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Messages - Mantis

31
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
Good ladder result. Obviously need to work on body strength. Inject some speed by foot, and class by disposal. Much work for Voss, but something to show that you can only work with the stock you have. We went far further with a squad that would never beat Brisbane. If we didn’t start as we did it would have been a humiliation. We have some needs and Voss needs to see where he can find what he needs. Great result for the season, but not a flag winning unit just yet. Keep shopping for better stock and develop some of the youth. Well done for the seasons result. Now is time to build on a better 2024.
32
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Pre Game Prognostications
No matter what side is selected, I hope we bring our best pressure game on. Our best pressure game bringing on the heat has beaten Melbourne twice, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, and Sydney. When all sides were in form and had just as many or few outs as we have had. I hope we bring enough hungry efforts and desperation to the contest. That will get us over the line. A genuine team effort. I feel we won’t win this for a fairy tale story. I hope the boys prove I should have never had a doubt.
33
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL 2023 Semi Final Carlton vs Melbourne at the MCG
Quote from: dodge on
Van Rooyen got one week.  Martin's wasn't worse.

We should appeal.  Worst result should be down graded to one week.

I wonder if it is worth it. Even a result of a week still leaves us a little vulnerable against the Demons. Maybe we bite the bullet and learn to survive without him. Bring Jack in for Harry and consider Kennedy or Hollands for Martin. I am wondering if Jack could take the place of Marchbank. I think under pressure Marchy is a slow thinker. I also wonder if Motlop should get a start up forward and consider Dow as a sub. Just some thoughts I guess the coach needs to consider with selections.
34
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Quote from: Mantis on
Kennedy and Silvagni make sense to be in the side if possible. Both have great work ethics and defensive abilities along with goal kicking skill. Great win. If we didn’t have a few of those what  f@#k the moments at point blank range, it would not have been a nail biting close result. We must take the good with the good/bad. Enjoy the win and move to the next contest. We haven’t been in this situation for so long that we need to embrace the glory of victory. I hope Cripps ribs are good. He looked like they are bothering him. Woohoo for now. Woooohooooo.
37
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 on
Petracca is a strong contested Mid, one of the best and very suitable for those conditions, agree on the Cameron sub out.....was a mistake as Cox who had rucked well was knackered.

I think LP took my comment as load up with fast small players. Gawn taking control is the best ruck in the league that you play no matter what the conditions. Not forgetting he is one of the fittest players in terms of endurance. Even though he is huge in size. Petracca is one of the most electric players and a size that can play against tall, small, fast, or strong players. He has to play. Mind you he didn’t do much in the first half. Oliver was almost non existent in the first half. Melbourne fed their talls with poor delivery in the first 3 quarters. Melbourne struggled to have crumbing players pick up the spoils. Melbourne under high pressure struggle. Every side does. They just fail to rebound as well as some sides do. Collingwood showed this tonight. Just as we did when we played them both when the heat is on. They both drive hard in the last quarter but if you establish a decent lead before the last quarter, you are a chance to win. Petracca can only do so much. Same goes for Gawn. My comment was based on a first half of football. A trend. I wouldn’t want us to fully load up with tall marking targets that fail once the ball comes to ground. We still need hard bodies in the middle. This appears where the game is won. At the stoppages which is one of our strengths. Faster running types to carry the ball on the rebound might help us win. Defence, middle of the ground and forward. Don’t bet Charlie will kick a bag of 5 goals, and Harry doing the same. They will bring the ball to ground often and then starts the sh@t fight for the ball. The same goes in our defensive 50m. We can’t load up with the tallest line up we have. Unless there is some leg speed and ability to clear the ball forward. Collingwood are genuine and have a balanced squad. They are the side to beat. Them and Brisbane which we haven’t won against recently or probably long term. We have beaten Collingwood with tough pressure footy. We have to beat Sydney next, which is not a choice thing. It just has to happen no matter what. To potentially see Collingwood in a grand final on the final stage. Oops, I just took off the lid.
39
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Had a good chance to listen to Voss in the press. Spoke very well. Didn’t give too much away as to what was the plan and who is playing and what role for which players. What about the weather, keeping mid players that perform well for the Swans quiet. Voss has a simple solution. You have a system and how to play any side. It doesn’t change much. You have a role so stick to it and do your job. You will lose momentum from time to time. Absorb the pressure and wrestle the momentum back in our favour. Stick to a simple plan and do your job. It doesn’t matter too much about who is selected and in what positions. Do what has worked best in the last 10 weeks and odds are it is a plan that can get the job done no matter who is on the field.

He addressed questions about targeting Cripps and Charlie and stopping their gun players. It isn’t about one or two players. You can’t stop an entire list with too much focus on individuals. Stick to the plan. Wrestle back ever contest possible. Back your confidence and self belief. Enjoy the hype. Embrace the feeling of excitement and have fun. Just remember once the siren goes, to get to your designated task as soon as possible and perform your role. You know what the winning formula looks like and what losing looks like. Do what it was to win and get you into finals. His experience in past finals can only go so far as the game has evolved and changed. This is your opportunity and it sits in your hands. He will back you and trust you will deliver.

He may have made me too confident but he is different to what he was like at the Lions. He is more relaxed and more confident since we almost completely bottomed out 10 weeks ago. He has that cheeky smile answering questions where he believes in this squad. Not that serious look in a coaches face looking stressed and not knowing what to do next.

Even his response as to how Acres is and is it wise to play him if he isn’t 100% ready. Voss said he had his fitness test and passed with flying colours. His is ready to go and eagerly ready for his opportunity to deliver. You would think a coach in this elimination finals situation to be reserved and a little nervous. Has he brought some mongrel into the players mindset? That last game looked like we rotated players to the bench to rest and not go into this final with injuries. It did not look like an all need to win the game at any cost.

Commentator experts still talk about our lack of finals experience and how this could be a disadvantage in this next game against a hungry Swans group that failed last season in the most important game of the year. What about how hungry this group might be to get a taste of a first finals kill in many years.

If we lost this game we would result overall at 7th. Not a disaster. Not great either. If we win it will be at least top 4 as a final result. Voss might get a very good pass for the season or at least resurrection of a potential fail to still get a pass for the entire season. Now we just have to win. There is no other result to look at. The players now need to back the coach in all the way in every contest. Rain, hail or Blizzard it has to be win. At any cost.
40
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
If our mids are switched on and take on the challenge our ruck issues won’t be a serious problem. I think at their best Geelong didn’t worry about the ruck abilities of their players. They would target their opposition mids and be happy to be second to the ball. I just hope the mids are going to turn on the heat. We have enough talent in this area. Especially if Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, Hollands are rested enough and ready to go. Hewett and Kennedy can give us enough strength with bigger bodies and consistent efforts while the previous four give us drive out of the clearances. Which is where this game should be won. Harry better play with some smarts. His best and worst games are way too far apart. He could potentially be our weakest link. Most dangerous forward but a problem if he isn’t doing the team needed role. I still can’t see us losing this. If we do, then I will be totally p#ssed. If we are a genuine threat this should be 20 to 30 points in our favour.
41
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
The fact we have major scalps above us and beaten them with just as many missing players, there is a worry as to winning against us. How to double team our tall towers. Hence we look to open up the forward 50m with other options on a lead. Get our mids to kick for goal on the run or finding new smaller targets. Looking for opportunities they can’t defend so easily by double and triple teaming our big targets. Just became less predictable. No bombing it into the forward 50m unless the foot soldiers are at the drop to clean up the mess and either score with snap shots or lock the ball in. Creating another stoppage. Avoid rebounds out of deference by bombing the ball in without a plan. I don’t see us losing this first finals game. Not if we bring the best intensity and pressure from the first bounce. We should win this game unless the guys without the experience of finals football choke. They just have to treat this as another game. Sydney are a good unit. Not good enough to go all the way or to beat us after a loss. We are also coming off a loss. Kill their dominant mids and they won’t be able to get scoreboard opportunities. I rate our mids slightly above theirs. Even though the All Australian results might say different. My only issue is with our small forwards.  Great on a good day. Terrible if not awake to some hard work. They shouldn’t beat us. Not in my opinion. If they do it shouldn’t be a humiliation. I won’t be angry either way. I am glad we get the experience the players need.
42
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Quote from: rocky on
The number one player, for them, we have to shut out of the game is Gulden. I know it unfashionable nowadays but I would have Cottrell put the hardest tag in AFL history on him and completely obliterate his influence. He worries more than anyone else on that team.

He must have had his name on the football against Melbourne. I am sure he was treated for leather poisoning.
43
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Elimination Final 1 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Quote from: PaulP on
Not at all confident about this game. Leaving aside questions about our available / unavailable personnel, the Swans are, from the coach down, a finals proven, battle hardened outfit, hitting form and self belief at the right time.

Beating them will be proof that we have what it takes to win a pressure game in finals. The players confidence would be sky high after a win here. Beating a side that has been there before will be a decent scalp. Now we just have to find a way to make it happen. I don’t care how and with which players in the side. Surely Voss will know what to say to have our boys ready for this challenge.