Is this the week?

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,339]

Regardless of the result I will be furious if we don't at least match the Blues in the intensity and aggression stakes.

Their captain has promised a more aggressive effort this week and their president has basically said they need to come out breathing fire.

There is no doubt Carlton will come out very hard after the week they will have, and they know they are playing a poor side which will give them confidence to go after us.

I can take losing, because they are currently a better side than us, but I will lose all faith in the playing group if we just let them physically dominate us from the start.

If guys like Robinson and Waite run around dishing it out and we just cop it, then to me that will feel worse than losing the game.

After all, we've been battered around more than them over the years and there's no reason why our players should not come out just as physical and intent on sending a message.

Our leaders must set the tone - I know people have been bagging Grimes but I'm a fan of his. Having said that I would love to see a bit of nastiness from him this week. Get angry.

Very much agree with this Scoop. The standard MFC response would be that Carlton come out hard and jump us and we then "didn't see that coming, weren't switched on etc.." I would love to see them surprise me for once and be the aggressor.

[Little Goffy 14,793]

Carlton are slipping badly at the moment. Bordering on 'bruise free football'. Watching them, and realising that we play them next week, went a small but significant part to cheering me up after the disappointment of watching us and knowing I'll have to watch us again next week.

Interestingly, like us, going into last round they had just three players with 4+ tackles a game, and like us added one more in the last game (Carazzo v Viney).

Their depth is limited, all over the ground. A lot of Carlton's players at the moment seem fragile; as has already been said, 'frontrunners'. A lot of icing not a lot of cake. And right now their form is way off the mark.

Both coaches will be going into this game with some very, very simple messages to players. Lay tackles, get to contests, offer options. Work Hard or [censored] 0ff. Which raises an interesting contest within the contest - two of the game's top coaches face off while leading two of the game's current weakest teams.

[Deez 298]

Nothings impossible.

Dawes comes back hopefully. He works very hard.

as a few have suggested, carltons playing soft footy.

one player won't turn us in to a winning outfit, but if we come out hitting hard and running, we might be able to shock them and we might be able gain some confidence.

On paper, theres no reason why jones, cross, tyson, watts can't match cartons mids, hit em hard from the first bounce, look for dawes and howe.

a few early goals could change the teams outlook.

theres also a good chance that none of that will happen and we get a belted.

[Ted Lasso 19,568]

we played fairly well against Carlton last year yeah? although i think they went abit soft because of old Neeldy

[Grapeviney 9,914]

Their captain has promised a more aggressive effort this week and their president has basically said they need to come out breathing fire.

Remember when we used to play well when our backs were against the wall?

When the boys would get a roasting in the media and then come out and play their hearts out?

What happened to that team?

We lamented then that it took adversity to bring out our best, that we couldn't produce that form consistently... How I would kill for that now, the old one-week-on, one-week-off Melbourne.

[titan_uranus 25,212]

Carlton was disgraceful on Sunday night. They were no better than we have been this year, if not worse.

This is the kind of game a full-strength Melbourne could win. If Dawes plays, we get closer. But no Jamar, Garland and Hogan still means we're running at below 100%, and 100% of Melbourne is not much.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

We really are a deluded bunch. Sunday was a horrible loss....29 scoring shots to 12. If dry, it would have been a 15 goal margin. Carlton will slaughter us to the tune of 10 goals plus. Ask around your mates who know footy and don't support us or the blues, then check the betting odds. They'll match up you'll find. We are the worst team in the AFL by a margin greater than GWS or the Suns were in their first seasons. It is pure fancy to believe we can compete with any of the other 17 teams, and all the football world knows it.

So no, this is NOT the week

Upsets happen. No one thought we'd beat Essendon in 2012. In round 2, 2010 we were paying $15 to beat the Pies and lost by a point.

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

This will be bruise football in its purest form. A Clayton's Kruezer cup. Still 4 points up for grabs.

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

Upsets happen. No one thought we'd beat Essendon in 2012. In round 2, 2010 we were paying $15 to beat the Pies and lost by a point.

A measure of how low we have sunk. An upset if we beat a dysfunctional and distracted side currently marginally better than us.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

With mitch going home with his black dog I hope it fires the team up, but these events seam to have a down to the team

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

I am honestly not that worried about the team at the moment. We are still lacking in class and depth, but there have been signs of serious improvement in terms of our structure and planning. We do have some good young talent lurking out at Casey who should start getting games in the next year or so, so things may not be quite as shot as they look right now.

That being said, no way in hell are we winning this weekend.

[Deez 298]

Remember when we used to play well when our backs were against the wall?

When the boys would get a roasting in the media and then come out and play their hearts out?

What happened to that team?

We lamented then that it took adversity to bring out our best, that we couldn't produce that form consistently... How I would kill for that now, the old one-week-on, one-week-off Melbourne.

last time i saw that passion, greeny still wore the jumper...

[McQueen 17,867]

With mitch going home with his black dog I hope it fires the team up, but these events seam to have a down to the team

Making sense as usual.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

I'm throwing it out there that if we get 22 blokes to play a committed 120 mins of footy Sat arvo we'll win.

Now theres a big if there as we need 22 blokes to show up (whoever gets picked) but these blokes are primed to be knocked off.. if the effort is there and sustained against these blokes the goals will come

[Demon SeaMan 108]

I'm all 4 this and think we can shaft these money bearing success hungry (not) club!

Taking my 4yo son and we are going with 2 mates and there sons who barrack for Carlton and are as arrogant as they get (the dad's that is). I'd love to stand on the seat and sing the song with him this weekend and spook his mates out hahaha....

[monoccular 17,699]

Wrong week to meet this mob - they looked as bad as us through most of the EssUndone game, but they will come out all fired up, something I haven't seen in a MFC team for a hell of a long time. (Maybe it goes back as far as a very unlikely win vs WCE with a very depleted side around 15 y ago, or an exciting come from behind win vs Brisbane around the same era?)

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

Wrong week to meet this mob - they looked as bad as us through most of the EssUndone game, but they will come out all fired up, something I haven't seen in a MFC team for a hell of a long time. (Maybe it goes back as far as a very unlikely win vs WCE with a very depleted side around 15 y ago, or an exciting come from behind win vs Brisbane around the same era?)

Yeah but if we can get on top early they will [censored] themselves.

[Earl Hood 6,152]

We really are a deluded bunch. Sunday was a horrible loss....29 scoring shots to 12. If dry, it would have been a 15 goal margin. Carlton will slaughter us to the tune of 10 goals plus. Ask around your mates who know footy and don't support us or the blues, then check the betting odds. They'll match up you'll find. We are the worst team in the AFL by a margin greater than GWS or the Suns were in their first seasons. It is pure fancy to believe we can compete with any of the other 17 teams, and all the football world knows it.

So no, this is NOT the week

Webber I am sick of such negativity, we have to be strong but then again after watching Sundays game live I have to agree. If GWS had kicked straight it would have been embarrassing. But we are used to it, being a laughing stock. I just can't fathom how we could assemble 40 odd players who haven't got it. How is that possible in a draft type lottery system? Yes I know development but I just don't see the raw talent in any of our guys that you usually see in new gun recruits. Watts has talent but no intensity, Clark had it in spades but no luck, so did Jurrah but his background and all his resonsibilities destroyed his career and you can add Wonna to the list.

God knows we have burnt some forward talent in recent years. How do you turn that around inside 10 years?

[WAdee 17]

Maybe I'm insane but I agree with the OP. I had a look on AFL.com.au today for a preview, and had a read of the stats. With the exceptions of clearances and hit outs (which was skewed by last weeks mauling), we match them in all the key stats. With Dawesy back in and two tall targets to kick to up front, plus Chip showing something last weekend, I'm hoping we can pull it off. Carlton will be expecting an easy win over us, but they're mentally brittle at the moment as well, so if the boys can sock it to them and keep their hands on the footy for long enough, I think they'll get frustrated, sloppy and start to make some mistakes.

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/4/carl-v-melb

[mrtwister 652]

Will be there on Saturday with the 2 boys. Feel we need to turn up. Am dreading it a bit but not for the team's form or the result.

I find Carlton supporters to be the most fickle, ignorant and uneducated on the game of football. They are massive gloaters yet turn on their own faster than Blease can run into trouble.

I'm anticipating that we win the tackle count and I'll still hear 10 'bruise free' comments on the way back to the train.

Morons.

[jackaub 1,402]

This lot wouldnt/couldnt fire up at a barbeque

10 goals game over at quarter time as usual

[Undeeterred 3,127]

You're kidding yourselves. We are going to get bent over and shagged stupid.

[praha 11,253]

A measure of how low we have sunk. An upset if we beat a dysfunctional and distracted side currently marginally better than us.

This post makes me marginally more depressed than I already was.

Will be there on Saturday with the 2 boys. Feel we need to turn up. Am dreading it a bit but not for the team's form or the result.

I find Carlton supporters to be the most fickle, ignorant and uneducated on the game of football. They are massive gloaters yet turn on their own faster than Blease can run into trouble.

I'm anticipating that we win the tackle count and I'll still hear 10 'bruise free' comments on the way back to the train.

Morons.

They are the worst. Grew up in the North, so surrounded by Collingwood and Carlton supporters. Carlton supporters are so moronically stupid and arrogant it blows my mind. Last year I got into a war of words with an idiot calling Melbourne supporters (not players) "Toffs". Turned around and told him to focus on the game, not on the people watching it beside him. Of course his mates chimed in.

Then there was the 2000 final. All game had this gloating idiot sitting behind me. At three-quarter time was really giving Melbourne a spray. When we won, every Melbourne supporter in the section absolutely gave it to him.

There's something about Carlton supporters. They make it very personal and attack the individual more than other supporters.

[Wormburner 674]

Maybe I'm insane but I agree with the OP. I had a look on AFL.com.au today for a preview, and had a read of the stats. With the exceptions of clearances and hit outs (which was skewed by last weeks mauling), we match them in all the key stats. With Dawesy back in and two tall targets to kick to up front, plus Chip showing something last weekend, I'm hoping we can pull it off. Carlton will be expecting an easy win over us, but they're mentally brittle at the moment as well, so if the boys can sock it to them and keep their hands on the footy for long enough, I think they'll get frustrated, sloppy and start to make some mistakes.

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/4/carl-v-melb

Look at who the Blues have played in the first 3 rounds - tiges, bombers and port, all 3 (barring Essendrug) were finalists. Then who we have played....

I think we'll be flogged, again.

[timD 994]

Regardless of the result I will be furious if we don't at least match the Blues in the intensity and aggression stakes.

Their captain has promised a more aggressive effort this week and their president has basically said they need to come out breathing fire.

There is no doubt Carlton will come out very hard after the week they will have, and they know they are playing a poor side which will give them confidence to go after us.

I can take losing, because they are currently a better side than us, but I will lose all faith in the playing group if we just let them physically dominate us from the start.

If guys like Robinson and Waite run around dishing it out and we just cop it, then to me that will feel worse than losing the game.

After all, we've been battered around more than them over the years and there's no reason why our players should not come out just as physical and intent on sending a message.

Our leaders must set the tone - I know people have been bagging Grimes but I'm a fan of his. Having said that I would love to see a bit of nastiness from him this week. Get angry.

I see us as having not a snowflake's chance of matching carlton. The team is mentally shot and physically weak. We've not got an aggressive leader in any of them on the field. We've not recruited any other than Clark. We've been crying out for leadership on field since 2006 (the last year I think neitz was effective) and none has been manifest. Certainly not in this way.

I'll be absolutely amazed if we put up any physical resistance at all. I'd be rapt to see it, but really, who is going to bring it?