Carlton's season ends with a triple-digits smashing

Yeah I think it’s close to time for the next phase of AFL which includes the reduction of 2 teams in Victoria. Roos, Saints and Dogs have shown an inability to grow members and supporters despite relative periods of success at various times over the last 20 years. Demons are probably the fourth team that struggles the most for members and support. I fear the Blues are rapidly falling to join them though from their historically strong supporter base due to poor performances and management over the last generation failing to attract the younger generation. A merger of 4 clubs into 2 or a relocation maybe does need to happen at some point in the next 5-10 years imo.

Exactly. Each other state only has 2 clubs. QLD's problems are long known and have been going on for a decade. Both teams in Sydney are doing well at the moment but long-term will continue to need access to academy players to continue to do well. If assets in the form of players and funds continue to be siphoned off to prop up whichever victorian club is having an extended slump at some point you need to question why we need to have ten teams in Victoria, and whether or not 8 teams would continue to do just as good a job. If for example as well, academy access was restricted because it was deemed the QLD and NSW clubs were doing too well, and it was cut back to try and give more success to the ten clubs in Victoria, that would be a disgrace. If you want to maintain ten clubs in Victoria when the other states combined only have 8 then I think those clubs in Victoria need to support themselves within the same rules that apply to everyone else and there should be no special treatment whatsoever for those clubs.

Perhaps the number 18 is the issue. Maybe we only need 16 competitive teams?

Oldest club in Perth and my surname fits in perfectly with the Garlic munchers.

At the time Bolton got appointed he was the highest regarded assistant in the land so he can obviously coach, he's got his 3 years out of the way so now it's time for him to shine. Anything less than 7 wins next year then they can move him on but I'm still backing him in, he didn't have much to work with when he arrived. Blake Caracella would be a great get as a senior assistant then to maybe take over if next year doesn't go to plan.

Kane, they can stick with their plan to a certain extent but surely modify is as circumstances dictate? With Bolton an employee they shift him into line coach and go begging to Ratten to come back as senior coach. It will need a board challenge for that to happen though.

They should play hard ball. Any talent from Suns, GWS or Lions under free agency who want to return to Melbourne has to choose one of the three bottom Melbourne sides in the year they leave. Lynch then can either stay at Suns or go play for Blues, Saints etc

So Petey, do you honestly believe one of the oldest and successful Melbourne clubs with 55k plus members and a very good ground and facilities is just going to fade away.

There was a group about to storm the castle at the Tiger before the 2017 season! If you went into this season with realistic expectations and allowed for the massive injury toll we you wouldn't be too upset with what has happened. 2018 was always going to be about getting development from individual players and there was plenty of that.

Pete - how are we getting off the bottom, look at the players we have drafted in the last 3 years Dow, Fisher and O'Brien look like being very good on ballers, Charlie Curnow and McKay are 2 of just 6 player under 22 to average more than1.5 goals a game, SPS is 39th in the league for tackles, Weitering looks a very solid long term key defender and Williamson showed plenty last year. Throw in Docherty and Cripps and that is An excellent base to build around, they just need time to develop. The blues are on record that they are going to target 22-27 year olds this year, if they can grab a couple of high quality players in that's bracket (Shiel, Gaff, McGovern, etc), plus a Setterfield and get a better run with injury the improvement will come.

Pete - we replaced Gibbs with O'Brien and Kennedy, long term you will be saying it was a masterstroke.

Dingo - I like what the Lions are doing, I juśt don't get fooled into thinking Hodge is the thing turning the whole place around. The Lions drafting (which is similar to the blues) is the driving force. Interesting to see you say you have an even spread of contributors (which is easier to achieve when you aren't missing more than 1/3 of you best 22) and that it is the draftees pushing the "improvement" but the reality is that you rely very heavily on Martin (31) Zorko and Robinson (29) and Beams (28) - if any 3 of those players had missed asmany games as say Murphy, Kreuzer & Docherty had I really wonder if you would actually have won the whole 5 games you did. Could you also point out which of the 13 draftees from the last 3 drafts for the blues isn't showing"genuine improvement "

No, Tom Lynch should get at least some choice in his employer and location of work just like the rest of us. There are other measures the AFL can take to assist struggling clubs.

Agree, failing to replace Gibbs was a huge failure. Losing Docherty to injury on top of this was a disaster. Should have replaced Gibbs with an equivalent and added another experienced mature player of at least B grade status last year to add quality depth. Failure to recognise and do something about this was pathetic list management. Another season like this one and supporters will either riot or leave in droves.

Hypothetically add those three to the blues this year and would assume 8-10 wins would've happened, rebuild is suddenly praised.

That’s right Pete. It’s not about whether Carlton deserve it. It’s about having 18 competitive teams. Any side that finishes with a percentage below 75% needs to be looked at and have that situation rectified, be it by priority picks or other means.

The Lions are so much better to watch then your pathetic lot! The Lions also didn’t put the cue in the rack at any stage this year. The blues did about 6-8 times. The Lions won 5 games and really should of won another 3 or 4. The Lions recent Draft picks all show genuine improvement. The Lions have a pretty good even spread of contributors. Unlike Carlton who are basically being carried by Cripps. If you can’t see why the Lions who have far and away more things up against them when it comes to equalisation are in a much better position than your basket case Club, I suggest you got out and gets yourself a walking cane and well trained Labrador.

Rick obviously you do not follow American Football the only Chucky is coach John Gruden.

I agree Pete, Ratten was doing nothing wrong, administration ego's got in the way with Malthouse decision.

But Macca what you're saying is once on the bottom it's harder to attract talent to rise again, I get that, I really do but my question is how on earth are you getting off the bottom?