Everything posted by No. 31
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King: Demons vs The World in 2024
Some truth to that I feel. The pain of losing 4 consecutive finals and the recent media pile on has to burn and motivate the players. One of the reasons why Carlton developed an edge in the home straight of this seadon was the burn of being openly ridiculed by opposition players and the media in the horror mid season slump.
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Training Ground?
It wouldn't be your typical lease. The land in the centre of the racecourse is Crown Land. For instance, Carlton FC have been leasing Princes Park (Ikon Park) since 1896 and there is an Act of Parliament that also sits behind the lease.
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Training Ground?
Well MFC wouldn't be signing a 10 year lease. I would be thinking of something closer to a 99 year lease.
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Training Ground?
Yes lease length will probably be an issue and the area inside the racecourse is governed by a trust. There is some land that is MRC owned on the perimeter of the racecourse as well. Will take time to work through the issues but Caulfield is the best bet for a single permanent home for the Demons for many reasons which have already been fleshed out in this thread.
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Training Ground?
The other option for the Lions is an upgrade to the Brisbane Showgrounds: https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/brisbane-showgrounds
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Training Ground?
Once the new Metro tunnel opens, Caulfield Station will be even more easily accessible from other parts of Melbourne. Caulfield Station is fine as a destination station in its own right, needs upgrades as a transiting station though. It is the largest train station outside the inner city core and where the Cranbourne\Pakenham and Frankston Lines branch out. As far as PT and road links are concerned, Caufield is an A grade location. What I am curious about is where within the racecourse precinct would the Demons facilities be? If they are at the Southern end then Glen Huntly Station and the 67 tram are probably the better transport options. Glen Huntly has a new train station that opened recently as part of the level crossing removals.
- Trade Rumours 2023
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Lochie O’Brien
Reality is he has been a flop for the Blues considering he was a No.10 draft pick. Has shown ability and promise on occasions but never delivered consistently. His 2022 season was decent and I thought 2023 was the season for Lochie to step up to another level. Alas, he hasn't been able to grasp his opportunities and appeared to regress from the previous season. If there is room in the Demons list he might be worth a punt. Would see him primarily as a Casey player and as back up. This would be his last chance so that might motivate him to make the changes he needs. I think a draftee would probably be a better option to be honest. Ollie Hollands at Carlton was a new draftee and a revelation as a winger (No. 11 in the 2022 draft) and is certainly a first 22 player at the Blues now.
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Trade Rumours 2023
Carlton definitely play better with Harry in the side. He provides a great marking option on the wing, decent field kicking and will run, chase and tackle quite well for a big guy, he adds alot to the side even without many goals. It is just now with Tom De Koning finally showing signs of stepping up a notch recently (and Jack Silvahni re-signing) that Harry may possibly be dangled as trade bait?? 🤔
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Trade Rumours 2023
Not sure that talk of Harry McKay is realistic. If he somehow did go to Melbourne and you wanted him for goals he should be used as a classic full forward inhabiting the goal square. He played that role in 2021 for Carlton when Charlie Curnow was still out injured and won the Coleman Medal with 58 goals. His set shots were usually much closer to goal (with the consequent higher conversion rate) than they have been in the last 2 seasons where he was used differently and further away from goals. He is the kind of player who if he regained their set shot confidence could be the missing piece to win a flag. But yeah, there is an element of a gamble. Fritsch can be used for longer range accuracy with McKay closer to the goals. As for Rory Lobb, run away as fast as you can. He plays 3 or 4 decent matches a season.
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Mad Monday… a thing of the past?
20 odd years ago when I started my professional working life, Christmas Parties could be wild affairs at times. Social mores change over time and end of year functions are much tamer affairs than in the past (at least from what I have observed). I suspect the AFL is no different to the rest of society? 🤔
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Non-MFC: Finals Week 03
Or look at Brisbane and Melbourne, regular finalists for several consecutive years now. Dees with one flang and the Lions with a chance to get one next week. Of course there are no guarantees in football and outcomes are a complex interplay of playing lists, form, coaches, preparation, mentality, injuries and sometime just plain luck thrown into the mix. Next year the Dees could get the wooden spoon, but I am 99% certain they won't. I'll put a $100 on the Blues having serious September action again in 2024. Carlton have a very good list now, needs a bit of tinkering to improve but they are ready after losing their finals virginity and gaining some useful experience this season and in the 3 finals games they played in recently ...
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Non-MFC: Finals Week 03
2028 for the Blues Quintuple ... 5-peat Flag 😝 😁 The Blues window is definitely open now, just need to keep working to improve and evolve, but all the right ingredients are there which hasn't been the case for a long time. I am pretty happy how the season panned out after the horror 6 losses in a row. I am still bullish on the Dees as well, just need to look at the foward line set up and perhaps adjust some tactical things. Tinkering rather than wholesale refurbishment that some understandably dejected souls here think. Would be happy to split some silverware with the Dees up to 2028 😊
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Non-MFC: Finals Week 03
Top 4 next season I would say. Voss has actually shown himself to be a better coach than most gave him credit for (me included). The Carlton list is the right age/experience/quality profile to make the next step.
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Non-MFC: Finals Week 03
A 3 is easily converted into an 8 😊
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Non-MFC: Finals Week 03
Little chance of the Lions having a soft outing tonight, the Blues have been playing tough, bruising footy for the last 3 months, will be a tough game, whoever wins.
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Vale Ronald Dale Barassi - Rest in Peace
Transiting in Singapore and just read this sad news. RIP Ron. A true legend of the game and he left an indelible mark on Melbourne, Carlton, North Melbourne and the modern game.
- GAMEDAY: SF vs Carlton
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What They are Saying at Princes Park - SF
Interesting old footage of RDB's last game as a player in 1969 has now surfaced. Carlton played Melbourne in Ron's last game! https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1430971?fbclid=IwAR1Gyp59vqAa4Mc6K2935x984zNUusurpXRobEVp9nFtkjPwDvDFPfDTfpk
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NON-MFC: Finals Week 02
On the way home from work and listening to SEN (just after 6pm) and Kane Cornes having a dig at MFC's crowd size in the MCG finals match against Brisbane Lions last season trying to deflect that Port Adelaide v GWS for Saturday has only sold 37K tickets so far ... reckons Lions supporters made up over 20K+ in the 62K crowd last year so Port's ticket sales aren't that far off ...
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PREGAME: SF vs Carlton
- McGuire celebration restaurant
- What They are Saying at Princes Park - SF
I grew up in the Demons old Melbourne recruiting zone in S.E. Melbourne. MFC players used to come to teach us footy skills at primary school so I always had a fondness and affinity for them. Robbie Flower came to one of our footy clinics, I remember being pretty excited and made sure I traded footy cards to get his one. My extended family were largely either St Kilda or Richmond supporters (depending upon which suburb they first lived in when they arrived in Melbourne from overseas). I baulked at supporting either of them for some reason despite the attempted bribery to join their ranks and once I found out that I was born in Carlton (at the Royal Womens Hospital) I declared them as my club. The Blues were flying high in the early 80s and my ethnic compatriot, Val Perovic, who featured in the 1981-82 Blues Premiership sides sealed supporting CFC for me.- Maynard must get at least four weeks
I had SEN on during part of the day in the background when working and caught the take of some Rugby League bloke on the Maynard "footy act". Very interesting comments, said unequivocally that if in Rugby League, Maynard would definitely be rubbed out for 4 weeks! Interesting viewpoint from north of the Barassi Line. Did anyone else catch these comments?- What They are Saying at Princes Park - SF
Actually, I outed myself earlier this year and even had some other Demonlanders confess assorted connections or sympathies with the Navy Blues after my post [I now call them my Blues Brothers 😁] BTW, Ron B was Carlton's most famous No. 31. Tom Alvin ('87 Premiership side) coming in as the second most famous Blue to don the No. 31 guernsey I would say. In the event the Blues get up on Friday (I will be there with the hordes of other Navy Blue Zombies* at the 'G) I won't come here to gloat as that would be disrespectful. I would probably even feel a tinge of sadness mixed with the elation of the Baggers being back in the big time. The Dees are my 'second team', I watch all their matches and even occasionally go to watch them live as I have a membership this season. * reference to Robbo on AFL 360 last night describing the Carlton fans after defeating Sydney last Friday ... he needn't fear us, Zombies lust after brains for food, he will be safe! 😁 - McGuire celebration restaurant