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21
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by Baggers -
Not a great night for any of the rucks in the air

Cameron- 4 marks 2 contested
Cox- 3 Marks- 1 contested
De Koning- 5 marks - 1 contested
Pittonet-1 mark 1 contested

I suspect all were getting their hands to the ball at different stages but were spoiling each other in most of the contests.

Yep, Pitto does need to take those marks around the ground, but no blame for the loss could be put on the shoulders of our rucks. Likewise, with the exception of Williams, our defence did well until continued pressure and too many inside 50s from Rottingwood.

I also didn't see much wrong with our midfield, apart from being a little loose at times (Walsh) and going backwards too often (Cerra).

Rottingwood came well prepared to counter any and all of our strengths. They were mentally up for the challenge and hunted us really well. Whereas, we looked a little confused at times with a concerning lack of connection around the ground and especially between midfield and forwards. Insufficient confidence?

Williams is not a deep defender. Panics. Much better further up the ground. We were very, very lucky there weren't more free kicks against him as he did 'hang on' to opponents too much. Weiters, Boyd, Gov, Newey, Saad, Cincotta, Cow... are far more reliable in deep defence.

I've banged on before about a 'hunting' mentality. When we have this, we are much, much better. Finessing, is not our thing. We do better when the attitude/focus is simple. We seem to be thinking too much. Too complex trying to implement 'layers?'
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by pinot -
Pittonet got 6 clearances. That's the same number as contested beasts cripps and Hewett.

He only got 1 mark, which was actually contested, but how many times were we trying to target him directly? How many times was he outmarked by his opponent?

I'm far from convinced 2 rucks works. But I think you are blinded by what pitto actually delivers/offers.

5 tackles + 5 clearances is about the average for an AFL ruckman.

I just don't think he is good enough and a liability around the ground and its not based on one game.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by PaulP -
Very strange game. I don't know what to take away from it. 10 or so lead changes, both teams held the lead for roughly the same amount of time. We were smashed in tackles and I50's, lowered our colours slightly in the clearances, everything else pretty much in our favour.

A pretty scrappy affair IMO. Neither team played great footy.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by blueboys_1 -
That last goal looked like a set play gone wrong.  Pitto was arguing with someone after it.  Again - system broke down under pressure.

No one goal side to defend and an open paddock to run into. Listening to after match wrap up on 3AW and they blamed Walsh for getting sucked into the contest as they said Daicos was his man. Have not seem the replay as yet so not sure. Maybe someone can confirm it.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by kruddler -
2 tackles - 1 mark for a ruck playing 70% of the game isn't good enough. Need more than just 30 taps.. lost it due to lack of run - all three losses have been the same way. Filth had three players tackling one Blue because they had superior ground coverage.. not to mention Darcy Cameron was taking important marks in his defensive half. I am not sure how many more games we need to lose in the same manner before the penny drops. Guys like Cripps & Hewett struggle when the opposing team cover the ground like they do.

Pittonet got 6 clearances. That's the same number as contested beasts cripps and Hewett.

He only got 1 mark, which was actually contested, but how many times were we trying to target him directly? How many times was he outmarked by his opponent?

I'm far from convinced 2 rucks works. But I think you are blinded by what pitto actually delivers/offers.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by kruddler -
Fantasia is not only not influencing games positively (cant get the ball and hit the scoreboard), his lack of heart is impacting the games negatively as well.
I saw him shirt hand/short arm it on 2-3 occasions last night.....which is a lot considering how little he was actually near the ball.
Experiment over. Can't carry him anymore.

Pitto dominated early. Went off and the pies dominated. He came back in and we held our own again. Pies nullified his influence in the second half well. Tdk was just another body in the ruck. Thankfully he kicked a couple.

Charlie did not play great, but he was probably up against his hardest opponent of the year who is more slouch, both physically and intellectually. Still kicked a couple.

We lacked run and pressure. Not surprisingly when we dropped Holland. Out of form, sure, but consistent effort and pressure should not be underestimated. Back in next week please.

Williams has a big target on his back and it was made bigger with the early frees against. They were a bit harsh and just about pushed him over the edge. His hammy will probably come as a relief for him.

Young was not terrible for his standards, but is still not performing as well as we need him too. We better have an alternative option lined up in the off-season.

I don't like a loss, but at least we learned a few things about a few people. Which is better learning now than in the finals.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by pinot -
If the whole match was played inside the centre square Pittonet would be the best in the comp but sadly for him there is a whole ground to cover.

2 tackles - 1 mark for a ruck playing 70% of the game isn't good enough. Need more than just 30 taps.. lost it due to lack of run - all three losses have been the same way. Filth had three players tackling one Blue because they had superior ground coverage.. not to mention Darcy Cameron was taking important marks in his defensive half. I am not sure how many more games we need to lose in the same manner before the penny drops. Guys like Cripps & Hewett struggle when the opposing team cover the ground like they do.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 8 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Collingwood
Last post by Lods -
In the cold light of day....
What a difference a goal makes. ;)

If we'd won that game narrowly, or even drawn it, the reponse would be completely different.

We didn't, and it seems to have stung....
-because it was Collingwood.
-because it was only a goal.
-because it was kicked by the opposition player who needed watching more than any other.

One of the things that stood out was that when Collingwood went forward it looked very similar to the way Geelong attacked last week so obviously there's been a bit of homework done.
But that poor defensive display is probably due in a large part to missing personnel. We're desperately missing Saad and McGovern. It also doesn't help when the pressure in the middle and foward is lacking.

There's lots of criticism of the lesser lights in our side, probably fair, but it was also our better, more experienced players who didn't really fire.

Curnow is kicking his share of goals but his second efforts are disappointing.
Pittonet started like a house on fire but once he went off with that knock his influence waned.
(It was actually around that time the Pies gained control)
Williams is not a defender. He spent most of the time watching and manhandling his opponent rather than the ball. He doesn't have the tank for mid-field, and I'm not sure what he could offer a forward line where defensive nous is also a priority for us. I did notice him looking and favouring his ankle at one stage. I'm not sure that achilles is 100%, but with a hamstring injury he's likely to miss a few anyway.

One funny (not so funny) aspect of last night's game was the number of our absolute poor kicks that were sprayed or went straight into another player. That was probably due to pressure at the ball and the inclination to just get ball to foot and hack it out.

We're in a block of games where we are playing top sides. It was always going to be a difficult period and it's been made even more so by missing key players.
We've got within a goal of the premiers, who are just hitting their straps, and we played with many of our players well below their best in terms of skills and intensity.
They were missing a few key players. We were missing more.

Lots to work on, but plenty to work with, especially as players return.