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Messages - ElwoodBlues1

2
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2024 Rd 2: Carlton vs North Melbourne at Arden St
Our boys start their season in Rd 2 at Arden St against the 2nd places North at 12:30 on Friday 29th March.

To be honest, our pre-season form hasn't been very good, but we've never had anything like our full complement of AFL or VFL players available. It will be interesting to see just who we select, and how intense we really are.

To be honest, I'd like to see more intensity from our VFL side. We haven't really shown a lot of that under Power. Power has been very good at the development side and dealing with our kids, but he hasn't set the world on fire as a coach. Granted that we'll have a few guys back, I'd like to see a harder edge to our game.
Its that balance of coaching for wins and or development only and I think the latter is the priority. When Carlton teams were good in the 60's, 70's etc I never remember the twos being overly successful.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
I'll hazard and guess and say, and I do so with sadness, Corey D will be in strife at years end. He would need to have a cracker of a year to avoid the chop me thinks.
We could have been brave and had a nibble at Ginnivan...yep he is a DH off the field and a bit of a problem child but so was Stengle when he arrived at Geelong . For all Ginnivans failings though he kicks goals and can win games and I reckon Hawthorn might have got a bargain provided he can stay out of trouble.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
I like Martin, Motlop and Cottrell as my small forward setup, dont think C Durdin has shown much during his intermittent senior appearances as he just cant get the ball enough and Orazio looks like he still has some skills/smarts but he is off the pace of the game and late with his decision making and needs a series of VFL games to work his way back into form. SANFL footy is a step or two behind AFL footy and Fantasia needs more work and may be a better player in the back half of the season or even 2025 if he can avoid his usual injury vacations.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Young has done the job for us in both games and deserves to keep his place.
Agree with DJ on Kemp...need to find appropriate matchups and remember he isn't a true key defender but more of a fill in out of necessity and with Weitering and Young in the team they get the KP defensive responsibilities first.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Dow and Obrien continued playing U18's footy at senior level and couldnt handle the pressure being thrown in at the deep end and the expectations of being top ten picks. TDK was pick 30 and with that comes less expectation and being a big bloke always had some leeway and allowance for a slower development if needed. Like his brother though he has always looked comfortable and has made steady progress to the point now he is the clear No 1 ruck at the club like his brother who is the clear No 1 key defender at Geelong. Will be interesting to see how Paddy Dow goes at the Saints and the expectations that Lyon and SOS put on him along with the rank and file.

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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Both the umpiring and commentary were horrendous in the game too......I expect BT to provide ludicrous knee jerk comments but found Joel Selwood both inadequate vocally and uninspiring with his mono tone voice plus he sat on the fence with his thoughts and was unable to provide any insight and was unwilling to commit himself on any controversial 50/50 play umpiring decision etc.
As for the umpiring, about as consistent and accurate as the match review committee and then I read that ex commentator and professional knob Wayne Carey thought the umpires wanted us to win the game and were favouring us with free kicks.... he must have missed the charities to Lynch.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Displays great athleticism and skill but makes too many errors due to indecisiveness and second-guessing himself.  Needs to create space for himself when he has the ball instead of hovering in the midst of the action.
Agree...does a lot of good stuff but then takes the gloss off his work with some poor disposal usually caused by panicking in traffic either real or perceived. I think these games without Weitering and with extra responsibility are good for him and I see a good long term player who will only get better.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 3 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne
Fingers crossed that we can get Weitering, Martin and Motlop back for this. Larkey will have a field day on Young otherwise.

It would be strange seeing as many as 4 changes to the team after two wins...

IN: Weitering, Martin, Motlop, Hollands.

OUT: Young, Fantasia, Durdin, Cunningham

Working on the assumption that Walsh is still a couple of weeks away.
Larkey usually does well on Weitering too if he gets supply, we should win this game vs Clarkson's kids but after last night we will need a better start and more intensity for four quarters. Id expect Charlie and Harry to have it all their way down forward and be looking for a percentage booster. Not sure Id be risking all our injury returning players but would be happy to see Weitering return to steady the backline as MBB suggested..
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Seemed to get dragged down to Richmond's level playing a messy scrappy game style that was error filled and we lacked cohesion even though we had control of play for most of the game.
Happy to take the win and add another 4 points like I said in the preview thread, didnt think we had that many great players and  probably got lucky the Tigers racked up some injuries and ran out of fresh legs and man power.
McGovern played one of his better games , Newman was reliable and credit to Voss for moving Charlie down back in those last critical minutes and he helped us hang on. Lewis Young looked vulnerable and Richmond probably wished they had two Baltas so they could play one at each end.
Rucks I thought were even and TDK did ok vs a rusty Nankervis who was also competitive......Harry was handy again in his new role and I thought Cripps was a good player in close and was my BOG.
The small forwards were non events for both teams although Owies kicked a couple of goals and did his job from limited opportunities....Fantasia was 44% DE until he went off and he doesnt do enough or use the ball well enough at this stage to warrant a game IMO.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
That's how I see it.

I think fans are giving Fantasia credits that as yet remain undeserved, for a variety of reasons he's been ordinary since leaving the filth.

As you mention we know Owies has missed a bunch of pre-season, I think I posted as much in the pre-game questioning about how they could all be playing not having stepped on the field yet for 2024. But at least we saw Owies willing to do the work to get contests, that's his gig, and as I see it that's the modern small forward role. FWIW, I thought Hollands games was similar, he was all over the ground but not very effective or influential particularly before 1/2-time.

They all looked better once we got on a roll, but that can't keep happening.

The cameo stuff some fans like is in my perspective way over-rated.
Agree....he is a stylish player which always hides imperfections from a distance imho and while I agree that small forward can be  a graveyard position if the team is travelling poorly and opportunities are limited I dont see the hype around him even when he had his glory days at Essendon. If you are going to be a 10-12 possession or less a game player then those possies have to be exceptional quality and deliver big plays for the time along the lines of what Jack Martin creates.
No doubting his skills and he is a pleasant player to watch but I want to see more substance and game changing plays if he is going to hold his place ahead of more workmanlike players like Owies, Fogarty etc.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
It was nowhere near enough for AFL, and further Fantasia DE went at just 45% in gathering those 1%ers, if you go with a DE under 50%, that means you helped them more than you helped us!
Agree, with Motlop and Martin to come back in he needs some decent games with goals and possessions.
Hopefully all this competition for places produces more effort from the candidates and keeps our small forwards active in games knowing there are replacements waiting to take their place.
Looking forward to seeing Moir get a game and being a bit different in style to the others...