No. 31

On the train to Marvel Stadium ... "This is the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd numbers. Away, go. They say there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death." Not sure why I am going, but I am 😁 Carn the Blues.

Too small, restricted by housing development surrounding it. Great for a local footy team, not the Dees.

Some interesting analysis on the Dees and Goodwin from a Carlton fan youtuber who has branched out into analysis of other teams. Might be of interest to some:

There are two aspects to this though, its not just having the composure or time to lower the eyes, it is having forwards run to create space and options, this aspect is on the coaching group (similar issues to the Blues to be honest).

With the loss of FTA coverage on Saturday nights, having FTA TV eyes on the Dees on Sunday arvos is not a bad side effect. I actually don't mind Sunday arvo games, kid friendly.

On my way to the MCG. I am ready to be hurt again 😁 My expecations are low but this Carlton side does have a bit of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde about it ... so one never knows ... Carn the Blues!

Once the new Parkville Metro Station opens it would make it easier and quicker to get to via PT from many parts of Melbourne than is currently the case.

I saw Caroline Wilson on Ch7 having a dig at the Dees crowd, she can be so annoying. 23K isn't too bad considering the F1 GP, playing GWS and the weather was truly horrid for March. I was intending to take my young son to this game and bailed a few hours before the start because the weather was too cold and wet for him. We watched on tv instead. Interestingly, on this very same date last year I took my son to watch Dees v Doggies and it was a pleasant, sunny autumnal day and 44K turned up. I would guestimate 10K for the Bulldogs, a few thousand neutrals leaving around 30K Dees fans. Solidly good if you ask me.

The Trac Attack is Back!

The dubutants are looking solid, good first quarter by the Dees.

A bit of both. Voss seems incapable of meaningful in game responsive changes and can't seem to breakout out of the straightjacket of the contested and stoppage game he understands to evolve into the modern game played today. To be a genuine top 4 contender this Carlton list also needs another quality tall defender and a quality small forward. Agreed that the Blues are a 5 to 14 side. I honestly believe a more capable coaching team with a few minor list changes could get this side a flag. It won't happen under Michael Voss.

I agree 100% with such morbid sentiments 😁 Worst Carlton game I have watched for many years 🤮 Voss doesn't have it what it takes, I like the guy, legend of a player, not cut out to be a senior AFL coach with the style of football played today.

On my way to the MCG, love seeing a Silvagni and a Camporeale in the team tonight. Footy is back! 😎

FS - Father-Son (doesn't apply to Starcevich though). Good footballer, rate him, good traditional Croatian surname to boot 🇭🇷

Not sure about his time at the Saints, I didn't really follow his fortunes there. I did notice him when he played at Fremantle though and thought he had his moments. I have two Freo suppirting mates who liked him and were sad to see him depart. It is true that Freo lowballed him with a contract offer, I thought it was low $200K but I don't swear on that. Anyways, glad we picked him up, handy player and had a knack of doing things in crucial moments that has made him a bit of Blues cult player [makes offerings to the shrine of Blake Acres in my living room] 🙏😁

Jackson wouldn't be the first West Australian player to head home to Perth to then find out they actually miss life in Melbourne. One of the reasons Carlton were able to pick up Blake Acres from Freo. If a Kozzy for Jackson swap was actually on the cards, I would go for it.

I have been saying for some time that the Pies will fall off a cliff with their age structure, hopefully I will finally be right 😁 They only had a few flashes of the Collingwood of yesteryear and generally looked like a plodding lower mid table side and not a real contender. Only Round 1 but good to see a heavy loss to kick the season off. I took my son to Princes Park this morning for the open training session, watched the Pies in a 50+ point loss on TV this arvo and had a beer and a swim at the beach this evening. What an awesome day! (with a public holiday tomorrow) 😀

Watching Giants v Blues. I don't take too much stock in practice games but liking the endeavour and mindset from Carlton. Looking better defensively. Silvagni down back makes sense. Young Lucas Camporeale looks like he belongs. Kemp filling on for Curnow up forwards looks alright. I think McGovern rolled an ankle rather than pulling a hammy. Roll on Round 1 against the Tigers, hopefully it will be a safari ...

It certainly doesn't have the character and charm of the MCG.

Agreed that the roof should be open on sunny days. The flipside is I have watched games where it is raining and or blowing a gale outside, the roof is very welcome then.

I don't get the Marvel Stadium hostility (yes I go to plenty of Carlton home games there). I too prefer the MCG but Marvel is still a decent place to watch footy. Especially if it is bad weather. Its also great for accessing drinks/,food/bathrooms, better than the MCG in that aspect. Transport is easy too being next to Southern Cross Station. If you get say 30K+ you can get a pretty good atmosphere too.

After a few misses with the Ticketek website, got a ticket in the noosebleed section for KB. Last time I went to this fixture live, the Dees won ... its an omen! 😁

There used to be really good deals available for digital club memberships that included Kayo. Last season I ditched my usual Kayo subscription for a Demons Digital Membership. I saved $100 and helped out the Dees. Seems that Kayo tightened this 'loophole' so cheaper Kayo is no longer available via club digital memberships.

I know the Blues were looking at him very closely and rated him highly. I agree that he will probably be in the mould of a Cripps rather than a Petracca. Time will tell though. He looks like one that will be ready to go now in terms of senior AFL football. The Dees did well with him.

There is still the nucleus of 2021 Premiership side, Tracc and Clarrie should be back into it wanting to prove points and there has been good young draftee recruiting over the last few years. I am expecting JVR to step up a notch now. I am tipping the Dees to be in the top 4 mix.