Re: 2024 Practice Match Carlton vs Melbourne
Reply #79 –
Yep, understand it's only a pre season game and none of us really know what the coaching group was wanting from the past two hitouts. Also understand we were missing some important players, so you can only comment on what we saw last night.
Without internal knowledge, knee-jerk reactions, assumptions and attempting to use a crystal ball... just commenting on what I saw... It was somewhat nostalgic; how we were a couple of years back. In the first half I thought we were flat and taking the p155. Second half we saw moments of 'us' but the Go Dee would quickly take control of the game again and hit the scoreboard.
Absent from last nights game in large chunks was pressure, hunger and hunting.
Some individual general observations:
Kempy improved from his first half (couldn't have been worse!) and attacked the game more; initiated and took risks.
Young just doesn't seem to have any authority in his game.
Pitto ineffectual.
Cunners at sea in heat, makes too many mistakes and fails to impose himself. When outside and with time, great skills.
Fantasia, showed moments of sublime judgement and skill.
Does O Hollands take possession enough? Works incredibly hard to get to contests and tackle and harass but do we need more?
Really liked: H as second ruck, did well and marked around the ground as well... and is quick over the grass for a big fella. One of our best.
Doc, worked hard and was... well... Doc.
Saady, along with H, one of our best.
Acres, works hard up and down the ground and hurts the opposition with his possessions.
Billy W, liked his cameo, looked like he belonged out there.
Hewett, reliable and solid.
Binns was lively.
TDK, coming along nicely.
Crippa and Cerra, important.
IF (speculating the bleeding obvious) we bring much of the same against BrisVegas, they'll feast on us.
IF (again speculating) we treated this game as an experiment and to gain 'feedback,' get some match time into blokes, try a few things, etc. ...we may just get a surprise with the turnaround in the 'real' stuff next week.