Carlton's Objectives en route to winning the Premiership

[DidakDelight]

At the start of 2008, Brett Ratten sat down with his match commitee and leadership group and mapped out the objectives that they must meet in order to win the premiership within 5 years.
Now three years in, the Blues are in their second successive finals series and have ticked off a massive chunk from their list of objectives.

If I were a Blues supporter I would be happy with the way Ratten is methodically going about his business down at Visy Park knocking off the objectives and getting games into his young list while still making the finals.


Break team hoodoo
- Break losing streak against Adelaide - Last win, 2004 - Completed '10
- Break losing streak against Brisbane - Last win, 2001 - Completed '08
- Break losing streak against Essendon - Last win, 2007 - Completed '10
- Break losing streak against Fremantle - Last win, 2001 - Completed '08
- Break losing streak against Geelong - Last win, 2004 - Completed '09
- Break losing streak against Hawthorn - Last win, 2005
- Break losing streak against North Melbourne - Last win, 2004 - Completed '09
- Break losing streak against St. Kilda - Last win, 2001 - Completed '10
- Break losing streak against Sydney - Last win, 2000 - Completed '09
- Break losing streak against West Coast - Last win, 2004 - Completed '08

Break interstate hoodoo
- Win a game interstate - Last win, 2004 - Completed '08
- Win away against Adelaide - Last win, 2004 - Completed '10
- Win away against Brisbane - Last win, 2000 - Completed '08
- Win away against Fremantle - Last win, 2001 - Completed '09
- Win away against Port Adelaide - Last win, 2001 - Completed '08
- Win away against Sydney - Last win, 1993 Today?
- Win away against West Coast - Last win, 2000 - Completed '08

End of Season goals
- Finish outside bottom 4 - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Finish with % above 80% - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Finish with % above 100% - Last time, 2001 - Completed '09
- Finish with % above 130% - Last time, 2000
- Win 5 or more games in a season - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Win 10 or more games in a season - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Make finals - Last time, 2001 - Completed '09
- Win a final - Last time, 2001
- Make top 4 - Last time, 2000
- Make GF - Last time, 1999
- Win the flag - Last time, 1995

Misc goals
- Break potential greatest longest losing streak - Completed '08
- End record of most games conceding >100 points - Completed '08
- Win 3 games in a row - Last time, 2004 - Completed '09
- Win 4 games in a row - Last time, 2001 - Completed '09
- Win 5 games in a row - Last time, 2000
- Win by 7 goals or more - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Win by 10 goals or more - Last time, 2001 - Completed '08
- Win by 100 points or more - Last time, 2001

 

[Zahki]

Making the finals again after trading away their coleman winning full forward is an impressive achievement. Would you bet on Richmond to make finals if they traded away Jack Riewoldt? These types of players are incredibly hard to replace when they leave. They're making progress. Ratten should probably focus on getting them to play like a team and not Judd + 21 other guys though.

 

[1980GFVideo]

They can look very good and the Fevola decision now looks bad only because they didnt do it earlier.

If they win tommorrow then the route to the Grand Final would be Western Bulldogs and StKilda.

Id back them against the dogs and St Kilda is a side they can beat.

Unfortunately Collingwood have the wood over them (but who dont they at the moment) but it would be interesting to see a Carlton Collingwood Grand Final.

Did anyone see Parko on Foxtel saying that Brett Ratten rang him up after they got rid of Fev and asked him "Whos going to kick our goals?"

Dont think Ratts would have appreciated that.

BTW:The Big Irishman went OK today in the slush for the Bullants.

 

[The Big League]

I don't know if it's my unbridled hatred for Carlton or not but I really don't rate them. Their midfield is quality but apart from that they're not much chop.

With guys like Bower, Houlihan, Russell and Yarran all getting a game at the same time I don't see how they can be seen as any sort of finals threat.

 

[outabounds]

To be honest,
it all depends on today. We would want to win to be really satisfied. If we can get to the Dogs next week, who knows what could happen because the are shot.
Having said that it was satisfying to make the finals after the Fev departure but we only just scrapped in.

 

[The Big League]

It was a great effort no doubt. I had them finishing bottom 4 so I was way off, but I still think there are just too many players who are hit and miss.

 

[DidakDelight]

To be honest,
it all depends on today. We would want to win to be really satisfied. If we can get to the Dogs next week, who knows what could happen because the are shot.
Having said that it was satisfying to make the finals after the Fev departure but we only just scrapped in.

I dont think even the most optimistic/deluded carlton supporter would expect them to win the flag this year, but in terms of meeting the objectives that they set out to achieve they are definitely on the right track.

Have their older players like Judd, Waite, Scotland, Simpson & Carrazzo peaked or can they still improve over the next few years as they now start to enter their late 20's

 

[SurfingTheVoid]

Carlton need a key forward. Henderson isn't that.

 

[master bate]

He's done a great job getting them back to a finals team.

But to be a top 4 side you need key defenders who can hold their own and midfield depth. That's where I see Carlton's problem being.

They need to find a few more mids - say Yarran breaks into the middle ahead of schedule, rejuvinate Brock McLean, Kane Lucas goes up a few levels quickly etc. But by the time they do that Scotland, Simpson and Judd might not be at the level they are now.

 

[master bate]

He's done a great job getting them back to a finals team.

But to be a top 4 side you need key defenders who can hold their own and midfield depth. That's where I see Carlton's problem being.

They need to find a few more mids - say Yarran breaks into the middle ahead of schedule, rejuvinate Brock McLean, Kane Lucas goes up a few levels quickly etc. But by the time they do that Scotland, Simpson and Judd might not be at the level they are now.

 

[jayjones1]

will lose today

 

[vinhol]

will lose today

mayby but unlike the crows have chance of winning today

 

[mediumsizered]

With guys like Bower, Houlihan, Russell and Yarran all getting a game at the same time I don't see how they can be seen as any sort of finals threat.

You can say that about players at some of the recently more competitive clubs. Collingwood are playing great football with the likes of Leigh Brown, Macaffer, the previously much maligned Toovey, Blair etc ensconced in the team. St Kilda have done alright with the likes of McQualter, Gwilt, Dawson & the often criticised Jones, being regulars in their team.

FWIW, Yarran will be a very good player when he develops greater self belief & has another 2-3 pre-seasons under his belt to develop his stamina. He is one of the most talented players on the list (personally I think only Judd has more talent), but his body language clearly portrays someone who has yet to become aware of the talent he has.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Carlton haven't lost as much with the loss of Fevola as many people think.

Waite is a very good marking option, and even Henderson is pushing up now. Betts is also another key target.

I think Carlton are using Fev as a bit of an excuse, really.

 

[blues4flag]

Carlton need a key forward. Henderson isn't that.

He's exactly that. A 20 year old CHF.

He and Waite have combined for 17 goals in the last 3 weeks. Almost 6 goals between them a game. Not bad form coming into finals, that.

 

[crackersrulz]

I think Carlton are using Fev as a bit of an excuse, really.

An excuse for what????????

edit:
damm, I replied to this, before I realised who wrote it, disregard the question, I have no desire to hear the answer....

 

[melbournemartin]

Fevola was a huge loss. Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves. Setanta's brief glimmer of hope was...brief and while Henderson and Waite look good in patches, often it's a rather impotent looking tall forward line. Fevola was a very good "get out of jail" option with a long bomb to the goal square. A fit Fev would have kicked another 70 for them this year and maybe given them a chance to knock off the Dogs for 4th spot.

 

[Banyo Bloods]

They have ticked a lot of boxes and turned this year into a successful year indeed given the departure of Fev.

Wait really looks unstoppable at times with his leap strong hands and pure aggression.

I'm nervous believe me

 

[Kramer1]

At the start of 2008, Brett Ratten sat down with his match commitee and leadership group and mapped out the objectives that they must meet in order to win the premiership within 5 years.
Now three years in, the Blues are in their second successive finals series and have ticked off a massive chunk from their list of objectives.

If I were a Blues supporter I would be happy with the way Ratten is methodically going about his business down at Visy Park knocking off the objectives and getting games into his young list while still making the finals.


Break team hoodoo
- Break losing streak against Adelaide - Last win, 2004 - Completed '10
- Break losing streak against Brisbane - Last win, 2001 - Completed '08
- Break losing streak against Essendon - Last win, 2007 - Completed '10
- Break losing streak against Fremantle - Last win, 2001 - Completed '08
- Break losing streak against Geelong - Last win, 2004 - Completed '09
- Break losing streak against Hawthorn - Last win, 2005
- Break losing streak against North Melbourne - Last win, 2004 - Completed '09
- Break losing streak against St. Kilda - Last win, 2001 - Completed '10
- Break losing streak against Sydney - Last win, 2000 - Completed '09
- Break losing streak against West Coast - Last win, 2004 - Completed '08

Break interstate hoodoo
- Win a game interstate - Last win, 2004 - Completed '08
- Win away against Adelaide - Last win, 2004 - Completed '10
- Win away against Brisbane - Last win, 2000 - Completed '08
- Win away against Fremantle - Last win, 2001 - Completed '09
- Win away against Port Adelaide - Last win, 2001 - Completed '08
- Win away against Sydney - Last win, 1993 Today?
- Win away against West Coast - Last win, 2000 - Completed '08

End of Season goals
- Finish outside bottom 4 - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Finish with % above 80% - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Finish with % above 100% - Last time, 2001 - Completed '09
- Finish with % above 130% - Last time, 2000
- Win 5 or more games in a season - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Win 10 or more games in a season - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Make finals - Last time, 2001 - Completed '09
- Win a final - Last time, 2001
- Make top 4 - Last time, 2000
- Make GF - Last time, 1999
- Win the flag - Last time, 1995

Misc goals
- Break potential greatest longest losing streak - Completed '08
- End record of most games conceding >100 points - Completed '08
- Win 3 games in a row - Last time, 2004 - Completed '09
- Win 4 games in a row - Last time, 2001 - Completed '09
- Win 5 games in a row - Last time, 2000
- Win by 7 goals or more - Last time, 2004 - Completed '08
- Win by 10 goals or more - Last time, 2001 - Completed '08
- Win by 100 points or more - Last time, 2001

Outside of one pie supporter (Dave86 I think?) I don't bother reading a Collingwood posts, but well done on putting up something objective and entirely readable.

It's easy to forget just how far back we were coming from, and whilst I don't agree with a few things, and still sit on the fence a bit with Ratts, its plain to see we are heading in the right direction.

 

[qldbluesman_43]

I'm happy with how things are ticking along. At very least, we will be a top 8 team for years to come which is so nice after so long in the dumps.

Whether Carlton's list has the potential to rise up to top 4/ premieship contention is yet to be proven but there are lots of good signs.

The main thing to remember is the team is still young. The only players on the list who are above 25 are Scotland (30), Wiggins (28), Houlihan (28), Carrazzo (27), Hadley (27), Waite (27), Judd (26), Thornton (26), Fisher (26) and out of them, Judd and Waite are the only certain starters each week and Carrazzo, Scotland and Houlihan the only others best 22.

 

[SurfingTheVoid]

He's exactly that. A 20 year old CHF.

He and Waite have combined for 17 goals in the last 3 weeks. Almost 6 goals between them a game. Not bad form coming into finals, that.

Henderson is serviceable, but doesn't look like he has the 'it factor' to become a game-breaking key forward.

 

[gbatman]

Carlton are still a developing side and it's taking a long time due to the poor recruiting from the previous recruiter and draft penalties. Things are working well though, there are a lot of good young players coming on. Carlton do need another midfielder or two. A David Mundy type at Carlton would turn our midfield from competative unit to a top class midfield. We could do with a James Frawly type in the backline too. We have no need for tall forwards, we have plenty of very good young ones and Waite.

I'm pleased with the way things are going but I'd like to see the two main holes filled (tough inside genuine onballer and a good tall defender who's a genuine full back).

 

[Gasometer]

Middle of the year the bleating I heard on the radio after the Blues loss to the Roos on the way home leaves me undecided as to what the Blues fans really think of their team and Ratten.

An interesting thread...will revisit at 6pm to see the fall out or fall in...

 

[SurfingTheVoid]

Henderson made my point today. Had so many opportunities but just didn't stick the marks a standout key forward would have. Has time to improve, but it's a fundamental skill.

 

[The 747]

Henderson made my point today. Had so many opportunities but just didn't stick the marks a standout key forward would have. Has time to improve, but it's a fundamental skill.

I am not sure anyone from Carlton ever claimed he was a stand out key forward. They hope he will be a servicable KPF, which is really all they need from him.

Carlton would be happy to have made the finals this year - and a competitive loss away to hardened finals unit - after losing Fev. Many including me thought they would drop out of the 8 this year so credit too them. Should be better next year but I don't know they are top 4 yet.