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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne
Last post by JonDorotich -
Enough has been said about our problems, but what about solutions? We’re clearly on track for a spoon and need to act, without having the luxury of a change in personnel..

Some left field ideas to consider
(1) Ainsworth as a back pocket/lockdown small forward defender . We don’t have one and I don’t really rate him as a great high HF.
(2) Hayward to HB? We need some pace and class off HB and for whatever reason, he’s not getting a touch in our system. I’d also be hoping that Billy Wilson comes on as we lack leg speed coming out of defence
(3) McKay back - let’s face it he’s not a great forward and we need to find a way to purge the Yoings/Derksens from our side. He has some pace and can surely follow his man around?
(4) Cripps full forward? He’s 195cm and playing about as badly as I can recall. Need to freshen him up and work with him to improve his kicking. HOK & Reidy don’t really strike me as great options but are also worthy of consideration at this stage.
(5) Hollands x2 - I keep saying if, but their good is outweighed by their bad. Critical turnovers or poor decisions cost us so dearly with these two. I’d be dropping both permanently and finding others to play their role.
(6) Florent/Saad into a new roles - both are sadly out of form. Can we find a way to freshen he other up, pinch hitting up forward or at centre bounces?

Would love to hear others views on changes that we can make. As a starting point I’d suggest that removing Young/Derkson & both Hollands is a step in the right direction & I know lots will disagree with me in Elijah’s case, but that’s my view.

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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne
Last post by MickyO -
The thing is, its now happened so many times that surely nothing is now ‘kneejerk’.

I am Team Voss but something has got to change immediately-
You cant say we are crap because we are not getting smacked (yet!), we are winning every game… until the noise turns up and pressure intensifies and panic sets in.

I agree with Baggers, way too much nice. Need to be a bit ruthless and get some energy back into these guys for the whole game.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne
Last post by kruddler -
People were talking about the quality of the list and the outgoings not hurting us because the incomings will spread the load.
Problem with that theory is 3-fold.

1. The players going out were top liners (whether a-grade or not, but #1 forward, #1 ruck, #2 key back). So 'replacing them' with players of less talent means those players now have a tougher matchup. That is Harry doesn't play on #2 key back, he plays on #1. Kemp doesn't play on #3 key back, he plays on #2 etc.

2. The 'kids' we had who were ready to step up have next to no exposed form. HOK was the great white hope because he played a good couple quarters last year. Good quarters in dead rubbers is not an accurate predictor.
Wilson was pumped up by all, i never saw it, but so far hasn't fired a shot
Kemp, not really a kid, but still expected to step up into a new role, been underwhelming so far.
I could continue, but you get the point.

3. We severly overrated the players we recruited. As usual, we look at their best and expect that to be the norm. Some people pointed out that Florent couldn't get a game last year and instead of looking at his ability as the reason, we blamed their coach as the reason.


All of this is what i was trying to prepare supporters for, but people didn't want to listen. Now, the sky is falling and they are ready to burn the place down. I knew it would happen, but even i didn't expect it after 4 games.

No I am not happy about our performances thus far.
No i don't think we should sack the coach.

Wasn't too long ago that we wanted to sack the coach mid-season and we ended up making a prelim that year.
Now i'm not suggesting we will this year, but i'm just pointing out that making knee-jerk reactions, with little to no immediate benefit is a stupid thing to do. Surely we've done this enough to know this by now.