Not that long ago I would have put this one down as a certain win. Times change. Sydney beat Melbourne in Cairns while we've struggled in recent time.
We need something and we need it fast. Some of our guys need a rest.
Rest the sore, give some others a chance...and give a few others their 'farewell' games.
We look physically and mentally fatigued, even drained, from what I can see, with very little energy left to show full commitment and the will to win - a mental thing. Listening to Hodge's analysis during the game, we seemed to be showing poor awareness to situations and making pretty fundamental errors, especially at crucial times in defence which cost us goals. Seems like most of the team would rather be somewhere else.
In all fairness I have seen it in other teams too, but it seems to be really getting to us now.
We look physically and mentally fatigued, even drained, from what I can see, with very little energy left to show full commitment and the will to win - a mental thing. Listening to Hodge's analysis during the game, we seemed to be showing poor awareness to situations and making pretty fundamental errors, especially at crucial times in defence which cost us goals. Seems like most of the team would rather be somewhere else.
In all fairness I have seen it in other teams too, but it seems to be really getting to us now.
I think that's the key. It's not just happening to our team. The bizarre nature of the season is affecting all teams at different stages.
As teams chances of making finals disappear we're likely to see more capitulations, some quite dramatic.
Players will just want it to be over.
Some have already switched off.
For many there will be real concerns about their playing future.
You can condemn that attitude as unprofessional...but these are unprecedented times
I think that's the key. It's not just happening to our team. The bizarre nature of the season is affecting all teams at different stages.
As teams chances of making finals disappear we're likely to see more capitulations, some quite dramatic.
Players will just want it to be over.
Some have already switched off.
For many there will be real concerns about their playing future.
You can condemn that attitude as unprofessional...but these are unprecedented times
Our blokes have checked out now surely. For me, the one who would benefit most from a rest is Cripps. Teague said in his presser he had a bit of corky last week from the Mayne clash, I think his mind is elsewhere. Send him home to look after his partner. As for rest? Farewell games for Eddie, Levi and Simmo. Even Kruze if he can get up for one more. I want to see what Owies, Ramsey, Philp, Honey have got.
Not that long ago I would have put this one down as a certain win. Times change. Sydney beat Melbourne in Cairns while we've struggled in recent time.
We need something and we need it fast. Some of our guys need a rest.
Swans will have their tails up and some real confidence after their win. This won’t help our chances. Will be interesting to see what the team selection is for this match. Not confident about this game or the next three to be honest. I agree some need a rest. Let some new blood try to show their potential.
Rest the sore, give some others a chance...and give a few others their 'farewell' games.
We can only play 22..... ;D
IN : Kennedy, O'Brien, Gibbons, Marchbank
OUT : Cripps, Docherty, Simpson, Betts,
Make Weitering & Walsh co-captains for the next game.
Swans can be one of the toughest sides to beat. No sides gives more. They might not be so good at present but they give 100% and are well coached. Go there not switched on and they get you. We one of the most difficult too. Bar Hawthorn you can bet no side enjoyed playing us this year.
Hopefully while the maths shows it's possible we keep going and put it out there but that ship probably sail last night. Like to finish with 8 wins. That would be a good season. Then we can mull on what might have been. The biggest games we couldn't finish last qtrs after being on top. Been good against sides of our own standard though.
Would like to see Owies given a taste. He is the only untried player I'd think was important to have a look at by the end of the season. Ramsay we could give a game to I suppose but he is still in his teens whereas Owies is, what, 24? I don't mean that as a criticism, I understand he went out of the system for a while, but it seems to me we need to make a call on him and a look at him in AFL company would help and indeed it would be unfair on him to cut him at the end of season without that look IMO.
The other untried players are Phillips and O'Dwyer who I don't think are near it and the injured Kemp.
Others I'd like to give more time to this year are O'Brien who needs to show something and Macreadie who I really rate if he can stay on the park. If Cripps needs a rest play Kennedy in the role and see if he has what it takes. I don't think we can go with both in the same side too often unless they switch the centre/third key forward roles between themselves but that means having to make choices about other key forwards. We have a plethora of key forwards ATM but that doesn't mean we should play them all at once, much less then go 2 ruckmen into the bargain.
The team looked tired last night. We are back on Tuesday night Rotation time perhaps? Reading the comments about the recent scratch matches suggests to me that there are a number of the younger players who they would want to keep working on at that level at the moment - Ramsay and Philp being 2. If you really wanted to do a refresh without going uber-inexperienced you could look at bringing in Lang - I don't think there is a future for him but as a stop-gap if we rest the experienced guys en masse I wouldn't object. Other than Murphy who I think is trying his guts out and not looking tired there is no shortage of senior guys and indeed not so senior guys (eg Willo) who could do with a rest. Even Murphy might struggle to come up again so quickly. Not that I expect them to do this, nor do I think mass rotations is the way to go but if they wanted to how about this team:
OUT: Cottrell Dow Polson (omitted) Simpson Williamson Cripps Casboult Betts Pittonet Murphy (managed)
IN: Plowman Macreadie Kennedy Cuningham Gibbons (experienced returning from break) Lang (in for experience) O'Brien (time to show something) TDK (still a couple of years off his best but AFL-ready) Honey (kid) Owies (debutant but not a kid)
Thats TEN changes - out with 4 fairly young/inexperienced players, 1 slightly more experienced , 1 struggling superstar and 3 veterans, in with 5 guys with decent experience, 2 with a bit of experience and 2 kids 1 on debut. Yes we lose top end experience but they are all as it seems to me struggling ATM and facing a second short turnaround.
Here is how I would have them line up:
SPS Weitering Plowman
Docherty Macreadie Newnes
Fisher Kennedy Walsh
Cuningham McKay Gibbons
Jones McGovern Owies
TDK Martin E Curnow
Honey Lang O'Brien Setterfield
Jones can give TDK a chop out in the ruck to save McKay doing the role. McKay to push up as the outlet for defenders, McGovern leading into the space behind him Jones staying close to goal to give a contest for the long bomb in if nothing else presents. Don't expect him to be a goal machine but to contest hit packs hard, create some chaos and not be outmarked too often. McKay and McGovern (especially the latter) to be expected to work hard and keep presenting. If defensive talls get exposed Jones or McGovern can be thrown back. Fisher back in the middle where he wants to be and a look at some of the younger players we need to find out about.
MC will no doubt keep some of the older guys, hope they work out which ones have the legs to go again Tuesday, that is more crucial than form at the moment.
IN : Kennedy, O'Brien, Gibbons, Marchbank
OUT : Cripps, Docherty, Simpson, Betts,
Make Weitering & Walsh co-captains for the next game.
I shared my team review spreadsheet with a mate today and in, I had Walsh and Weiters as co-captains permanently.
Would like to see Owies given a taste. He is the only untried player I'd think was important to have a look at by the end of the season. Ramsay we could give a game to I suppose but he is still in his teens whereas Owies is, what, 24? I don't mean that as a criticism, I understand he went out of the system for a while, but it seems to me we need to make a call on him and a look at him in AFL company would help and indeed it would be unfair on him to cut him at the end of season without that look IMO.
The other untried players are Phillips and O'Dwyer who I don't think are near it and the injured Kemp.
Others I'd like to give more time to this year are O'Brien who needs to show something and Macreadie who I really rate if he can stay on the park. If Cripps needs a rest play Kennedy in the role and see if he has what it takes. I don't think we can go with both in the same side too often unless they switch the centre/third key forward roles between themselves but that means having to make choices about other key forwards. We have a plethora of key forwards ATM but that doesn't mean we should play them all at once, much less then go 2 ruckmen into the bargain.
The team looked tired last night. We are back on Tuesday night Rotation time perhaps? Reading the comments about the recent scratch matches suggests to me that there are a number of the younger players who they would want to keep working on at that level at the moment - Ramsay and Philp being 2. If you really wanted to do a refresh without going uber-inexperienced you could look at bringing in Lang - I don't think there is a future for him but as a stop-gap if we rest the experienced guys en masse I wouldn't object. Other than Murphy who I think is trying his guts out and not looking tired there is no shortage of senior guys and indeed not so senior guys (eg Willo) who could do with a rest. Even Murphy might struggle to come up again so quickly. Not that I expect them to do this, nor do I think mass rotations is the way to go but if they wanted to how about this team:
OUT: Cottrell Dow Polson (omitted) Simpson Williamson Cripps Casboult Betts Pittonet Murphy (managed)
IN: Plowman Macreadie Kennedy Cuningham Gibbons (experienced returning from break) Lang (in for experience) O'Brien (time to show something) TDK (still a couple of years off his best but AFL-ready) Honey (kid) Owies (debutant but not a kid)
Thats TEN changes - out with 4 fairly young/inexperienced players, 1 slightly more experienced , 1 struggling superstar and 3 veterans, in with 5 guys with decent experience, 2 with a bit of experience and 2 kids 1 on debut. Yes we lose top end experience but they are all as it seems to me struggling ATM and facing a second short turnaround.
Here is how I would have them line up:
SPS Weitering Plowman
Docherty Macreadie Newnes
Fisher Kennedy Walsh
Cuningham McKay Gibbons
Jones McGovern Owies
TDK Martin E Curnow
Honey Lang O'Brien Setterfield
Jones can give TDK a chop out in the ruck to save McKay doing the role. McKay to push up as the outlet for defenders, McGovern leading into the space behind him Jones staying close to goal to give a contest for the long bomb in if nothing else presents. Don't expect him to be a goal machine but to contest hit packs hard, create some chaos and not be outmarked too often. McKay and McGovern (especially the latter) to be expected to work hard and keep presenting. If defensive talls get exposed Jones or McGovern can be thrown back. Fisher back in the middle where he wants to be and a look at some of the younger players we need to find out about.
MC will no doubt keep some of the older guys, hope they work out which ones have the legs to go again Tuesday, that is more crucial than form at the moment.
The days of Jones playing fwd are over so you can forget that, he's either back or gonski.
For all the whinging I have heard from people (not having a crack at you by the way) about SPS being played out of position, everytime a side is listed he is always in the backline. And there is a reason for that I reckon, he probably can't play anywhere else. If he was any good to play mid or forward, and if that's also his preference, wouldn't it be logical that Teague would have played him there by now? But he hasn't so that's a big tell. I personally hope they trade him as I have had a gut full of his insipid efforts.
@ GIC & ianh
I was writing this at the same time GIC posted and hadn't read ianh's post.
Looks like we agree/ don't agree on a few things ;D
In a normal season I wouldn’t suggest that we don’t try to win every game. But this is such a wacky season that it deserves a wacky ending
Jones to the forward line and/or an on/ball role. Let’s see what he’s learnt playing on the key forwards (and get him away from Willo)
Not too far though because Williamson goes to the wing and space.
Casboult to defence…he’s played there before and done OK.
SPS -midfield and half forward.
McGovern- A bit has been made of the fact that the Gov still contributes to the side even if he’s not impacting statistically. Change that up and make him the main target. Let Harry play the decoy role.
Alternatively…clear everyone, but perhaps a small forward, well out of the goal area and let Harry go one on one with his defender. Harry’s fairly quick for a big bloke
Everyone that hasn’t had one gets a game in the last few…especially Owies
I only suggest the Jones forward one because I'm interested to see if by playing on some of the best forwards he's learnt afew forward tricks. SPS gives us little as a defender ...mid/forward or trade
Agree with GTC on Jones...you can only be reborn so many times and its backline or the bush for him now.
Dont mind the Weitering/Walsh leadership idea either...said on the other thread we lack leadership and leaders who can read the play and organise the team onfield when under some heat and those two are probably the most two mature players in the team for the future.
We didnt recruit McGovern to provide spiritual guidance or Feng shui on the field, if he is playing forward its goals or goal assists or he doesnt get a game.
If Eddie wasnt Eddie he would be dropped, there was always a risk he wouldnt work out and guess what it hasnt worked out and we need to get a real smart young small forward, in fact we probably need a couple.
Maybe Eddie can play the last three games with Owies and teach him something, the strangest thing about recruiting Eddie was not recruiting an apprentice for him to train this season.
For all the whinging I have heard from people (not having a crack at you by the way) about SPS being played out of position, everytime a side is listed he is always in the backline. And there is a reason for that I reckon, he probably can't play anywhere else. If he was any good to play mid or forward, and if that's also his preference, wouldn't it be logical that Teague would have played him there by now? But he hasn't so that's a big tell. I personally hope they trade him as I have had a gut full of his insipid efforts.
The reason he is picked, and played, in the backline is because we are trying to build a backline 'unit'. A group of players that play together over a long period of time and they know what their teammates can and will do at any given opportunity.
There was some stat i saw recently that said Jones+Weitering+Simpson+Plowman+SPS have played in the backline together for 50-odd games or something like that. I might get some names and numbers wrong, but you get the point.
As for why he personally is played there, because we need run and carry and good ball movement coming out of defense. He is it.
Is he perfect? No.
Does he try and be too cute sometimes? Sure.
Is he still amongst our best users of the ball? Yes.
Perhaps if Newman didn't go down with his knee, and Simpson, Docherty and Plowman also managed to stay fit, SPS would be moved further up the ground.
Can he play there? Yes.
Is he tough enough and will he put his body on the line? Yes.
I did an in depth analysis of SPS and his tackle numbers you may recall (boomer ;))
He averages more tackles a game than almost everyone on our list. IIRC, only Cripps and maybe Curnow had a higher tackles per game average.
Further analysis shows that 1 in every 10 games, he will get 8 tackles or more. He has hit 10 tackles, twice.
Only twice in his 76 games has he gone without a tackle.
1 was when we dominated the dogs this year...and they barely had the ball for us to tackle them.
The other was when he got 35 touches playing midfield, also against the dogs, when we cracked the ton against them last year.
So sure, have an opinion, but "insipid efforts" should be applied to many a carlton jumper wearing player before it gets directed at SPS IMHO.
If the rest of the team tackled like him, we'd be in a better place.
It just screams stupid that we retired Daisy way too early. Still angry about that.
It just screams stupid that we retired Daisy way too early. Still angry about that.
Yes and no.
We probably expected Stocker to come on given he showed signs last year.
We probably didn't expect Newman to have done his knee (we have been 1 HBF down from a knee 3 years in a row now - Doc 2, Newman 1)
We probably didn't expect Marchbank to basically miss the entire year as well.
Would like to see Owies given a taste. He is the only untried player I'd think was important to have a look at by the end of the season. Ramsay we could give a game to I suppose but he is still in his teens whereas Owies is, what, 24? I don't mean that as a criticism, I understand he went out of the system for a while, but it seems to me we need to make a call on him and a look at him in AFL company would help and indeed it would be unfair on him to cut him at the end of season without that look IMO.
The other untried players are Phillips and O'Dwyer who I don't think are near it and the injured Kemp.
Others I'd like to give more time to this year are O'Brien who needs to show something and Macreadie who I really rate if he can stay on the park. If Cripps needs a rest play Kennedy in the role and see if he has what it takes. I don't think we can go with both in the same side too often unless they switch the centre/third key forward roles between themselves but that means having to make choices about other key forwards. We have a plethora of key forwards ATM but that doesn't mean we should play them all at once, much less then go 2 ruckmen into the bargain.
The team looked tired last night. We are back on Tuesday night Rotation time perhaps? Reading the comments about the recent scratch matches suggests to me that there are a number of the younger players who they would want to keep working on at that level at the moment - Ramsay and Philp being 2. If you really wanted to do a refresh without going uber-inexperienced you could look at bringing in Lang - I don't think there is a future for him but as a stop-gap if we rest the experienced guys en masse I wouldn't object. Other than Murphy who I think is trying his guts out and not looking tired there is no shortage of senior guys and indeed not so senior guys (eg Willo) who could do with a rest. Even Murphy might struggle to come up again so quickly. Not that I expect them to do this, nor do I think mass rotations is the way to go but if they wanted to how about this team:
OUT: Cottrell Dow Polson (omitted) Simpson Williamson Cripps Casboult Betts Pittonet Murphy (managed)
IN: Plowman Macreadie Kennedy Cuningham Gibbons (experienced returning from break) Lang (in for experience) O'Brien (time to show something) TDK (still a couple of years off his best but AFL-ready) Honey (kid) Owies (debutant but not a kid)
Thats TEN changes - out with 4 fairly young/inexperienced players, 1 slightly more experienced , 1 struggling superstar and 3 veterans, in with 5 guys with decent experience, 2 with a bit of experience and 2 kids 1 on debut. Yes we lose top end experience but they are all as it seems to me struggling ATM and facing a second short turnaround.
Here is how I would have them line up:
SPS Weitering Plowman
Docherty Macreadie Newnes
Fisher Kennedy Walsh
Cuningham McKay Gibbons
Jones McGovern Owies
TDK Martin E Curnow
Honey Lang O'Brien Setterfield
Jones can give TDK a chop out in the ruck to save McKay doing the role. McKay to push up as the outlet for defenders, McGovern leading into the space behind him Jones staying close to goal to give a contest for the long bomb in if nothing else presents. Don't expect him to be a goal machine but to contest hit packs hard, create some chaos and not be outmarked too often. McKay and McGovern (especially the latter) to be expected to work hard and keep presenting. If defensive talls get exposed Jones or McGovern can be thrown back. Fisher back in the middle where he wants to be and a look at some of the younger players we need to find out about.
MC will no doubt keep some of the older guys, hope they work out which ones have the legs to go again Tuesday, that is more crucial than form at the moment.
Change a few for recovery but we don't want to over-analyse. We didn't lose the last two game because we were $hit, after all we led them for most of the game, we lost because we $hit the bed in the last qtr needing to win to play finals. Without that mental issue we'd be playing next month in finals. We may well go 8-9 but should've been more 10-7 at least. We $hit the bed late against Melbourne, Port, Collingwood and GWS. Led the Eagles by a fair way too before falling apart. Did get one back against Freo but even then goalkicking nearly cost us after we dominated after qtr time. Need to sort that mental aspect. Usually comes with confidence. After years of losing we don't have much of that at all unfortunately.
We showed as much confidence as spanner has in Murf.
Change a few for recovery but we don't want to over-analyse. We didn't lose the last two game because we were $hit, after all we led them for most of the game, we lost because we $hit the bed in the last qtr needing to win to play finals. Without that mental issue we'd be playing next month in finals. We may well go 8-9 but should've been more 10-7 at least. We $hit the bed late against Melbourne, Port, Collingwood and GWS. Led the Eagles by a fair way too before falling apart. Did get one back against Freo but even then goalkicking nearly cost us after we dominated after qtr time. Need to sort that mental aspect. Usually comes with confidence. After years of losing we don't have much of that at all unfortunately.
Hawks game Jim, 5 up...
Saw a picture today titled Carltons costly qtrs
rnd 3 v Geel 4Q. -33 Margin
rnd 2 v Mel 1Q -32 Margin
rnd 9 v Haw 2Q -32
rnd 1 v Rich 1Q -31
rnd 14 v Coll 4Q -26
rnd 15 v GWS 4Q -24
rnd 11 v WC 3Q -24
rnd 5 v STK 1Q -20
rnd 12 v Fre 1Q -19
Depending on fitness:
IN: Kennedy, Cunningham, TDK, O'Brien
OUT: Dow, Polson, Pittonet, SPS
Not a fan of O'Brien but if he's part of the long term plan then we need to see if he's up to it. SPS just looks lazy and not working hard enough.
There's a few other possibilities.....resting Betts, Cripps etc.
Agree with other comments....doesn't matter where Sydney are on the ladder, always tough to beat....with Parker and Kennedy in the middle we'll be up against it.
Think we would have to view a loss to Sydney as a setback, they really are not what they were and without Buddy lacking some teeth down forward.
You look at their last FF line of Wicks McCartin and Mclean and most of us wouldnt even know who they were and what they do.
FB Melican, CHB Allir, C Rowbottom.....kids and hopefuls....
No Rampe down back either, even McGovern and Dow should be able to get a kick vs this mob.
Honestly you would expect to beat them by 5 goals easy if we can kick straight, a loss vs them would be totally unacceptable.
Think we would have to view a loss to Sydney as a setback, they really are not what they were and without Buddy lacking some teeth down forward.
You look at their last FF line of Wicks McCartin and Mclean and most of us wouldnt even know who they were and what they do.
FB Melican, CHB Allir, C Rowbottom.....kids and hopefuls....
No Rampe down back either, even McGovern and Dow should be able to get a kick vs this mob.
Honestly you would expect to beat them by 5 goals easy if we can kick straight, a loss vs them would be totally unacceptable.
Matchup of the week...
Whoever plays on Papley.
Papley is a bit out of form, but still the type that we will struggle to contain. If Polson plays, i suspect he will get first crack.
I'd be inclined to give Cottrell a go at him too.
If we control that matchup, we'll have enough around the ground to get over them.
.....assuming we can work out how to kick the ball in the meantime. Between the BIG STICKS!
Make Weitering & Walsh co-captains for the next game.
Why?? If that’s the perceived scenario, just give it to Weitering! More mature, more experienced, ready for, and in a position to accept, extra responsibility. Just let Walsh develop his game.
Just have to end the year off with a few more wins in games especially in the next 2 games when we are expected to win.
Don’t get all the resting players to play kids for the sake of it considering where we are played in this rebuild.
Vital we show the footy world we have taken a clear step up and are on the right track and resting our better players to give kids a run is too risky imo as wins are what we are going to be measured off and considering the need to attract players in trade week just can’t afford to drop games in the next 2 weeks.
Matchup of the week...
Whoever plays on Papley.
Papley is a bit out of form, but still the type that we will struggle to contain. If Polson plays, i suspect he will get first crack.
I'd be inclined to give Cottrell a go at him too.
If we control that matchup, we'll have enough around the ground to get over them.
.....assuming we can work out how to kick the ball in the meantime. Between the BIG STICKS!
Papley is a good mark for his inches and I reckon Polson would struggle to cover him in the air but would have the leg speed to keep with on the lead and in general play. Williamson would have the size and is mobile enough but I'm not sure his head in the right space to handle the job.
Think we would have to view a loss to Sydney as a setback, they really are not what they were and without Buddy lacking some teeth down forward.
You look at their last FF line of Wicks McCartin and Mclean and most of us wouldnt even know who they were and what they do.
FB Melican, CHB Allir, C Rowbottom.....kids and hopefuls....
No Rampe down back either, even McGovern and Dow should be able to get a kick vs this mob.
Honestly you would expect to beat them by 5 goals easy if we can kick straight, a loss vs them would be totally unacceptable.
Hopefully we don't have a let down now we are not playing finals. That could be tough to get up from mentally. Swans aren't a good side but they give you 100% so if any side is down on the day against them they'll get you or at least make life a misery.
Hopefully we don't have a let down now we are not playing finals. That could be tough to get up from mentally. Swans aren't a good side but they give you 100% so if any side is down on the day against them they'll get you or at least make life a misery.
Mathematically still possible providing the tatts numbers fall our way and I'd be hoping we can beat up on the Swans and
iron out a few problems like Harry kicking straight, Mcgovern and Dow just getting a kick and Cripps could practice his goalkicking too. But I get what you mean Jim...we are Carlton and doing the obvious easy things well and winning games we are expected too isnt a script we usually get right but we have to finish well and not waste the season.
swans play that running handball game ,did against gws and it worked i hope our selection panel bring in some runners into team and not same personnel
The boys owe us this one!
I notice The TT has stopped talking 'winning' and fallen back on old faithful, 'growth' & 'learning'. Sound familiar? However, in his media conference today he sure did say the right things and identify the glaring weaknesses needing attention. Like what he said about interviews with all the players and apparently, to a man, all players wanting to be a part of next year. A very good indicator. And I also like what he said about Crippa.
Owies to debut
Owies to debut
Excellent. Good to see how the lad is developing.
Excellent. Good to see how the lad is developing.
Im actually keen to see how he goes, absolutely have to reward form, he has been ripping it up in the 2's albeit the 2020 version. He has ticked all the boxes from the outside looking in, if nothing else it puts pressure on those who are feeling like they are auto selections.
Dow has been dropped
In: Owies, Cuningham, De Koning, Plowman
Out: Pittonet, Betts, Dow, Polson
Don't mind those ins....would've liked Kennedy in there.....bigger body in the guys to compete with Kennedy/Parker at times.
Sydney no change.
Betts and Pittonet (managed)
Dow and Polson simply dropped.
In: Owies, Cuningham, De Koning, Plowman
Out: Pittonet, Betts, Dow, Polson
Good to see Owies and TDK get gigs. I wonder how many more woeful games Casboult gets to play before he's dropped? But then, he, like Brackets is one of The TTs boys. Hope Macreadie gets a gig before the year is out. I wonder which qtr will be Cuningham's good qtr (would have chosen Bam Bam ahead of him).
But I do see the logic - TDK for Pitto, Plow for Polson, Cuningham for Dow and Owies for Edwardo.
Baggers....Casboult might play a bit more in the ruck this week and split it with TDK.....he's been down for sure but I reckon the last couple of seasons he's been pretty valuable....very much a confidence player....just needs to clunk a couple of grabs and pot a goal early and he seems to go from there.
Good to see Owies and TDK get gigs. I wonder how many more woeful games Casboult gets to play before he's dropped? But then, he, like Brackets is one of The TTs boys. Hope Macreadie gets a gig before the year is out. I wonder which qtr will be Cuningham's good qtr (would have chosen Bam Bam ahead of him).
But I do see the logic - TDK for Pitto, Plow for Polson, Cuningham for Dow and Owies for Edwardo.
Baggers I wonder if Casboult is so "valuable" to the team because he is the ultimate swingman? If the ruckman goes down, he can hold the ruck. If a fwd goes down, he can hold down a key fwd post. If a Key Pos Defender goes down, he showed last year he can go back and do that also. Whilst I agree his form has been ordinary, he is a a rare commodity. Thoughts?
Dow and Polson need games, also weren't that bad.
Dow and Polson need games, also weren't that bad.
Did they do enough to hold their spot? No.
Owies deserves his spot. Been tearing it up in the 2's.
Plowman was only out because he was injured.
Cuningham was only out because he was injured.
TDK is in rotation with Pittonet.
I have to be up at 4.30am the next morning for an early client so not sure if I can watch it. Didn't realise it was an 8.10pm start.
Good to see Owies and TDK get gigs. I wonder how many more woeful games Casboult gets to play before he's dropped? But then, he, like Brackets is one of The TTs boys. Hope Macreadie gets a gig before the year is out. I wonder which qtr will be Cuningham's good qtr (would have chosen Bam Bam ahead of him).
But I do see the logic - TDK for Pitto, Plow for Polson, Cuningham for Dow and Owies for Edwardo.
Casboult's needed for ruck duties. A couple of marks early while on the ball and he's away. That's how he rolls.
Totally agree with comments re Casboult and his worth re flexibility and ruck back-up, even down back, but he has stunk the place up with his forward work in the past 6 weeks or so. He's a confidence player for sure and early touches will help enormously... but please let's not park him up forward - more responsibility for H and Brackets.
In: Owies, Cuningham, De Koning, Plowman
Out: Pittonet, Betts, Dow, Polson
Don’t mind the ins. Need to develop a small forward. I would have like to see Josh Honey get more of a run. The last 3 are all best 22 for mine.
Would like to see Dow get more games but that would mean resting Cripps or Murphy.
I notice The TT has stopped talking 'winning' and fallen back on old faithful, 'growth' & 'learning'. Sound familiar? However, in his media conference today he sure did say the right things and identify the glaring weaknesses needing attention. Like what he said about interviews with all the players and apparently, to a man, all players wanting to be a part of next year. A very good indicator. And I also like what he said about Crippa.
Once the season is shot, you can do that.
There is a lot of chat about Dow due to Diesel's comments.
I'd be more concerned about Pittonet being "Managed" just three games after having a week off with injury, and De Koning is back in, I worry that "Managed" might be quite a kind word.
If a player isn't playing well then managed = dropped.
Don’t mind the ins. Need to develop a small forward. I would have like to see Josh Honey get more of a run. The last 3 are all best 22 for mine.
Would like to see Dow get more games but that would mean resting Cripps or Murphy.
I'd like to see more of Honey, plenty to work with there and gives us a different type of player.
There is a lot of chat about Dow due to Diesel's comments.
I'd be more concerned about Pittonet being "Managed" just three games after having a week off with injury, and De Koning is back in, I worry that "Managed" might be quite a kind word.
It was always the plan. Drop TDK, play Pittonet. Drop Pittonet, play TDK.
When a bloke is doing 90% of the ruckwork, you don't want him playing 3 games in 9 days.
Okay the AFL site indicates the game should be on 7 Mate, but I cannot see it - is it non-Melbourne only?