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Messages - laj

1
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: bratblue – on
Was Austins greatest failing that he couldn't find a couple of understudy KPF's and the reason why he was shown the door?
The perception of your List Manager comes down to whether you're winning and losing at the time. This year we did both in blocks this year. Looked a dud for a while, now looks good with who is performing. List Manager can pick the players, then up to the development, with the draftees at least.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: tex – on
Quote from: RiverRat – on


Not until we recruit or develop better options.

Young earned his place in the team after spending much of the season in the VFL
Young had reached his ceiling and found wanting at AFL.
Best to give someone else a go. Even a MSD pick might be OK

Why do we persist with players that won’t be part of a premiership team?
We've had a trillion players come and go since out last flag so god knows who'll be in our next premiership team, although after this year and another pre-season to properly work on things we may have much of the side hopefully now. Even premiership teams have average players.

I don't know what to do with Young. Let him go, keep him for depth. He looked like being damn close to a premiership player in 2021 when the Dogs led by 19pts just past midway through the 3rd qtr. Then, like Geelong last year, suddenly fell in a complete heap. Before you get rid of him, the question is, can be find a better option.
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Blah-Blah Bar / Re: RIP Tony Mundine
Quote from: DJC – on
One of my mates used to get free tickets to TV Ringside (my second date with Ms DJC was an evening at TV Ringside - she was definitely a keeper!).  Bouts between Tony Mundine and Kahu Mahunga were classic contests; Mundine was a clever boxer with a KO punch.  Mahunga could absorb punishment and, if he hit you, you stayed hit.

I met Tony at a NAIDOC ball (I met Lynda Stoner that same night) and what I remember most is how soft his handshake was.  Well, that’s not entirely true; I remember how humble he was and how willing he was to share his story with a white fella that he didn’t know from a bar of soap.

Sadly, Tony’s achievements in the boxing ring, and as an advocate for his people, are overshadowed by some of the foolish comments by his son, Anthony.

RIP Tony, a great boxer and a great Australian.
Mundine Snr was a great in all ways in and out of the ring. With 4 belts going round these days he would've likely been a world champion. As would Benny Briscoe, boy could he bang, and Rodrigo Valdes. In those days though they  all had to get through Carlos Monzon. He was rare air that division with Sugar Ray Robinson before him, and Marvin Hagler after him.

One thing his son could do was sell a fight. Made himself and Danny Green multi-millionaires by simply using his mouth. Mates who pretended to hate each other, which sure drew a gate when they fought. Fev gave the game away one day when he said they were mates. Danny certainly spoke to Fev about that....lol.  If you can use your mouth well and can back it up very well with talent, it's surefire way of getting rich in that sport, as Ali showed. Usually worked it out with your opponent in the lead up.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Wonder in hindsight if we should've rested a heap of players in that last round against Freo. First year of the wildcard and we didn't know the effects although the VFL having it for a few years now might've been a giveaway.

I'm sure sides will be doing that next year now if the opportunity arises to do so.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: laj – on
I think there's talk that Blakey was hard done by. If that's the case, go for him, but we'll have to wait to see what comes out to see if that's correct. Blakey isn't at all happy with the club and wants out.

Heard Chris Davies interviewed on SEN. Says the club wanted a key forward, and running mid, and another running defender come the trade/draft. Blakey, Walker and Amartey would be a decent set of gains.
The problem with the trying to bring these guys is that a brief of evidence could take longer than the trader period date (ie it wont be ready until after the trade period). Who in their right mind would take a risk on a Heeney or a Blakey or a Warner during the trade period with the potential of charges laid hanging over their head. They may have no other option but to sit tight at the Swans (assuming they are wanted and their contracts arent torn up).
Yes, and that is the issue for those players,

They might end up Delisted Free Agents in some cases if they tear up their contracts. Even them investigation may still be ongoing. It'd be hard to trade them and hard to keep them.
6
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: Bluesers – on


Very true,  which is why several of these duds get games every week.   If there's even a remote chance that Blakey wants to leave, then we should make him our trade priority this year.

As good of a player that he is, I don't think we could sell it courtesy of our Carlton Respects campaign.

It would hurt the club and everything its trying to do.
Unless we could somehow manage to get him to be a poster boy of righting wrongs etc etc
Propaganda machine would need to be in orverdrive for that to happen.
I think there's talk that Blakey was hard done by. If that's the case, go for him, but we'll have to wait to see what comes out to see if that's correct. Blakey isn't at all happy with the club and wants out.

Heard Chris Davies interviewed on SEN. Says the club wanted a key forward, and running mid, and another running defender come the trade/draft. Blakey, Walker and Amartey would be a decent set of gains.
7
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: madbluboy – on
If we actually recruited a semi decent ruck/forward we wouldn't have needed to play Young.
It's why I liked Casboult. Jack of all trades, master if none. but was very handy Jack in all of those trades.

Probably going to be left to Harry again next year. We'll likely get Amartey, not my first choice but a decent enough player to support Harry. Makes it a bit easier to play Harry in that role and not have Kemp and Gov left there when he rucks.
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Notice Board (Visitors Enter Here) / Re: Where's EB1?
He's older than I am so he not young, so hopefully nothing has gone amiss. My first thought that something isn't right and he'd be everywhere on here. Top notch poster.    
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: madbluboy – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
The MCG was a fortress for us for a little while and Docklands was an achilles heel. It seems thats flipped around. Problem is, finals arent played at Marvel (see Syd and the SCG).

The problem is no home ground advantage.

To finish top 4 you have to win as many games as you can.

We haven't finished the home and away season top 4 since we left Princes Park.
The Bombers barring 2000/2001 when they were already a powerhouse might be the same.
Yes, that top 4 now is the next step.
10
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: madbluboy – on
One the rain really came down we were screwed. Bailey Smith and co become roo slippery.
They played the percentages. We were trying to take speccies
I didnt feel like the "rain really came down". I looked light and misty from my vantage point. To me, I didnt think the rain was much a of factor.
I'm the same. We went out to a good lead in the wet. Wildcard sides are at a great disadvantage with no break after the H & A season, as it should be too. VFL has shown that in the 3 years they have had it. One win but losses by an average of 60pts for the rest. In control 45 min in but once fatigue kicked in we dropped right off after half time. The wet then mades that even worse. Last 45 min last night it was the equivalent of playing with just one on the bench. We were knackered and Geelong ran away. Maybe some issues with our wet weather play but I'd like more than 2 games to comment on that. We were just out of legs this time.

Top 6 early in a finals series is now so important. Glad we had the wildcard. Doesn't feel like then we were in the 8 one week and straight out first game We had a win, which will only help our young blokes.     

Was a fun ride.     
11
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: JonDorotich – on
Quote from: LordLucifer – on
When the bough breaks ...........

Started off like we wanted to really win it, finished like we were still being coached by Voss.

We played Hawthorn a while back in the rain and got spanked, tonight we didn't handle the slippery conditions again. It's clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.

What is also of serious concern to me is that some of our players who have been adequate for many weeks, crumbled under the pressure and did some extremely stupid things.

Young & Cottrell were braindead tonite, some of the things they did completely defy logic. Kemp going for the left foot checkside from the right forward pocket only to kick the ball in the middle and float it across goal to the opposite pocket where Cottrell took a chest mark. From the set shot, Cottrell kicked across the body and hit the post - two appalling choices let down by poor skills. I also wasn't impressed with Cottrell laughing when he hit the post, seriously champ, this is a cut-throat final which requres a little more focus than what you showed.

We got a few bum decisions from the umpires but that is not why we lost, we failed to maintain the pressure & chase like we have seen for many weeks.

Fraser got a coaching lesson tonite, we were all over them early and made them look second-rate, Scott made some subtle changes and they stormed back into the match.

Yes, it's been a really weird year for us with plenty to like but this elimination final showed just how far off the pace our list is and how we cannot cut corners in our pursuit for the ultimate success.

I’d expect that the club knows full well that it needs to upgrade the likes of McGovern/Kemp/Hollands etc to force our way into the top 4. Our shopping list starts with a consistent key forward who can kick, a mobile back, another ruck option, some pace  on the wings, & a clever small forward etc. tick two or three of those and we’ll have a great year.

This year gave us so much
- a great coach
- the return to form & mobility of Cerra & Walsh & McKay
- 4 new young guns Jagga, Dean, Wilson & Byrne (4x rising stars)
- emergence of Franky Evans!

Next test is securing Cody Walker…

Lots to look forward to.
I'm happy too we kept faith with young blokes while still trying to make wildcard. Going 10-2-1 from round 10 and only squeezing into a wildcard showed us how far we had to come back from. Normally, if you finished like that you'd think you'd be top 2 or top 4 at least. We were cooked.

We are looking at Amartey. To be honest, I'd rather we look at Jesse Hogan for 2 years while we develop another key forward. Help for Harry. add some class to our forward line. We are suddenly in the "window", as you are when you finish "top of the ladder" the last 14 rounds. and that, plus adding the like of Walker, O'Farrell coming back, Carroll mid year, further development in our young blokes. Not to mention looking at good trades. That could put us really close. It's disappointing but one of the more encouraging 8th place finishes.

Depending too on the outcome of the Swans 5 I'd look at Nick Blakey. There is talk that he was hard done by and might not be happy, but that's talk still. If that's the case, go for him. If that's wrong then don't go for him of course. He's sounds like he is not happy.
12
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
It's been a fabulous ride and finally after all these years we go in with some hope next season.

Wildcard showed tonight the benefit of being top 6 at least early in a final series. 2 week break to freshen up, sort injuries and soreness, while the other side is straight up after a hard H & A season. 6 days v 13 days. We started great but were out of legs by mid 2nd qtr. History of the wildcard so far in the VFL shows similar. One wildcard side won the next week, the others have been thumped by an average of a 60pt margin. No issue with that. Top 2 have an advantage sometimes of two home finals finals if needed (ie interstate sides involved) and a double chance, top 4 one home final if needed and a double chance, top 6, a week off, a home final if needed, a week off and play a wildcard side, tired from the previous week. It's how it should be. Wildcard did it job this year in a number of ways.

Now watch the Dogs make a liar of me tomorrow night...haha.
13
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 In Game Angst Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: laj – on
They're fresh, we're cooked. Can always make a scoreboard look worse. Wildcard did it's job and the benefit of finishing top 6. Come in fresh after a break, while the wildcard sides are non-stop after the end of a hard home and way season, Shown the same in the 3 years it's been in the VFL with only one wildcard side winning the EF and the average loss being 10 goals. In most cases the EF's was contested still between sides 5th to 8th but the margins have been much bigger.

That's how it should be too. A big reward for being top 6.
so our boys coughed up a lead, in the wet and this time its not about mentality?


Nup. got a lead in the wet too. Just cooked. Mentally we were good last week. Not an issue there.

Going to find out now what an advantage is it to be top 6 early in a finals series with the wildcard system in. 6 days v 13 days of the H & A season, big help.
15
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 In Game Angst Carlton vs Geelong
Quote from: PaulP – on
Tonight really looks like 5th v 10th.
They're fresh, we're cooked. Can always make a scoreboard look worse. Wildcard did it's job and the benefit of finishing top 6. Come in fresh after a break, while the wildcard sides are non-stop after the end of a hard home and way season, Shown the same in the 3 years it's been in the VFL with only one wildcard side winning the EF and the average loss being 10 goals. In most cases the EF's was contested still between sides 5th to 8th but the margins have been much bigger.

That's how it should be too. A big reward for being top 6.