saints just did to the hawks i would argue we could easily be a top 8 side​

 

[PeeKay]

I think we will be lucky to win another 2 games. probably only one.
The young inexperienced players like Kreuzer and others are getting tied as does most young players this time of the year.
I think we will continue to try other young bullant players o see where the're at for next years "attack of the 8"

 

[WOW Jones]

It'b be good to finish 8th and play Collingwood at the G again ... that would really be worth going to....

In reality a couple more wins, would be great .. Id also like to see some positional/experimental changes for the remainder of the season such as...

Kreuezer CHB or permanent forward , Gibbs no more tagging , Wing/HF ; Waite H/F on Ball , Hampson Ruck ; Thornton CHF or Bullants ; ..... betts , more time on ball ; stevens h/back ; ......

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

It'b be good to finish 8th and play Collingwood at the G again ... that would really be worth going to....

In reality a couple more wins, would be great .. Id also like to see some positional/experimental changes for the remainder of the season such as...

Kreuezer CHB or permanent forward , Gibbs no more tagging , Wing/HF ; Waite H/F on Ball , Hampson Ruck ; Thornton CHF or Bullants ; ..... betts , more time on ball ; stevens h/back ; ......

Judd back pocket...

 

[BlueYoss]

I'm also a very positive supporter and hang onto the hope that we might just pull off a win until the fat lady starts belting out the blues.

I'm realistic in terms of where I think we are at and what could and should be expected, but I don't let that hold back what I can still hope might eventuate if all falls in our favour.

We nearly beat sydney, beat the pies twice and given what the saints just did to the hawks i would argue we could easily be a top 8 side

Exactly, we still could be, but we aren't yet.

2 things that have stood out for me in the competition this year:

1. From position 2/3 on the ladder to 13 on the ladder the competition is very even and unpredictable (any team in this bracket can take any other all the way on their day, irrespective of ladder position).
2. A team's recent form against their opponent seems to be the best indicator around as some teams really do match up well against others.

Our recent form, although disappointing in not breaking the losing streaks against St Kilda and Sydney) has still been promising. We dominated and controlled the majority of the games against teams who in the past have barely let us get hands to the ball. Not as much against St Kilda but vastly improved the following week against Sydney, I feel as though we are right on the cusp of a serious 'click' amongst our players with our game plan and each other.

If we improve on last week's performance as much as last week's performance was an improvement on the week before, I think we'll get over the Doggies who we have matched up well on for a few years already, as improved as they may be themselves.

Adelaide and Port Adelaide in the following weeks were winnable games already, but if we manage to pull off a win against the Doggies this week we should steamroll these two and start to build some serious momentum.

By that stage we'll also have Houlihan, Bower, Bannister, Armfield & Hadley available for selection and 4 wins in a row and a finals appearance could become a serious possibility again with games against North, Brisbane and Hawthorn still to play.

I don't expect to play finals this year, but there's still no way I want to be putting the 2008 cue in the rack just yet!

Besides, the motivation that the possibility of playing finals would provide to our playing group week to week would be invaluable, as would be the confidence they would derive from the improved performance.

 

[Kramer1]

To be honest, I am really only pencilling in Port at this stage.

We still have a huge issue with not knowing how to get across the line in games. We have been in strong positions the last two weeks, and unfortunately just too many people going to water and making poor decisions at crucual times (and not just the kids).

If we can get Houlihan, Bannister and maybe Hadley back on the park and in some sort of form I would fancy our chances against Adelaide and possibly the Roos.

If we only roll Port, I see us slipping as far as 12th and possibly 13th on the ladder, which puts in is the mix for another quality kid.

 

[Murph is baby Judd]

from here... we should be in the exact same position we were in at the start of the year, focusing on developing our young list in the hopes of opening up a long and healthy flag window... which we should be able to pry open in 2010

 

[#1 pies]

If carlton win a few, and adelaide continue with their poor form, you're every chance of making the 8!