Round 3. Carlton V Essendon Saturday 11th April 7:10pm MCG

[Ricky]

Massive game.

No matter where the teams are on the ladder and what time of year it is.
We always rise to the occasion against the blue baggers

This is a massive danger game for the Blues being that they haven't defeated the bombers since Round 3 2007.

But that means nothing

It's going to be a game for the Young stars with Robinson, Joseph and Garlett for the Blues and Zaharakis, Quinn, Pears and Daniher for the Bombers.

Obviously Carlton has the stronger midfield and will take our all to stop it with Gibbs, Judd and Murphy. If McVeigh comes back be good for the young kids to have that extra leader out there. And also for him to play on Judd.

Our young backline of Pears, Daniher, Myers, Quinn, Slattery and Dempsey will have their hands full with the likes of Fevola (if he plays), Betts, Robinson, Garlett and Cameron Cloke pushing forward.

Where i believe we can win the game is with our forward line. With only Waite and Thorton back there and with those guys most likely looking after Lloyd and Lucas, this is where the likes of Monfries, Davey, Neagle (must come back in to strech the Carlton defence) and with Ryder and Hille down there resting forward. If the bombers can get the ball down there and cause a bit of havoc it could be a very good game.

I believe that Essendon does have the potential to get over the Blues, but it's goiing to come down to how Essendon use the ball. As i said i believe we can win it, but don't think we will

Carlton by 13 points

 

[Alpha1]

One point either way, these games are always too close to call.

 

[Jesse Custer]

They are hard to call, we have a few out McVeigh and Welsh the obvious standouts and our ball movement as Ricky mentioned is pretty ordinary still. Our side is very young which is exciting but unreliable. Carlton are starting to mature and are playing good football. To be honest, we would have to improve by a considerable margin to push the Blues. Our chance is if we catch them off guard but i don't think so. Im sure they would of learnt their lessons from last years losses. But then again you never bloody know.

Blues by 35 points.

 

[anything_4_premierships]

Massive game.

No matter where the teams are on the ladder and what time of year it is.
We always rise to the occasion against the blue baggers

This is a massive danger game for the Blues being that they haven't defeated the bombers since Round 3 2007.

But that means nothing

It's going to be a game for the Young stars with Robinson, Joseph and Garlett for the Blues and Zaharakis, Quinn, Pears and Daniher for the Bombers.

Obviously Carlton has the stronger midfield and will take our all to stop it with Gibbs, Judd and Murphy. If McVeigh comes back be good for the young kids to have that extra leader out there. And also for him to play on Judd.

Our young backline of Pears, Daniher, Myers, Quinn, Slattery and Dempsey will have their hands full with the likes of Fevola (if he plays), Betts, Robinson, Garlett and Cameron Cloke pushing forward.

Where i believe we can win the game is with our forward line. With only Waite and Thorton back there and with those guys most likely looking after Lloyd and Lucas, this is where the likes of Monfries, Davey, Neagle (must come back in to strech the Carlton defence) and with Ryder and Hille down there resting forward. If the bombers can get the ball down there and cause a bit of havoc it could be a very good game.

I believe that Essendon does have the potential to get over the Blues, but it's goiing to come down to how Essendon use the ball. As i said i believe we can win it, but don't think we will

Carlton by 13 points

bombers by 20 points

 

[anything_4_premierships]

They are hard to call, we have a few out McVeigh and Welsh the obvious standouts and our ball movement as Ricky mentioned is pretty ordinary still. Our side is very young which is exciting but unreliable. Carlton are starting to mature and are playing good football. To be honest, we would have to improve by a considerable margin to push the Blues. Our chance is if we catch them off guard but i don't think so. Im sure they would of learnt their lessons from last years losses. But then again you never bloody know.

Blues by 35 points.

now we are talking shit, Essendon mate pick your own team stuff Carlton.. Pigs arses

 

[anything_4_premierships]

Massive game.

No matter where the teams are on the ladder and what time of year it is.
We always rise to the occasion against the blue baggers

This is a massive danger game for the Blues being that they haven't defeated the bombers since Round 3 2007.

But that means nothing

It's going to be a game for the Young stars with Robinson, Joseph and Garlett for the Blues and Zaharakis, Quinn, Pears and Daniher for the Bombers.

Obviously Carlton has the stronger midfield and will take our all to stop it with Gibbs, Judd and Murphy. If McVeigh comes back be good for the young kids to have that extra leader out there. And also for him to play on Judd.

Our young backline of Pears, Daniher, Myers, Quinn, Slattery and Dempsey will have their hands full with the likes of Fevola (if he plays), Betts, Robinson, Garlett and Cameron Cloke pushing forward.

Where i believe we can win the game is with our forward line. With only Waite and Thorton back there and with those guys most likely looking after Lloyd and Lucas, this is where the likes of Monfries, Davey, Neagle (must come back in to strech the Carlton defence) and with Ryder and Hille down there resting forward. If the bombers can get the ball down there and cause a bit of havoc it could be a very good game.

I believe that Essendon does have the potential to get over the Blues, but it's goiing to come down to how Essendon use the ball. As i said i believe we can win it, but don't think we will

Carlton by 13 points

pigs arse! BOMBERS by 50 and Fev won't play he's a woman's blouse! bashes up Irish people

 

[d4vE]

$50 on Essendon at $4.00 is not a bad bet at all.

i don't think Carlton should b $1.20 favourites

great value for bomber supporters especially if Fev is a late withdraw.

 

[GordonBlue]

These games are generally close... but one thing more than mids, defence, ruck or forward strength is gonna determin the game and that is kicking skills... If Carlton apply a extra pressure they've been applying lately, i believe the essendon skills will deteriate... this was the exact reason how essendon got us in the second game last year... pure pressure...

Essendon through the NAB cup and against Port had very average skill level... but against freo this seemed to have improved... if Spike is back and Fev is out then i think it's be a very close game...

The most important matchup i would say is Joseph on Lovett... he carves us up... so Joseph who has had big sculps so far needs to do the job on him... Monfries also always kills us... so maybe Johnson to take him... if monfries dominates johnson... then joseph will go on him.. then there would be a massive mismatch for lovett... the only way i can think of playing both is shutting down one and making the other one accountable...

As for the defence on the big blokes, im not too worried about... hopefully setanta can come up and go up against Lloyd... Lloyd on Ryder and Bower on Lucas with Thornton to play free man unless he has to pick up Hille...

I have a feeling that robbo is gonna play pretty deep in the forward 50... and becoming a leading target...

Where things may change from this year to last year is the ruck... Hille absolutely dominated us last year... however with Kreuzer really establishing himself as a good all-round ruckman... and adding muscle weight... and sauce coming in... Hille shouldn't have it as easy as he had it last year...

Blues to win by 11 points

 

[daffo]

The game will be won in the middle, we needs Hille/McVeigh/Watson to have huge games.

I'm tipping Blues by 22 points.

 

[Thrawn]

Very nervous about this one.

Take them lightly again and they'll beat us.

 

[ThePine]

looking at form coming in of both sides you would say Carlton easily.

As others have said it generally doesn't matter where either team is these games are always close.

Although...

Would love another round 1 like performance as i detest essendon as im sure essendon supporters feel the same way about my team.

Blues by 5 goals.

 

[GottaLoveCarlton]

I know Carlton too well, and this is the sort of game they'll drop. On paper, Carlton should crap it in, but Essendon have a tendency to run all over us.

Look at last year, in a game where Judd, Fevola & Bets absolutely dominated, yet we managed to go down by 25 in a ridiculously high scoring game.

if our defence can hold up - which will be a challenge with Jamieson missing (Irish might be able to get the job done) - then the Blues should win, but i just have one of those feelings.

I'm going against the tide and picking the bombers by 3-4 goals.

Prove me wrong blues!

 

[thebigboy]

Essendon are at $4.75 for a win under 39.5.

Ill probably have a crack at that on the off chance that we beat them.

Gunna need Hille to dominate the ruck. If he can do that, it will help our midfield big time. We can't afford to let Murphy, Judd, Gibbs, Stevens etc get first use of the ball from the middle or we could be in for a long day.

Not too confident but if things go our way were a chance.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Over the last 6-7 years it seemed whoever was going the crappiest seemed to win. We had a number of wins over them in the darks years but they beat us twice last year, last one after we stuck our head in the 8 for the first time in what seemed forever. They beat us twice but then again we beat Collingwood twice and the Bulldogs. No way we were better than them though so make what you like from all that.

Carlton's alot better side now it seems, look alot better on paper than Essendon so really should win very comfortably but as we've seen that doesn't mean anything in particular.

 

[bomberz08]

now we are talking shit, Essendon mate pick your own team stuff Carlton.. Pigs arses

He's just being honest. Blues by 25

 

[bluesforever]

Carlton by 48. If we negate Hille it could be more. Essendon have too many out to push us around this time.

 

[mickelboy182]

A bit worried about this one.

a) It's Essendon, always a wildcard match.
b) Jamo out really worries me. He is more pivotal to us then most seem to think. While I think we should cope the next few weeks with Carlos, I'd be much more confident with the number 40 playing.

Rip it up Carlos. Blues by 30.

 

[JuDDysthacaptain]

Carlton by 32, Gibbs and Judd on fire, also no Welsh and McVeigh for Essendon are huge losses.

 

[ratten7]

Carlton 40+

 

[Carlton Villa]

Like most Carlton supporters i am worried about this one. I was at the corresponding game last year. Essendon really lifted against us. But like with the Lions last Saturday i believe we are good enough this year to put our ghosts to rest.

Carlton by 3 goals.

 

[davis_756]

essendon by 15 or carlton by 85

Either we will choke and lose or we will get on top from the outset with the hard tackling game we employed vs the tigers and do the same to the bombers we did to richmond.

 

[Orangewhip]

Whether it's a blowout quarter early or late it'll happen and the Blues will win by 5 goals minimum.

 

[DarkTint]

If we go into this match even just a little over confident i think we will lose to the bombers because they're just waiting to rain on our parade.

But in saying that i think Ratten will have them primed and the 2 losses from last year will drive them towards making sure we don't get ahead of ourselves.

If L&L fire for the dons Blues by 2-3 goals
If they offer nothing blues by 6-8

 

[bomber-crow]

Carlton by 76 points or more.

Essendon are horrible and should win the spoon this season.

Carlton will also have the highest score of the round and season so far after this match.

 

[CJudd3Votes]

Carlton by 62 points.