Carlton Supporters Club

Really? Do i need to spell it out? I thought i just did.

Sydney have (kinda) recently won a flag, and more recently played off in a grand final. Their style over a long period of time has been using bigger bodied players (mids mainly) and being strong at the contest. Given they have had the ultimate success and been near the top for a while you'd think they are very successful at it.

Alternatively, we have a young, largely inexperienced, smaller bodied list. We are struggling to find our 'style' but being bullies is about as far from our style as you can get given our list makeup.

So given the above, what makes you think we can match them at their own game? Surely we'd be better off trying to beat them in another manner rather than playing to their strengths?

The 'abstract collection of facts' backs up my contention.

Alternatively, you provide..... ?

Swans are ripe for the picking, but picking a side like we did works in their favour, not ours.

Yes, we may have won once against them (in their worst period in 10 years no less) but any club can beat any other on any given day. Cellar dwellers Saints and Swans beat the unbeatable '95 blues for example. An one game, does not constitute a pattern.

Who knows, Casboult may end up with 8 shots and goal and kick them all.
He might end up with 8 shots on goal and kick 4 behinds and 4 out on the full.
He might end up with less than 8 possessions. (....this the most likely option from this list)

Everyone has their chance, but run this game 100 times over with the best 22 picked vs 100 times over with a different 22 (mine for example) and i'd be very surprised if this one wins more than the alternative......and thats my point in a nutshell.

One of Marchbank or Casboult, not both.

On a side issue, have you checked out the coaches' Northern Player review EB? Some very interesting roles outlined for some younger players, I'd have never considered Owies a medium forward or Stocker a close checking half back.  I think that's called....development ?  Its just so long since we've had any I'm struggling with the concept.

CARLTON
B: Liam Jones, Lachie Plowman, Kade Simpson
HB: Dale Thomas, Jacob Weitering, Nic Newman
C: Marc Murphy, Patrick Cripps, Sam Petrevski-Seton
HF: Ed Curnow, Harry McKay, Sam Walsh
F: Zac Fisher, Mitch McGovern, Michael Gibbons
R: Andrew Phillips, Will Setterfield, Paddy Dow
Int: Cameron Polson, Caleb Marchbank, Lochie O'Brien, Levi Casboult

Emg: Liam Stocker, Jarrod Garlett, Matthew Lobbe, Jack Silvagni

IN: Caleb Marchbank, Lochie O'Brien, Levi Casboult
OUT: Alex Fasolo (Omitted), Charlie Curnow (Injured), Jarrod Garlett (Omitted)

Perhaps not as quick as I would like, but having Casboult gives us some flexibility and ruck option. O'Brien has been getting the ball, but I'd like him to get more inside ball. I probably wouldn't have played Marchbank without a game in the VFL.
Anyway, this is what we have chosen. How they line up ... who knows?

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe, Callum Mills
HB: Zak Jones, Aliir Aliir, Jarrad McVeigh
C: Oliver Florent, Isaac Heeney, George Hewett
HF: Tom Papley, Lance Franklin, Will Hayward
F: Tom McCartin, Sam Reid, Ben Ronke
R: Callum Sinclair, Luke Parker, Josh P. Kennedy
Int: Nick Blakey, Jackson Thurlow, Harry Cunningham, Jordan Dawson

EMG Lewis Melican, James Rowbottom, Robbie Fox, Ryley Stoddart

IN: Tom McCartin, Jackson Thurlow, Jordan Dawson
OUT: Lewis Melican (Omitted), Colin O'Riordan (Omitted), Ryan Clarke (Omitted)

Agree to an extend DJC but I can't think of another player that we've got who can play that run-with role on the best opposition midfielders? If you've got the best midfield in the competition like Collingwood you just back your blokes in to win it more than the opposition and don't bother tagging their blokes...but we're miles off being that and blokes like Cotchin and Rockliff just towelled us up in the first two weeks running unchecked and racking up possessions. Not having a go at Ed as he's been one of my favourite players for years...just questioning what they're trying to achieve as it doesn't look to be working.

Lods,  the way Murphy is moving I'd suggest his back is sore.

I really don’t think that Cotchin and Rockliff towelled us up.  Rockliff got a lot of the ball but did nothing with it and Cotchin was only marginally more effective.  Cripps was clearly the best midfielder in terms of the impact/effectiveness of his possessions but neither opposition coach thought it necessary to tag him.  The tagging role seems to have been consigned to the history books.

I see Ed’s role as an evolution that reflects the growth in our midfield talent; he is still a valuable contributor but the new blokes are better.  If he can make a contribution as a forward, that is a huge win or an evolving forward line. 

I will be at the game and I will be paying particular attention to Ed’s role and performance.  Hopefully I will be able to give a positive response.

I'd disagree on Rockliff, he led the clearance possies with Cripps....we should have been well on top with Wines out but didnt take advantage....Rockliff went at 70%DE and Cripps at 64%...
Cotchin I agree didnt have much effect...we needed to stop Rockliff though.

Swans are tall up forward with McCartin into the team and Blakely still on the bench, think thats why Marchbank got picked...we would have been exposed for size down back.
Swans dont have much size down back either maybe Levi and Harry can work them over..