In what is essentially a series of 'dead rubber' games for us for the rest of the year it's probably more a question of "Why not" for Lemmey and a number of others.
Lemmey averages around 8-9 disposals and 2 goals at VFL level It's probably not likely he can even achieve those results at the higher level. But give him the opportunity. At the very least we can all say we've seen what he has to offer against better opposition.
A few more games for Lucas C and Billy Wilson. Even give Charleson a game or two.
There are also three or four non-listed players in the VFL we should have a good look at in the off-season/draft period with a view to picking them up...and that may mean making some decisions on currently listed players.
I think most of the criticism of his non-selection is coming from those who haven't seen him play. Like you I'm not terribly fussed either way There was a point where he seemed to be getting more involved and showing some promise some weeks back, but that seems to have tapered off.
I'm just of the opinion that, now the season's done, let him have a game at the senior level. With McKay out, and TDK not really contributing a great deal as a forward we really have nothing to lose. I'd be trying as many of these kids as possible, staggered over the next few weeks, just to have a look.
I have no problem selecting Lemmey or not selecting him.
I have a problem with the outrage associated with why/why not.
Its clear as the day is long as to why, you just have to have seen him play footy. I told you that McMahon > Lemmey.
Thats the Greater than symbol in McMahon's direction.
While McMahon was there he was the main target. Lemmey has been more prominent since he left, simply because with McMahon gone and O'Keefe missing a few games he became the main forward target.
I still think it's probably worth giving him a game at senior level if we plan on keeping him, just for the experience.
The only way any of this males sense is if we are trying to do a dodgy and not trigger some players contract bonuses and/or extensions. Eg if player x plays xx amount of games he gets this amount of money as a bonus or he gets an extra year added to his current contract.
That would be really 'dodgy', pretty obvious, and get other players concerned about their own 'triggers'.
I get the feeling a lot of decisions have already been made. Boyd, Cinncotta, Lemmey, Acres may not attract a lot in terms of trade, very low picks...but they are 'tradeable'. Each possess some skills that might see other clubs finding a role for them or believing they can use those attributes and get a bit more out of them...overlooking any deficiencies or inconsistencies. No need to expose them further.
Many of the other fringe players who are getting a game might just be being picked as a final "look-see".
Winning is no longer a priority, Sportsbet have finally conceded we can't win it and removed us from the premiership betting , but teams may be being picked to minimise any losses...no huge blow-outs.
Here's a bit of a mind blower The top 12 Carlton players for avearage tackles per game since 1965
Patrick Cripps 5.46 David Ellard 5.29 George Hewett 5.01 Adam Bentick 5.00 Ed Curnow 4.93 Jaryd Cachia 4.86 Matthew Lobbe 4.75 Alex Silvagni 4.71 Adam Cerra 4.59 Chris Judd 4.33 Richard Hadley 4.32 Sam Walsh 4.31
A couple of those played only a handful of games. Ed Curnow in there as well. Does that say something about the way we play under Voss Or is it a competition wide trend with modern football.
We also have 5 of the top ten for average disposals on the current list.. (Cripps, Walsh, Hewett, Cerra, Docherty) And 4 of the top 10 for average handballs (Cripps, Walsh, Hewett and Cerra) But only 1 of the top 10 for average kicks (Docherty)
Said it before that I have seen him play down at Scotch College and never been sold on him, I dont go often so maybe I have missed his good games but I find him stock standard ok at most skills but not having a weapon skill that makes him a standout. Tackling is an issue because of his size, he is very small and would have real trouble at VFL level making them stick imho.
speaking of tackling, I heard a stat the other day which astounded me. Matty Rowell has laid 41 tackles in his last three games! Most of our blokes wouldnt lay 41 tackles in a year.
It's not a one off either for Rowell The guy is a tackling machine.
2022 -30 in 3 games, 47 in 5 games 2023-32 in 3 games and 36 in another 3.... 17 in one game 2024-33 in 3 games, 48 in 4 games....in a 8 game streak he made 85 tackles 2025-He's made 147 so far this year including the 41 in the last 3 games and 88 in the last 7
(but he's not the best, Tom Atkins at Geelong has made 164 at a slightly better average) Cripps is our best at 95.
Running at the Diamond League meet in Monaco Peter Bol has broken his own Australian 800 metre record running 1.42.55 Gout Gout won an u/23 200 metre race runninf 20.10 into a 1.9 metre headwind.
The thing I've noticed about Motlop is, unlike a few of our others he gets to where the ball 'is'...and not where it "aint". That doesn't mean he always takes possession. He's not clean...yet. But he's often at the contest.
Now that I've calmed down and let the anger, frustration and disappoint dissipate, I'm not that disappointed with the result. Why? Because Brisbane have few injuries (unlike us), they have a system that our VFL boys are only learning and their team structure was far superior to ours. Look at their line-up and they have so much more experience that we do. Coleman, Doedee, McKenna and Robertson, for example. The only one we can claim to have that sort of experience is Acres, and he isn't fit. So, to get within 4 goals, and to restrict this mob to less than 100 points isn't the bad sort of loss we've seen from the seniors in recent weeks.
Does that mean I like it? Not in the least, but earlier this season (and especially last year) we would have been pounded, as we were by Southport.
What did I like? [1] Ethan Phillips: I understand that Phillips has his issues, but he had 18 marks today and 26 disposals. He may not be as physical as I'd like a key defender to be, but has to be better value than Frankie Evans, Flynn Young or Will White (whom I like). Probably better value that Corey Durdin or Lachie Fogarty. So, why didn't we select him? I don't know. [2] Billy Wilson and Jordan Boyd had very solid games and must be in line to play next week. Wilson had 23 possessions and a goal. Boyd had 19 possessions. [3] Flynn Riley probably had slightly the better of 2 listed ruckmen with 5 clearances to boot. I would be seriously considering him for a rookie spot.
I like Flynn. I hope we do give him a development spot. Phillips is someone who looks a class above this level...especially his marking, I think one of the knocks on him has been his disposal but his efficiency was up in the high 80s today.
I missed the last quarter and a bit. He wasn't really firing when I left, but 11 disposals at 54% doesn't really scream promotion for Ben C
(Unless he's been told he's been playing against Melbourne and just have a run around and take it easy. We don't have a TOG% on AFL.com. He may have been managed.)
The problem with the TDK situation is that emotion seems to be the overriding factor in assessing where he is at and what to do about it..
Take the emotion out of it and look at the options. Tom is either going or staying. We don't know. If he stays, all good..but let the club know.
He's either told the club and teammates or he hasn't. You would think he's made a decision by now. It is important that decision is conveyed to the club as they need to plan for 2026.
Tom is essentially a ruckman, he doesn't have the same impact as a forward. He wouldn't be playing forward if McKay was available. If we were certain he was staying it may be Pittonet making way.
If Tom is leaving then priority needs to be given to a Pittonet/O'Keefe ruck set up, either as a duo or single ruck as that is likely to be our combination next year. Even if we do decide to pursue another ruckman that's still the fallback position.
If DeKoning is leaving it serves no purpose for us to have him playing at a senior level. Wins are no longer important and playing the way he is, even if he's contributing, it is not match winning and it is possibly keeping another 2026 player out of the side.
The club needs to know what DeKoning's intentions are now. There is no longer any reason for him to wait until the season ends. Can anyone think of one? The St Kilda offer is on the table. He can take that, or he can explore options with other clubs. Either way the club needs to be looking ahead and planning and preparing for life with or without DeKoning. But they need a decision.
Ive not seen a team start a season in such poor physical condition and not build as the season wore on.
Ive also not seen a team do what we have done this season, where the form lines early were pretty poor aside from a handful of players, and rather have the rest build form, we have had more drop out of form as the season has gone on.
Its like the harder they try, the more they stuff it.
Finally, we have not been the same since they tightened the holding the ball interpretation which has resulted in the ultra fast ball movement we are seeing now. Its opened the game up, but I cant fathom how a guy having one armed held whilst taking posession gets pinged for not being able to get it loose.
I think the dropping out of form as the season has progressed can be explained to certain extent by the fact that players like Cripps and Weitering, in fact every player, have had to shoulder an extra responsibility due to a reduction in support around them. They're forced to carry an extra load because of missing players. That reaches a point where their own form suffers. Cripps seemed better last night. Weitering's looking a bit worse for the wear...he'd be much more comfortable with players like Silvagni, Newman...even Saad all on deck.
, but teams may be being picked to minimise any losses...no huge blow-outs.
