The battle of the wooden spoon

I think the Blues are ripe for their first win of the season. I really hope they can get over the line this week and are my pick for the upset of the round.

Silvagni managed 2 goals from 12 possessions in the VFL today, Jaksch bagged 3 to good with his 3 last week.

Carlton have not been to Adelaide in a few years now.

Dalgety, of the oldest players on the blues list we currently have Walker, Everitt, Wood, Armfield, Jamison and white out of the side - I think that would classify as giving youth a shot.

Macca, you have to go back to 2012 to find the last time Carlton had beaten Freo and I'd hardly call 2011 and 2012 representative of any sort of zenith for Freo (and they certainly weren't top 4 in either of those years). In 2011 Freo's season was in a constant injury crisis with at one stage only having 25 fit players to choose from. In 2012 they hit a deep funk for much of the season as they struggled in adapting to the new game plan. Since 2002 (pretty much since I started these "wagers" with my Carltoon-loving mate) I think Freo have beaten the Blues in 15 of the 19 games they've played.

Why don't we play Waite at full forward? We could have Betts and Garlett in the pockets and give Laidler a run down back, as he is handy. I think Jacobs should ruck allowing Kreuzer to go up the ground. Big Mitch is an asset in the center as he is tough. I think the wide open expanses of Subiaco should suit our fast and exciting game plan allowing Eddie to rove the packs. Betts is also good with forward pressure. I am confident we will come away with the win. Oh wait it's 2016...and Carlton off loaded all these players except for Kreuzer. We are stuffed.

An endless number Dalgety, I would have thought the number was 5 if you beat on each game, As for Freo's supposed dominance of the blues, what is the longest period of consecutive wins the dockers have had over the blues? When the blues went 11 straight agents the Tigers (or something like that) that gave Carlton supporters comfort - I wouldn't have thought going 3-2 in the last 5 when you have been - top 4 team is cause for comfort., especially with a 4-1 home ground advantage.

Go Blues! How funny would it be if Freo lost? I would feel sorry for Haley and Goo though as I'm sure Ross the Boss will blame them for the state of being for the Dockers.... Looking forward to Brendan Bolton's first victory as a coach.

Have Carlton gone with their more experienced heads or given youth a shot?

Wait...perhaps you are a bot yourself... you certainly have a definition problem about"discussion"... :D ... Macca there are ups and downs across seasons... Freo might strike Carton at the right time and vice versa, that's why across a pretty reasonable time frame 20% is a good indication Freo has some comfort (for whatever reason) playing Carlton (sure you can account for a percentage of it being due to such variables as lopsided home and away ratios, but that may be accounted for by other factors too). My Carltoon mate owes me an endless number of cartons, which he refuses to pay up on, but it has allowed me to be acutely aware of their tussles together across the years.

Perhaps, but that's AFL footy. Freo have the same issue too.

Liam Jones in. Wow. The old saying goes, fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. What are we up to now with Carlton's duds about fools x 20? Personally, I would have played Jaksh. Jones, was gifted a bunch of games last year and was utterly hopeless. I do not think he is good enough for senior level, which is no shame at all. He just does not have the speed, strength, desire and skill. Carlton needs to move on from him.

You've been watching too many episodes of Fantasy Island my friend and digesting too many of those things the Essendon players were juicing themselves with.

Dalgetty: Macca is right in regards to the home and away statistics. In the last three seasons Carlton have played Fremantle in Perth. Technically that is not fair.

So the blues by 26 then! ;) I reckon you aren't far off maybe 10 points too much.

Casboult has been in the system for much longer than Sicily. He was drafted as a rookie in 2010 and played his first senior game in 2012. No more excuses. After 4 years of senior football he should be able to kick. If I wasn't able to do my job after 4 years I would have been out the door. No excuses...sorry. Not good enough to cite the great man Robert Walls.

Liam Jones: shudder. Oh no we are screwed. I agree with you about Jamieson as well. Rowe is nowhere near as good as Jammo. Rowe is a liability. Move Tuohy up forward. I am getting more nervous by the minute.

I am not expecting us to beat Freo but I want to see a good contest. I want to walk away saying "at least we gave it a go." I want to see Casboult do what he is paid to do: kick bloody goals as opposed to spraying the pill. I want to see Murphy and Gibbs play in the spirit of Big Nick. I want to see decisive action in front of goal as opposed to stuffing around. I do not want to see turn overs down back. I want to see more than 10 goals kicked. Macca I do not have a problem with what Hal has been saying. Unfortunately she is on the money. I am expecting a touch up. I am expecting to see Casboult spray the pill and Gibbs buckle under pressure.

That is interesting, particularly as Tucker hasn't played for 3 weeks. Grey for Suban is a good call. Suban has been awful this year, Grey's disposal is not always the greatest but he is a fierce competitor and very quick. Langdon unlucky - I thought he deserved a few games in a row. Tucker is not really like for like with Ibbo (who also deserves time in the WAFL) so Ross may have to restructure down back. That's an awful lot of young players for a coach who doesn't play the yoof.

Macca: When I make a call I do it on objective decision making. I have said many times I am not a Carlton hater. Being a Geelong supporter I am hardly fond of Fremantle. Geelong have a bitter rivalry with Fremantle. Remember Dean Solomon? I want Carlton to win. I usually tip Hawthorn to win, even though I absolutely despise them (more than any other club). Unfortunately the Hawks are good. It pains me to say it, but they are the most successful team in my lifetime. I have seen them win more grand finals than any other team, two of them against Geelong. Back to Fremantle; at this stage I feel they are ahead of Carlton. Who knows what the future holds? I have faith in Bolton.