I am concerned that Harry's return isn't an automatic bonus for the forward line.
When Harry was out injured our midfield and small forwards seemed to be released from the predictable entry into the forward line of looking for either Harry or Charlie who nearly always led to the flanks. Instead, players went straight down the middle and were prepared to kick for goal from within the fifty metre arc, putting immediate pressure on the opposition defence. Our goals to points scored ratio improved and there was an immediate lift in the performances of Fogarty, Motlop, Martin and Owies.
As an example, in the Collingwood match Cincotta took a mark on the fifty metre arc, just went back and kicked a goal instead of trying to short pass.
My concern is that Harry's return will make it easier for the opposition defence if we return to the predictable method of entry into the forward line.
Over the past seasons I have been critical of Carlton for using pick 3 to select Dow. But on his recent performances he has finally arrived and I would hate to see him running around next year in another team's jumper.
I know that when we have a full list available there is not room for him in the midfield, but given the hard tackling, high pressure game we now play what is the likelihood of ever having an injury free list?
In no particular order these are what I see as his main attributes: He is only 23 He has developed physically into a very solid unit He is not injury prone His kicking skills are now at an acceptable level He is hard at the ball and helps to take the pressure off Cripps.
I believe he has shown enough to be offered a contract.
In principle I support a rail link to the airport, but from a practical point of view I would never use it if there was not an upgrade to the current network.
i live about 12ks south of the CBD. If the proposed link is built to the airport I would need to get a taxi to my local station, then get off at Southern Cross to catch a train to the airport, lugging suitcases with me.
It's just more convenient to get a taxi direct from home to the airport, even though the cost would no doubt be higher.
The driving force behind the fury and insults hurled at the Australian team has not been mentioned: English exceptionalism.
Scratch the thin veneer of English civility and you will find the long-held belief that Australians are second class citizens incapable of meeting the professional and educational standards of the UK and Europe but are tolerated provided they know their place.
This was my experience when I visited England in 2017 to discuss a business venture and clearly nothing has changed.
If England were truely concerned about the spirit of the game we would have seen Stokes call out Bairstow immediately after his attempt to stump Marnus earlier in the game. Fat chance of that ever happening.
After a break of 90 years it seems that Bodyline bowling is now back in favour with the Poms. In my lifetime I have never witnessed such an unrelenting attack of short length bowling, over after over, aimed at the body.
Even when Lyon was standing almost outside leg stump with off and middle exposed, and unable to move, Broard attacked his body relentlessly.
if this is where the future of Test cricket is heading, the outlook is bleak.
The problem with any accusation made of sexual misconduct relying purely on "he said, she said" evidence, given the current environment, will always leave the accused at a disadvantage in the court of public opinion.
Until Walsh can recapture the form he had prior to his back injury and Cripps joins him with the form he had in the first half of last year, we will continue with a midfield unable to get first use of the ball and thereby unable to put pressure on the backlines of opposition teams.
No matter what plan is proposed by Voss, once the team sees Cripps and Walsh are unable to provide leadership on the field a defensive mindset seems to set in.
Unless those two regain the ability to take charge of the centre, other changes amount to moving deckchairs given who is available on our list.
Prof, The old saying is a drowning man will cling onto a serpent and I reckon Martins selection is more a reflection on the alternatives and the MC and coach are plain desperate, and hoping Martin will provide one of his rare good games.
I agree with you, EB1. We have Martin and Williams unfit week after week, senior players who are constantly playing below their best, the usual number of injuries that occur during the year, and too many B grade players who are really C grade on a good day - list cloggers.
The MC has lost flexibility in selecting a team each week. I think while there is even a remote chance of making the finals it will take a conservative approach to team selection.
But what do we do about the lack of talent on the forward line? Owies has been tried and found wanting, Durdin, even when fit needs time in the VFL, as does Motlop.
So much effort goes to waste when we have no crumbers at the feet of Harry and Charlie and we just watch as opposition backmen sweep the ball out of our forward line with little or no opposition.
Can we Improve in the second half of the season. On recent record, probably not. Kennedy looks injured, replace him with Hewitt, Marchbank to replace Silvagni and play Young second ruck, Binns to replace O'Brien and Fogarty to replace Motlop. Can't keep doing the same thing. Time to back ourselves, kick to our team mates and stop missing goals.
Fogarty is a different type of player compared with Motlop. Unfortunately he is just as ineffective.
It's just changing deckchairs out of desperation. In a side with a decent list, both Motlop and Durdin would spend time in the VFL learning their craft.
Is Marchbank fit mentally and physically to play well for an entire game? Why take a risk by rushing him into the side after such a long absence?
Young is hesitant now and has obviously lost form. He has never impressed in the ruck, so what do we expect from him now?
In fact, the whole side seems to have lost confidence, and that's understandable considering how it find new ways to show incompetence week after week.
I'm at a loss as to how Voss can get any improvement out of this list.
