Re: Pre Game premonitions: AFL Rd 2: Carlton V Melbourne (Sat 13/6 4.35)
Reply #60 –
Melbourne's strength is their mid-field, how they move the ball when they are firing and their back line looks pretty strong as well. I think our mid-field is ok with Cripps, Murphy, Curnow, Walsh, Setterfield and Gibbons, with others to run through their. Pittonet will have a big job to compete against Gawn and to limit his influence. Our forward line looks good on paper with Casboult, McKay, McGovern, Betts, Martin and Silvagni and if they can pressure the Melbourne defence by kicking goals and tackling, this will restrict their ball movement. Melbourne's forward line looks a bit thin and very reliant on McDonald and our defence should be able to cover them. We can't afford to give them a four, five, six goal start and then try to run them down. I am reasonably confident particularly as the Demons don't like Marvel stadium as a rule and while we should be making some sort of surge up the ladder, our recent history counts against that scenario.
We will win or loose this game in the ruck. If Gawn gets off the chain we are in strife. I would have had much more confidence in curtailing his influence with a fit Kruze taking him on.