No matter what happens to the Dogs today, they are going to want to make a real point against us next week. In some ways I hope they beat Hawthorn, as it may cost them enough for us to take them. However, .....
I don't know if we should make a lot of changes, if only to give the guys who played a decent opportunity and the ones in the NB time to actually reach something like their potential.
However, if changes are to be made, then those who could be replaced include:
[1] Jamison
[2] Rowe
[3] Whiley
[4] Buckley
[5] Phillips
[6] Kreuzer
[7] Casboult
Bringing in a forward is almost a necessity, as our present structure hasn't been working well.
Sorry Crash but I currently harbour very very little hope of beating the Doggies.
The Doggies? Really?
dogs by 100
gibbs 30 possessions (dinky kicks and hand passes having no effect) and herald sun will have him in our best 3 players ::)
I think we can win this game. ;D
B: Weitering Weitering Weitering
HB: Weitering Weitering Weitering
C: Weitering Cripps Weitering
HF: Weitering Weitering Weitering
F: Weitering Weitering Weitering
FOLL: Weitering Weitering Weitering
INTER: E. Curnow. C Curnow Weitering Cripps
I think it's time for a reset! A reset of our reset.
I think we can win this game. ;D
B: Weitering Weitering Weitering
HB: Weitering Weitering Weitering
C: Weitering Cripps Weitering
HF: Weitering Weitering Weitering
F: Weitering Weitering Weitering
FOLL: Weitering Weitering Weitering
INTER: E. Curnow. C Curnow Weitering Cripps
I like your thinking. A few clones would be handy.
I think it's time for a reset! A reset of our reset.
Seriously? Three games in and it's all over?
This rebuild is going to take 3-5 years if we get everything 80% right. the Malthouse era wrecked our list with poor recruiting and crap drafting. He left us with a list bereft of talent no attacking options, much the same as he left Collingwood and they are finding that out now.
Three years Weitering and Curnow should have 50 games under their belt and hopefully McKay, Cunningham and Silvagni are almost automatic selections each week, we'll have some more talent through the draft and hopefully one or two more shrewd trades, Hopefully Plowmans injuries are behind him and Sumner, Kerridge, Cripps and Graham make the framework on our midfield.
We will be where the Doggies were at the start of 2014 starting to bring together a list with structure that have grown together, you can't get this without pain however and it's what we will have to live with for now.
Seriously? Three games in and it's all over?
This rebuild is going to take 3-5 years if we get everything 80% right. the Malthouse era wrecked our list with poor recruiting and crap drafting. He left us with a list bereft of talent no attacking options, much the same as he left Collingwood and they are finding that out now.
Funnily enough he did the same to west coast and left the list in poor shape when he jumped ship to the pies. The difference is that he at least built teams at both the Eagles and pies that went on to win flags. He came to us thinking he could get instant success but rather than continue to build he dismantled the core of the playing group and replaced them with top ups that didn't work and continue to clog our list.
We have a fundamental problem with our list and game plan. Potentially our best ball users are needed to also win the ball, it doesn't work because the blokes we would prefer to be used on the inside are very ordinary ball users. So clubs can isolate players on the outside like Kerridge, Simpson, Tuohy, E.Curnow and Buckley, and drag blokes like Murphy and Gibbs inside the contest.
From then on it's turnover time because the better ball users are left in traffic and Kerridge, Simpson, Tuohy, E.Curnow and Buckley just bomb the ball long.
We need a severe case of discipline in the midfield, a massive dose of sacrifice and a measure of smarts.
Imagine if clubs let players like StevieJ or Abletts types suffer working on the inside 100% of the time. They would have half the impact that they have in space. Even last night watch the replay and you find Ablett sitting behind play to receive and then run, and GC are happy for that to happen because he can use the ball.
In the same replay you get to see Tuohy and Buckley burn team-mates who are open inside F50 while they bomb the ball long to the square.
Further, WTF is Casboult handing off to Tuohy from 50m, the kid kicks 60m easily when he's going. He should be read the riot act and told no more hand it off bullsh1t from 50m.
But we have a precedent with all this because that is what we did with Judd, so it seems we now think that superstars must always win their own ball and let the spuds kick it long.
Against the Doggies the pace of the game is going up even further than last night, if blokes at Carlton don't start doing the fundamentals right like first options and good ball use we will lose by 150pts!
Funnily enough he did the same to west coast and left the list in poor shape when he jumped ship to the pies. The difference is that he at least built teams at both the Eagles and pies that went on to win flags. He came to us thinking he could get instant success but rather than continue to build he dismantled the core of the playing group and replaced them with top ups that didn't work and continue to clog our list.
In plain English.....gutted the list and replaced them with peripheral plodders.
Byrne Weitering White
Simpson Plowman Docherty
Touhy Cripps E.Curnow
Kerridge Jaksch C.Curnow
Walker Casboult Wright
Kreuzer Murphy Gibbs
Graham, Boekhorst, Buckley, Thomas
Gone with Kreuzer but reckon Wood would do a better job right now than any other ruck we have. Don't need any other ruckman. Plowman was terrific today so straight in. Like to put Sumner in, as I reckon he'll go ok, but might need another week or two. Then straight in.
This rebuild is going to take 3-5 years if we get everything 80% right. the Malthouse era wrecked our list with poor recruiting and crap drafting. He left us with a list bereft of talent no attacking options, much the same as he left Collingwood and they are finding that out now.
Be fair now, our recruiting and list management was abysmal long before MM came along.
Byrne Weitering White
Simpson Plowman Docherty
Touhy Cripps E.Curnow
Kerridge Jaksch C.Curnow
Walker Casboult Wright
Kreuzer Murphy Gibbs
Graham, Boekhorst, Buckley, Thomas
Gone with Kreuzer but reckon Wood would do a better job right now than any other ruck we have. Don't need any other ruckman. Plowman was terrific today so straight in. Like to put Sumner in, as I reckon he'll go ok, but might need another week or two. Then straight in.
Me likey LAJ. Doubt Walker will get up, who takes his place you reckon?
Me likey LAJ. Doubt Walker will get up, who takes his place you reckon?
Have to think about it. I was running out of players...lol.
Have to think about it. I was running out of players...lol.
What about DVR instead of Walker? Has been ok in the 2's through the PS, we need some left footers. How about bring him in a shuffle the others? Or hasnt DVR done enough?
Doggies will destroy us. Great to watch a team that works their arse off for each other. Hopefully that will be us in 3 years. Dont need size next week need workers and runners ,,,,
I'd put Weitering on the "Package".......Dogs may be a bit tired and sore after the Hawks...
Best hope is that the doggies beat the Hawks and then have a bit of a let down against us... Otherwise it could be a 100 pointer.
I actually have a feeling we're a bit of a chance here.
They would have used a lot of energy and concentration in the lead up to the Hawthorn game.
The game itself has been a real struggle.
It will be hard for them to get themselves up for a game against a team at the bottom.
It will be a bit of a test for their coaching panel.
Hit them hard early and it may throw a bit of doubt into them and from their anything's possible.
(Don't know where the goals are going to come from though, and we can't afford to miss any. ::))
They've just lost Murphy (knee....not looking good) and the game.
I actually have a feeling we're a bit of a chance here.
They would have used a lot of energy and concentration in the lead up to the Hawthorn game.
The game itself has been a real struggle.
It will be hard for them to get themselves up for a game against a team at the bottom.
It will be a bit of a test for their coaching panel.
Hit them hard early and it may throw a bit of doubt into them and from their anything's possible.
(Don't know where the goals are going to come from though, and we can't afford to miss any. ::))
They've just lost Murphy (knee....not looking good) and the game.
Tell 'em they're dreaming! ;)
I actually have a feeling we're a bit of a chance here.
They would have used a lot of energy and concentration in the lead up to the Hawthorn game.
The game itself has been a real struggle.
It will be hard for them to get themselves up for a game against a team at the bottom.
It will be a bit of a test for their coaching panel.
Hit them hard early and it may throw a bit of doubt into them and from their anything's possible.
(Don't know where the goals are going to come from though, and we can't afford to miss any. ::))
They've just lost Murphy (knee....not looking good) and the game.
Sorry Lods. I read your first line, and I've read your "supporting evidence", but I don't see it unfortunately. I think we're a real chance of getting a nice touch up.
I read your first line, and I've read your "supporting evidence", but I don't see it unfortunately. I think we're a real chance of getting a nice touch up.
Obviously that's the more likely scenario....but this is football and a long time ago I discovered there's no such thing as a sure thing.
Upset results litter any season.
Upsets are where we're likely to get our wins this year and who can tell who the opponent will be.
It usually happens in just this situation.
The planets are aligned for this one ;) :D
Tell 'em they're dreaming! ;)
“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what's a heaven for?”― Robert Browning :D
Best possible outcome for us. They are both knackered and deflated.
Just watched them live and I can't see us getting within 10 goals.
Just watched them live and I can't see us getting within 10 goals.
Yup, they are top notch and will be hungry after suffering their first loss. We are in a deep pile of excrement with this one unfortunately. Any talk of a win is sheer delusion. ;D
Tell 'em they're dreaming! ;)
Carlton by 64! ;)
We can hope for a big let down by the Dogs after such a big build-up to the Hawks game. That's about it.
Dogs will bend us over backwards and go in dry.
We will get mauled by 354 points
Dogs will bend us over backwards and go in dry.
We will get mauled by 354 points
Then roll the board and sack the coach ;)
However, if changes are to be made, then those who could be replaced include:
[1] Jamison
[2] Rowe
[3] Whiley - just played his best game for us (low bar, I know) - he looks better trying to win the ball than tag an opponent
[4] Buckley - play him in defence where he can run the lines
[5] Phillips
[6] Kreuzer - has never been and will never be a forward - IF we want to be more competitive, this guy has to spend more time in the ruck
[7] Casboult
From RR
[6] Kreuzer - has never been and will never be a forward - IF we want to be more competitive, this guy has to spend more time in the ruck
(https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/65401766.jpg)
Guys, hate to tell you but he's been putrid in the ruck as well.
Liam Jones against his old club?? Has been having a crack in the twos and might just be the motivation he needs.
However, if changes are to be made, then those who could be replaced include:
[1] Jamison
[2] Rowe
[3] Whiley - just played his best game for us (low bar, I know) - he looks better trying to win the ball than tag an opponent
[4] Buckley - play him in defence where he can run the lines
[5] Phillips
[6] Kreuzer - has never been and will never be a forward - IF we want to be more competitive, this guy has to spend more time in the ruck
[7] Casboult
Sorry RR, just can't see the love for Whiley. At unders we pump it into kids heads;
Don't stand still
Don't stand still
Don't stand still
But Whiley's default mode of getting the ball is decelerate or stand still and letting someone handball to him. At Unders he would not get many kicks because we tell kids;
Don't handball to someone standing still
Don't handball to someone standing still
Don't handball to someone standing still
Whiley needs to get the old toothpicks under the eyelids and watch 80hrs of Ablett Jnr, Jab Watson or Diesel Williams. Particularly Watson and Williams because it shows just what you can do without extreme pace or extreme acceleration if you are prepared to keep moving and accelerate through the ball.
Dynamic and lateral movement is a must against the Doggies.
This post might sound unfair to Whiley, but I can only judge him by those around him and he looks static relative to others.
Guys, hate to tell you but he's been putrid in the ruck as well.
x2....
Should be dropped....but wont be due to his draft pick status....
Sorry RR, just can't see the love for Whiley. At unders we pump it into kids heads;
Don't stand still
Don't stand still
Don't stand still
But Whiley's default mode of getting the ball is decelerate or stand still and letting someone handball to him. At Unders he would not get many kicks because we tell kids;
Don't handball to someone standing still
Don't handball to someone standing still
Don't handball to someone standing still
Whiley needs to get the old toothpicks under the eyelids and watch 80hrs of Ablett Jnr, Jab Watson or Diesel Williams. Particularly Watson and Williams because it shows just what you can do without extreme pace or extreme acceleration if you are prepared to keep moving and accelerate through the ball.
Dynamic and lateral movement is a must against the Doggies.
This post might sound unfair to Whiley, but I can only judge him by those around him and he looks static relative to others.
Only handball to someone standing still if it's the old 1-2, the player standing still immediately dishes of to a player running past. Same with handballing to blokes with their back to goal. Unless they dish it straight off the have to turn around before they can even start to do something with it. We just use so many wrong options. Handball to blokes running hard in the direction of goals. That way we move the ball foward quickly.
U9's stuff IAJ...
U9's stuff IAJ...
Seems though we play in the U7's
Only handball to someone standing still if it's the old 1-2, the player standing still immediately dishes of to a player running past. Same with handballing to blokes with their back to goal. Unless they dish it straight off the have to turn around before they can even start to do something with it. We just use so many wrong options. Handball to blokes running hard in the direction of goals. That way we move the ball foward quickly.
Doesn't work in AFL and won't work in most modern well coached Unders comps either. In the AFL teams know opponents way too well, they are geared into thinking this player doesn't move so zone off him and we will get the ball back. A little bit of movement, any movement for that matter, makes it much harder to setup a structure to cause a turnover.
As soon as a player props and sets anchor like the QE2 it's turnover time if coaches are on the ball!
x2....
Should be dropped....but wont be due to his draft pick status....
If you drop Kruezer based on playing under par then to be consistent drop the following:
Murphy
Gibbs
Casboult
Jamo
Rowe
Phillips
Buckley
Thomas
Whats the alternative at this stage - replace them with kids that are not ready get hammered and then watch the complaints on here when we get smashed by 20 goals plus!
While I agree his not playing to his best he is not alone but at it least he pushes himself to the limit -
a quality that cant be understated when you are rebuilding. The guy busts a nut in every contest and I rarely single him out because of that very quality. While other early picks jog around the ground avoiding contact and never even provide even a hint of physical presence!
Imagine taking him out of the ruck and leaving Cripps to be supported by real hard nuts in Murphy and Gibbs ::). The kid will be smashed from pillar to post. He provides some protection and when we have close to no one else who does that hard work - any talk of dropping him is madness.
Leave him as a follower and stop asking him to fill a void up forward and watch his form improve.
Or get Wood back in and maybe he can replicate the clown act he performed with Casboult against the Dogs last year in the F50 when many thought they were watching the Benny Hill show. At least his good for a laugh.
Like Kreuzer I am not sure we are doing Daisy any favors either. He has been out for ages and we seem to be using him as our Mr Fixit. As a result he has no continuity, and it will be hard to find form.
Actually, based on what we have had him doing he isn't too bad.
What worries me about Kreuzer is that he can't get off the ground. Likely due to accumulative effects of his injuries.
Guys, hate to tell you but he's been putrid in the ruck as well.
I can't agree with that assessment b/c when Kreuzer is in for the centre bounce he provides another midfielder to assist in clearances - Phillips might get his hand on the ball but clearances tend to go to the opposition. Unfortunately, Phillips seems to be less of a forward than Kreuzer.
If he is not carrying an injury at the moment and
IF we are actually trying to win games, I would prefer to see Kreuzer doing a greater proportion of the ruckwork with limited relief provided by Rowe, Casboult or Jones - all of whom represent better alternatives as tall forwards than either Phillips or Kreuzer.
However, if the focus is on development, I can fully understand the decision to give Phillips a fair-go in the ruck.
Like Kreuzer I am not sure we are doing Daisy any favors either. He has been out for ages and we seem to be using him as our Mr Fixit. As a result he has no continuity, and it will be hard to find form.
Geez poor Daisy fork me he has been stiff.
I can't agree with that assessment b/c when Kreuzer is in for the centre bounce he provides another midfielder to assist in clearances - Phillips might get his hand on the ball but clearances tend to go to the opposition. Unfortunately, Phillips seems to be less of a forward than Kreuzer.
If he is not carrying an injury at the moment and IF we are actually trying to win games, I would prefer to see Kreuzer doing a greater proportion of the ruckwork with limited relief provided by Rowe, Casboult or Jones - all of whom represent better alternatives as tall forwards than either Phillips or Kreuzer.
However, if the focus is on development, I can fully understand the decision to give Phillips a fair-go in the ruck.
MK cannot dominate weak opposing rucks.....Hampson, Griffiths, two forwards turned rucks in Sinclair and Tippett and now Nicholls vs GC......not exactly Sandilands, Goldstein quality is it?
Doesnt take any marks and his much vaunted skills below his knees are a thing of the past as he doesnt even try and win possession just tries to knock the ball on to other players...
Its embarrassing for the club to drop Kruezer being a No 1 pick and favourite son but it might have to happen...other clubs are experimenting more with mobile tall players who can also play other positions and we cannot afford to carry two ruckman only types who give nothing else but the odd tapout.
Try some different combos..Philips/ Gorringe.......Gorringe/Casboult etc etc...lets do something different....
MK cannot dominate weak opposing rucks.....Hampson, Griffiths, two forwards turned rucks in Sinclair and Tippett and now Nicholls vs GC......not exactly Sandilands, Goldstein quality is it?
Doesnt take any marks and his much vaunted skills below his knees are a thing of the past as he doesnt even try and win possession just tries to knock the ball on to other players...
Its embarrassing for the club to drop Kruezer being a No 1 pick and favourite son but it might have to happen...other clubs are experimenting more with mobile tall players who can also play other positions and we cannot afford to carry two ruckman only types who give nothing else but the odd tapout.
Try some different combos..Philips/ Gorringe.......Gorringe/Casboult etc etc...lets do something different....
Difference is EB when comparing to what other clubs do is they make the change only after the guys they are throwing in are close to being ready or have shown a bit at lower levels. The guys you mention have done neither.
Im not in favour of desperate changes - rather calculated ones.
No point trying something that has close to zero chance of being successful. Kreuzer had a massive end to 2015-sure he hasn't been great but many should be looked at before his name is mentioned.
Surely the protection he offers around the ball is something on its own we have very few players capable of.
I wonder if some boldness from selection is in order. Afterall, the players are being encouraged to do just that - be bold.
Just thoughts. Drop Phillips / 2nd ruckman all together. Have Meat (or Jones) support K in the ruck. (Jones' form in the 2s deserves another crack).
Drop Buckley, Whiley and Rowe.
Bring in Jones for Phillips.
Bring in Jaksch for Rowe.
Sumner for Buckley.
Cuningham or DVR for Whiley.
Then when Plowman is ready, rest young Curnow and play Plowman up forward.
Send Everitt overseas on a men's grooming and cosmetics fact finding expedition... with instructions not to return until October.
I wonder if some boldness from selection is in order. Afterall, the players are being encouraged to do just that - be bold.
Just thoughts. Drop Phillips / 2nd ruckman all together. Have Meat (or Jones) support K in the ruck. (Jones' form in the 2s deserves another crack).
Drop Buckley, Whiley and Rowe.
Bring in Jones for Phillips.
Bring in Jaksch for Rowe.
Sumner for Buckley.
Cuningham or DVR for Whiley.
Then when Plowman is ready, rest young Curnow and play Plowman up forward.
Send Everitt overseas on a men's grooming and cosmetics fact finding expedition... with instructions not to return until October.
Isn't Sumner some way off in preparation? I thought he was about 3 weeks behind Plowman.
MK cannot dominate weak opposing rucks.....Hampson, Griffiths, two forwards turned rucks in Sinclair and Tippett and now Nicholls vs GC......not exactly Sandilands, Goldstein quality is it?
In a lot of ways, this is the most damning aspect of Kreuzer this season. When he came back last year he did well against Gawn for 3 quarters - he really exposed Gawn's running with his. Nor was that his only decent effort. But this year he has struggled in the centre bounce, and his running ability has not been seen at all.
He did struggle against Hampson last year, but he was not long back playing at that point. Hampson really beat him in the air and killed him in the ruck.
Has he struggled to get used to our new style of game? Or has his mobility been compromised by his injuries? Whatever it is, he has not become either a Bull type ruckman or a Superman type, as he has neither the leap and athleticism, nor the strength.
Doesn't take any marks and his much vaunted skills below his knees are a thing of the past as he doesnt even try and win possession just tries to knock the ball on to other players...
The marking things is really worrying me. He is just not making us kick to him, nor is he holding the marks he gets to.
I'm less worried about his 'below the knees' stuff, but this has been one of his strengths and it just hasn't been there.
I don't mind him nocking the ball on constructively, but even that hasn't worked much.
I really want to see him get on his bike and make position, burning off his ruck opponent and get some cheap marks. Then his confidence might rise to the point where he starts taking some contested marks again.
Its embarrassing for the club to drop Kruezer being a No 1 pick and favourite son but it might have to happen...other clubs are experimenting more with mobile tall players who can also play other positions and we cannot afford to carry two ruckman only types who give nothing else but the odd tapout.
Try some different combos..Philips/ Gorringe.......Gorringe/Casboult etc etc...lets do something different....
We may have to. Phillips has a future, but he isn't there yet. He needs another 5 - 10 kg of muscle to go with his leap, and probably another preseason or 2 to get the ball going to our mids properly.
Gorringe I would like to see get a go, but there is something not quite right yet with him. Maybe we need to get a sport's psychologist to get into his head and work out if he really wants to make it.
I am more worried now about Kreuzer than I ever have been before. In his present form he is one of the AFL's least effective ruckmen. He had NO PRESENCE around the ground. None. Nicholls didn't have a lot, he didn't even run to dangerous areas often. But Kreuzer did not attack and run off him. Not once. No big tackles. No big shepherds. Nobody feared him. Even though he got more taps that Nicholls (quite easily) last weekend, we did not get much benefit from it. Nicholls used his extra height and reach to knock Kreuzer's arm and affect his ability to direct his taps. When Nicholls was getting a tap, he usually got his quite clearly and to advantage.
Not all of this is Kreuzer's fault: Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps were down somewhat and couldn't combine like they did at times last year. I can recall Murphy's handball being picked off 3 or 4 times in the centre square. Ablett and Hall were reading the taps and our mids much better than the reverse.
Our whole centre structure is not working as well as it did last year. We had issues in the midfield (as we got torn up a few times), but Laidley deserves kudos for making our centre square work as well as it did. The only real problem with it was we were very indirect from the middle and almost never found a forward.
Maybe we will improve in this area of time: we have changed the set up significantly. I hope so, as I was bitterly disappointed with what we were doing in there.
Until we get a dominant ruckman, we won't seriously challenge the real contenders.
When he came over we were told Kreuzer was an athletic freak, fact is he never was. He hasn't lost it, he simply never had it.
When he came over we were told Kreuzer was an athletic freak, fact is he never was. He hasn't lost it, he simply never had it.
Nah his first season was as good a season as I have seen from a young ruck who was athletic and very good.
Unfortunately he just couldn't get his body right after succumbing to injury.
FWIW I've been told he is cooked and will never reach the heights he was destined to.
Nah his first season was as good a season as I have seen from a young ruck who was athletic and very good.
Unfortunately he just couldn't get his body right after succumbing to injury.
FWIW I've been told he is cooked and will never reach the heights he was destined to.
It was publicly known that kruezer was cooked in the sense that he failed 2 medicals at pies and dogs at last season's end
It was publicly known that kruezer was cooked in the sense that he failed 2 medicals at pies and dogs at last season's end
the difference is that was my mail years ago and it's something I have repeatedly stated on these forums.
I was hoping it was wrong and last season gave me hope but it's looking worse now.
FWIW I've been told he is cooked and will never reach the heights he was destined to.
By who?
By who?
A friend of mine knows the family, as well as the physiotherapist he sought another opinion from.
Nah his first season was as good a season as I have seen from a young ruck who was athletic and very good.
Yeah nah when you think of athletic you think of quick and a big leap, Kreuzer never had those attributes full stop. Natanui is athletic, Kreuzer is a plodder when it comes to athletic ability.
Nah his first season was as good a season as I have seen from a young ruck who was athletic and very good.
Unfortunately he just couldn't get his body right after succumbing to injury.
FWIW I've been told he is cooked and will never reach the heights he was destined to.
He's roughly the same size as Goldstein (200-201cm 103 kg)
But I reckon the injuries have made it too hard for him to carry that weight.
It's a Catch-22...lose the weight and get a bit of mobility and leap back but lose the size to compete.
This one time....at Draft camp..... :D
The No.1 pick for 2007 was Kreuzer. His scores at the camp included a 14.2 beep test (10th) - astounding for a kid of his size - as well as 10.51 min 3km time trial (9th) and a 3.06sec 20m sprint. All those times are exceptional for a midfielder, let alone someone tall and 95kg.
Yeah nah when you think of athletic you think of quick and a big leap, Kreuzer never had those attributes full stop. Natanui is athletic, Kreuzer is a plodder when it comes to athletic ability.
I think he was pretty athletic for a ruckman when we drafted him but he has slowed considerably and what was athletic for a 200cm tall player 10 years ago isn't as much today.
Yeah nah when you think of athletic you think of quick and a big leap, Kreuzer never had those attributes full stop. Natanui is athletic, Kreuzer is a plodder when it comes to athletic ability.
Hmm, I dont know.
either way, his good is outstanding and we forget how good it is simply because we havent seen him do it enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GWEJdRI7yk&nohtml5=False
In a lot of ways, this is the most damning aspect of Kreuzer this season. When he came back last year he did well against Gawn for 3 quarters - he really exposed Gawn's running with his. Nor was that his only decent effort. But this year he has struggled in the centre bounce, and his running ability has not been seen at all.
He did struggle against Hampson last year, but he was not long back playing at that point. Hampson really beat him in the air and killed him in the ruck.
Has he struggled to get used to our new style of game? Or has his mobility been compromised by his injuries? Whatever it is, he has not become either a Bull type ruckman or a Superman type, as he has neither the leap and athleticism, nor the strength.
The marking things is really worrying me. He is just not making us kick to him, nor is he holding the marks he gets to.
I'm less worried about his 'below the knees' stuff, but this has been one of his strengths and it just hasn't been there.
I don't mind him nocking the ball on constructively, but even that hasn't worked much.
I really want to see him get on his bike and make position, burning off his ruck opponent and get some cheap marks. Then his confidence might rise to the point where he starts taking some contested marks again.
We may have to. Phillips has a future, but he isn't there yet. He needs another 5 - 10 kg of muscle to go with his leap, and probably another preseason or 2 to get the ball going to our mids properly.
Gorringe I would like to see get a go, but there is something not quite right yet with him. Maybe we need to get a sport's psychologist to get into his head and work out if he really wants to make it.
I am more worried now about Kreuzer than I ever have been before. In his present form he is one of the AFL's least effective ruckmen. He had NO PRESENCE around the ground. None. Nicholls didn't have a lot, he didn't even run to dangerous areas often. But Kreuzer did not attack and run off him. Not once. No big tackles. No big shepherds. Nobody feared him. Even though he got more taps that Nicholls (quite easily) last weekend, we did not get much benefit from it. Nicholls used his extra height and reach to knock Kreuzer's arm and affect his ability to direct his taps. When Nicholls was getting a tap, he usually got his quite clearly and to advantage.
Not all of this is Kreuzer's fault: Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps were down somewhat and couldn't combine like they did at times last year. I can recall Murphy's handball being picked off 3 or 4 times in the centre square. Ablett and Hall were reading the taps and our mids much better than the reverse.
Our whole centre structure is not working as well as it did last year. We had issues in the midfield (as we got torn up a few times), but Laidley deserves kudos for making our centre square work as well as it did. The only real problem with it was we were very indirect from the middle and almost never found a forward.
Maybe we will improve in this area of time: we have changed the set up significantly. I hope so, as I was bitterly disappointed with what we were doing in there.
Until we get a dominant ruckman, we won't seriously challenge the real contenders.
Unfortunately Wood is our best ruckman right now it seems. He's no star but always gives a decent, competitive performance and is more likely then the others to take a mark and kick a goal. Not sure at all about Phillips and Gorringe. We have ruck numbers but quantity doesn't equal quality.
Still want to see Kreuzer on the ball near all day as that where he plays his best. Goes from very good to ordinary when he has to share the duties. Even so, his lack of physical presence was really worrying. I watched Kreuzer in contests then watched Casboult in contests. Like chalk and cheese, very stark difference. One, Kreuzer was soft and tentative (not that Kreuzer is soft), the other, Casboult, was attacking contests hard and smashing packs and bodies.
I'm not sure what I'm missing when watching Kreuzer this season. I'm certainly not seeing the broken down has been other folk are complaining about.
First of all, I think Kreuzer is spending too much time as a forward. That's not his caper and we need his second and third efforts around the ground.
Secondly, if you look at the hitouts won by each side's two ruckmen (or ruckmen/forwards), we're not far off the pace and are in a group of 8 teams that are averaging 38 to 41 hitouts in the three games.
West Coast is leading with 54, Freo and Melbourne have 44 and then it's Adelaide, Hawthorn, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, North, Carlton and Collingwood. The teams with the poorest performing rucks are Richmond, GWS, Essendon, Brisbane, Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Geelong.
West Coast is leading with 54, Freo and Melbourne have 44 and then it's Adelaide, Hawthorn, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, North, Carlton and Collingwood. The teams with the poorest performing rucks are Richmond, GWS, Essendon, Brisbane, Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Geelong.
Firstly, those stats are a little ambiguous. I think the stats can be misleading because they don't break it down into clubs playing two rucks, one ruck or only part-time rucks. For example I think the Bulldogs would be very happy with young Roughead's almost solo efforts(They are very reluctant to use Boyd in the ruck.).
Check out the Ruck stats linked at Final Siren. (http://www.finalsiren.com/AFLPlayerStats.asp?SeasonID=2016&Round=&Sort=HitOuts%20Desc)
Then as you point out you have to take into which rucks spend time as forwards which reduces opportunity in the center.
I'm not questioning SpecialK's ability, I agree with you regarding the forward vs ruck issue, but I cannot state that he is in great form either. Given we have bonified 2nd, 3rd and maybe even 4th ruck options to give him chop outs he should be thriving. I'd expect him to dominate when he gets the chance but he is just competitive at best.
I'm not sure what I'm missing when watching Kreuzer this season. I'm certainly not seeing the broken down has been other folk are complaining about.
First of all, I think Kreuzer is spending too much time as a forward. That's not his caper and we need his second and third efforts around the ground.
Secondly, if you look at the hitouts won by each side's two ruckmen (or ruckmen/forwards), we're not far off the pace and are in a group of 8 teams that are averaging 38 to 41 hitouts in the three games.
West Coast is leading with 54, Freo and Melbourne have 44 and then it's Adelaide, Hawthorn, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, North, Carlton and Collingwood. The teams with the poorest performing rucks are Richmond, GWS, Essendon, Brisbane, Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Geelong.
x2
Any loss by less than 10 goals will pretty much be an improvement on the last couple of weeks.
My expectations have really dropped away now, we are not going to see the radical improvement that Port and the WB's saw in their 1st year under a new coach, I was kind of hoping to see that, but I've seen enough now to realize it's just not going to happen.
Now I just want to see 100% effort every week and incremental improvement in skills and executing the game plan as we progress through the season.
Any loss by less than 10 goals will pretty much be an improvement on the last couple of weeks.
My expectations have really dropped away now, we are not going to see the radical improvement that Port and the WB's saw in their 1st year under a new coach, I was kind of hoping to see that, but I've seen enough now to realize it's just not going to happen.
Now I just want to see 100% effort every week and incremental improvement in skills and executing the game plan as we progress through the season.
Not sure about your first paragraph, but I agree with the 2nd and 3rd. Hopefully as the season progresses, some wins or very competitive narrow losses would be nice.
I'm not sure what I'm missing when watching Kreuzer this season. I'm certainly not seeing the broken down has been other folk are complaining about.
First of all, I think Kreuzer is spending too much time as a forward. That's not his caper and we need his second and third efforts around the ground.
Secondly, if you look at the hitouts won by each side's two ruckmen (or ruckmen/forwards), we're not far off the pace and are in a group of 8 teams that are averaging 38 to 41 hitouts in the three games.
West Coast is leading with 54, Freo and Melbourne have 44 and then it's Adelaide, Hawthorn, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, North, Carlton and Collingwood. The teams with the poorest performing rucks are Richmond, GWS, Essendon, Brisbane, Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Geelong.
x3
I wonder about all the angst on display about him - and Philips for that matter. We don't have the best ruck division for sure but it seems to me it's far from our most critical problem.
Firstly, those stats are a little ambiguous. I think the stats can be misleading because they don't break it down into clubs playing two rucks, one ruck or only part-time rucks. For example I think the Bulldogs would be very happy with young Roughead's almost solo efforts(They are very reluctant to use Boyd in the ruck.).
Check out the Ruck stats linked at Final Siren. (http://www.finalsiren.com/AFLPlayerStats.asp?SeasonID=2016&Round=&Sort=HitOuts%20Desc)
Then as you point out you have to take into which rucks spend time as forwards which reduces opportunity in the center.
I'm not questioning SpecialK's ability, I agree with you regarding the forward vs ruck issue, but I cannot state that he is in great form either. Given we have bonified 2nd, 3rd and maybe even 4th ruck options to give him chop outs he should be thriving. I'd expect him to dominate when he gets the chance but he is just competitive at best.
That is my analysis of the hitout stats LP and I had to compromise a little because teams have different ruck structures as you point out. However, there's generally a big gap between the number of hitouts won by the second stringer and the occasional ruckman (often third man up). Geelong's figures are probably a little misleading because they have several "ruckmen" but none have won all that many hitouts.
The Bulldogs may very well be happy with Roughead's solo efforts in averaging 23 hitouts per game. That has him at 14 in the hitout rankings, one ahead of Kreuzer who is averaging 21.3 hitouts while sharing the duties with Phillips.
I'd certainly like to see Kreuzer imposing himself a little more about the ground. I'd also like to see him repeatedly reproduce his brilliant hitout to Kerridge for a goal and his left foot snap for a goal; two of the best individual plays I've seen so far this season.
Wes hould be playing the kids. Ready or not.
KJ, Plowman, Cunningham, DVR. Throw them in and see what they can do over an extended period
Wes hould be playing the kids. Ready or not.
KJ, Plowman, Cunningham, DVR. Throw them in and see what they can do over an extended period
Yeah,
Nothing has changed since those days. :P
Wes hould be playing the kids. Ready or not.
KJ, Plowman, Cunningham, DVR. Throw them in and see what they can do over an extended period
Who's Wes? :)
Who's Wes? :)
We. It should be we
Isn't Sumner some way off in preparation? I thought he was about 3 weeks behind Plowman.
A week or two ahead but does need more match fitness.
Any loss by less than 10 goals will pretty much be an improvement on the last couple of weeks.
My expectations have really dropped away now, we are not going to see the radical improvement that Port and the WB's saw in their 1st year under a new coach, I was kind of hoping to see that, but I've seen enough now to realize it's just not going to happen.
Now I just want to see 100% effort every week and incremental improvement in skills and executing the game plan as we progress through the season.
Pretty much where I am now as well. I, too, was hoping to see enough improvement to finish mid table but bottom four as most experts predicted, sadly, seems very right. I do have a faint hope that in the second half of the season when most have really gotten the BB game plan, we might see some good wins.
Wes hould be playing the kids. Ready or not.
KJ, Plowman, Cunningham, DVR. Throw them in and see what they can do over an extended period
Cunningham apparently did alright. Had 21 disposals, 12 contested, 9 hardball gets, 3 clearances, 7 handball recieves.
COACH'S VIEW
"First possession around stoppages was impressive, his ability to move away from clearances and stay involved in the contest was good especially for a young player."
Like you said, give them all a run. Sumner too soon, as he seems to be going alright, once he gets more match fitness.
Our team looks sh1t right but at least there's a bit waiting in the wings. Get them in I say.
I think there's two strategies running side by side at the moment, with some cross over.
There's the list turnover, testing and development strategy and there's the coaching, game plan strategy.
I suspect the first strategy is taking precedent.
we are not going to see the radical improvement that Port and the WB's saw in their 1st year under a new coach
WB new coach had a list that was 4 years ahead of our. Might have something to do with it.
I'm not sure what I'm missing when watching Kreuzer this season. I'm certainly not seeing the broken down has been other folk are complaining about.
I don't know that I have seen a broken down has been. But what I have seen is a guy struggling to find form with an intermediate style of rucking. He isn't beating the guys who depend on strength and aggression, nor is he beating the guys who leap.
First of all, I think Kreuzer is spending too much time as a forward. That's not his caper and we need his second and third efforts around the ground.
Kreuzer has been playing forward for 2 reasons.
The first is that we haven't got a lot of drive when he has been in the middle. We have had a little more with Phillips, but not a lot more.
The second is that our forward line has been desperate for someone other than Casboult to kick the ball towards. Kreuzer CAN take a strong mark he took a few last year and we certainly took more than a few a couple of years back. Unfortunately he has struggled and hasn't been able to hold a mark as a forward, which, I agree, is not his best position. He does better to be a shock forward for short time periods, because he actually can lead. That we can't kick to his advantage is another of our issues, but that is for another time.
Secondly, if you look at the hitouts won by each side's two ruckmen (or ruckmen/forwards), we're not far off the pace and are in a group of 8 teams that are averaging 38 to 41 hitouts in the three games.
The actual tap out numbers can be misleading. There are tap outs and there are tap outs. Look at Nic Nat and most of his taps are very clean and well directed to his midfielders. Cox, although he used his strength more than just his leap, also got quite clean taps. Sandilands does not always get as much value for his taps as they are not always clean, nor as well directed. But he has improved in this area over the last couple of years.
Kreuzer is getting his hands to the ball more than his opponents this year, but they have not been clean. The way he has been rucking he has had his opponents interfering with his taps. That was very clear when playing against the taller and higher jumping Nicholls last weekend and against Hampson during Round 1. Hampson used his extra height and reach to hit the hand or arm and change the direction or strength of the tap. The result was the ball going wide or dying before it got to Murphy or Cripps, or hitting them so hard that they couldn't control the ball.
I am not sure what he can do about that.
Last year against Melbourne, Kreuzer got his hand to the ball very cleanly in the first half. He got his confidence up and he ran Gawn around and into the ground. He managed goals through his work rate and managed to get to contests to make a difference.
After half time he tired a bit and Gawn started to interfere with his taps. All of a sudden our mids didn't get clean position. We also had a run of bad luck, a few terrible decisions and a few really bad disposal mistakes that Melbourne used to get back into the game.
We tightened up in the clearances and Kreuzer managed to get his hand to the ball again and we hung on to win.
He needs to start getting cleaner taps again to make our centre structure work better.
That said, it is not all his fault. Our primary mids are not seeming to work as well at the clearances at the moment. A few times each game we really get a distinct advantage and a mid charging down the middle of the ground. Cripps did a couple against Sydney in the last NAB Cup game, the blocking or whatever worked and Cripps was left with an open field and he made Sydney pay.
At times I think I can see what we are trying to do, but it isn't working very well at the moment. Small fumbles or ordinary disposal and the ball doesn't come cleanly and the mid doesn't get the clean break. Can't execute under pressure yet?
I can't remember the last time I saw Murphy or Gibbs get their handballs intercepted when they were not being tackled like they did last week. They looked like they were aiming for a particular spot and the opposing mid read it better than our mid did. Ablett and Hall had a number of those, especially as we didn't tag them.
Whatever it is, we haven't been getting the ball out.
West Coast is leading with 54, Freo and Melbourne have 44 and then it's Adelaide, Hawthorn, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, North, Carlton and Collingwood. The teams with the poorest performing rucks are Richmond, GWS, Essendon, Brisbane, Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Geelong.
Richmond hasn't broke even in the ruck since Round 1 and it isn't all Hampson's fault. Other than him, Richmond haven't had anything yet and their mids have been down.
Essendon's ruck division is a distinct weakness. Leuenberger is better than anything they had last year, but he isn't killing teams. In many ways he is like Kreuzer: he often gets a tap with interference from his opposition ruckman. When they get a tap, however, Leuenberger hasn't been able to interfere with their taps. And other than him, they have nothing of significance.
Brisbane I am not sure about. I haven't seen them so far this year.
Other than Round 1, Geelong's rucks have not impressed. They were awful when they lost and not overly impressive against Brisbane from what I heard on the radio. It was Geelong's mids who slaughtered Brisbane, not their rucks.
West Coast don't only have the most taps, but NicNat gives the probably the best quality taps in the competition.
Fremantle still have big numbers even with Sandilands well below his best. The question is how will they do now that he is hurt.
In many ways the Dogs don't need a huge number of taps. Roughead plays like the Hawthorn ruckman and nullifies his opponent, while the Dogs mids read the ball and have a system to get it out. They have the sure ball handling we lack yet.
Gold Coast are similar. Nicholls doesn't get huge numbers, but he negates the usefulness of his opponents. Then GC gave quality mids who read the resultant open ball and get the break. They certainly did that against us.
Adelaide have a class act in Jacobs and he has some decent back-up when he needs it. Their mids are also mature and playing well, even without Dangerfield.
GWS have Mumford, who is the prototype Bull Ruckman. He has real presence even when he doesn't get the tap and he take marks around the ground.
North have one of the best ruckmen in Goldstein, but he does his best work around the ground. I don't think he has been in great form as yet either.
WB new coach had a list that was 4 years ahead of our. Might have something to do with it.
Beveridge certainly had a lot of preparation done before he got there. The Dogs had some good luck with the F/S picks (Libba and co) and made some good recruiting decisions (McRae and Stringer, for example). These guys are a LOT further along than most of our guys.
The they did a huge amount of work with their previous coach that Beveridge recognized and got the benefit from.
They also seem to have the VFL structure that we appear to be trying to make this year and have had it for a couple of years. Their development is going the way we are trying to emulate.
I don't know if they are 4 years ahead of us, but they are certainly well past us on the development curve and are now reaping some rewards. Two or 3 years back, they looked very much like we do at the moment; immature, list in transition, skills lacking and not performing confidently or consistently.
Cunningham apparently did alright. Had 21 disposals, 12 contested, 9 hardball gets, 3 clearances, 7 handball recieves.
COACH'S VIEW
"First possession around stoppages was impressive, his ability to move away from clearances and stay involved in the contest was good especially for a young player."
Like you said, give them all a run. Sumner too soon, as he seems to be going alright, once he gets more match fitness.
Our team looks sh1t right but at least there's a bit waiting in the wings. Get them in I say.
I must admit I would be loath to bring them along too quickly. They are developing and I am very happy to see that after years of having nobody develop at all.
Both DVR and Cunningham have one thing that may get them in sooner rather than later: their pace. Our centre structure is very much under construction at the moment, but both of these guys managed match-ups that allowed them to get a few really significant break aways from the centre. Then, with decent kicks, they managed to get the ball into dangerous positions very quickly.
They also used that pace to run guys down in the middle, where Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps would struggle to make something similar with their lesser speeds.
Physically I don't think either DVR or Cunningham are ready yet either. A guy like Josh Kennedy would bury them. And both lads can get lost for some periods of time yet. But they have shown enough to suggest that they are not that far away.
Leaving aside the quality and speed of delivery of the ball into our F50, our biggest problem is not our "non existent" forward line, but the lack of defensive pressure applied by our mids whenever we cough the ball up.....there is simply none.
Not sure if too many of our mids are caught ahead of the ball or what, but as soon as there is a turnover, it's pretty much a guaranteed easy, no pressure goal for the other team.
That is our biggest weakness, by far imo.
Leaving aside the quality and speed of delivery of the ball into our F50, our biggest problem is not our "non existent" forward line, but the lack of defensive pressure applied by our mids whenever we cough the ball up.....there is simply none.
Not sure if too many of our mids are caught ahead of the ball or what, but as soon as there is a turnover, it's pretty much a guaranteed easy, no pressure goal for the other team.
That is our biggest weakness, by far imo.
And that's been a major problem for years.
Leaving aside the quality and speed of delivery of the ball into our F50, our biggest problem is not our "non existent" forward line, but the lack of defensive pressure applied by our mids whenever we cough the ball up.....there is simply none.
Not sure if too many of our mids are caught ahead of the ball or what, but as soon as there is a turnover, it's pretty much a guaranteed easy, no pressure goal for the other team.
That is our biggest weakness, by far imo.
I think you can extend that to defensive pressure everywhere on the ground. We have no pressure in the forward 50, not much in the midfield (especially late in the game) and the backline is too slow to man up and plug gaps.
I must admit I would be loath to bring them along too quickly. They are developing and I am very happy to see that after years of having nobody develop at all.
Both DVR and Cunningham have one thing that may get them in sooner rather than later: their pace. Our centre structure is very much under construction at the moment, but both of these guys managed match-ups that allowed them to get a few really significant break aways from the centre. Then, with decent kicks, they managed to get the ball into dangerous positions very quickly.
They also used that pace to run guys down in the middle, where Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps would struggle to make something similar with their lesser speeds.
Physically I don't think either DVR or Cunningham are ready yet either. A guy like Josh Kennedy would bury them. And both lads can get lost for some periods of time yet. But they have shown enough to suggest that they are not that far away.
Really good observations Capt Crash. I do think though that DVRs body has certainly gained some muscle (along with Gowers) and would be ready for the next stage of his development - a taste of the big time. Cuningham will need to work on his strength though. What I liked about his last game was his footy brain - he gave off quickly to blokes in better positions and can use his turn of speed to advantage. As raw as both boys are, they both look like footballers and IF they can continue to improve and develop will certainly give us some dash through the midfield. Much needed dash. DVRs delivery by foot really is close to elite.
Really good observations Capt Crash. I do think though that DVRs body has certainly gained some muscle (along with Gowers) and would be ready for the next stage of his development - a taste of the big time. Cuningham will need to work on his strength though. What I liked about his last game was his footy brain - he gave off quickly to blokes in better positions and can use his turn of speed to advantage. As raw as both boys are, they both look like footballers and IF they can continue to improve and develop will certainly give us some dash through the midfield. Much needed dash. DVRs delivery by foot really is close to elite.
Its good to hear those raps on DVR. As I have stated, I was at his first training session after he was drafted and what stood out for me was the way he moved and his kicking (beautiful left footer as most are - apologies S Grigg). He seemed to have "lost" it but from all reports seems to have got back mojo that we based our picking him on.
I must admit I would be loath to bring them along too quickly. They are developing and I am very happy to see that after years of having nobody develop at all.
Both DVR and Cunningham have one thing that may get them in sooner rather than later: their pace. Our centre structure is very much under construction at the moment, but both of these guys managed match-ups that allowed them to get a few really significant break aways from the centre. Then, with decent kicks, they managed to get the ball into dangerous positions very quickly.
They also used that pace to run guys down in the middle, where Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps would struggle to make something similar with their lesser speeds.
Physically I don't think either DVR or Cunningham are ready yet either. A guy like Josh Kennedy would bury them. And both lads can get lost for some periods of time yet. But they have shown enough to suggest that they are not that far away.
That's why you have other experienced players in too. I just want to change the nature of the side. Leave out players from the last couple of years and let some of these new blokes leave their imprint in a different way. Cunningham, DVR and Sumner suddenly give you alot more pace and run. If we lose so be it, just want to see something different.
That's why you have other experienced players in too. I just want to change the nature of the side. Leave out players from the last couple of years and let some of these new blokes leave their imprint in a different way. Cunningham, DVR and Sumner suddenly give you alot more pace and run. If we lose so be it, just want to see something different.
See where you're coming from Jim. We have got to break the mould set by some of our older players before we can truly start to move forward significantly. At the same time we have to be wary of over exposing our current youth and demoralising them, as we have with others in recent years.
That's why you have other experienced players in too. I just want to change the nature of the side. Leave out players from the last couple of years and let some of these new blokes leave their imprint in a different way. Cunningham, DVR and Sumner suddenly give you alot more pace and run. If we lose so be it, just want to see something different.
Tend to agree...this year is about finding 2-4 good young blokes who can play senior footy at a decent standard, then the same thing next year and building a core group to take the club forward.
DVR may not get another contract if he doesnt show something this season and he need some senior footy to make some judgements on his future...Cunningham can be held back and maybe just given a taste at years end. Boekhorst is another who needs a big season IMO, being a controversial Rogers choice wont help him either and he needs to show more than what he has so far...
Crippa for us, The Bont for them. If nothing else I will be watching who shows more. These two will be compared for years to come as they are both excitement machines. To me it will be like the Judd v Ablett debate. Like Ablett, Bontempelli kicks more goals, Cripps does more heavy work inside. Two young guns who are unbelievably good to watch.
Crippa for us, The Bont for them. If nothing else I will be watching who shows more. These two will be compared for years to come as they are both excitement machines. To me it will be like the Judd v Ablett debate. Like Ablett, Bontempelli kicks more goals, Cripps does more heavy work inside. Two young guns who are unbelievably good to watch.
Watch out for Marcus Adams from the Dogs, I wanted him pre-draft, been a great pickup...tough, aggressive,.reckon he will have a picnic vs us with intercept marks..
Cripps>Bont...bit more substance to our man, the latter may have more flair but our man lifted last week when he was way down and thats the sign of a champ...
Tend to agree...this year is about finding 2-4 good young blokes who can play senior footy at a decent standard, then the same thing next year and building a core group to take the club forward.
DVR may not get another contract if he doesnt show something this season and he need some senior footy to make some judgements on his future...Cunningham can be held back and maybe just given a taste at years end. Boekhorst is another who needs a big season IMO, being a controversial Rogers choice wont help him either and he needs to show more than what he has so far...
Is there any other kind?
Is there any other kind?
True....I dont mind the Boeky man and reckon he has something to offer but he needs to get more footy and be less timid if he wants to stay on the list....
In : Plowman, Sumner and Lamb.
Out: Jamison (O), Whiley (O) & Boekhorst (hamstring)
In : Plowman, Sumner and Lamb.
Out: Jamison (O), Whiley (O) & Boekhorst (hamstring)
Good to see Mr Plow and Sumner line up in the old dark navy blue. Still concerned about their match fitness though.
Cunningham also listed as an emergency.
Good to see Mr Plow and Sumner line up in the old dark navy blue. Still concerned about their match fitness though.
Cunningham also listed as an emergency.
don't care about their match fitness. We're not likely to win yet anyway so may as well get them fit in the senior. They'll do better than what was tehere still.
In : Plowman, Sumner and Lamb.
Out: Jamison (O), Whiley (O) & Boekhorst (hamstring)
Looking better. Still 2 ruckmen but only one key forward. Our ruckmen are bloody useless forwards, we don't need two of them, prefer the extra key forward.
Well, we are now three weeks in and already White and Jamo are out, we are progressing. Next is that spudnik Rowe. Hope to see Buckley given a go off halfback or in the BP this week.
Rowe only in that team to cover Boyd. Though with the team defence he rarely ever seems to be on his direct match-up.
Bulldogs run a smallish forward line, don't need three tall defenders.
Who will cover Stringer... Plowman? Weeters?
Well, we are now three weeks in and already White and Jamo are out, we are progressing. Next is that spudnik Rowe. Hope to see Buckley given a go off halfback or in the BP this week.
I couldn't agree more. Why bang your head against the wall with these blokes who have not been up to it for some time and like Jamo really NEEDED to be dropped.
Hopefully that frees him up mentally. He's been playing scared and for his own skin for so long he must have forgotten what playing good footy feels like. Good luck to him!
Looking better. Still 2 ruckmen but only one key forward. Our ruckmen are bloody useless forwards, we don't need two of them, prefer the extra key forward.
Totally agree.
Great to see the new blood starting to come in more now!
I couldn't agree more. Why bang your head against the wall with these blokes who have not been up to it for some time and like Jamo really NEEDED to be dropped.
Hopefully that frees him up mentally. He's been playing scared and for his own skin for so long he must have forgotten what playing good footy feels like. Good luck to him!
I hope Jamison can regain some form in the NBs. At 75% of his best he's still a damn good defender, not to mention Wietering's mentor.
I like the ins, despite thinking that Plowman and Sumner would need another week in the NBs. I don't think Bolton is in any danger of being afraid to make tough decisions :)
Who will cover Stringer... Plowman? Weeters?
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-blues-jacob-weitering-relishing-opportunity-against-jake-stringer-20160412-go4aqu.html
Carlton vs Western Bullfrogs ... no, just kidding. :)
Carlton
B: Kade Simpson, Sam Rowe, Zach Tuohy.
HB: Dale Thomas, Jacob Weitering, Lachie Plowman.
C: Sam Docherty, Marc Murphy, Matthew Wright.
HF: Nick Graham, Levi Casboult, Bryce Gibbs.
F: Liam Sumner, Andrew Phillips, Charlie Curnow.
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Patrick Cripps, Sam Kerridge.
Int: Ciaran Byrne, Jed Lamb, Ed Curnow, Dylan Buckley.
Emg: Michael Jamison, David Cuningham, Mark Whiley.
In: Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner, Jed Lamb.
Out: Michael Jamison (Omitted), Mark Whiley (Omitted), Blaine Boekhorst (Hamstring)
New: Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner
Very interesting to see the changes we made. Bokehorst's hamstring is not great news, but....
I was a bit surprised to see Plowman and Sumner come in. I would have given Plowman another week to get his fitness up and I don't think either Sumner or Lamb have done enough yet.
So be it. The dies is cast.
Western Bulldogs
B: Matthew Boyd, Marcus Adams, Dale Morris.
HB: Matthew Suckling, Joel Hamling, Jason Johannisen.
C: Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore, Shane Biggs.
HF: Liam Picken, Marcus Bontempelli, Jake Stringer.
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel.
Foll: Jordan Roughead, Jack Macrae, Mitch Wallis.
Int: Toby McLean, Koby Stevens, Jed Adcock, Lin Jong.
Emg: Zaine Cordy, Tom Campbell, Bailey Dale.
In: Jed Adcock.
Out: Robert Murphy (Knee)
New: Jed Adcock
Looking at their side, they may be on the way up (they played very well last week), but they are not yet unbeatable. They do have weaknesses IF we are good enough to take advantage of them.
So far that hasn't been the case. We would have to see considerable improvements in the form of our ruckmen, defenders, mids and forwards (have I missed anyone?), but our best is good enough. Are very likely to bring our best? Hasn't looked that way yet. Our talls, in particular, have not yet managed to adjust to our new game style. Nor have Gibbs and Murphy (and to a lesser extent Cripps).
My expectations are not overly high, but hope springs eternal.
Lot of rebound from the Dogs defense, all those players bar Hamling are of the rebound variety which means our forward pressure and retaining the footy in the forward 50 will need to be spot on.
Pleased to see Plowman and Sumner in and BB shows that even favorite sons like Jamo are going to de dropped if their form isnt good enough....thats positive IMO and can only improve us...
Roughead and Boyd rucking.....if Kruezer cant whip their Ar$se then he has to go...thats a very part time ruck setup looking to take advantage of Rougheads marking ability around the ground and field play but conceding the tapouts and backing their mids to shark ours....
When you look at the Dogs team its mid sized players who can play tall with a few midgets thrown in....
Weitering v Stringer....Rowe vs Boyd and Plowman vs Bontempelli......the last matchup worries me.....the Plow hasnt had that much game time and the Bont is one slippery player...
Plowman vs Bontempelli......the last matchup worries me....
Just let the Bont and Cripps go head to head. Last man standing.
Sorry everyone, I can't see us getting within 10 Goals of the Dogs this week, but I'm still going, Brother is taking me to the Medallion Club (and he's driving...woo hoo!)
Lot of hard runners and dangerous midgets in that doggies side... I hope we're all fit and prepared to run, and our small defenders are switched on.
With due respect, thank f...k Jamo has been dropped.
With due respect, thank f...k Jamo has been dropped.
It sends the right message that senior selection cannot be taken for granted. As he continues with his assessments, It looks like BB will be trying to move forward with the younger players he sees as the future and keeping the older and fading players as the backups. That's fine by me!
It sends the right message that senior selection cannot be taken for granted. As he continues with his assessments, It looks like BB will be trying to move forward with the younger players he sees as the future and keeping the older and fading players as the backups. That's fine by me!
Gibbs next...unless he extracts numerous digits.
It sends the right message that senior selection cannot be taken for granted. As he continues with his assessments, It looks like BB will be trying to move forward with the younger players he sees as the future and keeping the older and fading players as the backups. That's fine by me!
Yep. Pretty sure BB said:
form will drive selection
all have clean slate
nobody is entitled
there is no ceiling (to this effect anyway)
To date, I'm impressed with his integrity and ability to hold onto the rudder (even though we're headed for the rapids).
Bold Bolton
He'll turn the ship in time....
Gibbs next...unless he extracts numerous digits.
and kruezer
With due respect, thank f...k Jamo has been dropped.
yes. this is a
major step forward- i know when our club is truly accountable when any one of gibbs murphy and kruezer get dropped
I cant recall not 1 occasion that any one of these number 1's have ever been dropped to the ressies...
It sends the right message that senior selection cannot be taken for granted. As he continues with his assessments, It looks like BB will be trying to move forward with the younger players he sees as the future and keeping the older and fading players as the backups. That's fine by me!
It sends the message that the same old same old that hasnt worked for years, still doesnt work no matter who coaches them. The team needs to be turned over something ferocious in order to find out what does work. End of story and about feckin time. I hope that there as as many changes to senior players next week as well. I would rather test and learn the game plan in real time with players who are the future irrespective of how young they may be.
Go Blues
Why can't we swap Phillips for Jaksch? Kreuzer would play better, the forward line would have 2 legitimate talls... wtf
Why can't we swap Phillips for Jaksch? Kreuzer would play better, the forward line would have 2 legitimate talls... wtf
Going by the NB write ups Jaksch hasn't been impressing. They were more like to give Jones a game.
Well, we are now three weeks in and already White and Jamo are out, we are progressing. Next is that spudnik Rowe. Hope to see Buckley given a go off halfback or in the BP this week.
This
Really happy with the ins, but they will be underdone so im not expecting much from them.
It's funny though, for the 2 and a half years we had Malthouse/Voldemort in charge it was excruciating for me to watch a game of ours, whether we won or lost.
Now, i'm more than happy to watch us lose, as its apart of our journey back to the top. And im really enjoying watching the newbies run around. This is easily the most interested I've been since the start of 2008 when the great man came along.
Winter is coming, but spring soon follows ;)
Go Blues!
Really happy with the ins, but they will be underdone so im not expecting much from them.
It's funny though, for the 2 and a half years we had Malthouse/Voldemort in charge it was excruciating for me to watch a game of ours, whether we won or lost.
Now, i'm more than happy to watch us lose, as its apart of our journey back to the top. And im really enjoying watching the newbies run around. This is easily the most interested I've been since the start of 2008 when the great man came along.
Winter is coming, but spring soon follows ;)
Go Blues!
Ease up buttercup, I'm NEVER happy to watch em lose. I understand where we are and where we are going but nobody should be happy to watch us lose, ever!! I've had enough of it thanks. I get what ya mean though ;)
Gibbs next...unless he extracts numerous digits.
Good luck with that. He's untouchable and that has everything to do with why our culture is so poor.
Good luck with that. He's untouchable and that has everything to do with why our culture is so poor.
Yeah, I know mate, just wishful thinking (and yes, i voted to trade him come season's end).
Really happy with the ins, but they will be underdone so im not expecting much from them.
It's funny though, for the 2 and a half years we had Malthouse/Voldemort in charge it was excruciating for me to watch a game of ours, whether we won or lost.
Now, i'm more than happy to watch us lose, as its apart of our journey back to the top. And im really enjoying watching the newbies run around. This is easily the most interested I've been since the start of 2008 when the great man came along.
Winter is coming, but spring soon follows ;)
Go Blues!
Winter is coming and we have a Bolton in charge >:D
Winter is coming and we have a Bolton in charge >:D
(http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2014/list/top-40-game-of-thrones-characters-ranked-20140331/items/roose-bolton-19691231/140432/_original/1035x685-20140328-got21-x1800-1396043028.jpg)
Really happy with the ins, but they will be underdone so im not expecting much from them.
It's funny though, for the 2 and a half years we had Malthouse/Voldemort in charge it was excruciating for me to watch a game of ours, whether we won or lost.
Now, i'm more than happy to watch us lose, as its apart of our journey back to the top. And im really enjoying watching the newbies run around. This is easily the most interested I've been since the start of 2008 when the great man came along.
Winter is coming, but spring soon follows ;)
Go Blues!
While I can't say I'm ever happy to watch us lose, I understand where you're coming from. Those brief moments when everything clicks and the performances of the young blokes being given a chance are signs of a brighter future.
(http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2014/list/top-40-game-of-thrones-characters-ranked-20140331/items/roose-bolton-19691231/140432/_original/1035x685-20140328-got21-x1800-1396043028.jpg)
Thankfully not a Ramsay Snow.
Amers must be spewing about Whiley's omission after giving that spud a vote for last week's performance.....worst vote ever.
Btw - Tuohy played on Stringer last time & did a fairly good job......Stringer kicked 3, but from memory 2 of them were straight out of his clacker.......
Caleb Daniel tore us a new one in the last quarter of that same game.....
I think Redpath was the one that did the damage on us last time.
One thing that bodes well for us, is that Casboult has a pretty good record against the Dogs. He needs to be in good goal kicking form else we wont do much.
I think Redpath was the one that did the damage on us last time.
One thing that bodes well for us, is that Casboult has a pretty good record against the Dogs. He needs to be in good goal kicking form else we wont do much.
Sicily pulled down some marks last week so Casboult should be able to take a few more than him. After he marks it is the problem.
Sicily pulled down some marks last week so Casboult should be able to take a few more than him. After he marks it is the problem.
If Philips or Kruezer could take a few marks down forward we match stretch the Dogs as they only have the one tall defender...
Surprising ins, but really looking forward to seeing new players.
........ all newbies are SOS selections so far. ;)
gibbs to have a big game,and can we leave our fwd line open for casbolt to kick a bag.(still to trade gibbs at the end of year)
Never have and NEVER will, like watching us lose >:(
Never have and NEVER will, like watching us lose >:(
Nor are you alone. The difference in my neurotransmitters (and their effects) are considerable. I like Dopamine. I want Dopamine. I only get Dopamine when we win!
I just heard a snippet of Bolton's latest interview and he made it very clear that Plowman, Sumner and Lamb had earned their games. None of this gifting games to players in the hope that it will help/speed their development.
I'm liking him more and more!
I'd like to know what three clubs saw/see in Jed Lamb, don't see it myself.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-15/effort-the-issue-for-dropped-blue-michael-jamison
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-15/effort-the-issue-for-dropped-blue-michael-jamison
The gospel according to Saint Brendan - interesting. :)
Sad to see Boeky out for 2 - 3 weeks though.
The gospel according to Saint Brendan - interesting. :)
Sad to see Boeky out for 2 - 3 weeks though.
Jamo.....nearly cooked IMO......thought Boeky got a bad corky early last game..
just watched the jumper presentations to "the plow" and "hot sumner". Geoff Southby to the plow, Collo to Sumner,
Geez I hope Southbys vibe rubs off.
Thats why i love the navy blues......
On the CFC wesite
Liam Sumner playing his 3rd game since 2013...all against the Bulldogs!!!!!
Amers must be spewing about Whiley's omission after giving that spud a vote for last week's performance.....worst vote ever.
Spewing - no
Surprised - yes, from what I saw (live) I thought he did ok, but hey, I trust Bolts and if he was dropped it was probably for good reason.
I just heard a snippet of Bolton's latest interview and he made it very clear that Plowman, Sumner and Lamb had earned their games. None of this gifting games to players in the hope that it will help/speed their development.
I'm liking him more and more!
Great to hear.
Liam Sumner playing his 3rd game since 2013...all against the Bulldogs!!!!!
So dropped after every single one of them? Here's hoping for third time lucky!
just watched the jumper presentations to "the plow" and "hot sumner". Geoff Southby to the plow, Collo to Sumner,
Geez I hope Southbys vibe rubs off.
Thats why i love the navy blues......
On the CFC wesite
Im proud to call Geoff a friend, a better human being and more passionate Carlton person you would be pushed to meet.
No Jammo at VFL tonight, ducks and drakes maybe happening here.
No Jammo at VFL tonight, ducks and drakes maybe happening here.
Gotta keep at least 1 emergency for 'an emergency'. Standard practice.
Sorry, i'll re-phrase what i said about watching us lose. What i meant was the previous years i would turn the game off late 3rd/early 4th quarter as it would enrage me so much that the wife would leave the room.
I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel and i was beginning to hate footy.
Its a much different story thus far in 2016.
I'm actually watching all the way to the end without the neighbors thinking WW111 has erupted in our house.
So in saying that i'm happy to watch us lose is only that i can see light at the end of the long dark tunnel and i can actually take positives out of what im watching rather than throwing verbal abuse and beanies at the big screen and turning it off.
Hope that explanation clears anything up about losing >:D
Here's hoping for some more "green shoots" tonight, namely Plowman and Sumner ;)
Up the Baggers!
Sorry, i'll re-phrase what i said about watching us lose. What i meant was the previous years i would turn the game off late 3rd/early 4th quarter as it would enrage me so much that the wife would leave the room.
I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel and i was beginning to hate footy.
Its a much different story thus far in 2016.
I'm actually watching all the way to the end without the neighbors thinking WW111 has erupted in our house.
So in saying that i'm happy to watch us lose is only that i can see light at the end of the long dark tunnel and i can actually take positives out of what im watching rather than throwing verbal abuse and beanies at the big screen and turning it off.
Hope that explanation clears anything up about losing >:D
Here's hoping for some more "green shoots" tonight, namely Plowman and Sumner ;)
Up the Baggers!
You didnt have to explain BA, we knew where you were coming from buddy and agree 200% ;)
Go Blues.
At long last there is some legitimate pressure on a few senior blokes this evening... including, Phillips, Casboult & Rowe. In fact Phillips is bloody lucky to be playing tonight ahead of Jones.
Unless Phillips has a blinder tonight we'd have to replace him with Jones and have Levi playing 2nd ruck.
If any of the small forwards don't put in tonight then Den Den would have to be considered.
Jones and Jaksch are already ahead of Everitt.
Unless Phillips has a blinder tonight we'd have to replace him with Jones and have Levi playing 2nd ruck.
Is that you Jimbo?? ;D
Is that you Jimbo?? ;D
Hahaha!
Not this time..lol.
Is that you Jimbo?? ;D
Who the flock is Jimbo? Oh, and... no!
Who the flock is Jimbo? Oh, and... no!
I prefer to use the "great minds" theory...lol.
At long last there is some legitimate pressure on a few senior blokes this evening... including, Phillips, Casboult & Rowe. In fact Phillips is bloody lucky to be playing tonight ahead of Jones.
Unless Phillips has a blinder tonight we'd have to replace him with Jones and have Levi playing 2nd ruck.
If any of the small forwards don't put in tonight then Den Den would have to be considered.
Jones and Jaksch are already ahead of Everitt.
I suspect Phillips is playing at the moment because of a lack of confidence in Kreuzer's fitness. But I agree, he must be under significant pressure to hold a spot at the moment which is a good thing.
Andrejs Everitt is an interesting one, because he has all the ability but I suspect he is going to fall short in meeting Bolton's demand for unity and effort.
I suspect Phillips is playing at the moment because of a lack of confidence in Kreuzer's fitness.
Interesting given that he's had a full preseason and was one of the standout performer when the witches hats are out.
Its all about contested possies...Dogs are 3rd best at it and we are the 2nd worst team..so we need blokes who are prepared to put their head over the footy and commit to the contest when the ball is in dispute.....
Got a few taggers have the Dogs..Libba jr Picken, and even little Caleb Daniel had Sam Mitchell to run with last week so I reckon it will be a tagfest and we wont have any loose mids running on their own...going to be a hard slog and the Dogs will be playing on at every opportunity trying to run us into the ground..