Ba Bow ... (best impression of a Family Feud wrong answer buzzer).  Incredible to think that the fortunes of the clubs have reversed to such an extent that the Blues have barely an infinitesimal chance of upsetting the Lions at a Gabba ground that has seen very little misery for the home team in a long long time. 

Cold sweats still greet the memories of my last Gabba night appearance in 1999 when the Blues were soundly thrashed in a final.  Trailing by 12 goals, a foray forward by the boys resulted in an inevitable behind but plucking up my courage I screamed to the rafters, go blue boys, another 71 of those and we got 'em!  Slipping out to catch my ride home with about 2 minutes on the clock, it seemed like a thousand faces were staring down at me and singing "na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey ... goodbyeeee."  Quite inspiring actually ... unless you are on the receiving end.  I screamed a hasty "C'arn the Blues" in meek defiance and slinked my way down the stairs and out of sight comfortable that we would most likely stay alive for another week of finals action and be in no worse position than Brisbane anyway.  As we know it panned out that way and it was Carlton who found themselves in a Grand Final while the Lions fumed at the inconsistencies of a flawed system.  They actually hated us for a long time over that and were it not for Libber, Jose and a bevy of Bulldogs coming after that, they would still be harbouring that hatred. 

Then we thrashed them in 2001 and innocently suggested that maybe their banners should be made of fairy floss in future.  So now Jason Akermanis the lineout jumper wants revenge on us and our task is all the more harder.

Oh sure, I have sent a request to Ricky Nixon for Wayne Carey to come up and stand on the boundary line with a knowing smile prompting Aker to start launching himself into an impromptu maul or throw scores of flick passes but if that doesn't come off, I am practically devoid of ideas.

Once upon a time no Voss and no Lappin would have me salivating at the prospect of a percentage boosting win over our Northern nemesis but with a Blues side offering little experience and much raw talent who will showing their genuine talent in years to come, the Lions 23rd and 24th ranked replacements are every bit as good as Carlton's 11th and 12th ranked players.  This will be yet another steep learning curve for talented youngsters, Bret Thornton, Luke Livingston, Blake Campbell, Craig Brad .... (how did that get in there), Simon Wiggins, Jordon Doering, Craig Brad ... (stop putting your name in there Braddles, nobody is believing that fountain of youth mumbo jumbo) ... err anyway, each week these guys come up against somebody bigger stronger and far more developed in terms of football smarts but incredibly for players that all but Carlton fans consider to be just good average young talent, they have given a great account of themselves. Dare I say that our future defence is already putting mainstays Beaumont and Manton to shame?

We know that the likes of Simon Black, Sean Hart, Jonathan Brown, Alastair Lynch, Daniel Bradshaw etc etc are going to cause our defence no shortage of headaches under the Gabba lights on Saturday and with Aker feeding the scrums and playing dummy half, one wonders how we can compete.  Well the Blues believe that the Kangaroos have shown us the blueprint on how to beat the Lions or at least minimise the damage without resorting to flooding ..... fight fire with fire (good thing fireman Fevola is playing).  If Lance Whitnall can play in the goal square and keep Justin Leppitsch at home and if Corey McKernan can provide a solid target during the first 15 minutes before he breaks down again and if Matthew Lappin can break free of Brad Scott or Chris Johnson or which ever one of the generic super robot defenders marks him, then the Blues look to have the firepower to inflict some pain of their own.

The big problem of course is getting the ball to the forwards and in that area I'm not too unhappy.  Scott Camporeale is back in fine touch, Brett Ratten will always provide us with chances and Justin Murphy has also made the trip!  No really, stop sobbing and listen.  We sent Murph back to the 2's to find some touch and get the ball and he did.  We know he is a confidence player and hopefully he can pick up where he left off last week.

The even bigger problem and one that has proven insurmountable is the supply to the midfielders.  Jamie Charman and Beau McDonald look too big, too strong and too talented in almost every way compared to Andrew Merrington.  It is in this area that we are as brittle as a burnt piece of toast.  Sure we can attempt a patch up job and scrape the black bits off into the sink but you already know it's not going to be the same. What we are looking for is the rest of the Blues players to rally around their besieged big men and provide the honey to make the whole experience worthwhile.

I have spent week upon week, defending, analysing, talking up chances and torturing you all with corny analogies like the above so there isn't anything new to say.  I am going to throw on my # 43 Carlton guernsey, the 22 year old scarf and beanie I got for my 12th birthday, and head off to the Gabba with my head held high, through the barrage of taunts and jeers (and that is just from my family before I get out the front door), I will remained resolute in my quest to support my beloved Blues.  Comfortably in the knowledge that our spirit remains strong and somewhere somehow someday we WILL prevail.