Carlton Supporters Club

The problem with that Thry is that, in our game, the rules change annually (and are applied differently throughout a season) and what may have worked five years ago won’t work now.

All coaches would have spent the off-season developing gameplans to accommodate the new rules.  Some will work well, others will have to be adjusted or abandoned.  I hope that Bolts and his offsiders have come up with a gameplan that works well and is within our players’ capacity.

Of course most sports draw on other codes for ideas and inspiration but to say that inventing new techniques is bollocks is to deny the capacity for original thought that defines our species.

The problem with that Thry is that, in our game, the rules change annually (and are applied differently throughout a season) and what may have worked five years ago won’t work now.

All coaches would have spent the off-season developing gameplans to accommodate the new rules.  Some will work well, others will have to be adjusted or abandoned.  I hope that Bolts and his offsiders have come up with a gameplan that works well and is within our players’ capacity.

Of course most sports draw on other codes for ideas and inspiration but to say that inventing new techniques is bollocks is to deny the capacity for original thought that defines our species.

Levi Casboult

Stats: 11 disposals, four marks, four tackles, three goals
From the coach: Levi’s presence in the air was really important. He took some strong marks overhead and finished off the game really well. He played multiple positions for us — down back, in the ruck and up forward — and he showed great leadership.

DJC...it's hard to get a handle on where he sits at the moment in regards to a position. First choice forwards at the minute will be McKay, Charlie and McGovern with McKay pinch hitting in the ruck for either Kreuzer or Phillips. I can't see them taking a punt on him playing permanently in defence but it could be horses for courses if we're up against a team with 3 big forwards or a ruckman that goes forward and kicks goals...we only have Jones and Weitering at the moment and Goddard for depth I'm assuming....any reports on Goddard from the VFL if he's been playing?

Hugh Goddard

Stats: 14 disposals, seven marks (four contested)
From the coach: Hugh was really solid in defence, and set us up back there with his leadership and his voice. He was quite strong in the air with a few intercept marks, and his reaction time as a big defender was encouraging. It was a strong game from him.

That's encouraging to hear about Goddard. If one of Weitering or Jones went down we'd be buggered for key defenders so at least he's there for backup if needed.

I think if Lynch plays under this 6-6-6 rule Jones will stitch him up, Jones has already shown he can roll in the ruck at VFL level so physically he should be a match and now he has an extra year of defensive training. I suspect Jones already has Lynch covered for pace.

Nthmond will be hell bent on having Lynch take Weitering to the goal-square because Lynch has Weitering covered on the lead, but if our coaches are worth a pinch of goat crap they should ignore that and leave Jones basically tagging Lynch.

I suspect you might find Riewoldt well up the field again this season, I'm much more comfortable with Weitering one on one with Riewoldt, under the new rules and with list changes a lot of Riewoldt's chop out buddies will be ineffective.

I think Richmond will play smart and use the unfit Lynch as a decoy only to drag Jones away and look to isolate Martin close goal and have him one on one where they know the Dusty show will win out as he is too much for most defenders... Our main hope is to dominate the midfield and drag Martin back to playing as a onballer, if Richmond get enough forward opportunities we wont be able to stop them kicking goals IMO.

Agreed EB....we haven't got anybody really that can take Martin when he's sitting forward...doubt too many clubs have really. We're going to have to hope one of McKay, Curnow or McGovern can be an aerial presence up forward because that is one area we could get them.

Lynch has Jones for nous, irrespective of speed, physicality etc.

I doubt under the new rules any team can afford not to have their A-Grade midfield running on ball as much as possible, any suggestions of blokes like Cripps or Dusty playing forward is a furphy.