Carlton Supporters Club

I was starting to feel quite despondent as the first quarter progressed; our inside 50s were haphazard, ill-directed, shallow and, when they were directed to a target, it was usually on the head of one of our smalls.  At the other end, our lack of defensive pressure up the ground created opportunities for the Essendon forwards to get clear and they were hit up with pinpoint delivery.  It really seemed like we were in for a dismal day.  In fact, it's hard to believe that we won the last three quarters.

Walsh was outstanding ... again!  Cuningham was very good and it is easy to see why the MC persist with him when he has quiet patches.  Curnow did a number on Merrett and showed that he is still one of the best run with players going around.  Weitering was in AA form again and was well-supported by Saad, Docherty, Stocker and Parks.  Jones had one of those games where he was just that bit off in his judgement and positioning.

Samo's poise and ability to distribute the ball made a huge difference in the second half.  McKay lifted in the second half after what could have been a gastro-affected first half and he is unstoppable when in form and getting decent delivery.  Betts turned the clock back and Owies may have provided a glimpse of the future.  I have been a bit critical of our very small small forwards but you can't complain when they have a crack and finish well.

It was great to see Cripps finally nail that goal.  I suspect that the relatively simple shots that he's missed may have dented his confidence.

It was also good to see Casboult work his way back into some form.  Four telling marks around the ground was a good contribution, particularly when Pittonet couldn't get near a marking contest.

Hopefully, Dow's eye injury is just a shiner and he won't have to miss.  McGovern's hammy seemed a bad one and that's a shame because he seemed to working into some form too.

Walsh polled maximum votes in the Coaches Award....has polled in 6 of the 7 games this year!!!

I see Kane Cornes has taken back his words on Walshy on FC:

"I think I was particularly hard on Sam Walsh. I said he is not a match winner, In hindsight I would use my words differently. He has been so impressive this year and I've got a lot of respect for him. I regret how hard I went on a young kid, and I would take that one back."

The thing is Kane you can't "take it back". You are a d1ck head and always will be.

Am I the only one who has noticed that every time my boy Luke Parks plays we win? He is the talisman!

But seriously what a pick up off the rookie draft this kid is looking like. He already shown in 3 games that he is a very capable intercept mark who backs himself to beat his opponent 1:1 in the air, he has good poise and disposal [went at 100% DE yesterday] and attacks the contest in way I haven't seen in a Carlton backman since Andy McKay and Peter Dean. And he can really close down hard on his opponent - just ask Tippa or Jack Luckosius.

I am certain that Jones and Weiters play better when he is out there because we are a much better balanced unit.

Give the lad another couple of years in the gym and he could be an absolute star.

Luke Parks!
I like him,  I like him alot!

Plus that Owies boy aint bad either

Parks is a good prospect but not vs bigger units like the kid Jones who kicked three on him and took some very strong marks.
He isn't KP size and needs the right opponent, if the Dogs play three tall forwards this week then he is going to be up against it if he cops Bruce or Naughton if Jones or Weitering have to pick up the taller English.

The third tall defender is always a mismatch EB,  they tend to be tall mediums (if you get my drift) that play on all sizes. Like Parks' attitude - he's scruffy - but he wants it bad.

Really like Stocker too,  not afraid to put his body in either - made of the right stuff too this  kid.  Ratten started as chunky back pocket as well.

If we need the extra tall I would play Casboult down back and run smaller down forward.

While I understand this, I fear that adding Levi to the existing Jones presence just increases the incidental impact risk to Weitering!

Levi and Jones are 50/50 on cleaning up one of their own! For me it's tragic McGovern got injured, he could easily play that 3rd KPD role and do so safely.

Any official news yet on McGovern?