Every game is related...which means we will lose to Carlton this week.

[GVGjr]

Huge test on the effectiveness of Jones, Gardner and Keath on a couple of stud tall forwards and if we can curb their smaller players from making an impact.

[JanLorMill]

The key for us is English. Last year his first half was horrible and Pittonet gave their midfield first use early and a big lead. English played a better second half and we fell short because of poor kicking

[bulldogsthru&thru]

This is the exact type of game we typically lose and I don't trust this group enough to think we will win. It's the perfect challenge and one I feel we should win. I just don't see us rising to occasion. I'd be pleasantly surprised if we did.

[Mofra]

Crazy Bevo sniffing the winds so debuts James O'Donnell

I was in the loss camp before, now it's 50/50

Only some batshit insane plan gets us across the line. This might be it

[The bulldog tragician]

Why do I feel like we are going to lose.

I think it's because even when we've been flying they've always had good games against us.

Harry McKay always kicks a bag.

Be a really mature win if we can grind this one out.

You really need to ask why??

Add me to the doubters. They have been under the microscope or blow torch, or whatever.

It?s interesting though, we are preoccupied with the fear of Cripps tearing us apart etc. we don?t think that they must be sweating blood about how to stop Bont, the form midfielder of the competition.

[kruder]

I don't want to be the prophet of doom.

But - with the exception of 20-minutes gone wrong vs Port - we have essentially won 6 in a row.

That pretty much never happens.

The media are 100% into the blues. They are gonna respond. We have a couple of injuries and I suspect the Treloar one has the players a little bummed out (he's a good player, seems like a popular bloke and has had some rotten luck).

I hate that I think this but I think this week is just going to go awry...it's just 'time'.

These are the types of games we loose historically agree. If we win this one buckle up!

[azabob]

Our big advantage should be in the ruck. If English and Lobb can’t work over the Carlton rucks it will be mightily disappointing, especially considering how it’s taken me 8 rounds to fully get aboard the English train.

[1eyedog]

Rucks are of no consequence you just know it's going to ping out of D50 and McKay and Curnow are going to feast. Seen it a thousand times.

Charlie might kick a bakers dozen.

[MrMahatma]

Rucks are of no consequence you just know it's going to ping out of D50 and McKay and Curnow are going to feast. Seen it a thousand times.

Charlie might kick a bakers dozen.

So might Naughton

[jeemak]

I say we do them. We'll stifle anything they have resembling run from defence and while we might let Cripps off the leash like we usually do our new ruckman Tim English will help us in the clearances more than the previous ruckman who looks a lot like him has in previous years.

It won't be pretty, we won't kick a big score, but we'll kick a bigger one than they do.

[SonofScray]

It won't be pretty, we won't kick a big score, but we'll kick a bigger one than they do.

If we can score more than them in the allocated time for play, we might just win this one.

[EasternWest]

If we can score more than them in the allocated time for play, we might just win this one.

Promote this man.

[MrMahatma]

Look... the closer we get to this match the more confident I'm becoming in a 7 goal win.

[Mantis]

It?s interesting though, we are preoccupied with the fear of Cripps tearing us apart etc. we don?t think that they must be sweating blood about how to stop Bont, the form midfielder of the competition.

It's a huge test for Bont this week who has been in ripping form, but when he's been ''sat on'' he has been far less effective... think after 1/2 time against both Port (Drew) and GWS (Green).

With Treloar out we will need Bont to be at his brilliant best... but also need our others mids to pull their weight.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I was positive against the grain of this thread right up until 2 minutes ago.... and I heard David King and Jonathon Brown laud us and talk up our chances, so that's done it.
We're really up against it now. If we pull this off now it will be one for the ages.