Predictions - and discussion - in lead up to 2014 season..

[bennymacca]

double lawyered, haha.

[Jim05]

So with Van Berlo rupturing an achillies and missing a fair chunk of the year does the golden boy assume the captaincy or do they give it to an elser statesman?

[Ruben Carter]

First they lose Tambling, now Van Berlo... how much worse can it get for the poor old Crows

[daysofourlives]

First they lose Tambling, now Van Berlo... how much worse can it get for the poor old Crows

Bookmakers have moved the Crows into 10/1 for the flag on the back of this news.

[Squids]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

[Jim05]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

Betts, when they realise what a squib he is. Give the fans a month before he is labelled a overpaid Carlton hack

[Squids]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

Betts, when they realise what a squib he is. Give the fans a month before he is labelled a overpaid Carlton hack

Good call.

[Failed Creation]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

Betts, when they realise what a squib he is. Give the fans a month before he is labelled a overpaid Carlton hack

He's the new Ronnie Burns.

[bennymacca]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

Betts, when they realise what a squib he is. Give the fans a month before he is labelled a overpaid Carlton hack

38, 42, 50, 48, 27 goals in the last 5 years.

just looking at the leading goalkickers for small forwards in those 5 years, you could pretty much say milne, lecras and stevie j (if you can call him a small foward) are the only ones that did consistently better than him.

also compare that with the crows leading goalkicker tally over those years 57, 46, 32, 63, 33

betts tally would have placed him 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd for the crows goalkicking.

but dont let stats get in the way of a good story lads

[Jim05]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

Betts, when they realise what a squib he is. Give the fans a month before he is labelled a overpaid Carlton hack

38, 42, 50, 48, 27 goals in the last 5 years.

just looking at the leading goalkickers for small forwards in those 5 years, you could pretty much say milne, lecras and stevie j (if you can call him a small foward) are the only ones that did consistently better than him.

also compare that with the crows leading goalkicker tally over those years 57, 46, 32, 63, 33

betts tally would have placed him 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd for the crows goalkicking.

but dont let stats get in the way of a good story lads

Those stats dont disprove that he is a squib though. I think many Carlton fans were of the belief he has a pea heart and tended to go missing in the big ones. And while he is doing well at the Cows all will be good but watch the knives come out if he doesnt perform, thats when the Carlton hack label will get thrown around

[bennymacca]

if being a top 4 small forward over the past 5 years makes you a spud, then im happy to have all the spuds other clubs can manage!

i think it is really good recruiting by the crows. a goal scoring small forward is something we have lacked for years, porpoise isnt really a genuine crumber, petrekno doesnt kick anywhere near enough goals, and callinan did ok for 1 year but didnt put any forward line pressure on which betts can do too.

recruited for our glaring weakness, i think if he gets us 40 goals he will be worth every cent

[Booney]

Betts kicked goals in Carlton's forward half as they didn't have any big men doing it!

[Baron Greenback]

With tex and pods up there and possibly jenkins I can see betts being a huge addition for the crows. Imagine if carlton had someone he could actually crumb off

[Spargo]

Flip side - he may also thrive in a forward line with Walker, Podsiadly, Jenkins.
EVERY team has their squibs that don't go in as hard as others, but if they're kicking goals most supporters will overlook this.
Don't get me wrong, I hate the crows more than anyone but getting Betts may well fill a void they have and be a great get.
North went after him pretty hard also and were disappointed to miss out.

[Booney]

Can win the flag :
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney

Making up the rest of the 8 from (one or two might be unlucky with injury/form) :
Geelong
Port
Richmond
Adelaide
North
Collingwood
Carlton

Unlikely to play finals (one might get lucky):
Essendon
West Coast
Gold Coast
Bulldogs

Making up the numbers:
Brisbane
St Kilda
Melbourne
GWS

All in no particular order.

[valleys07]

Who will become the new whipping boy?

Betts, when they realise what a squib he is. Give the fans a month before he is labelled a overpaid Carlton hack

38, 42, 50, 48, 27 goals in the last 5 years.

just looking at the leading goalkickers for small forwards in those 5 years, you could pretty much say milne, lecras and stevie j (if you can call him a small foward) are the only ones that did consistently better than him.

also compare that with the crows leading goalkicker tally over those years 57, 46, 32, 63, 33

betts tally would have placed him 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd for the crows goalkicking.

but dont let stats get in the way of a good story lads

Those stats dont disprove that he is a squib though. I think many Carlton fans were of the belief he has a pea heart and tended to go missing in the big ones. And while he is doing well at the Cows all will be good but watch the knives come out if he doesnt perform, thats when the Carlton hack label will get thrown around

That is what I will be watching for- how he performs against top 4 teams.

[Jim05]

if being a top 4 small forward over the past 5 years makes you a spud, then im happy to have all the spuds other clubs can manage!

i think it is really good recruiting by the crows. a goal scoring small forward is something we have lacked for years, porpoise isnt really a genuine crumber, petrekno doesnt kick anywhere near enough goals, and callinan did ok for 1 year but didnt put any forward line pressure on which betts can do too.

recruited for our glaring weakness, i think if he gets us 40 goals he will be worth every cent

I didnt say spud, I said squib, big differance. Eddie can definately play but his lack of heart and effort have been questioned many times over his career

[bennymacca]

Can win the flag :
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney

Making up the rest of the 8 from (one or two might be unlucky with injury/form) :
Geelong
Port
Richmond
Adelaide
North
Collingwood
Carlton

Unlikely to play finals (one might get lucky):
Essendon
West Coast
Gold Coast
Bulldogs

Making up the numbers:
Brisbane
St Kilda
Melbourne
GWS

All in no particular order.

would probably put essendon in the bracket that will be pushing for finals, i dont think they will be any worse than last year assuming their players dont all get banned, but other than that i think its a pretty decent assessment.

I didnt say spud, I said squib, big differance. Eddie can definately play but his lack of heart and effort have been questioned many times over his career

fair enough, i misinterpreted. i still think he has the potential to be one of the crows better signings in the trade period

[Hefty]

First they lose Tambling, now Van Berlo... how much worse can it get for the poor old Crows

If Shaun McKernan goes down we are screwed!!

[Rik E Boy]

Can win the flag :
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney

Making up the rest of the 8 from (one or two might be unlucky with injury/form) :
Geelong
Port
Richmond
Adelaide
North
Collingwood
Carlton

Unlikely to play finals (one might get lucky):
Essendon
West Coast
Gold Coast
Bulldogs

Making up the numbers:
Brisbane
St Kilda
Melbourne
GWS

All in no particular order.

Pretty much. Although I rate North as a possible bolter and Carlton are shit.

regards,

REB