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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs GWS in Sydney
Last post by LP -
Quote from: tonyo – on
Giants have exactly the type of game style that bothers us the most - slingshot footy with big run off halfback.  We will need some significant plans for Whitfield and Ash, and hopefully Weiters is back to take care of Hogan.

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but this week is a big ask......
In the past Hogan has done well against us, but that might have been in the absence of Newman, and now we have Dean, Cowan and Newman all in reasonable form, it should make a difference if we stick with the team first ethic.

Our biggest problem this week might be Briggs, he pretty much bullied TDK and Marshall yesterday, made the pair of them irrelevant. We won't want Harry spending too much time as Briggs' opponent as he likes to hurt people.
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The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
He was catching at 1.5 seconds a lap for most of it.
Detail matters, the last few laps before Russell and Antonelli pitted, which they did just before the VSC, Hamilton had stopped gaining ground and was only able to hold station.

Some might argue that was a tactic, but I doubt Hamilton would voluntarily cease the chase for anyone!

I'd assert Mercedes had already decided the Ferrari strategy was going to win the day, because they were telling Russell and Antonelli to race Norris who had already pitted and was 25 second behind Hamilton. But make no mistake, the VSC made a huge difference because without it those laps that saw Hamilton build a lead would have been instead laps helping him close a gap to the leaders.
LH had their measure, strategy (for the first time in a long time) was A1.
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The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by LP -
Quote from: kruddler – on
He was catching at 1.5 seconds a lap for most of it.
Detail matters, the last few laps before Russell and Antonelli pitted, which they did just before the VSC, Hamilton had stopped gaining ground and was only able to hold station.

Some might argue that was a tactic, but I doubt Hamilton would voluntarily cease the chase for anyone!

I'd assert Mercedes had already decided the Ferrari strategy was going to win the day, because they were telling Russell and Antonelli to race Norris who had already pitted and was 25 second behind Hamilton. But make no mistake, the VSC made a huge difference because without it those laps that saw Hamilton build a lead would have been instead laps helping him close a gap to the leaders. He would have had Russell, Antonelli and Norris to pass as after the pit stops only 5 second separated all three.
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The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
Hamilton had the race in hand and the VSC helped, but wasn't needed.
The VSC let him pit and retain the lead, so of course it made a difference!

If there was no VSC he would have surrendered the lead returning a full 10 seconds behind Russell and Antonelli.

The Ferrari looks to be quite good in turbulence and when the track suits, most cars suffer when following but they are able to hold and close without too much trouble, as long as they don't crash or break.
They've redone the side pods and underfloor and released the updates for Barcelona which clearly worked. Leclerc is a worry, mistake in Quali then a power steering failure in the race. Now using same brake rotors and LH so he is happier in the car, pity it didnt translate to a good weekend for him.
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The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
Hamilton had the race in hand and the VSC helped, but wasn't needed.
The VSC let him pit and retain the lead, so of course it made a difference!

If there was no VSC he would have surrendered the lead returning a full 10 seconds behind Russell and Antonelli.

The Ferrari looks to be quite good in turbulence and when the track suits, most cars suffer when following but they are able to hold and close without too much trouble, as long as they don't crash or break.

He was catching at 1.5 seconds a lap for most of it.
He extended the lead to 20 seconds after the pit by the end of the race.

The timing of it worked, but he didn't need it. He would've passed them and continued on his way.
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The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by LP -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Hamilton had the race in hand and the VSC helped, but wasn't needed.
The VSC let him pit and retain the lead, so of course it made a difference!

If there was no VSC he would have surrendered the lead returning a full 10 seconds behind Russell and Antonelli.

The Ferrari looks to be quite good in turbulence and when the track suits, most cars suffer when following but they are able to hold and close without too much trouble, as long as they don't crash or break.
8
The Sports Desk / Re: World Cup 2026
Last post by LP -
A champion team beats a team of champions.

I think it's no accident that the coached dropped some of the old school who probably wore too many battle scars to shake off the stigma of not being good enough, we had a unified team, and a team that was full of kids who did not know they were supposed to have an honourable loss.

I hope the tossers suggesting we tank to get high draft picks take notice! ;)

Imagine if or when Nestory gets fit enough to play 90 minutes?
9
The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by kruddler -
Hamilton had the race in hand and the VSC helped, but wasn't needed.

His strategy was the best for him.
Mercedes shot themselves in the foot by pitting Russell straight after Hamiltons first stop. This ruined their own strategy and played straight into the hands of Ferrari.
Usually Ferrari find a way to lose, but everything worked out OK for once.

The reliability of the Mercedes is coming into question for the first time in a decade. This shows they are on the limit of what the car can do.

McLaren really need to pull the finger out because they are nowhere at the moment. Looking like the 4th best car. If RBR actually had a 2nd driver, it would be reflected in the constructors standings.
10
The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by LP -
Good win for Ferrari and Hamilton, they identified an opportunity existed using an alternate strategy, and the safety car played into their hands with about a third of the race remaining. A strategic win, but Hamilton still had to drive well to put himself in that position and to get across the line.

Interestingly, I think the race hinted at some weakness in the Mercedes, and I have to wonder if opponents will be able to exploit this. They just could not stay with Hamilton lap after lap and were forced into management, even by the 1/2-way mark when they were still leading Mercedes told the drivers they were in a race with Norris not Hamilton, as Hamilton was slicing his way through the field.

Strategically, it was the best race I've seen all season, I hope it persists.