With game 1 done and dusted and a LOT of discussion still proceeding from our last contest, I have already started looking forward to our next game: Carlton vs. the Drug Cheats. This game is set for Sunday 28th Feb (the day after my Birthday! :) ) at 1405 at Carlton!
I am really looking forward to seeing more of our new chums in action: Weitering missed because of a minor ankle ailment, so he should be available, as should Walker. McKay and Cunningham must be in the mix as well.
It will be my first game at Princes Park since we played Brisbane there.
It should be a good day, particularly if more of our new blokes get a run.
I hope we go out full throttle and smash this mob ( but I hope our coaching staff have a more measured perspective on the outcomes we are hoping to achieve!!)
I hope we go out full throttle and smash this mob ( but I hope our coaching staff have a more measured perspective on the outcomes we are hoping to achieve!!)
The focus will no doubt be firmly on preparation of the guys for the real stuff. If we can win as well then all to the good but it won't be a case of "win at all costs".
The focus will no doubt be firmly on preparation of the guys for the real stuff. If we can win as well then all to the good but it won't be a case of "win at all costs".
True cookie.
Wouldn't surprise me if BB doesn't even look at the scoreboard .
The focus will no doubt be firmly on preparation of the guys for the real stuff. If we can win as well then all to the good but it won't be a case of "win at all costs".
It wouldn't surprise me if Trigg has a quiet word in Boltons ear that a win at Ikon Park vs the Bombers would do the membership dept a world of good. I'm not suggesting 'win at all costs' but we wouldn't want to lose either.
It wouldn't surprise me if Trigg has a quiet word in Boltons ear that a win at Ikon Park vs the Bombers would do the membership dept a world of good. I'm not suggesting 'win at all costs' but we wouldn't want to lose either.
Trigg may just do that Amers, and I would understand completely if he did. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that Bolton wouldn't really give a fat rat's clacker for anything that deviated from his plans.
Of course, I'm hoping that his plans include pounding the Bombers into the Princes Park turf :)
If the long range forecast is correct I doubt they will flog any players, could be in the 30s Sunday afternoon.
There is obviously a god and a nice one at that, having us playing the drug cheats so early and at Princes Park. Pity I'll be away chasing marlin. Have a happy birthday Crash.
Trigg may just do that Amers, and I would understand completely if he did. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that Bolton wouldn't really give a fat rat's clacker for anything that deviated from his plans.
Of course, I'm hoping that his plans include pounding the Bombers into the Princes Park turf :)
Or Bolton might just be a smart enough bloke to be able to compromise and put up a good enough side to win comfortably and still not deviate too far from the bigger picture re his preparations for season proper!
Or Bolton might just be a smart enough bloke to be able to compromise and put up a good enough side to win comfortably and still not deviate too far from the bigger picture re his preparations for season proper!
I guess that pounding the Bummers into the turf could be an integral part of BB's plans for the players' preparation? ;)
I get the feeling it will be the same as the Dawks game, except roles reversed. They will come out swinging and going hard to please whereas we will have a more measured approach to the game.
Understanding the lack of rotations and the need to see the game out and also the boys would understand BB's game plan better 2nd time around wil see us run over the top of them.
I'm with you cookie, we need to step it up
taking advantage of a weakened team is another character trait that top team have and we need to find
The filthy scum will take more rotations than Hawks did in hope they can over run us. Will be like winning a flag for them if they beat us at princes park. God I hope not especially at pp.
Loosing to the scum at any time is simply unacceptable.
Loosing to the scum at any time is simply unacceptable.
I really want us to show Essendon that 'crime doesn't pay'. Losing to the Drug Cheats is not an option.
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-22/first-female-ump-to-take-charge (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-22/first-female-ump-to-take-charge)
Good luck to her!
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-22/first-female-ump-to-take-charge (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-22/first-female-ump-to-take-charge)
Good luck to her!
I cannot wait until some meat-head AFL player tries to stand-over her in an intimidating fashion, I placing a bet on it being Goddard! ;) (PS, or maybe Hurley!)
Who cares if Essendon beat us in a glorified scratch match... anyone who uses an excuse "well we beat you in the NAB challenge" isnt worth your time.
We need to get right the processes to beat them twice this year. That's it.
I reckon it will be interesting when she has to pay a free against Dusty....
;D
I reckon it will be interesting when she has to pay a free against Dusty....
;D
Perhaps she needs a sponsorship from Bolle Safety Eyewear;
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/4/0/0/1/9/5/webimg/528062117_o.jpg)
OMG she is an absolute Greek mounara as well!
(http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Carlton/Images/GlouftisArticleFeb21_620X370.jpg)
Is her path typical? How is it that it takes 8 years to get to umpire AFL level in a preseason match (ie. She still hasn't been offered a full time gig in the real deal)? That's absurd.
OMG she is an absolute Greek mounara as well!
(http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Carlton/Images/GlouftisArticleFeb21_620X370.jpg)
Didnt want to say it....
Carrots didnt take long either.
Not sure what Mrs Carrots with the 15 kids at home is thinking!!!
I Carrots might have struggled in the EFC infra club game; he'd be trying to pay frees against both sides.
Not sure what Mrs Carrots with the 15 kids at home is thinking!!!
Mrs Carrots has got her covered....
Mrs Carrots has got her covered....
I think so,
(http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2012/10/02/1226486/868631-yvette-and-andrew-carrazzo.jpg)
Mrs Carrots has got her covered....
Hmm, not sure how good Mrs Carrots would look in an umpire's uniform with no make up on though. ;)
OMG she is an absolute Greek mounara as well!
(http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Carlton/Images/GlouftisArticleFeb21_620X370.jpg)
Tell me about it lol
Anyway, it will be great to be back playing at our true Home against a big Melbourne team for the first time in ages.
I really hope the fans come out in droves and really give it to the Drug Cheats from start to finish. I want to crush any hope they may have of a good season, and their half fit top ups to realize they ve made a big mistake coming back from the 'easy life' to play for that at shameful Club.
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-23/gallery-training-preessendon (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-23/gallery-training-preessendon)
Levi looking ripped.
Clem looking in great nick too (last shot).
Hmm, not sure how good Mrs Carrots would look in an umpire's uniform with no make up on though. ;)
Greek girls go out without make up?
Must be a Melb thing.
Greek girls go out without make up?
Must be a Melb thing.
Maybe Cimm, but some girls, not necessarily Greeks, may actually overdo it a bit? There was one recently called Kunek I think it was. ;D
Maybe Cimm, but some girls, not necessarily Greeks, may actually overdo it a bit? There was one recently called Kunek I think it was. ;D
..not all stupid sportspeople are on TFS. ;D
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-23/gallery-training-preessendon (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-23/gallery-training-preessendon)
Clem looking in great nick too (last shot).
I thought the same thing. Looks super fit does young Clem.
Greek girls go out without make up?
Must be a Melb thing.
Hehe you should go to Greece. They cover themselves just to go to the supermarket! ;D
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/carlton/news/2016-02-25/draftees-named-in-nab-2-squad (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/carlton/news/2016-02-25/draftees-named-in-nab-2-squad)
All the new lads. Korchek named......Jesse Glass-..... too
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/carlton/news/2016-02-25/draftees-named-in-nab-2-squad (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/carlton/news/2016-02-25/draftees-named-in-nab-2-squad)
All the new lads. Korchek named......Jesse Glass-..... too
Good to see, I am planning to go along so it will be a good opportunity to check them out.
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-23/gallery-training-preessendon (http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-23/gallery-training-preessendon)
Levi looking ripped.
Clem looking in great nick too (last shot).
Clem... Lost all puppy Fat.
Haven't had a run yet list:
Andrew Walker
Patrick Cripps
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
Kristian Jaksch
Liam Sumner
Lachie Plowman
Jayden Foster
Dennis Armfield
No Cripps? Have they written off Foster?
Carlton v Essendon, Sunday, February 28, 2.05pm AEDT at Ikon Park
CARLTON
2. Jack Silvagni, 4. Bryce Gibbs, 7. Dylan Buckley, 10. Harry McKay, 12. Blaine Boekhorst, 13. Jed Lamb, 14. Liam Jones, 15. Sam Docherty, 17. Sam Rowe, 22. Jason Tutt, 23. Jacob Weitering, 24. Mark Whiley, 25. Clem Smith, 28. David Cuningham, 30. Charlie Curnow, 31. Matthew Dick, 32. Nick Graham, 33. Andrejs Everitt, 34. Andrew Phillips, 35. Ed Curnow, 37. Daniel Gorringe, 38. Ciaran Byrne, 40. Michael Jamison, 41. Levi Casboult, 42. Zach Tuohy, 45. Andrew Gallucci, 46. Matthew Wright, 47. Jesse Glass-McCasker, 48. Matt Korcheck
Notable absentees: Marc Murphy, Matthew Kreuzer, Patrick Cripps, Andrew Walker
ESSENDON
3. Darcy Parish, 6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 14. Jason Ashby, 15. Courtenay Dempsey, 17. Adam Cooney, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 24. Craig Bird, 28. Mitch Brown, 30. Kyle Langford, 33. Jayden Laverde, 34. Jake Long, 36. Michael Hartley, 38. Nick Kommer, 41. Will Hams, 42. James Gwilt, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 51. Ryan Crowley, 52. Jonathan Simpkin, 54. Sam Grimley, 56. Sam Michael
Notable absentees: Mathew Stokes, James Kelly, Matthew Leuenberger, Travis Colyer
Haven't had a run yet list:
Andrew Walker
Patrick Cripps
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
Kristian Jaksch
Liam Sumner
Lachie Plowman
Jayden Foster
Dennis Armfield
No Cripps? Have they written off Foster?
Virtually all of that list has had an interrupted pre-season but are now reported as being fit or close to fit. Who knows? :o
Add Gibbs and Kerridge to the list of notable outs Flyboy.
What this tells me is that we do not care if we win or not, it is being treated purely as a practice match. Bolton must have a big brass set, how many first year coaches would be more worried about development than getting their first win on the board?
Concerned about no Cripps and Walker, I don't know what this means for Jaksch, V-Rainbow or Foster if they are not injured.
I would like to see Weitering go straight to Daniher and give him a bath.
Add Gibbs and Kerridge to the list of notable outs Flyboy.
What this tells me is that we do not care if we win or not, it is being treated purely as a practice match. Bolton must have a big brass set, how many first year coaches would be more worried about development than getting their first win on the board?
Concerned about no Cripps and Walker, I don't know what this means for Jaksch, V-Rainbow or Foster if they are not injured.
I would like to see Weitering go straight to Daniher and give him a bath.
Don't be surprised if you see McKay get a run on Daniher either, EFC might have Daniher and Grimley on the park at the same time and have named McKernan and Michael.
Is it wrong to want Korcheck to line up Goddard and go straight through him?
Young Jack is in!!
Is it wrong to want Korcheck to line up Goddard and go straight through him?
Why no it isn't Raydan, not at all! :o
Some may say it would even be specifically worth recruiting a bloke to do so! :D
But alas, this is the 2010s and no longer the 80s.
Is it wrong to want Korcheck to line up Goddard and go straight through him?
Only if you think Korcheck might not have the ironing skills to do the job properly. >:D
Only if you think Korcheck might not have the ironing skills to do the job properly. >:D
He played power forward in a good college program, you don't survive there without using your body. If anything I'd pick him to have the iron out skills above a Weitering/McKay as that is trained out of potential AFL players.
He played power forward in a good college program, you don't survive there without using your body. If anything I'd pick him to have the iron out skills above a Weitering/McKay as that is trained out of potential AFL players.
I'm sure he can block.
Given he played so few minutes in his last year at college he'll likely be jumping out of his skin at the prospect of 20-40 minutes of game time.
Hope he doesn't get from the final starting line-up.
Cripps has a knee injury.
Low grade bone bruising due to collision at training.
Unlikely to play any NAB games. Should be ok for round 1.
Might be a bit early to expose Jack S. Given his age and shoulder.
The kid wants to play, if he's up for it let's throw him in for his first game against the Scum.
Haven't had a run yet list:
Andrew Walker
Patrick Cripps
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
Kristian Jaksch
Liam Sumner
Lachie Plowman
Jayden Foster
Dennis Armfield
No Cripps? Have they written off Foster?
Gussy Sheehan should be on this list too, he's not on the injured list either, so not sure what his story is...
Clem looking in great nick too (last shot).
I'm looking forward to watching Clem move through the grades, I like the look of him and I reckon if he gets his head down we'll have a beauty.
Gussy Sheehan should be on this list too, he's not on the injured list either, so not sure what his story is...
Was in a moon boot for about a month over Xmas and on light training since.
A silvagni running out for first game in navy blue at princes park , against those filthy black and red fu.kers , nostalgia plus
no injuries thats all i want to see
Was in a moon boot for about a month over Xmas and on light training since.
Cheers Cimm, I do remember hearing that now, I'm really hoping he can have a big year !!
Who is going tomorrow?
I'm catching up with my best mate who I've known since primary school. We spent countless Saturday arvos standing in the outer sinking tinnies and queuing to get to the urinals. We're a little more refined these days :)
Who is going tomorrow?
I'm catching up with my best mate who I've known since primary school. We spent countless Saturday arvos standing in the outer sinking tinnies and queuing to get to the urinals. We're a little more refined these days :)
You didn't piss in the empties? :o
Must admit, my last game at Mecca was in the silver service area having lunch on a table next to the Silvagnis, but no happy ending that day! :(
My strongest memory of Princes Park was watching from the wing as a teenager as we were being done over by the umpires when EFC stitched up Fitzy for alleged time wasting. Was such a free kick ever paid against the ball carrier before that day or on any day since? He held the ball for just 10 seconds from when the mark was paid, no wonder I hate those red and black haemorrhoids!
Who is going tomorrow?
I'm catching up with my best mate who I've known since primary school. We spent countless Saturday arvos standing in the outer sinking tinnies and queuing to get to the urinals. We're a little more refined these days :)
Im going to the Spirit of Carlton Lunch, my mate has organised a couple of tables for a group of mates. Should be a nice day.
Standing on tinnies to keep clear of the yellow river...
You didn't piss in the empties? :o
Must admit, my last game at Mecca was in the silver service area having lunch on a table next to the Silvagnis, but no happy ending that day! :(
My strongest memory of Princes Park was watching from the wing as a teenager as we were being done over by the umpires when EFC stitched up Fitzy for alleged time wasting. Was such a free kick ever paid against the ball carrier before that day or on any day since? He held the ball for just 10 seconds from when the mark was paid, no wonder I hate those red and black haemorrhoids!
Ever go to the night footy at the Lake Oval LP? That was well before I was old enough to enjoy a frothy but the punters would take several longnecks and avoided the need to visit the loo by the clever use of a bicycle tube inside one trouser leg.
I have so many great memories from Princes Park but the one that springs to mind concerns a game against North and a North supporting friend of one of my mates came to the game with us. He was into Jezza from the first bounce, calling out that he was too old. Jezza played HBF and was directly in front of us for half the game. He gave his opponent a complete bath and was easily BoG. Our North supporting companion was very quiet from midway through the first quarter :)
Jezza's opponent was John Cassin and I believe that he had announced that he was going sort Jezza out.
Im going to the Spirit of Carlton Lunch, my mate has organised a couple of tables for a group of mates. Should be a nice day.
My mate is going to the Spirit of Carlton Lunch too, but I'm going to settle for a pie :)
I will be there with a friend of mine, not sure where we will be standing/sitting once in the ground - we'll be GA, entering via gate 6.
Blues by 38. in a canter....
Excited to see how the young guns fire. To those going to the game - looking forward to hear your thoughts on the state of play. Enjoy.
Go Blues.
Interesting to see how many Scum supporters turn up. On a hiding to nothing really, best if they stay away I think. (I wouldn't bother if the roles were totally reversed!)
Spewing I can't make it. Hopefully the replay is on fox later for if we win
I will be there with a friend of mine, not sure where we will be standing/sitting once in the ground - we'll be GA, entering via gate 6.
I'm taking the whole family, nervous about paying for a ticket if supposedly members get in free....
I'm taking the whole family, nervous about paying for a ticket if supposedly members get in free....
I'm assuming my membership will get me in Woody (GA).
I'm assuming my membership will get me in Woody (GA).
Yes it will. You will have to go in via gates 4 or 5.
Yep, heading out there this arvo... though with how easily the Tiggers dispatched the Dawks after we could only manage 4 goals against them my optimism for this season has taken a serious hit. Damn near evaporated!
Great to be back home. Mrs Baggers and I have just arrived back home in Melbourne from our 14 months in NZ... and let's get our priorities right, it off to PP to see the Mighty BlueBaggers, then address the task of settling back in!
Go Blues.
Yep, heading out there this arvo... though with how easily the Tiggers dispatched the Dawks after we could only manage 4 goals against them my optimism for this season has taken a serious hit. Damn near evaporated!
Great to be back home. Mrs Baggers and I have just arrived back home in Melbourne from our 14 months in NZ... and let's get our priorities right, it off to PP to see the Mighty BlueBaggers, then address the task of settling back in!
Go Blues.
Good onya Baggers, nice to have you back, might see you out there this arvo looking for "those little sprouts" ;)
Ever go to the night footy at the Lake Oval LP? That was well before I was old enough to enjoy a frothy but the punters would take several longnecks and avoided the need to visit the loo by the clever use of a bicycle tube inside one trouser leg.
I have so many great memories from Princes Park but the one that springs to mind concerns a game against North and a North supporting friend of one of my mates came to the game with us. He was into Jezza from the first bounce, calling out that he was too old. Jezza played HBF and was directly in front of us for half the game. He gave his opponent a complete bath and was easily BoG. Our North supporting companion was very quiet from midway through the first quarter :)
Jezza's opponent was John Cassin and I believe that he had announced that he was going sort Jezza out.
Too funny, John Cassin was about 3 foot tall.... ;D
Was going to head out but it's miracle Mile Day at Menangle, will just stay home and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Mate. Perfect day. Kids getting indoctrinated, sun is out, food and drink being consumed. 30 mins from kick off. $15 for two members, 1 extra adult and two kids concessions. Magic. Can't wait for the action.
Geez, it's good to be back. Headed towards where I used to sit and they have the essendon cheer squad sitting there >:D
Now on the wing, standing barely 15m from the fenxe can smell the grass, with a tin can and a freshly BBQed sausage.
Hard not to be full of nostalgia
Are new members (or old ones) signing up left, right and centre?!!
hope the membership stands are op[en post match after we belt these low life.....
Whiley looks to have added a bunch of mass. Actually all our players look much bigger... Maybe it's the smaller ground :P
EDIT: Gorringe looks a monster...
1 goal for the quarter... It's gonna be along year.. :-[
1 goal for the quarter... It's gonna be along year.. :-[
Our forwards are playing in the second half :D
Foot skills once again deplorable, Tuohy our only player who looks remotely capable of hitting a target.
Weitering looks very good.
Very young side in , just looking to get the feel of the game, a few goods from each would be great to see. Will be a big roar when SOSOS comes on
Why do our talls struggle to mark the ball?
Ever since you posted that Mondy we haven't taken a mark ;)
Nice play by Byrne , took the game on
This is a pretty lack lustre performance.
When Jones's effort at the contests is one of the highlights we're struggling.
On a positive note we've got ourselves a key defender for the next dozen years :D
I wonder if he has a brother need a forward please .... We have ZERO showing today
The problems today are not forward related, we are being smashed around the ball!
And I do mean a brother for Weitering not Jones
Im screwin' sick of this club. What a screwin' joke!
Think we will see wholesale changes this half, can see McKay SOSOS on off Jones , change in the forward players
I know we are missing a lot of starters.... but 1 goal in a half of footy.... ?
>:( :-[
Murphy, Gibbs, Walker, Cripps, Kreuzer would make a big difference but Essendon is missing many more and making us look like a disorganised rabble.
Their entire back half is missing and we haven't taken a single mark inside 50.
It's going to be a very long season fellas.
The problems today are not forward related, we are being smashed around the ball!
Yep
But our mid-field is on the sidelines today...they'll be back.
They're not an issue long term.
The lack of effective forwards will be what will bring us undone during the season.
Hopefully the second half will see an improvement in that area with McKay and Jack having a run....but if the midfield problem persists they might not see a lot of it.
Murphy, Gibbs, Walker, Cripps, Kreuzer would make a big difference but Essendon is missing many more and making us look like a disorganised rabble.
Their entire back half is missing and we haven't taken a single mark inside 50.
It's going to be a very long season fellas.
As I have said many times, our primary problems are not the forwards, not the ruckmen, not the 200cm types, it has never been the 200cm types not when it was Hammer, SpecialK, Casboult, Rowe and others who were inside F50. Our main problem has been, and will continue to be, use of the ball which remains abhorrent compared to other AFL teams. Not just from a kicking accuracy perspective but from a decision making perspective as well.
We have been, we still appear to be, and are likely to remain in the near future, the worst users of the ball in the competition. Our very best stand out in our team, but our best are very average when compared to other clubs.
Spot on Lods we know we have a respectable mid field on the side lines today, but we don't have any of our "forward line" on the sidelines , there really isn't anyone who would command a place there. So let's hope McKay & maybe SOSOS gives us some support options , so far this year in a game & half we have 6 goals and in any NAB cup game for any side that is very poor
Baby SOS starting (or did he head to the bench? LOL - nope just spotted him)
As I have said many times, our primary problems are not the forwards, not the ruckmen, not the 200cm types, it has never been the 200cm types not when it was Hammer, SpecialK, Casboult, Rowe and others who were inside F50. Our main problem has been, and will continue to be, use of the ball which remains abhorrent compared to other ALF teams. Not just from a kicking accuracy perspective but from a decision making perspective as well.
We have been, we still appear to be, and are likely to remain in the near future, the worst users of the ball in the competition. Our very best stand out in our team, but our best are very average when compared to other clubs.
LP, if we are talking Rowe, Casboult, Hammer and Kreuzer as key forwards, and you may as well throw Jones into that mix, then forwards are definitely our problem, or at least one of our problems.
I agree that our ball use is terrible, but Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps and Walker will at least improve it somewhat.
When we play Essendon in the H&A we will have our midfield but they won't, which should be enough to get a win, but I can't see us beating anyone else.
SOSOS at FF - trying to pump up his teammates
Great marketing from the club to get everyone back to PP then they put out a C grade team.
Absolutely stunned , have never seen that before , we get a 50 m free , and then no forward to kick to so we kick it back wards???? Then sit on it down back and then turn it over??? Shows lack of confidence to me going forward for sure
Great marketing from the club to get everyone back to PP then they put out a C grade team.
Good point Mad , missed the opportunity there I think, but I guess they have the play for the game doesn't matter where it would have been played.
Goooooooaaaaallll
hard to get excited after this...
ohhhh the grass looks nice though
Weitering looks like he's ready to go rd 1.
Nice mark & goal to Swan McKay , nice start
Weitering looks like he's ready to go rd 1.
Really does look good doesn't he? Good to see
I like McKay ;D
Jack doesn't mind a 'fight' either :)
Finally, a mark inside 50 by a tall forward, an 18 year old kid in his first game after a lovely kick to him by Clem Smith.
Just a faint glimmer of light.
Tough to see when guys like Daniher kick some great goals from the boundary and we are struggling to even create chances , but certainly some life out there for us, but we are a long way from having some depth that will make a difference unfortunately
Just wondering....I thought I saw Casboult out there at one stage ???
Gotta love 'The Looch' giving it to Floggy Floggard. First time I've seen it from us in a while. I reckon he'd drop Floggy like a sack of spuds as well.
I did hear it right, didn't I, there was going to be a game plan today?????
We were missing too many key players. Kreuzer, Murphy, Cripps and Gibbs are our starting midfield.
We were disgusting
As I have said many times, our primary problems are not the forwards, not the ruckmen, not the 200cm types, it has never been the 200cm types not when it was Hammer, SpecialK, Casboult, Rowe and others who were inside F50. Our main problem has been, and will continue to be, use of the ball which remains abhorrent compared to other ALF teams. Not just from a kicking accuracy perspective but from a decision making perspective as well.
We have been, we still appear to be, and are likely to remain in the near future, the worst users of the ball in the competition. Our very best stand out in our team, but our best are very average when compared to other clubs.
Well said LP, I wonder if anyone of the club will read it though? ::)
We were missing too many key players. Kreuzer, Murphy, Cripps and Gibbs are our starting midfield.
They were missing half a team...we got beat by mainly VFL players and kids......we were soft, weak and let players like Goddard bully us, no leadership..
Thankfully...Weitering, Mckay, SOSOS and C. Curnow stood up at times and we have some hope for the future....
Its the softness that worries me....no mongrel in the team at all.....
Bolton: "We've got a lot of work to do, we know that, but we're making decisions for Round 1."
Bolton: "We'll use the whole NAB Challenge to improve our ball use. It's a long season... You've got to be aware of their training loads."
They were missing half a team...we got beat by mainly VFL players and kids......we were soft, weak and let players like Goddard bully us, no leadership..
Thankfully...Weitering, Mckay, SOSOS and C. Curnow stood up at times and we have some hope for the future....
Its the softness that worries me....no mongrel in the team at all.....
They replaced the guys who are out for drugs with experienced players. They don't count as outs.
Still playing against the umpires, sooo many frees going to the oppo in tiggy touchwood situations, utter bull.
Can someone point out the last game when we had the rub of the green from the umps? :o
Some of the 50's WTF. The ump is supposed to tell the player on the mark where the mark is. There is no line out there it is a arbitrary position on the ground subject to someones (ump) interpretation.
So when someone runs then stops a foot over such said arbitrary line then get pinged for 50 WTF? The ump is supposed to tell them where that line is.
Fair enough if they keep running past the mark but when they stop near enough... come on.
The Dawks are the biggest creepers over the mark and how many 50's do they get paid against? :o
They were missing half a team...we got beat by mainly VFL players and kids......we were soft, weak and let players like Goddard bully us, no leadership..
Thankfully...Weitering, Mckay, SOSOS and C. Curnow stood up at times and we have some hope for the future....
Its the softness that worries me....no mongrel in the team at all.....
Galucci and Clem should a bit, I like Clem he was protecting his team mates around the ball and gave it to Crowley at one stage.
And the Laoochy was giving Floggard what for it was great. They just need back up. :(
They replaced the guys who are out for drugs with experienced players. They don't count as outs.
Ok we got belted by Top Ups, VFL players and kids.......does that make it more respectable??.....think they chose well with their top ups...Mitch Brown for example would have been handy for us and I thought Hartley for a VFL player was very decent..
Essendon know if they play hard, we fold up like a Bangladesh Hi Rise in a strong wind....they have a mental edge over us thats worth a few goals....
We were missing too many key players. Kreuzer, Murphy, Cripps and Gibbs are our starting midfield.
Add Walker, Thomas, White, Wright ,Kerridge and Jacksh... That's 10 certain starters IMO when fit that were missing...
I still cant see where our goals are gonna come from..... I don't see us kicking ( a winning score ) 12-15 goals any time soon.
Galucci and Clem should a bit, I like Clem he was protecting his team mates around the ball and gave it to Crowley at one stage.
And the Laoochy was giving Floggard what for it was great. They just need back up. :(
That sums it up..smallest rookie having to show the way...We need our bigger players giving bumps, throwing their weight around...you have players like Nancy Everitt, and Twinkle Toes Tutt who wont put the body in when required or in Tutts case just give the ball away in panic rather than take a hit for the team...
It's both encouraging and disappointing to see the young kids leading the way in the aggressive category.
I have been saying since counter punching off intercept marks became popular that bad ball use hurts us more than any game plan. The inability to hit targets kills us.
It's both encouraging and disappointing to see the young kids leading the way in the aggressive category.
I have been saying since counter punching off intercept marks became popular that bad ball use hurts us more than any game plan. The inability to hit targets kills us.
Graham, Tutt and Whiley butchered the ball and even though Jones is a spud its hard to be critical of your forwards when the only game plan we have is the long bomb.....how many marks, possies did the like of Mitch Brown get from poor delivery....it was like Cale Hooker was playing under the name Brown...
That sums it up..smallest rookie having to show the way...We need our bigger players giving bumps, throwing their weight around...you have players like Nancy Everitt, and Twinkle Toes Tutt who wont put the body in when required or in Tutts case just give the ball away in panic rather than take a hit for the team...
Tutt is a woeful footballer. I don't care that he gets 25 possies - not that he did today - but he zero idea what to do with the pill once he gets it.
Ciaran Byrne looks very good.
You've got to like the way Tutt goes at the ball and the contest but he's sadly lacking in ability.
Tutt is a woeful footballer. I don't care that he gets 25 possies - not that he did today - but he zero idea what to do with the pill once he gets it.
And butchers it more often than not, like Jones and a few others he's just not AFL standard and never will be.
Everitt had a poor game but he goes OK on his better days.
Rowe also had a Sav Rocca, and the less said about Casboult the better.
Adding the Murphy , Gibbs list etc , will obviously help our mid field and give us more structure, it will help with defence with there experience , but they were with us last year.BUT they don't kick the goals we desperately need. They are not the finishers , and we still don't have the forward line to feed , Casboult is our key forward , and we saw today if he is missing we don't have many " Go To " options
Just got home - ouch! A very painful afternoon at PP unfortunately.
And it's back to the future with fumbling and footling and the long bomb into the F50 for a turnover. :(
Green sprouts were hard to come by so here's a few
(http://www.fruitsvege.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Brussels-sprouts-vegetable-system1.jpg)
Weitering looked OK.
Well that was absolutely pathetic today, 18,600 turned out to watch that crap....if I paid $20 to watch that crape, I'd be furious, I took my kids, who are members again, so didn't cost us anything, but they said "Dad, nothing's changed, we are bored, can we go home please!" And I agreed, so we left at half time.....
That was a Golden Opportunity completely blown by the club....51K BY ROUND 1...."TELL HIM HE'S DREAMING"...little sprouts....pfft!
And another thing.
What's with opposition players standing next to the player on the mark and blocking him on one side to give the player with the ball a clear run?
I noticed it a bit last year but the coaches have all cottoned onto it now, it's unfair and if it's not against the rules it should be.
I'm not to worried about that...as mediocre as it was.
A large number of the players who played today will just represent our depth and development as the year progresses.
They'll be replaced by the core group that was missing today.
For around 75% of them they won't be getting regular full games at AFL level, rather they will just be given the odd game here and there.
How they go when given those opportunities as part of the "A- team" will be more important than what they showed today.
In some respects having players like Jack, Harry and young Curnow working and learning together at the lower levels will be beneficial once they progress to more permanent roles.
Weitering , on the other hand, has already completed his apprenticeship...that was a polished and composed performance.
The big issue is that we will go into Round 1 without a lot of forward power.
Where will the goals come from?
On balance it sounds like few were able to consistently hold their own, and that we lacked the depth and structure. At least that's my read of the game comments.
Can anyone elaborate on the performances of the first gamers?
Although we dream about our Blues winning, I got the sense from Bolts pre-game that we were showcasing our future (selling membership) to the home crowd. That being the case, I wasn't expecting too many 'wins', but sounds like there's lots of disappointed baggers :-\
Took my 16month old little fella to our heartland, just because he probably will never get to see Carlton vs Bombers at PP ever again.
Didn't get to see a whole lot of the match because of him, but am kinda half thankful for it. What i did see wasn't very impressive.
However, things to come out of today.
PP/OO/MC/VP/IP is a great venue to watch football from and has a terrific surface to play on.....but....
Don't exect to find a car park within 2km of the ground.
Don't expect to be able to buy a beer unless you are waiting for 10mins....and even then, don't be surprised if they 'sell out' halwayf through the 2nd quarter.
Don't expect to be able to buy any food unless you are waiting for 10mins...and even then, don't be surprised if they 'sell out' by halftime.
Don't expect to be able to....
In short, as long as you don't need need to park, eat, drink or take a leak.....its great. Oh yeah, and no baby changing facilities either.
I would love to play games there again, but i think we are looking at a complete rebuild to do so. Which is a shame.
Onto the football side of things....we had our 2nds in today with a large chunk of our 3rds as well! Got a good look at our kids, and i reckon Jack should get a game before most of them. Just looks like he can play.
Bit of a shout out to the lady who gave me one of the special edition posters for the little fella, because we got there too late to get one. Much appreciated, whoever you are.
All I could think about there today was this is what you get when the top 10 players at your club are made up of players from drafts 10 years ago and the last couple....
Took my 16month old little fella to our heartland, just because he probably will never get to see Carlton vs Bombers at PP ever again.
Didn't get to see a whole lot of the match because of him, but am kinda half thankful for it. What i did see wasn't very impressive.
However, things to come out of today.
PP/OO/MC/VP/IP is a great venue to watch football from and has a terrific surface to play on.....but....
Don't exect to find a car park within 2km of the ground.
Don't expect to be able to buy a beer unless you are waiting for 10mins....and even then, don't be surprised if they 'sell out' halwayf through the 2nd quarter.
Don't expect to be able to buy any food unless you are waiting for 10mins...and even then, don't be surprised if they 'sell out' by halftime.
Don't expect to be able to....
In short, as long as you don't need need to park, eat, drink or take a leak.....its great. Oh yeah, and no baby changing facilities either.
I would love to play games there again, but i think we are looking at a complete rebuild to do so. Which is a shame.
Onto the football side of things....we had our 2nds in today with a large chunk of our 3rds as well! Got a good look at our kids, and i reckon Jack should get a game before most of them. Just looks like he can play.
Bit of a shout out to the lady who gave me one of the special edition posters for the little fella, because we got there too late to get one. Much appreciated, whoever you are.
Nice work Kruddler :)
I'll have more to say when I get home. Typing on an iPhone while standing on a tram is not one of my strong points!
Ciaran Byrne looks very good.
You've got to like the way Tutt goes at the ball and the contest but he's sadly lacking in ability.
Sorry Tutt plays scared, as does Everitt and Gorringe. Phillips can't mark to save himself. Has Dick ever done anything useful? Jones runs hard at the man, and that's it. Smith meh!
If the club wants to break their membership total, then trotting out this team against a hated rival is plain stupidity.
It's the same crap players being paraded out and embarrassing the jumper yet again. Haven't we had 3 years of this? Why would a person wavering about buying a membership go get one now?
Sure I know it's pre season but we at home, parading out youngsters for the first time against a hated rival, surely you put a better team up than that. The is a fortnight to out next game, the fixture has been out for 4 months, surely you could have aimed for this game to be the one we win in pre season.
This is a major cross against Bolton and Trigg, a win could have been a real positive for supporters who have gone through a lot over the past 18 months. Bad form Carlton.
Jacob Weitering - Magnificent!!!!!!!!!
If the club wants to break their membership total, then trotting out this team against a hated rival is plain stupidity.
What's better for membership?
Playing kids and losing.
Playing your a-team and losing.
I think they made the right call, because i'm not sure our a-team would've made a difference.
Curnow is a beast. Will be very hard to stop if it all clicks.
What a disgusting effort.
Like you Ray I an freakin well over the continued exposure that is given to the likes of Tutt, Jones, D!ck et al.
Persist with kids and senior capable players not journeymen spuds.
What's better for membership?
Playing kids and losing.
Playing your a-team and losing.
I think they made the right call, because i'm not sure our a-team would've made a difference.
Your A team wouldn't have lost this game.
Walker, Murphy, Gibbs, Kruezer, Cripps, Kerridge, Wright. Even if Walker and Murphy are still too injured the other 5 would have made a huge difference around the ball. So would of playing Simpson and Casboult for a full game. We will be lucky to make 45K members now.
I think they made the right call, because i'm not sure our a-team would've made a difference.
WOW??? :o :o :o :o :o :( :( :( :(
Well if today was an attempt to promote membership then I'm afraid it looked like a monumental fail to me. Most of the people I spoke to at the ground and on the way home were "underwhelmed" to put it mildly, and resigned to more to come of the same old rubbish I'm afraid. I'll wait with my judgments until I've watched a game where we have closer to a full team out.
Yep, cheats FC has one up on us already - whenever a club is struggling and under the pump along comes hapless old Carlton who gift rivals morale boosters. Priceless opportunity missed to kick this mob and keep 'em down, now they have hope. Not happy.
Positives: Weitering, Curnow... the Charlie variety, McKay, SOSOS, Nick Graham, Tuohy, Byrne, Buckley. Got more game time into blokes and gave the kids a taste.
Senior blokes Rowe, Docherty, Simpson, Jamison were their usual selves.
Mmm, maybe: Smith, Phillips, Galluci - they showed something but have much to learn, depth players with potential at this stage.
Disappointing: Boekhorst, Whiley, Lamb, Everett, Casboult.
No idea: Cuningham, Dick.
I actually thought Everett was really disappointing.
Go away please: Jones, Gorringe.
I'm not to worried about that...as mediocre as it was.
A large number of the players who played today will just represent our depth and development as the year progresses.
They'll be replaced by the core group that was missing today.
For around 75% of them they won't be getting regular full games at AFL level, rather they will just be given the odd game here and there.
How they go when given those opportunities as part of the "A- team" will be more important than what they showed today.
In some respects having players like Jack, Harry and young Curnow working and learning together at the lower levels will be beneficial once they progress to more permanent roles.
Weitering , on the other hand, has already completed his apprenticeship...that was a polished and composed performance.
The big issue is that we will go into Round 1 without a lot of forward power.
Where will the goals come from?
Reckon the likes of Gibbs and Murphy will have to play forward for longer periods and both kick and create goals for others....
Harry McKay might also have to play more footy than expected and Jaksch be groomed to play forward rather than back.....
alot of these young guys are going to have to learn on the job, that means more senior games than they would otherwise get. Whilst this happens, it will be ugly at times...its the only way when you have no depth
I made the mistake of taking a 4 month old and her pram. So only saw about a quarter.
That was enough time to see Rowe bork up about 4 times. Should have taken Collins in the draft.
Your A team wouldn't have lost this game.
The same a-team that finished last in 2015 and now doesn't have Judd, Carrazzo, Yarran, Henderson and Menzel at their disposal?
I'd like to be half as confident as you, but i wouldn't be pencilling in a win in R6 (or whenever it is) when we play them again.
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/video/2016-02-28/carlton-kids-spark-some-passion
The emerging Unsociable Baby Blues ;)
Could this be a signifcant positive to come out of the game?
What a disgusting effort.
Like you Ray I an freakin well over the continued exposure that is given to the likes of Tutt, Jones, D!ck et al.
Persist with kids and senior capable players not journeymen spuds.
We hope Dick didn't get an exposure...haha!
The same a-team that finished last in 2015 and now doesn't have Judd, Carrazzo, Yarran, Henderson and Menzel at their disposal?
I'd like to be half as confident as you, but i wouldn't be pencilling in a win in R6 (or whenever it is) when we play them again.
I understand where you're coming from, but Yazz, Hendo and Menzel did nothing last year, Carrots was on his last legs, and Judd, well................................
Pre season form has little bearing on the season proper. If we must stick the boot in, at least wait until the H/A season.
The same a-team that finished last in 2015 and now doesn't have Judd, Carrazzo, Yarran, Henderson and Menzel at their disposal?
I'd like to be half as confident as you, but i wouldn't be pencilling in a win in R6 (or whenever it is) when we play them again.
You could almost argue that the reason we finished last was that we didn't have the majority of that group.... last year. ;D
I understand where you're coming from, but Yazz, Hendo and Menzel did nothing last year, Carrots was on his last legs, and Judd, well................................
Pre season form has little bearing on the season proper. If we must stick the boot in, at least wait until the H/A season.
I'm aware their performances were sub-par, but they were still part of our best team. I'm happy with the blokes we traded/drafted, but they are not going to overtake that group at this stage....as bad as they were.
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/video/2016-02-28/nab-2-postmatch-jacob-weitering
You could almost argue that the reason we finished last was that we didn't have the majority of that group.... last year. ;D
Are you working with 'them'? That's a clear lob that is not going to clear the player at the net. Easy setup for a smash finish. :P
As above, as basd as they were, they were still the best we had.
They've already shown more spirit than 3/5ths of them ;)
They've already shown more spirit than 3/5ths of them ;)
Agreed.
We showed spirit against the Hawks last week with our a-team in. Doesn't get you a win though.
http://www.carltonfc.com.au/video/2016-02-28/nab-2-postmatch-jacob-weitering
Future captain
Future captain
Of the Blues or the Hawks?
I was pretty pissed off at stages during todays game, but then I realised this...
It was by far the most inexperienced team Carlton has ever fielded. We had 6 players who havent played a senior game yet (7 if you don't count Byrnes 1 qtr against the Scum last year), Prob add another 5-6 with no more than 10 games exp as well. Appart from a shocking 2nd qtr, we held up alright considering..
Add Gibbs, Kruezer, Kerridge Murphy, Cripps, Walker White Thomas Wright and it d be a totally different story.
But all you ll hear from the Scum loving media is good news stories about how great the Bombers were, barely mentioning we were fielding virtually a Nthrn Blues side against them.
Agreed.
We showed spirit against the Hawks last week with our a-team in. Doesn't get you a win though.
I don't think we played our A team last week...maybe the third game we'll see it.
Went along today, went to the Spirit of Carlton lunch. What a great day, I was in Blue heaven with many past players present. Eventually made it out to the Pratt stand and watched the first quarter. Ended up back into the George Harris room and sunk beer with Geoff Southby, Jimmy Buckley, Alex Marcou, Terry Daniher etc etc. Couldnt tell you what happened on the field but had a magnificent none the less. My highlights and snippets from today are as follows:
1. We didn't get a cent from the gate today, the Prez was less than impressed. AFL apparently control the NAB games no matter where they are held.
2. Jimmy Buckley and Dominator got zero from the testimonials (lol).
3. Cripps is a monster, came in during lunch and did an interview with the MC Rob Gaylard. What a specimen.
4. Terry Daniher is a legend of a bloke. Gave a great interview also and got to have a beer with hem afterwards.
5. Spoke drank at length with Alex Marcou, I suggested the old blokes need to associate more with the new young players and explain to them what it meant to play for the Blues back in the day. He agreed and will discuss at the next meeting. Ripping fella is Alex.
6. Players came in after the game, we had heaps of senior players out so meh!
7. I wish we could play even 1 game a year at PP.
8. When we went back into the Harris Room at qtr time, they said we could get any beer and had to queue up outside. Before you knew it, Collo wielded his influence and the beer was flowing like there was no tomorrow.
9. The Carlton of old off field was back in town today, on field was not so good (apparently).
As I have said many times, our primary problems are not the forwards, not the ruckmen, not the 200cm types, it has never been the 200cm types not when it was Hammer, SpecialK, Casboult, Rowe and others who were inside F50. Our main problem has been, and will continue to be, use of the ball which remains abhorrent compared to other ALF teams. Not just from a kicking accuracy perspective but from a decision making perspective as well.
We have been, we still appear to be, and are likely to remain in the near future, the worst users of the ball in the competition. Our very best stand out in our team, but our best are very average when compared to other clubs.
In many way that statement from LP is the crux of the matter. We turn the ball over. A lot! 9 Essendon goals were direct results of turnovers today. We lost by 10 goals with an U18 team on the field. We do not hit targets enough and we select poorly when it comes to targets.
If there is one region I would like to see us improve in this season more than any other it is this: our disposal. When we make turnovers and get 9 goals from them, we will beat a LOT OF SIDES that thin they are pretty good.
Agreed.
We showed spirit against the Hawks last week with our a-team in. Doesn't get you a win though.
This we can all agree on - the young ones will be hot and cold, which is to be expected.
All those carrying on like the cheats have done so well with their top up players - look back to when pagan recruited Digby morrell, Mick Martyn and all those recycled players. I remember it Cleary -watching them play exciting, very competitive 'pre season footy' only to fall on our face and finish last in the season proper.
We all knew trading away established player like Henderson, yarran, Menzel and picking up 4 top 20 picks in the draft would take time to bare fruit.
It will come boys just be prepared for more short term pain until these kids have 30-50 games under there belt then look out.
Weitering made an impression I can't recall any 1st round player making - and yes i know it's just a pre season match. BUT His body is ready but better still is his head. he made decisions a seasoned player would make!
The cheats on the other hand can enjoy their laugh at us over today - we will laugh last I'm sure of it. Regardless how these old bums go this year, I reckon half of the 12 players out this year won't be there next year. What do they do then and how does that compare to where we will be.
Chin up boys - we are rebuilding and when your full starting midfield is not playing I certainly didn't expect much score wise today.
I was pretty pissed off at stages during todays game, but then I realised this...
It was by far the most inexperienced team Carlton has ever fielded. We had 6 players who havent played a senior game yet (7 if you don't count Byrnes 1 qtr against the Scum last year), Prob add another 5-6 with no more than 10 games exp as well. Appart from a shocking 2nd qtr, we held up alright considering..
Add Gibbs, Kreuzer, Kerridge Murphy, Cripps, Walker White Thomas Wright and it d be a totally different story.
But all you ll hear from the Scum loving media is good news stories about how great the Bombers were, barely mentioning we were fielding virtually a Nthrn Blues side against them.
Channel 7 has much to answer for. Their view of things has rarely been ours, even when we had a number of guys there. Now it is basically an Essendon fan club.
Be that as it may, I saw a lot today. And, apart from the obvious (Jacob Weitering), none of it was mentioned in the media.
Another certainty in life is that your typical Essendon supporter has learnt NOTHING from their sins, and is still blindly protective. Can't they recognize the difference between right and wrong? I am amazed at how blinkered they are.
When we Salary Cap violations came out, we removed what was necessary. We did it quickly and thoroughly. Yet we remain divided.
Essendon commit probably the greatest crime in world sport, something that may affect their players health life that f the East German athletes the 1970's and they care nothing. They bury their heads in the sand.
I do not understand them. I do wonder if they are of the same species.
I do not understand them. I do wonder if they are of the same species.
They are living proof that Zika has been in Australia for many years!
In many way that statement from LP is the crux of the matter. We turn the ball over. A lot! 9 Essendon goals were direct results of turnovers today. We lost by 10 goals with an U18 team on the field. We do not hit targets enough and we select poorly when it comes to targets.
If there is one region I would like to see us improve in this season more than any other it is this: our disposal. When we make turnovers and get 9 goals from them, we will beat a LOT OF SIDES that thin they are pretty good.
Poor footballers turn the ball over, poor cricketers get out cheap, poor tennis players make unforced errors.
You can't polish a turd, we just have too many sub-standard players, the wooden spoon was no accident.
I didn't know footy could be played as bad as we played it in the first half today. Second half microscopically better.
Positives? Weitering looked good. Silvagni, Curnow and McKay were good in flashes. Cunningham may want to forget that one.
I watched us warm up and literally 1 out of 4 kicks went where it was supposed to. I watched a suburban team in preseason on Friday night on the next oval from Milo Cricket and their skill level was far in advance of our guys.
You absolutely would not believe our guys were paid to practice every day.
I wish I could blame Jones but he only had one pos that didn't find the target all game. It also happened to be his only possession for the game.
Tutt is another bust.
I'm also writing off Whiley.
Clem had bit of a go but still doesn't look at all likely to make it. Not fast enough sure - but he's not good enough either.
Boek's disposal was appalling today but at least he got involved.
Jamo, Simo and Rowe were just crap today.
Obviously 90% of our team weren't playing but I think this was a misstep by Bolton. This performance would have hurt a lot of the younger guys confidence.
Byrne didn't set the world of fire but showed flashes.
I loath Everitt. LOATH everything about him.
Great afternoon at PP. Brought back good memories and fun to be able to go to the footy for the first time in two years. Well done to the club. Just a shame the team couldn't deliver.
Weitering was the bright spot in an otherwise ordinary performance. A lot of b grade players and little experience capable of guiding them. Our skills are still average and decision making suffers accordingly as confidence falls away.
Few of the likely round one players only put in half efforts. That's OK. Casboult is a bit of a worry though. He just doesn't impose himself for a fellow his size and role. Perhaps a lot of them had a tough week training.
Really disappointing that Carlton made little out of the match. The club put in an effort to have the game hosted and to hear we get no return is a kick in the guts.
It is only Feb though.
Future captain
Agree...its out of him and Cripps and I reckon JW might get the job very early in a Kernahan type move.....
Field something like this team and I'd like to think we would have been favorites.
Buckley Jammo Weitering
Touhy Rowe Docherty
Boekhurst Gibbs Simpson
Thomas C. Curnow Walker
Kerridge Casboult Everitt
Kruezer Cripps Murphy
Graham E Curnow Whiley Phillips
Players like Boekhurst, Whiley, Graham, Everitt will all play better when surrounded by better players and better decision makers. I'd rather be leading from the goal square seeing Murphy, Gibbs or Thomas running towards me with the ball, rather than Tutt, Dick or Jones!!
My take on today's game:
I do apologize if I go over material that has been done previously. However, I do have a fair bit to say.
[1] You can tell that there have been no senior games at Ikon Park for a long time. I doubt there has been a cent spent on ¾ of the ground since we were forced to move. And it looked like it. The seats were falling apart.
I find out there is some reason: we didn’t get a cent from today’s game. The AFL retain complete control.
I was amazed.
Unfortunately, it shows what we have become used to at Etihad and the MCG. It would take millions to make Ikon Park back into a true AFL venue; millions we do not have. As much as I love the place, I cannot see the ground being used more unless there is a LOT of money spent on it.
[2] The team we put out today was almost an U18 team. We had a handful of senior players. In the circumstances, we were not that bad. We have a huge way to go, but of the younger players our stood out in comparison.
[3] Football records: where were they? We had almost 20 000 people at the game today and maybe 1 in 5 had a record. This was not our responsibility, so why were there so few?
[4] The players:
I found it difficult to judge because I did not have a footy record and did not recognize all of our players, let alone any of theirs.
However, I did keep notes, and with the stats I have produced some comments:
Silvagni: This lad has a long way to go to get the pace of the game, but he appeared to have a good idea what he was doing. I was disappointed that he missed his shot at goal (but then, most of our guys did) and his kicking lacked the muscle that will improve it.
He may get a few games late I the year, perhaps, but this year will be mostly played in the VFL.
Don’t judge him yet: his body is seriously underdeveloped.
Simpson: If he ever needed a run, today was it. He was rustier than the ore found in the Pilbara. He had a very small contribution in the 1st half, but he will get better.
Buckley: Not bad, but he also really needed the run.
Harry McKay: A part of our Undiscovered Country – the future. He got his hands to the ball a fair bit and looked dangerous. He is still very young and very light, but it wouldn’t take a lot to turn his game into an impressive one. Unlike a number of his team mates, he also used the ball effectively.
I liked what I saw.
Boekhorst: Very disappointing. He did some really nice things and had a huge run at one point, but his kicking was excremental. He really needs to lift to be a part of our future on that effort.
Jed Lamb: Didn’t do much. His tackling was good, and his defensive efforts were good, but he just didn’t get the ball.
I noted that he spent most of his time in the midfield, but he is going to spend a lot of VFL time unless he starts being more proactive.
Jones: To quote the 3rd Indiana Jones film, “Wo ist Jones?” He appeared to try, but our players would not kick it to him even when he had great position. He had minimal effect.
Docherty: Very rusty, but did a good negative job. With the amount of ball their mids were getting, their small forwards should have had a picnic. They barely had a sniff. But Doc had only 6 possessions for his half of the game.
Rowe: My God! Rowe was brilliant in the air, both punching and marking and he generally beat his man hands down. But his kicking! He dropped 2 of the easiest marks I’ve ever seen and his kicking was deplorable. He seemed to want his kicks intercepted or out on the full.
Tutt: Tutt wasn’t bad – he was just Tutt. He appears to be working on his game still and he tries but his issues are well known. He will get senior games. That says a lot about the state of our list.
Weitering: Jacob Weitering will play in Round 1. He will hold his own. He looked like he belonged. He is not yet up to the pace of the game, but he took some very nice marks and did not lose a 1 on 1 contest. He did lose his man sometimes, which lead to a couple of Essendon goals, but he is going to frustrate opposition fans and thrill ours and soon.
Whiley: Whiley had a shocker. Tried to do too much too often and got caught. Not the contributor of last week.
However, he did do a fair bit of 3rd man up stuff and did it well. He also tackled very well. But he just didn’t get the ball enough.
Clem Smith: Not a senior player yet, but he looked better than last year. He almost took mark of the day, but couldn’t hold on. He looked stronger and fitter, but still gets lost and doesn’t get enough ball.
Cunningham: Will take time on today’s effort. Struggled to get a kick, even though he was in the action a fair bit.
Charlie Curnow: A different role this week, in the midfield and defence. Not bad. Looks like he’ll have a future.
Matthew Dick: Didn’t get much of a run and was OK.
Graham: Nick was one of our best, and our only mid to get the ball regularly. He’ll be much better with Cripps and Murphy around him, but he stood up in the midfield and looks to be on his way back from his injury. A good chance to see round 1.
Everitt: He spent time in defence and had a pretty quiet day.
Andrew Phillips: I don’t remember seeing Phillips before. There is something to work with there. He doesn’t have a lot of idea about a number of things, but he can seriously jump. He doesn’t direct his taps enough yet: he got his hand to the ball only to see Essendon get the centre break. He made a target and he isn’t that slow. He needs a good ruck coach and a LOT of game time.
Ed Curnow: Lots of defensive stuff, but relatively quiet. Loved his long bomb.
Daniel Gorringe: I was hoping to see him play forward a bit, but he did a fair bit of ruck work and wasn’t bad in that department. He is pretty lean, so the Essendon guys tried to ragdoll him, but that didn’t work.
Ciaran Byrne: Stay fit, please! He looked good. He moved well and made good decisions. His kicking was decent and he clearly thrashed his opponents in 1 on 1 contests. Round 1 if he is fit enough.
Jamo: Good while he was on.
Casboult: Took a couple of really strong marks, but wasn’t a big contributor.
Tuohy: Strong in defence and running up the ground. One of our best easily.
Andrew Gallucci: Some nice things, but depends on outsprinting guys too much. He needs to change direction and look for team mates more. Still, he showed he could get it and kick a goal.
They are living proof that Zika has been in Australia for many years!
Indeed. Never has been so much microcephaly on display.
Mind you, I was not over impressed by the umpiring. They got 3 to every one we managed and some of those 50 m penalties were mysteries to everyone involved.
I will contribute to this thread, but not tonight.
I had interesting chats with Dennis Armfield, Levi Casboult and Ed Curnow after the game and I want to pass on what they had to say but I'm just a little too tired and emotional ;)
I will contribute to this thread, but not tonight.
I had interesting chats with Dennis Armfield, Levi Casboult and Ed Curnow after the game and I want to pass on what they had to say but I'm just a little too tired and emotional ;)
Are we going to like what they had to say ?
Maybe you should edit your post to remove their names - "I chatted to 3 of our senior players after the game..........."
Indeed. Never has been so much microcephaly on display.
Mind you, I was not over impressed by the umpiring. They got 3 to every one we managed and some of those 50 m penalties were mysteries to everyone involved.
I'll forgive the umpiring given it was a practice game as the female umpire looked pretty damn good...lol!
Are we going to like what they had to say ?
Maybe you should edit your post to remove their names - "I chatted to 3 of our senior players after the game..........."
Honest appraisals of where they're at and where we're at . . . and there's a lot to like :)
Honest appraisals of where they're at and where we're at . . . and there's a lot to like :)
That's good. I'm looking forward to your summary.
I thought maybe they were talking to you in confidence, and off the record.
Poor footballers turn the ball over, poor cricketers get out cheap, poor tennis players make unforced errors.
You can't polish a turd, we just have too many sub-standard players, the wooden spoon was no accident.
Here here !!!
Here here !!!
Rubbish, it's all between the ears.....
Fixing that takes time.
I will contribute to this thread, but not tonight.
I had interesting chats with Dennis Armfield, Levi Casboult and Ed Curnow after the game and I want to pass on what they had to say but I'm just a little too tired and emotional ;)
TEASE!!!! :D
TEASE!!!! :D
I gather, given the grammar, there was more than one (collective) chat too!
Honest appraisals of where they're at and where we're at . . . and there's a lot to like :)
Can't wait...... Its been pretty gloomy on here today.
To date: the club put on a fabulous day out at IP, excelled like yesteryear off field, collected $0, signed up ? Members, saw something from the new draftees (including a bit of fight), and have more spuds than an Irish stew.
Bring it on DJC :D
All those players missing today....absolutely none of them will solve our forward line issues....and boy, are those issues massive.
Brilliant seeing the ground full, but geez, for a game so well publicised throughout the week, the place was woefully under-prepared with water, records, food items and worst of all - membership cards all running out of supplies well before half time. Not bloody good enough. The place is dilapidated and not a hope in hell of ever hosting a another H&A game.
Weitering is an absolute lock for round 1 and beyond.....and although not prominent today, I like what Charlie Curnow brings to the table. McKay clearly needs time, but with virtually no forward line to speak of, I'm thinking he'd almost be a certainty for round 1 also.
So many players stunk it up that it'd probably be unfair to mention them, but fook me Phillips is a spud. Geez I hope we don't suffer too many injuries this year, cos our quality of depth is paper thin.
To use a Bolton-ism, I hope we have a 'reset' come round 1....
Unfortunately, it shows what we have become used to at Etihad and the MCG. It would take millions to make Ikon Park back into a true AFL venue; millions we do not have. As much as I love the place, I cannot see the ground being used more unless there is a LOT of money spent on it.
$100M to be exact according to Trigg at todays lunch.
Rubbish, it's all between the ears.....
Fixing that takes time.
If you start off with a player who is sub-standard in talent, then it doesn't matter how much you get inside their head, they only have a very limited upside.
Work with a player of immense talent but is young and inexperienced, teach them well from the get-go and you will be rewarded handsomely.
We had a number of players on the list last year who were liabilities hence the reason why we won the flag. We have started to address that fact with some strategic list management which will take some time to blossom.
Mind you, I was not over impressed by the umpiring. They got 3 to every one we managed and some of those 50 m penalties were mysteries to everyone involved.
It was a flashback to the Geesh today. Why are they paying 50m penalties for some very technical stuff, like seagulls waiting to swoop on a hot chip, in a fecking preseason game? Just chill, tell the player to ease up and get on with it.
Umpiring aside, we fielded possibly our weakest squad so the score line is irrelevant. Here are some observations.
Weitering is a General already. Composure, skill and maturity beyond his years.
SOSGSOS. Wow!! Still raw but this kid can play and exceeded my expectations by a long way.
Harry Mackay...will become a damaging target.
Charlie Curnow...Love this kid already. Needs to work on his skills under duress but that will come. Reminds me of Waite with a bigger upside.
Cunningham.. Disappointed after a promising pre-season. But not a write off by a long shot.
Tuohy...Great effort
Boeky and Clem...showed glimpses of an improved level of development.
Can security please escort Liam Jones out of the ground and never let him back in again,
Please!!
I'll wait till the real stuff starts before I comment further.
Of the Blues or the Hawks?
That's a good question, i would never question Weitering's professionalism, but if he ever has any doubts about Carlton's professionalism, then his loyalty may be tested !!
Rubbish, it's all between the ears.....
Fixing that takes time.
If that's true then one day Tutt will be up to Selwood standard through sheer hard work and fixing problems "between the ears", and Liam Jones will morph into Johnno Brown.
It's that sort of wishful thinking which does us no favours at all and only perpetuates the situation we find ourselves in.
By the looks of Weitering and young Curnow we may have finally got the draft somewhere near right, but that doesn't alter the fact that 5 of our recent first round picks are no longer at the club in Lucas, Yarran, Bootsma, Watson and Menzel.
There's a heavy price to pay for that sort of incompetence.
If we'd only got two of them right, Talia for Lucas and Isaac Smith for Watson for example, we would be far better placed, but it's been a total wipe out and our second and third rounders haven't been any better.
There are only so many players like Tuohy who you can fluke as rookies, when you screw the National Draft to the extent that we have you're left with second raters and rejects, and no amount of work "between the ears" will make good players out of them.
One issue to think about is whether Isaac Smith and Talia would've become half the players they are now had they been in our system ?
Is it bad selection, bad development, or both ?
Both.
One issue to think about is whether Isaac Smith and Talia would've become half the players they are now had they been in our system ?
Is it bad selection, bad development, or both ?
It's a fair bet that they would be well ahead of Lucas and Watson.
It's easier for young blokes in good teams with a strong group of senior players, but it's impossible to develop a strong group of senior players if you consistently draft spuds.
Catch 22.
I cant believe the majority of posts after yesterdays game.
It's a practice game after all, a game to prepare for the real thing. Our best 6 players on the list were not there, and replaced with 6 players who had never played a single game!
Did we think losing Hendo, Yarran, Carrazzo, Judd and even Menzel would leave us light on depth wise. I certainly did. We have stuff all depth so us losing our top end players hurts us way more then any other team at the moment.
The majority of supporters was in favour of going hard at the draft and trading away players that didn't want to be there. This current rebuild is the way to go for sustained success but those expecting instant improvement are delusional.
Would you have preferred we traded for players on their last legs like the cheats had to do. Give me a break. Those comparing the lists need to look beyond a practice game!
Where will each list be in 2-3 years time?
Cant have it both ways fellas, a bit of perspective would be nice.
Poor footballers turn the ball over, poor cricketers get out cheap, poor tennis players make unforced errors.
You can't polish a turd, we just have too many sub-standard players, the wooden spoon was no accident.
You absolute fool. We played our C-graders in a NAB Cup game and lost and you are using it to spruik your 'we are forked' obsession. Please, at least wait until the real stuff begins before you continue to pass judgement.
I didn't know footy could be played as bad as we played it in the first half today. Second half microscopically better.
Positives? Weitering looked good. Silvagni, Curnow and McKay were good in flashes. Cunningham may want to forget that one.
I watched us warm up and literally 1 out of 4 kicks went where it was supposed to. I watched a suburban team in preseason on Friday night on the next oval from Milo Cricket and their skill level was far in advance of our guys.
You absolutely would not believe our guys were paid to practice every day.
I wish I could blame Jones but he only had one pos that didn't find the target all game. It also happened to be his only possession for the game.
Tutt is another bust.
I'm also writing off Whiley.
Clem had bit of a go but still doesn't look at all likely to make it. Not fast enough sure - but he's not good enough either.
Boek's disposal was appalling today but at least he got involved.
Jamo, Simo and Rowe were just crap today.
Obviously 90% of our team weren't playing but I think this was a misstep by Bolton. This performance would have hurt a lot of the younger guys confidence.
Byrne didn't set the world of fire but showed flashes.
I loath Everitt. LOATH everything about him.
Everitt, Tutt, Rowe, White will continue to hold us back, we must simply cut these guys free. Tutt can have all the time and space in the world and he will still fork up the kick, not a footballer's asshole (another one Juddy got horribly wrong, the list is piling up). Everitt built like Tarzan, plays like Jane. Rowe a bumbling idiot, White the epitome of spudness.
You absolute fool. We played our C-graders in a NAB Cup game and lost and you are using it to spruik your 'we are forked' obsession. Please, at least wait until the real stuff begins before you continue to pass judgement.
Visit your local GP and get a reality check.
I'd love to live in your world but sadly I live in the real one, how are things on Zardoz?
Can security please escort Liam Jones out of the ground and never let him back in again,
Please!!
I'll wait till the real stuff starts before I comment further.
X2 Please
One good thing out of this game is that the possibility of our return of AFL games to ikon is one step closer. Still improbable but the strength of the crowd yesterday made the club sit up and take notice
One good thing out of this game is that the possibility of our return of AFL games to ikon is one step closer. Still improbable but the strength of the crowd yesterday made the club sit up and take notice
As others have stated though the facilities there would need a massive improvement/renovation. It was a nostalgic journey to go back again for sure and the playing surface looks great - BUT! The rest of the spectator facilities look very run down, verging on the derelict, and that made me somewhat sad. Almost like being in a ghost town visited by tourists.
Where's DJC with my morning inside info?
Woke up expecting a full report ????
I left the post game function just before 6 and walked through Princes Park towards the city. On the next oval I saw Matt Korcheck and two other players doing wind sprints under the direction of one of the fitness staff. They were fitted with GPS harnesses and appeared to have been working hard for quite a while.
It reinforced the impression I have that Bolton has a program in place and it's being followed precisely.
White didn't play afaiaw?
My take, having watched some chunks on TV (in replay).
Must be hard to switch on knowing half your senior team (and the entire midfield) had a training session in the morning and were getting a massage/having a cup of tea when the match was on.....Everett & Rowe looked as interested as a snail post choofing on a joint.
Poor onfield leadership? Arguably, but all our players knew it was a scratchy.....
Agree that it was a poor PR effort from Bolton & Co putting a no names team out there.
Find it beyond ridiculous that people slam the forward line - if your mids aren't winning the ball, let alone kicking around corners/sideways/backwards - well, of course your forwards aren't going to dominate/kick goals.
22 scoring shots to 12 says it all. Poor conversion rate by our lads again.
Remember the names that were out yesterday:
Gibbs
Cripps
Murphy
Kerridge
Thomas
Wright
Kreuzer
Walker
White
Armfield (?)
Plowman (will be a gun)
Key takeaways:
Weitering is/will be a gun.
Tutt - as one example - will only ever get a game if we have large scale injury issues
McKay to play ahead of Jones - from Rd 1. Might as well get the kid battle hardened asap.
Clem has a ways to go but i reckon could get there (but in what position)
Phillips/Gorringe - did Korchek play at all?
That some punters canned Cuningham mercilessly after 1 pointless fluffy game is simply shameful.
Find it beyond ridiculous that people slam the forward line - if your mids aren't winning the ball, let alone kicking around corners/sideways/backwards - well, of course your forwards aren't going to dominate/kick goals.
I don't think folk were critical of the forwards....there were no forwards to be critical of until Jack and Harry came on and they put in.
Well it sure was a bitter pill to swallow going down like that to the bombers. I have to keep reminding myself it is just preseason - Bolton is clearly experimenting with players and treating this more as a training activity than the opposition (limiting the number of interchanges for example).
While I expected to lose I did hope for a better showing at the old home ground. As many posts have already pointed out we did go in with a very young and inexperienced team, and it seemed that the experienced players weren't given much of a run (were simmo, casboult and jammo subbed out after half time?) Hopefully for the final pre-season game we get to see a bit more of our core group playing. Perhaps the match against Sydney is also the time to finally try Jones out as a full back too?
Perhaps my main area of concern is still the way we use the ball though and I'm not sure just brining Murphy, Cripps, Gibbs, Walker, Thomas and Kreuzer back will fix it. As with last year we still seem far too reliant on long kicks in hope - especially in clearing the backline. The whole team need to get better at linking up and running (harder) with each other to control the play and work it up the ground better. We seem to really lack players willing to just tuck the ball under the arm and run hard these days, especially in the back line. I had hoped Bolton would have made this change to the game plan in the off season.
Some positives - the new kids did some good things. Weitering almost looks ready to make CHB his own, SOSOS looks really lively (how big were the cheers every time he got his hands on the ball!) and it was great to see some mongrel in Mckay and Curnow (they are both going to be beasts when they fill out). The 3 qtr time mini melee with our new young guys was great!
If anything, the match was the reminder we needed that there is probably more pain to face this year before things get better. Nevertheless I'll still be buying my membership this week - have to support the team now more than ever.
Nice post Barbs.
I'm worried we don't seem to work hard enough when our players don't have the ball. All that gut running, all the 1%ers.
People talk about our kicking being poor, I see it as the people without the ball don't work hard enough to create options.
Nice post Barbs.
I'm worried we don't seem to work hard enough when our players don't have the ball. All that gut running, all the 1%ers.
People talk about our kicking being poor, I see it as the people without the ball don't work hard enough to create options.
Not sure yesterday was a day for assessing work rate.
Half the side would have been cooked after 40 minutes.
BB also said we are in the middle of a very heavy traing load. That means you can't finish as well.
As others have stated though the facilities there would need a massive improvement/renovation. It was a nostalgic journey to go back again for sure and the playing surface looks great - BUT! The rest of the spectator facilities look very run down, verging on the derelict, and that made me somewhat sad. Almost like being in a ghost town visited by tourists.
Grigg said as much this morning, any return of games would require massive capital which we don't have. A lot comes down to the afl and would they
Schedule games there. It is still a long term proposition but I get these sense there would be a groundswell of support for our return there
Not sure yesterday was a day for assessing work rate.
Half the side would have been cooked after 40 minutes.
BB also said we are in the middle of a very heavy traing load. That means you can't finish as well.
That's fair enough for yesterday Cimm but what about our other games?
Hopefully BB has something up his sleeve, he seems to be pretty savvy.
I cant believe the majority of posts after yesterdays game.
It's a practice game after all, a game to prepare for the real thing. Our best 6 players on the list were not there, and replaced with 6 players who had never played a single game!
Given that 12 of Essendon's best 15 were missing most of us probably expected a tighter contest, particularly at Princes Park, or at the very least to see some acceptable level of skill.
Given that 12 of Essendon's best 15 were missing most of us probably expected a tighter contest, particularly at Princes Park, or at the very least to see some acceptable level of skill.
This what we were asking for, no half measures, commitment to what is best for the long term. This is what we need and we stick to that plan the coaching team we have invested in has developed. If people are going to get upset about a round 2 NAB cup game, in which we blooded every single kids we drafted the prior year then god help us all.
PS Seeing SSOS live a PP was great, moves just like the old man.
BTW, what was up with SOS Jr playing? I thought that shoulder was going to put him out of action for most of the season?
I won't say much about the game apart from acknowledging Nick Graham's form and the potential shown by Weitering, McKay, Curnow and Silvagni. I liked the way Byrne goes about his footy too.
I went to the post game function and it was great to see so many of our legends. Most of the players attended too and I was surprised to see how outgoing Kreuzer was as he mingled with the crowd and posed for photographs.
Matt Capuano was interviewed by the MC and had to deal with some very strange questions. He spoke about Phillips and Gorringe and was far from satisfied with their performance (Phillips reminds me of Hampson - good leap but can't catch). He also spoke about his role as development coach and the exciting young talent he has to work.
I had a chat with Dennis Armfield and he is just a little frustrated about not playing. He said that he is almost good to go but has get over a couple of niggles. He spoke about learning a new style of footy and how easy it was for the young players muck up their roles and execution. He was disappointed with the skill errors but was confident that they will be ironed out. He also seemed confident about the season ahead both from a personal and team perspective.
I spoke briefly to Levi Casboult and he was not very happy with his performance. He explained that his workload is being managed and he was always going to play just the first half. He wants to improve his work rate.
Ed Curnow came in well after the other players had left and we had a chat for a while. He was disappointed with his game and unhappy about the skill errors. He felt that it was largely due to inexperience and would be sorted as players became more used to AFL tempo.
We spoke about Charlie and Ed said that he is a fantastic mark and will really have an impact when he settles in. He said that Charlie needs to get his head right and is too easily sucked in. Ed is confident that Charlie will shine once he accepts that opponents will be trying to unsettle him and makes the ball his object rather than evening up.
I was hoping for a win but expecting Bolton to be more concerned with developing the list. The result was disappointing but I'm more confident that we're a team in a hurry :)
We have only seen 1 quarter of a massive 'team' effort so far in the NAB and that was the first quarter against the Dawks.
BTW, what was up with SOS Jr playing? I thought that shoulder was going to put him out of action for most of the season?
That was from those who did not want to 'waste' a pick on him.
2 mickey mouse pre-season games into a 3 + year complete re-build......I'll reserve my overreacting for a while. And if you decide whether or not to renew your membership on that back of a result in one of these matches.........have a good hard look at yourself.
Given that 12 of Essendon's best 15 were missing most of us probably expected a tighter contest, particularly at Princes Park, or at the very least to see some acceptable level of skill.
Give it a rest .
Boltons clearly made round one the immediate objective .
Fortunately he's not pandering to the bed wetters.
At this point, we have no option but to sit tight and see what Bolton and SOS can do.
Nothing to be gained by going the early crow.
We've experienced the thrill of winning a pre season comp before - a thrill that lasted all of 15 minutes.
And if you decide whether or not to renew your membership on that back of a result in one of these matches.........have a good hard look at yourself.
That's a very fair call btw.....
Gonna be more pain than not this year......we just have to learn to accept that - which is a mightily tough thing to do, but at least we're finally doing things the right way off the field.
Given that 12 of Essendon's best 15 were missing most of us probably expected a tighter contest, particularly at Princes Park, or at the very least to see some acceptable level of skill.
We left our midfield out and exposed our kids to AFL. Essendon bodies were alot bigger and some of their top ups are no mugs. We were way more undermanned compared to Essendon's 2016 list. Essendon, after all their problems, were pumped up to play hard too. For us, it was just trying things out, plus we keep our rotations under 90, which other clubs don't do in the pre-season.
We have plenty to work on and we won't win alot but it's more about process more than result driven outcome in the pre-season.
Some might say it was the result the Bombers needed.
Jones is fairly useless, and has cemented his status as whipping boy for the next two years, which can only be good to keep the fans off the kids back.
At least he is "trying". One of these days he might knock himself out in the process of going in, which would be an improvement.
Given that 12 of Essendon's best 15 were missing most of us probably expected a tighter contest, particularly at Princes Park, or at the very least to see some acceptable level of skill.
I hoped for a better contest, but in reality the dons still ran out with a more experienced team (Goddard, Zaharakis, Daniher) and brought in more match ready guys like simpkin and Crowley. We brought in several players with no seniors experience (Weitering, Mckay, Curnow, Cunningham and Silvagni) and some with minimal AFL experience (Phillips, Gorringe, Boekhurst, Gallucci, Byrne, Smith, Whiley, Dick, Graham etc).
That said, yes, I think we all expected some better skills on display and more willingness to take the game on. We are going to lose plenty of times this year, but I want to see us losing by making mistakes that are at least taking us in the right direction or give glimpses of hope (ie trying a new innovative game plan, taking some risks like playing on more with quick ball movement, playing with more physical presence) than making the same old mistakes that have been endemic in our game for the last few years (ie. booting it long to nobody and watching it come back for a goal) and got us nowhere. I'd rather see free kicks given against us for high hits in a tough contest, players getting caught with the ball while trying to take on the opposition and clangers being kicked because someone just took 4 bounces while running their guts out than the steady stream of 50m kicks from half back along the boundary line that get intercepted all to easily or are to a 3-1 contest. At least we'll learn from the former and the young guns will be better for it in a couple of years time. As a team we cannot continue to be so individually risk averse.
I really hope that what BB is drilling into the playing group after yesterday's performance is that its ok to make mistakes but its not ok to not try hard enough. As a supporter I accept mistakes will be made and there will be losses this year, some pretty bad ones too. What I can't abide this year is players not fighting like hell every time they take the field and not showing some passion for the jumper.
2 mickey mouse pre-season games into a 3 + year complete re-build......I'll reserve my overreacting for a while. And if you decide whether or not to renew your membership on that back of a result in one of these matches.........have a good hard look at yourself.
That's easy to say, but the cold hard facts are that we need members and people prefer to back a winning side. I'm a little concerned with the players Bolton has picked these Games but hopefully he is having a good look at some of the Spuds and putting lines through their names.
Raydan is right, Home Game at PP with a competitive side and the young kids = 5,000 more members IMO. They missed a trick here, but Don't mind we are treating the NAB challenge as it should be. Glorified Scratchy.
I really hope that what BB is drilling into the playing group after yesterday's performance is that its ok to make mistakes but its not ok to not try hard enough. As a supporter I accept mistakes will be made and there will be losses this year, some pretty bad ones too. What I can't abide this year is players not fighting like hell every time they take the field and not showing some passion for the jumper.
To be honest I've never doubted our commitment over the last decade or more, in my opinion our lack of success has come down to a lack of playing personnel and I don't see that turning around any time soon.
When you're getting well beaten on a regular basis it often looks as though you've given up, and subconsciously that may even be true to some extent, but even last season I saw players like Docherty, Tuohy, Simpson, Murphy, Buckley, Curnow, Bell, Rowe and plenty of others busting their gut to the final bell when we were 8 or 10 goals down and all hope was lost.
One of the biggest problems that poor sides face on a regular basis is that they hit troughs during games and yesterday was no exception, at one stage Essendon kicked 9 unanswered goals.
If this was out of character or some sort of aberration it wouldn't faze me, but it's been an ongoing theme at Carlton now for longer than I care to remember.
Bolton's only been here 5 minutes. He needs to be able to see all his charges under something vaguely resembling match conditions. It becomes harder and far more risky to select a depleted side during the H/A season.
Nobody wants a losing culture, but I think he's going about it the right way, at the right time.
We have plenty to work on and we won't win a lot but it's more about process more than result driven outcome in the pre-season.
We've been telling ourselves that for so long it's become monotonous.
Explain the process to me of you will.
To be honest I've never doubted our commitment over the last decade or more, in my opinion our lack of success has come down to a lack of playing personnel and I don't see that turning around any time soon.
When you're getting well beaten on a regular basis it often looks as though you've given up, and subconsciously that may even be true to some extent, but even last season I saw players like Docherty, Tuohy, Simpson, Murphy, Buckley, Curnow, Bell, Rowe and plenty of others busting their gut to the final bell when we were 8 or 10 goals down and all hope was lost.
One of the biggest problems that poor sides face on a regular basis is that they hit troughs during games and yesterday was no exception, at one stage Essendon kicked 9 unanswered goals.
If this was out of character or some sort of aberration it wouldn't faze me, but it's been an ongoing theme at Carlton now for longer than I care to remember.
You get institutionalized whether you are in a losing or a winning culture - subconsciously you expect one or the other, depending on what you've mostly experienced. This will be another big challenge for Bolts and co.
A good result may have helped momentum in the membership stakes but to suggest it cost us 10% of our membership is ridiculous.
We've been short sighted for far too long.
ROUND 1
ROUND 1
ROUND 1
That's all Bolts has been saying.
3 year rebuild and half the CSC board are putting a gun to their temple after a dodgy NAB game.
I left the post game function just before 6 and walked through Princes Park towards the city. On the next oval I saw Matt Korcheck and two other players doing wind sprints under the direction of one of the fitness staff. They were fitted with GPS harnesses and appeared to have been working hard for quite a while.
It reinforced the impression I have that Bolton has a program in place and it's being followed precisely.
He stated is his presser that Cripps, Gibbs, Murphy, Thomas and some others were put through a training session yesterday morning. They have a plan and they are sticking to it which is great to see quite frankly.
Soooo, as a membership drive it was good preparation for R1 in terms of sorting the sheep from the goats? ;)
A good result may have helped momentum in the membership stakes but to suggest it cost us 10% of our membership is ridiculous.
We've been short sighted for far too long.
ROUND 1
ROUND 1
ROUND 1
That's all Bolts has been saying.
3 year rebuild and half the CSC board are putting a gun to their temple after a dodgy NAB game.
Well, that's all good if we actually turn up TO PLAY in Rd 1 AND WIN!!!!
Well, that's all good if we actually turn up TO PLAY in Rd 1 AND WIN!!!!
If we can beat the Tiggers I would be mightily pleased - they will be a big challenge for us.
That's fair enough for yesterday Cimm but what about our other games?
Hopefully BB has something up his sleeve, he seems to be pretty savvy.
What he (and his staff) have up their sleeves is a plan which is a novel concept at PP. Everyone should take a chill pill and enjoy the ride, its gonna be bumpy but just embrace it. Its a couple of praccy matches and people are panicking. Chilax peeps.
You get institutionalized whether you are in a losing or a winning culture - subconsciously you expect one or the other, depending on what you've mostly experienced. This will be another big challenge for Bolts and co.
Yep, no argument there from me.
One of our biggest problems is that losing is entrenched, apart from Thomas no player on our list has experienced success at senior level, even to a moderate extent.
It can be turned around but history says that it's never a quick or easy process, personally I think it will be four or five years at a minimum, conditional on a vastly improved result at the National Draft.
Well, that's all good if we actually turn up TO PLAY in Rd 1 AND WIN!!!!
Turn up TO PLAY, I can almost guarantee it.
Win? not sure. Tiges should be cherry ripe for round one. This is year 5 (?) of Hardwick.
We'll have possibly 5-7 new players and a squad implementing, not only BB's game plan and style but, every single line coach. That's a massive task
Turn up TO PLAY, I can almost guarantee it.
Win? not sure. Tiges should be cherry ripe for round one. This is year 5 (?) of Hardwick.
We'll have possibly 5-7 new players and a squad implementing, not only BB's game plan and style but, every single line coach. That's a massive task
Massive ask yes but we can't aim for honourable losses.....
Our midfield matches up very well with theirs, very well imo.
Weitering on Riewoldt? Similar size.....
Other than Jack, I don't rate their forward line any higher than ours.
Back lines - Rance good, the rest, meh.
Cheer up ladies, we have this guy!
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-24/jacob-weitering-what-are-the-blues-getting-for-their-no1-draft-pick (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-24/jacob-weitering-what-are-the-blues-getting-for-their-no1-draft-pick)
Massive ask yes but we can't aim for honourable losses.....
Our midfield matches up very well with theirs, very well imo.
Weitering on Riewoldt? Similar size.....
Other than Jack, I don't rate their forward line any higher than ours.
Back lines - Rance good, the rest, meh.
Of course you don't aim for honourable losses but you can do everything you can to win and if you come up short , so be it.
There will also be a massive emphasis on development. Which I take to mean as they won't take unecessary risks if they don't dovetail with our long term plans.
That includes playing guys in positions they don't want to or introducing players (like McKay) if they are not ready and losing crapty NAB challenge games if it that matches their strategy.
Massive ask yes but we can't aim for honourable losses.....
Our midfield matches up very well with theirs, very well imo.
Weitering on Riewoldt? Similar size.....
Other than Jack, I don't rate their forward line any higher than ours.
Back lines - Rance good, the rest, meh.
I think their backline is better than you give them credit for, despite Rance you have regulars like Houli, Edwards, Ellis and they have even run McIntosh off the HBF a bit. I think one of the motivations for recruiting Yarran was to free up blokes like Ellis and McIntosh for longer midfield rotations. I suspect if anything we should be able to get hold of them around the ground and in the ruck, because Maric is not very mobile and Graham is relatively slow. Choi has some pace though I suspect he won't be a starter this season.
If we can apply some real pressure Nthmond also become pretty ordinary ball users.
Clearly, the Tiges have much more riding on this game than us. A must win game for them. First week finals exit for 3 consecutive seasons, Dimmer's final year of contract.........
This, plus a more established, settled and experienced side, should see them home.
A loss for them would be unthinkable.
Gibbs took a nice mark about 30 metres from goal in the last quarter. Bad luck he was standing in front of the indoor training facility at the time.
Well, that's all good if we actually turn up TO PLAY in Rd 1 AND WIN!!!!
I'll be happy if they just turn up to play.
Clearly, the Tiges have much more riding on this game than us. A must win game for them. First week finals exit for 3 consecutive seasons, Dimmer's final year of contract.........
This, plus a more established, settled and experienced side, should see them home.
A loss for them would be unthinkable.
I dont know about this. The impatient ones at PP will get the knives out quicker than you can say "reset".
I dont know about this. The impatient ones at PP will get the knives out quicker than you can say "reset".
Swann and Kernahan are gone now so we will be fine.
You get institutionalized whether you are in a losing or a winning culture - subconsciously you expect one or the other, depending on what you've mostly experienced. This will be another big challenge for Bolts and co.
Results orientation vs mastery orientation. The system is designed to eventually bring you down, you need to deal with the fact you won't win all the time. If you're playing off the thin foundation of expecting to win then when it finally catches up with you - you spend 20 years without a flag and 4 spoons to your name.
We're coming from a long way back and with some culture issues to address. No need to crap the bed before we've laid down.
I dont know about this. The impatient ones at PP will get the knives out quicker than you can say "reset".
True, but the impatient and the ill informed (inside the club) are the ones that cause half the problems. Hopefully the Judge has these guys and gals under control.
I'd be very surprised if any serious scribe or football analyst tips us for a win.
Results orientation vs mastery orientation. The system is designed to eventually bring you down, you need to deal with the fact you won't win all the time. If you're playing off the thin foundation of expecting to win then when it finally catches up with you - you spend 20 years without a flag and 4 spoons to your name.
We're coming from a long way back and with some culture issues to address. No need to crap the bed before we've laid down.
I don't really understand the point you're making. It does sound interesting though.
Liam Jones has two years left on his contract with Carlton and at the moment he is a long way off deserving a senior game even with last year’s wooden spoon winners, says Mark Robinson.
He has suggested that former Blues coach Mick Malthouse ought to be blamed for the club having a senior player on the list that looks incapable of producing on the field.
“We can sugar-coat it or be brutally honest, but he can’t play round one,” said Robinson on SEN radio.
“What he did yesterday, which was really good, was his aggression on the contest but the problem is he can’t mark it and he can’t get it.”
The 25-year-old forward only managed one disposal against Essendon in the ten-goal defeat at Ikon Park on Sunday, following up from his one-touch performance in the first NAB Challenge game.
“If Brendon Bolton is about setting standards Liam Jones hasn’t done anything near enough to be earning him a spot,” added Robinson.
“I’m going to be really brutal here, it’s not Liam Jones’ fault.
“He got drafted and he is absolutely doing everything he possibly can and we’ve seen him play some really good football.
“What has put Liam in this position I believe is Mick Malthouse, he recruited Liam and put him on a three-year contract at Carlton.
“Most people thought Liam was dead as a footballer and with that comes the expectation – that’s been a really bad decision.”
http://www.sen.com.au/news/02-16/wallace-were-blues-scared-to-play-big-boys/robbo-honestly-liam-jones-is-mick-s-fault#3Vi2axwTw2GMHukc.97
I bet my bottom dollar he wont play round 1.
Practice matches are for this reason, experimentation.
Hes been given an opportunity and has been found wanting.
http://www.sen.com.au/news/02-16/wallace-were-blues-scared-to-play-big-boys/robbo-honestly-liam-jones-is-mick-s-fault#3Vi2axwTw2GMHukc.97
I think we have the three most maligned players in the comp.
Zac Dawson loves these guys.
I think we have the three most maligned players in the comp.
Jones.....Daisy......Gibbs?
Jones.....Daisy......Gibbs?
I was going with Jones, Rowe and Tutt.
Mainly from our own supporters, but I can see where you're coming from.
Liam Jones...LOL.
It's Mick's fault Jones only got 1 disposal yesterday? Good one Robbo! Almost as good as it being the AFL and ASADA's fault that Essendon injected their players with PEDs.
It's Mick's fault Jones only got 1 disposal yesterday? Good one Robbo! Almost as good as it being the AFL and ASADA's fault that Essendon injected their players with PEDs.
No he's saying it's Mick's fault he's at the club on a three year contract.....but I'm sure you already knew that.
Play him as a back and all he has to worry about is to stop his player getting the ball.
Play him man on man all the time so he has only one thing to think about, not about running patterns etc.
Early days I know but I wonder if SOS might be getting a little concerned that none of the boys he got to the club from GWS have really shown anything of note. So far the drafted boys and those we got from Adelaide seem to be the ones showing promise, along with the crowd fave Galucci... but as I said, early days.
Mick is gone.
Yeah we brought Jones in on a 3 year deal, we also brought in Docherty and Everitt who have done well. Jacksh and Whiley still have time to prove themselves although I'm not confident myself.
Noticed I said "we"? That's because it's a team decision, a number of people including the the guy Mick reported to (Andrew McKay) are involved in trades and recruitment.
No he's saying it's Mick's fault he's at the club on a three year contract.....but I'm sure you already knew that.
I can live with us signing him given that we were set to lose Waite and were very short on for tall forwards, under those circumstances he was worth a punt.
It's the three year contract I'm struggling with.
I can live with us signing him given that we were set to lose Waite and were very short on for tall forwards, under those circumstances he was worth a punt.
It's the three year contract I'm struggling with.
Exactly. No one else wanted him.
Play him as a back and all he has to worry about is to stop his player getting the ball.
Play him man on man all the time so he has only one thing to think about, not about running patterns etc.
I'm afraid any decent key forward would leave him for dead :(
+1 on the 3 year deal.
We might have known a fair way out that Hendo was going too as these things are fairly transparent these days so they might have future proofed for the first time in our history.
At least he tries. Thats better than many of the players we have had over the journey.
Mick is gone.
Yeah we brought Jones in on a 3 year deal, we also brought in Docherty and Everitt who have done well.
We effectively swapped Hampson for Docherty, it was the best trade in the history of the CFC.
+1 on the 3 year deal.
We might have known a fair way out that Hendo was going too as these things are fairly transparent these days so they might have future proofed for the first time in our history.
At least he tries. Thats better than many of the players we have had over the journey.
Yes, he's trying, very trying for supporters and the forwards coach too I'd imagine :(
Early days I know but I wonder if SOS might be getting a little concerned that none of the boys he got to the club from GWS have really shown anything of note. So far the drafted boys and those we got from Adelaide seem to be the ones showing promise, along with the crowd fave Galucci... but as I said, early days.
Sumner , Plowman injured.
I haven't given up on Phillips yet.
Gorringe looks a bit out of place.
Swann and Kernahan are gone now so we will be fine.
Pagan is gone now so we will be fine.
Sumner , Plowman injured.
I haven't given up on Phillips yet.
Gorringe looks a bit out of place.
Gorringe has taken twice as many marks as Phillips!
Neither has done much although Phillips gave his opponent a decent whack in the chops during a boundary contest. I think it was accidental; he's not that co-ordinated.
I haven't given up on either but time is running out.
Gorringe has taken twice as many marks as Phillips!
Neither has done much although Phillips gave his opponent a decent whack in the chops during a boundary contest. I think it was accidental; he's not that co-ordinated.
I haven't given up on either but time is running out.
Gorringe best is probably better than Philips and I did see him take a nice mark or two but he lacks intensity....Philips ruckwork isnt bad for a novice but he seemed butterfingered vs the Bombers
and couldnt hang onto the ball....both perform better when played as the 1st ruck..
Gorringe has taken twice as many marks as Phillips!
Neither has done much although Phillips gave his opponent a decent whack in the chops during a boundary contest. I think it was accidental; he's not that co-ordinated.
I haven't given up on either but time is running out.
Yeah but Phillips has taken 50 "almost" marks .
;D
That's almost twice as many as Hampson!!
Almost!!
Philips can mark, don't worry about that aspect of his game....
Philips can mark, don't worry about that aspect of his game....
I agree flyboy .
I'm very bullish about his future. I don't think he's a Hampson .
Did anyone else notice how many simple marks where dropped by all players in that game?
It was bizzarre.
Watching the game from the stands, one player who really looked completely at sea was Jeb Lamb.
Hopefully a few of the GWS boys come through, but Jed was tentative, easily beaten by his opponent, and did nothing positive when he came near the ball - at least on the Gardiner Stand side. Would be very disappointed if he gets a game until he stops looking like he accidentally put on a jumper and wandered onto the ground.
It will be a long season, but looking forward to watching our few class acts help the new recruits.
Watching the game from the stands, one player who really looked completely at sea was Jeb Lamb.
Hopefully a few of the GWS boys come through, but Jed was tentative, easily beaten by his opponent, and did nothing positive when he came near the ball - at least on the Gardiner Stand side. Would be very disappointed if he gets a game until he stops looking like he accidentally put on a jumper and wandered onto the ground.
I still think that trading pick 7 in 2013 was a big mistake.
Whiley really doesn't look to be anything out of the ordinary and Jaksch played at least 10 VFL games last season in what was his third year, Boekhurst looks OK in flashes but pick 7 can get you a top liner and none of them remotely approach it in my opinion.
As for this year's crop of GWS leftovers, Kerridge looks to be way better than any of them and cost us Menzel but we got pick 28 and him in return, Menzel was another one of our first round busts so Kerridge was a bargain as far as I'm concerned.
We're sort of getting it half right these days but we're still trying to fluke good players from the bargain bin, which is a risky strategy that rarely pays dividends.
I still think that trading pick 7 in 2013 was a big mistake.
Whiley really doesn't look to be anything out of the ordinary and Jaksch played at least 10 VFL games last season in what was his third year, Boekhurst looks OK in flashes but pick 7 can get you a top liner and none of them remotely approach it in my opinion.
As for this year's crop of GWS leftovers, Kerridge looks to be way better than any of them and cost us Menzel but we got pick 28 and him in return, Menzel was another one of our first round busts so Kerridge was a bargain as far as I'm concerned.
We're sort of getting it half right these days but we're still trying to fluke good players from the bargain bin, which is a risky strategy that rarely pays dividends.
Its all relative though.
That particular draft crop are not showing much at the moment.
We might have jagged a Nakia Cockatoo, but even he hasnt shown all that much just yet.
Its all relative though.
That particular draft crop are not showing much at the moment.
We might have jagged a Nakia Cockatoo, but even he hasnt shown all that much just yet.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at the time we traded a pick that in the past had secured Sellwood, Rich and Ryder for what looks to be three pedestrian footballers.
We had no way of knowing whether pick 7 would bring us a Sellwood or a Mitch Thorpe, but historically pick 7 is a good player more often than a dud.
The trade may ultimately work in our favour, it's the decision making process behind it that I question.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at the time we traded a pick that in the past had secured Sellwood, Rich and Ryder for what looks to be three pedestrian footballers.
We had no way of knowing whether pick 7 would bring us a Sellwood or a Mitch Thorpe, but historically pick 7 is a good player more often than a dud.
The trade may ultimately work in our favour, it's the decision making process behind it that I question.
Thats the thing. I think we made that call knowing Rogers was doing our recruiting, and to see how we would go at the negotiation table in his last hurrah so to speak.
At the time we did it, we made a call saying that we are better off turning 1 reasonably high pick into jaksch, boekhorst and Whiley, and thus far, it looks as though Boekhorst might make it, Whiley is ordinary (which we need more of) and Jaksch is a question mark that has shown bits and pieces. Either way there is nothing in that top 20 that we missed out on that says we overlooked a gun, but I do wonder why we opted for a light runner, rather than a Hugh Goddard who is a CHB in the making which might have setup our backline for the next ten years.
... but I do wonder why we opted for a light runner, rather than a Hugh Goddard who is a CHB in the making which might have setup our backline for the next ten years.
Kane Lucas......Daniel Talia, but it's no use crying over spilt milk.
Gorringe best is probably better than Philips and I did see him take a nice mark or two but he lacks intensity....Philips ruckwork isnt bad for a novice but he seemed butterfingered vs the Bombers
and couldnt hang onto the ball....both perform better when played as the 1st ruck..
Phillips is an upgrade on Warnock, whether he can mark or not, he looks more likely too and his tapwork isn't half bad.
Gorringe is an upgrade on Watson. Uses his size a lot better and has more of an influence on the game given limited opportunites.....to this point.
Whiley worries me, but so do half the list.
Whiley worries me, but so do half the list.
Whiley Coyote just needs to realise he needs to get rid of the ball quicker, make his decisions quicker etc
Whiley Coyote just needs to realise he needs to get rid of the ball quicker, make his decisions quicker etc
I was thinking the same, if he's just slow of foot then he might make it, but if he's slow of mind (or both) then he's toast.
I was thinking the same, if he's just slow of foot then he might make it, but if he's slow of mind (or both) then he's toast.
Cant handball very well either. Has an awful technique.
Cant handball very well either. Has an awful technique.
Did you notice McKays kicking technique ? ????
Awkward looking.
Did you notice McKays kicking technique ? ????
Awkward looking.
You think so? I thought he looked ok, most left footers do.
Whiley Coyote just needs to realise he needs to get rid of the ball quicker, make his decisions quicker etc
Yes. He doesn't look for the first option. He doesn't have the pace for many other options. He hasn't shown the game nous to select the best option - yet. Not insoluble problems yet, but something that does need attention.
Did you notice McKays kicking technique ? ????
Awkward looking.
On the move he is a smooth a kick as you are likely to see. But with a set shot he needs work.
Menzel was the same. On the run he was deadly. However, he never had a set routine for a set shot and it could (and did) look a lot less effective than it could have been.
The first thing we need to do with McKay is get the kicking coach at him, so he has a set routine whenever he has a set kick. It has improved Casboult, who has a lot more issues with his kicking technique than McKay does.
Yes. He doesn't look for the first option. He doesn't have the pace for many other options. He hasn't shown the game nous to select the best option - yet. Not insoluble problems yet, but something that does need attention.
Unusually I quite like him, he is a good size, it just seems he hasn't caught up to the speed of the game yet. Big jump from local league and training.
He seems to get the ball, be in the right position to get the ball but takes a lazy step then decides what to do with it. Needs better awareness of his situation.
Maybe next game his job is to get rid of the ball at his first quickest option. Just sayin...
On the move he is a smooth a kick as you are likely to see. But with a set shot he needs work.
Menzel was the same. On the run he was deadly. However, he never had a set routine for a set shot and it could (and did) look a lot less effective than it could have been.
The first thing we need to do with McKay is get the kicking coach at him, so he has a set routine whenever he has a set kick. It has improved Casboult, who has a lot more issues with his kicking technique than McKay does.
Only if he is not kicking straight, if he is kicking straight I could't care what he looks like.
Unusually I quite like him, he is a good size, it just seems he hasn't caught up to the speed of the game yet. Big jump from local league and training.
He seems to get the ball, be in the right position to get the ball but takes a lazy step then decides what to do with it. Needs better awareness of his situation.
Maybe next game his job is to get rid of the ball at his first quickest option. Just sayin...
Wow, this guy has played 20 games in his career and has been unlucky with injury.....
Let's see how he fares when Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps, Kerridge are taking most of the heat?
Yes. He doesn't look for the first option. He doesn't have the pace for many other options. He hasn't shown the game nous to select the best option - yet. Not insoluble problems yet, but something that does need attention.
That particular trait is not a good one to have - Rarely do any quality players that have this trait starting off.
Cripps first 10 games I thought he looked slow pace wise but was always looked capable with his hands and decision making.
Decision making and execution are the fundamentals that champion teams have an abundance of.
Whiley, Wood, Jones, Dick or Tutt to name a few, cant be around when we have built some depth into this list IMO.
You think so? I thought he looked ok, most left footers do.
I commented at the time his action looked very similar to Travis Cloke's.
Wow, this guy has played 20 games in his career and has been unlucky with injury.....
Let's see how he fares when Murphy, Gibbs, Cripps, Kerridge are taking most of the heat?
I have reservations about Whiley too. We really need midfielders who can take the heat off Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps rather than relying on them to do the heavy lifting.
Phillips is an upgrade on Warnock, whether he can mark or not, he looks more likely too and his tapwork isn't half bad.
Gorringe is an upgrade on Watson. Uses his size a lot better and has more of an influence on the game given limited opportunites.....to this point.
I just dont want another couple of seasons trying to turn ruckman into forwards...Shaun Hampson was a Frankenstein experiment that went wrong
and I hope we have learned our lesson that we need specialist KP players and not manufactured ones...
I reckon we completely ruined Hampson's career.
I agree , through our lack of forwards we took a ruckman , who showed plenty in that area and tried to manufacture a forward , and even though showed some highlights , was a doomed option unfortunately
Hammer was a soccer player turn afl footballer. He only started showing a bit in the ruck and even then it was all potential.
I reckon we completely ruined Hampson's career.
Couldn't stand up to the rigours of AFL footy. Every time he seemed to gain some momentum he re-injured himself. I think his lack of durability ruined him more than anything else.
Hammer was a soccer player turn afl footballer. He only started showing a bit in the ruck and even then it was all potential.
Should never have used him in the ruck.
OK, whether it be Hampson, Kreuzer, Watson, etc., etc. it really doesn't matter. The real issue is trying to turn natural on-ballers or defenders into a lead up targets, it just doesn't work!
The real problem is that AFL coaches are generally megalomaniacs who think they could coach a slug to a Coleman Medal if they could get it to listen. All their failures are because the kid didn't listen, ask Mick Malthouse!
I see this at TAC Cup level every year, where athletes often get picked in preference to natural footballers because the lunatic coaches think if the kid has elite fitness they can be taught the rest. Last TAC season there was a kid roughly the same size as Lockett but with Reiwoldt like endurance, he made it into one of the final TAC squads without being able to kick 30m, he could handball farther than he could kick! :o
I'm afraid these American experiments are very much an example of this. The vast majority will be fails because they have no aptitude for the game beyond basic training drills, and we all know training drills mean nothing on game day, just ask Liam Jones!
OK, whether it be Hampson, Kreuzer, Watson, etc., etc. it really doesn't matter. The real issue is trying to turn natural on-ballers or defenders into a lead up targets, it just doesn't work!
The real problem is that AFL coaches are generally megalomaniacs who think they could coach a slug to a Coleman Medal if they could get it to listen. All their failures are because the kid didn't listen, ask Mick Malthouse!
I see this at TAC Cup level every year, where athletes often get picked in preference to natural footballers because the lunatic coaches think if the kid has elite fitness they can be taught the rest. Last TAC season there was a kid roughly the same size as Lockett but with Reiwoldt like endurance, he made it into one of the final TAC squads without being able to kick 30m, he could handball farther than he could kick! :o
I'm afraid these American experiments are very much an example of this. The vast majority will be fails because they have no aptitude for the game beyond basic training drills, and we all know training drills mean nothing on game day, just ask Liam Jones!
See I don't mind the Irish and American experiments. They come through the rookie system and you may unearth something special. I agree though that taking athletes over footballers on the main list is not desirable anymore. Old fashion footballers are now worth there weight in gold I reckon. It is preferable if they have some zip and mobility, just not necessarily athletic freaks though.
People said the Irish experiment was a waste of time.
The same clueless boneheads now say the US sourced players are a waste.
Just a matter of time. The US has more gifted athletes playing in high level/elite sport than any other county in the world and AFL has only just scratched the surface.
95% are finished as athletes when college finishes. It will be a tidal wave, particularly for tall talent.
Mason Cox looks a terrific prospect and he's just the start.
People said the Irish experiment was a waste of time.
The same clueless boneheads now say the US sourced players are a waste.
Just a matter of time. The US has more gifted athletes playing in high level/elite sport than any other county in the world and AFL has only just scratched the surface.
95% are finished as athletes when college finishes. It will be a tidal wave, particularly for tall talent.
Mason Cox looks a terrific prospect and he's just the start.
I continue to be amazed at how well the Irish blokes pick up both the skills and nuances of the game. It really goes against the belief that you have to grow up playing the game to excel at it. I guess ruckmen like Goldstein and Martin are home grown examples although they could have had footies in their hands in between basketball commitments; kick to kick at school for example.
Mike Pyke is another example of how top class sportspeople can pick up another code and, as you say, Cox seems to be heading in the same direction. I think that the women's competition will also see sportswomen successfully changing codes.
There is a huge pool of US sportsmen and I have no doubt that many could make a successful transition to AFL. Selecting those most likely to succeed is the challenge. Now that the AFL has relaxed the rookie rules, we'll probably see more Americans taking up rookie spots and some going on to have AFL careers.
I reckon we completely ruined Hampson's career.
I reckon he still can't believe his luck that he's been on an AFL senior list for 9 years.
A total spud, Liam Jones has more idea.
People said the Irish experiment was a waste of time.
The same clueless boneheads now say the US sourced players are a waste.
Just a matter of time. The US has more gifted athletes playing in high level/elite sport than any other county in the world and AFL has only just scratched the surface.
95% are finished as athletes when college finishes. It will be a tidal wave, particularly for tall talent.
Mason Cox looks a terrific prospect and he's just the start.
well said.
Remember have this conversation ages ago, with the amount of athletes in the state if AFL took off run for cover because the size and running ability of some of these guys would be scary thing to be up against. Far fetched I know but image an athlete similar to Michael Jordan , and they are out there , playing CHF ?
Remember have this conversation ages ago, with the amount of athletes in the state if AFL took off run for cover because the size and running ability of some of these guys would be scary thing to be up against. Far fetched I know but image an athlete similar to Michael Jordan , and they are out there , playing CHF ?
He'd launch into the clouds grab a mark hitting the ground running, then run too far, be penalised and kick the ball out of bounds in panic! ;)
Mason Cox looks a terrific prospect and he's just the start.
Yep, he was too much for Lachie Henderson.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-erred-in-onfield-selections-against-essendon-20160303-gn9qw9.html
Pointless article about a pointless match. If so called "potential members" can't see the bigger picture................
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-erred-in-onfield-selections-against-essendon-20160303-gn9qw9.html
Pointless article about a pointless match. If so called "potential members" can't see the bigger picture................
Well, I won't bother to read it then ;)
Clearly our club has made on field success its highest priority and I have no argument with that. Winning a practice match might attract a few new members but sustained on field success will bring them back in droves.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-erred-in-onfield-selections-against-essendon-20160303-gn9qw9.html
Pointless article about a pointless match. If so called "potential members" can't see the bigger picture................
There goes Caro, putting the kibosh on Nthmond again! ;)
She's like the curse that just keeps on giving, the female version of William H Macy's character The Cooler, the malady stopping their success! :D
Well, I won't bother to read it then ;)
Clearly our club has made on field success its highest priority and I have no argument with that. Winning a practice match might attract a few new members but sustained on field success will bring them back in droves.
You probably saved yourself 5 minutes that you can never recover by not reading it. It was typical Caro: hurt anyone you can except Richmond.
I guess we shall see just how wise we were during Round 1. If we win, then she will have to admit that she was wrong, but I expect that more from Cardinal Pell than from Caro.
You probably saved yourself 5 minutes that you can never recover by not reading it. It was typical Caro: hurt anyone you can except Richmond.
I guess we shall see just how wise we were during Round 1. If we win, then she will have to admit that she was wrong, but I expect that more from Cardinal Pell than from Caro.
I we win Hardwick won't make it to Easter Sunday, he'll be given his chocolates early and told to feck off!
Like many at the time I thought that with a pre-season game being played against an old foe we should have fielded our best to bury them. But, fortunately, our club had a broader vision.
In recent history we would have fielded our best to get a NAB Challenge success to generate more membership.
Wrapped that our club no longer gets sucked into this. Remember winning pre-season Premierships and inflating membership only to be embarrassed when the real stuff began, betraying the early season promises?
It is so impressive that our club now takes the broader vision. Bravo BB/Triggster. At last marketing is supporting, not dictating (and their support is very, very good). No more short term thinking. And most supporters get it.
I was there and although very disappointed when we were failing badly, you really could see (when the need to win subsided) strong glimpses of our future and in a pre-season game, in reality, that is all you really want to see.
I saw more in Harry McKay's half of footy than everything I've seen from Liam Jones for his entire time at the mighty CFC (and, yes, Jones must be trialled as a defender because he aint a forward but seems to have a good attitude). SOSOS has attitude and ability. So does the Curnow bro.
I walked away from Sunday's game frustrated, selfishly, at the result but when I got over that I reflected on the contribution and signs of the young. Yep, our future is in good hands. And the huge crowd just might help in supporting any argument to justify a gradual revitalisation and redevelopment as PP as a viable boutique ground for AFL games.
Ps the Ralph and Caro articles/comments should be ignored. They're shallow and short sighted (isn't that the nature of our footy media?). Fortunately our coaches are in charge of our club and not these glib headline grabbers.
(Ralph mentioned in a radio broadcast poor numbers of certain players in our game against the Bummers, yet most of the players he mentioned only played a half of footy… talk about a badly researched broadcaster massaging his ego instead of knowing facts...)
You probably saved yourself 5 minutes that you can never recover by not reading it. It was typical Caro: hurt anyone you can except Richmond.
I guess we shall see just how wise we were during Round 1. If we win, then she will have to admit that she was wrong, but I expect that more from Cardinal Pell than from Caro.
I watched Sunday's game from three different locations as I tried to track down my mate. I also went to the post game function. The Carlton supporters I interacted with all seemed to accept that we had played a weak side for a reason and were quite positive about our prospects. Interestingly, a lot of Essendon supporters (not the rabid dickheads!) were quite circumspect about the result.
It would be a novel approach for football reporters to actually rub shoulders with supporters and document their thoughts rather than just making stuff up.
DJC, the result of the game was no surprise really and as you say the Bummer supporters didn't seem to get too carried away. I think the most disappointing aspect for us, and others near us, was that we lapsed into our old bad habits pretty much straight away. They have been well covered on here already so I won't go over them again.
Boltons rebuild plan vs selling hope and memberships.........think we have to support the coach and his long term plan which is what the club did.
The intelligent member or future member will see the big picture you hope....
Just refresh my memory, how many points do we get if we win a NAB Challenge game?
Much bemusement over the recent goings on - FAR more concerned about fit players, new game plan, skills practice and of course a game that actually means something. Last Sunday mattered about as much as the Ted Whitten charity game.
DJC, the result of the game was no surprise really and as you say the Bummer supporters didn't seem to get too carried away. I think the most disappointing aspect for us, and others near us, was that we lapsed into our old bad habits pretty much straight away. They have been well covered on here already so I won't go over them again.
Which old habits Cookie, giving Jones a run? ;)
Mark Fine (who I believe is a tosser of gargantuan proportions) commended the club on its approach to the NAB challenge.
He stated that we have been the only football club to use the NAB challenge as a dress rehearsal to the real thing with us taking the approach of blooding youngsters, and then gave us a 5star rating for the novell approach.
Which old habits Cookie, giving Jones a run? ;)
That's a very bad one DJC, and one we must try to curb asap! :)
Only half time in today's NAB challenge, but last weeks March champions (the bombers) have kicked a massive 1 point in the whole first half to Geelong's 63.
Maybe the Essendon fans and media backers will now understand what happens when a team rests all of its key players and takes on an opposition at near full strength.
Only half time in today's NAB challenge, but last weeks March champions (the bombers) have kicked a massive 1 point in the whole first half to Geelong's 63.
Maybe the Essendon fans and media backers will now understand what happens when a team rests all of its key players and takes on an opposition at near full strength.
Thanks Barbs. Any reports on Hendo ? Are you watching the game ? It doesn't seem like he's had much to do.
I wonder if the media will get stuck into Essendon for letting down the people of Shepparton by playing a second rate line up?
Probably not, after all it's not Carlton and Essendon's best line up is second rate ;)
Thanks Barbs. Any reports on Hendo ? Are you watching the game ? It doesn't seem like he's had much to do.
Last time I looked all I saw was that he had taken 5 marks.
Last time I looked all I saw was that he had taken 5 marks.
Thanks cookie.
According to match report, has a slightly injured knee as a result today's game, oh and it looks like Jackson Thurlow has done ACL...1st player to go down for the year :o
Thanks Barbs. Any reports on Hendo ? Are you watching the game ? It doesn't seem like he's had much to do.
I was, not much of game but it was sweet seeing Essendon get dumped.
You're right hendo did have much to do as the ball barely got back there. Saw him push up the ground once or twice but I didn't realise it was him at first as he was actually running and chasing.
Even with Thurlow and Lonergan going down the Geelong backline didn't look challenged. (Think Zac Smith sat out the last quarter with ice on the lower leg too).
To give the match some perspective, Essendon's players with the highest disposals were Cooney and Simpkin with 15 each - can't say I noticed them getting them either. The only bombers players that looked ok were Grimley who took some good marks and that new lad McDonald-Tipungwuti who plays a good brand of hard Byron Pickett style footy. Of the 3 goals the bombers kicked 2 came at the death - one courtesy of Jimmy Bartel getting pinged for deliberately rushing a behind.
Thanks barbs and crazyjoe.
Extra big up to barbs for that very good report.