Probably makes sense not to play Lord straight away. Planning would have been going on for a week for the game...he wouldn't have been up to speed. Just from a settling in and confidence aspect no harm in waiting a week and getting himself familiar.
The first issue we faced with Fantasia was getting him on the park. Having achieved that, it's keeping him on the park. The next is how much he can contribute, and that may need to be assessed with some time in VFL as well as AFL
It's nothing special at the moment, but we are only halfway through the year.
I said earlier that I noticed him more on Thursday than in previous games but That may be as good as it gets or...
It may be he's gradually working his way into the team structure and into some form. Or it may just fizzle out and see him play the year in the VFL.
Pressure for his spot needs to come from below, and 15 minutes into the first at VFL level today there not much coming.
I was having a read of the "Welcome to Carlton- Orazio Fantasia" thread.
Most of the concern seemed to be more centered around his durability. Could we get him on the park and keep him on it? Well with 9 games so that doesn't seem to be the issue. So it's more about form
Lots of varying opinions as to the value of the pick-up.
@Kruddler....you definitely weren't a fan posting this a day or two before we picked him up.
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Reply #65 – October 30, 2023, 01:56:22 pm It means we have a day or so to break his legs so we don't sign him.
Too much?
Probably a bit much You sure there's not just a little bit of bias in your assessment
When players are missing such as Motlop and Cottrell you have to find a replacement. The replacement will rarely be as good for a few reasons.
1) They're behind the missing player in the pecking order to start with. 2) They won't exactly be able to perform the same role, due to ability and physical differences. 3) Players missing throw an extra burden not just on the replacement, but also on better players who won't necessarily provide the same support to the fill-in. Everyone's roles and responsibilities are impacted.
Fantasia is obviously the best we have for the task at hand at present (His assigned role) When he's not, and others become available, he'll be out of the side. We have little idea what tasks he's given each week.
It's fine looking for someone else but there would be reasons, probably good ones, why Fantasia is getting a game ahead of others. There may be couple of lads in the VFL who could be given a run but maybe for reasons of development they're being brought along at a more steady pace. But as MBB said, we're going pretty well at present. Keep it stable...and wait for the reinforcements
We laid 75 tackles last night and how many frees did we get for holding the ball? Owies got one under the new interpretation but were there any others?
I believe that Port were awarded three holding the ball frees from 60 tackles.
Yep I don't think the game was played differently at all.
I thought early on that Walsh was getting rid of the ball fairly quickly, but in the end he, Cripps and Curnow played exactly the same as they normally do.
I thought Fantasia did well last night, a couple of almost goals, that one he soccered would've been amazing, but quite a number of deft touches during play. Not gaining a possession but bettering the ball. Putting himself in the right spot, playing his role. Unless he plays like Walshy he will always get the negative comments.
I actually noticed him a bit more last night than I have all year. 10 touches...if he'd kicked that goal and maybe another one we'd probably be saying that wasn't a bad small forward game. But he didn't, and was eventually subbed out so...
If Motlop can have a good game in the VFL he's probably out of the side. He might be out anyway....
The forward line is an area where it's going to be difficult to fit them all in. Williams isn't going back... ever. 3.2 last night but... It's not just the goals he's kicking, it's his positioning and blocking that's making a real difference.
I don't think the change in interpretation of the holding the ball had a great impact on the game. We knew what to expect and there were no real surprises with the decisions. Cripps, Charlie and Walsh played pretty much in their normal fashion. A couple of times they were pinged for the same things they got away with last week, but we knew that was coming.
Probably the best lesson to come out of the game was to continue to keep playing in the normal manner, rather than shutting up shop half way through the last quarter.
I'd be wary of getting sucked in to the cult of individuals. Both these guys have a massive team and support crew behind them. Even though neither of them should be anywhere near the Oval Office, I'd say the chances of them exercising that power in an individualized, unaccountable fashion, are fairly small.
I'm sure Biden is being well looked after. Trump on the other hand is a bit of a loose cannon. He'll be hell bent on squaring up with a few who he feels have done him wrong. He'll surround himself with sycophants in positions of power and they'll mostly do things that will keep them in his good books. I wouldn't be surprised what he gets up to...but a lot of old 'alliances' will be under a bit of stress.
