Makes you feel sorry for Ratten. They were a much better side then but i just can't find any sympathy for Carlton.

Where is Ratts coaching now? Don't feel sorry for him, he looks like a genius next to everyone's crazy old uncle Mick.

What I enjoy the most is the pleading from the club preseason for members, next year will be worse for them to attract members hahahah a suck it Carltank. Gibbs and Murphy are pox, big Kruz can't get on the park and they dishes off the best fwds they had.

I would assume the AFL will give them a hand as they wouldn't want one of the "big" clubs to struggle for too long.

On another topic- it looks like hogan might have some stiff competition for the Coleman!

Reckon this will be a tough round to tip.

Hawks the only certain thing in my book...

Crows also certainties.

Carlton are another example (aside from us) that complete bottom out rebuilds don't work. Staying at the bottom for years does a lot more damage than number 1 picks can reserve. Much better to stay competitive when turning over your list

Their list is the worst in the comp I reckon. If you disagree have a good look at their team vs at kildas

not sure if this is the right thread for this...

but it is interesting to hear mick malthouse say...

“You can’t just go out and buy players. We can’t go out and get free agents. We’ve lost two players (Jeff Garlett and Jarrad Waite) to free agency because we are a middle-to-bottom side at the moment.

“Players don’t want to come here. This is part of this two-tiered system. They want to go to the top sides and see finals. We haven’t played in the finals. We didn’t play finals last year.”

perhaps someone should tell him garlett came to us.

not sure if this is the right thread for this...

but it is interesting to hear mick malthouse say...

“You can’t just go out and buy players. We can’t go out and get free agents. We’ve lost two players (Jeff Garlett and Jarrad Waite) to free agency because we are a middle-to-bottom side at the moment.

“Players don’t want to come here. This is part of this two-tiered system. They want to go to the top sides and see finals. We haven’t played in the finals. We didn’t play finals last year.”

perhaps someone should tell him garlett came to us.

Yep, and for pick 70 or whatever it was!

Yep, and for pick 70 or whatever it was!

also not sure he left "to free agency because we are a middle-to-bottom side at the moment." didn't they effectively kick him out?

Yep, seems to be in the air tonight...

Of course 'Macca' technically we always have representation because the commission is independent and sits for the good of the game.

Among other things it's because of this independence that we got investigated for tanking and another club didn't. The very independent Chairman Fitzpatrick made sure the right club was investigated. Who did he play for?

The same man that see's Sydney games played at the great Olympic stadium instead of that substandard SCG. Which financial interests does he represent?

The Blues are up the creek, no doubt about that. Of course the independent commission will have to look at giving them a priority pick. Who did the Chairman play for again?

Good old Mike 'I leave the room' Fitzpatrick. One of the many famous 'I leave the room' AFL people of integrity.

Besides all that rjay, the rest of the commission are highly unlikely to give Carlton only a couple of prime time games whilst Fitzpatrick is supposedly "out of the room"

Ch7 are looking for as many sets of eyes as possible and the commission are always going to give them what they want ... during the Daniher years we never received enough prime time exposure despite playing finals in 6 out of 9 years. Back then, we probably didn't care as much for various reasons - nowadays, it's a different matter.

Supporter numbers rules, then success on the field and whether that team is a Victorian team or not (when it comes to the amount of prime time games that a team might receive)

In a nutshell, prime time exposure is geared towards the big Victorian sides. That in turn creates a bigger gap between the have's and the have not's. Also, it's a non issue in the wider footy community so don't expect anything to change.

Related to that observation is that Collingwood make a great deal of money from their away fixtures at the MCG.(including the QB clash) They've got that whole Western stand to exploit for all their games at the MCG (premium and 18 games memberships, reserved seating, merchandise sales and probably food & beverage sales etc etc)

Eddie would welcome "everyone wants to play against Collingwood" (the Victorian sides) as that would probably mean at least 1 less interstate trip (where, in real terms, they're not making any money)

As a conservative estimate, the Pies would probably still make at least 500k from their away games at the MCG but it's probably more like a million (per game)

And we're supposed to be grateful for receiving one blockbuster home fixture a season?

Carlton used to be an attractive destination. Before Mick arrived.

It's nice seeing a former power-house with minnow problems.

I would hazard a guess that Mick meant Betts rather than Garlett.

Most interesting thing out of the presser - that none of the journos pressed him on - was when he was talking about leaders at the club not once did he mention Marc Murphy, their actual captain.

Very pointed for mine.

Where is Ratts coaching now? Don't feel sorry for him, he looks like a genius next to everyone's crazy old uncle Mick.

What I enjoy the most is the pleading from the club preseason for members, next year will be worse for them to attract members hahahah a suck it Carltank. Gibbs and Murphy are pox, big Kruz can't get on the park and they dishes off the best fwds they had.

I would assume the AFL will give them a hand as they wouldn't want one of the "big" clubs to struggle for too long.

Where do you think? Hawthorn of course! Might be a better coach than they gave him credit for.

not sure if this is the right thread for this...

but it is interesting to hear mick malthouse say...

“You can’t just go out and buy players. We can’t go out and get free agents. We’ve lost two players (Jeff Garlett and Jarrad Waite) to free agency because we are a middle-to-bottom side at the moment.

“Players don’t want to come here. This is part of this two-tiered system. They want to go to the top sides and see finals. We haven’t played in the finals. We didn’t play finals last year.”

perhaps someone should tell him garlett came to us.

I think he means Betts. Garlett left because he sacked him, hard to know if he was right or wrong without being at Carlton and without waiting a few years.

But Betts didn't just leave for success. He left for coin that Adelaide were willing to offer whilst Carlton spend the money on Dale Thomas.

Where do you think? Hawthorn of course! Might be a better coach than they gave him credit for.

My point exactly.

Where do you think? Hawthorn of course! Might be a better coach than they gave him credit for.

Ratten was a solid midlevel coach. But if he made a mistake it was to base him team around Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Kreuzer and a few other good performers (Simpson, Scotland, Waite at times, Betts) whilst their recruiting was terrible and never got any better.

If you're going to be a responsible senior coach you have to step in and sort the problems. Carlton weren't exactly flush for funds but they had a good CEO in Swann, a stable President in Sticks. so Ratten had to see the writing on the wall.

You can't spend first round picks on Kane Lucas, Watson, Bootsma, pass on Cotchin for Kreuzer, pass on plenty of more reliable talent for Yarran, bungle a bunch of 2nd and 3rd round picks as well and expect to keep a side playing finals/push for a flag.

Maybe behind the scenes he was trying to sort things out but the coach has to be head of the footy department if they don't have people in those roles they can trust. Ratten presided over the erosion of talent on Carlton's list and Mick's trying to fix it but it's not really happening for him yet as it's taken a long time for it to sink in for him and only now have they moved for SOS to run the recruiting.

...like I've been saying, Bottom 2.

The Saints may well get over the top of them.

On another note, how in hell did they get 6 Friday night games. 7 will be pushing the AFL to change the draw mid season if not sooner if this keeps up.

Not sure if they'll finish below St Kilda, but they are a clear bottom 6 side, bottom 4 probably too.

And I love it.

As for the Friday night disaster, Carlton finished last year at 7-1-14, 13th on the ladder. Just the draw in front of the Dogs. There is no justification whatsoever for them being on Friday night six times this year. So even though they are a strong chance to do worse this year than last, I have no doubt we'll be seeing them in prime time again in 2016.

My only hope is that they are so bad that they continually get thrashed in prime time, it keeps getting talked about, until the AFL have no choice. Hopefully Melbourne and the Bulldogs can lift their product this year enough to take 3-4 of those Friday night games off Carlton.

You can't spend first round picks on Kane Lucas, Watson, Bootsma, pass on Cotchin for Kreuzer, pass on plenty of more reliable talent for Yarran, bungle a bunch of 2nd and 3rd round picks as well and expect to keep a side playing finals/push for a flag.

Or trade pick 11 for Brock McLean.

Don't write off Mick's concerns due to your hatred of Carlton. We've lost plenty of quality to top tier as well, if it's even all good and well but I do feel Roos and co have played a role in that.

If Neeld had been replaced with another unproven I wonder if some of those names you mentioned would be on our list.

I wonder too, but that's what I was alluding to.

Mick isn't an unproven no name, and no one wants to go there. He reckons players don't go to mid to bottom teams, I've shown that they do.

They don't want to go to Carlton because Mick is stinking the place up.

Magpies currently getting smashed by the Crows. At least today isn't a total disappointment

Could be a hundred point loss to Adelaide here. Not looking forward to next week.

This is why i am so Angry

We had the chance to go into next week with a hard attitutude.

Now we go in as Road kill...

Crows leaking goals - hard running does wonders.

We'll be okay next week.

What's with the port Adelaide never tear us apart stuff....(I was nearly sick).....do we get scarves with "Hells Bells" written on them!???

It's cringeworthy

Man, it's hilarious to hear Gillon on radio rambling about his impression that clubs at the bottom are struggling to rebuild their lists. He seemed literally clueless about ways they can make it easier to rebuild, as 4-5 years at the bottom is simply too long to maintain membership/sponsors.

Wouldn't be because the top teams are now able to cherry pick the best players through free agency, without giving anything up? Thus getting stronger without making sacrifices?

Wouldn't be because your Academy bidding system allows Sydney to get the best players in the draft for the lowest first round pick?

He then listed off a number of players who sought trades from top clubs to lower clubs, but conveniently ignored the Clark trade.

Deadset, he's either completely clueless or in desperate damage control about the state of the league.

Saints are destroying the Suns

Saints are destroying the Suns

How good is Josh Bruce?

Just kicked his 4th for the quarter.

71 - 29