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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: Baggers – on


Yes, it is on the players but it is also on the coaches.

IMHO no-one gets off free of accountability for that 2nd half 'effort.'

Vossy has entered his fifth year at the helm and yet we saw another second half debacle... in fact, worse than many that preceded it over the years. Absolutely the same shambolic forward line and delivery into the forward line, even with different personnel!
Its up to the onfield leaders to arrest 3,4,5 goal runs. If the senior leaders cant see it and do anything about it then we may all pull up stumps and call it quits. The ruck and  midfield division (perhaps Walsh aside) got utterly trounced from about the 5 min mark of the third qtr. As I said, I was sitting at ground level behind the fwd pocket where Syd were kicking to in the 3rd and we watched 12 goals sail over our heads, it was embarrassing. Only four from key fwds, the other 8 were all mids/smalls. The usual  suspects, Heeney, McInerney, Warner and Gulden all tore us a new one especially McInerney.

There will be some serious soul searching this week amongst the playing group and a loss to Richmond for the second year in a row will be unforgivable. I'm sure the coaching group will take responsibility but that in my opinion gives the midfield group a big out.
I'll say again that I question the fitness of our most of blokes, after half time they all looked to be sweating profusely compared to the Swans. It's been hot and humid up here since I've been here so I'm sure there was an acclimatisation issue. Our fitness guy is ex-Syd so he should have known the conditions I would have thought. Pretty sure it was at the 3 qtr time break, Syd players who had been on the bench were in the centre square doing run through drills FFS. Interesting to see how we back up this week.

As I mentioned earlier, it's the first game of the season... an important caveat.

However... I get the alarm that our capitulation in the second half has an all too familiar ring to it. It was even worse than in previous years! It's like we have a collective PTSD after half time - fight, flight, freeze or fidget... we choose to freeze. Then we chose to fight, but in the wrong way, starting frustration fights.

The coaching group sets the strategy and attitude for the players to adopt when the opposition change things and/or the intensity. Our midfield group seemed bereft of ideas on what to do in the second half... that's strategy, personnel and above the shoulders. Apparently we can only play our 'brand' when the game is on our terms and the oppo doesn't do anything differently.

We should take a look at the Dishlickers last night, Brisvegas had them on the ropes but they (Dishlickers) never gave up and seemed to know exactly what to do... and they committed to their strategy with a passion, regardless of what the home team threw at them.

Seems the coaching group realize we have serious midfield issues sending Crippa forward for large spells. Our forward line, most of the night, seemed flatter than a witch's... And under pressure, we reverted to long bombs.

If we'd been beaten trying something new, you'd cut us some slack, but we were beaten by what we know... same old, same old.

Question is whether Vossy and the coaching group opt for the usual suspects (players) or be bold at the selection table for the Tiggers game? Can they admit that the midfield mix is far from right? Now is the time to be bold, not mid season.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: Baggers – on


Yes, it is on the players but it is also on the coaches.

IMHO no-one gets off free of accountability for that 2nd half 'effort.'

Vossy has entered his fifth year at the helm and yet we saw another second half debacle... in fact, worse than many that preceded it over the years. Absolutely the same shambolic forward line and delivery into the forward line, even with different personnel!
Its up to the onfield leaders to arrest 3,4,5 goal runs. If the senior leaders cant see it and do anything about it then we may all pull up stumps and call it quits. The ruck and  midfield division (perhaps Walsh aside) got utterly trounced from about the 5 min mark of the third qtr. As I said, I was sitting at ground level behind the fwd pocket where Syd were kicking to in the 3rd and we watched 12 goals sail over our heads, it was embarrassing. Only four from key fwds, the other 8 were all mids/smalls. The usual  suspects, Heeney, McInerney, Warner and Gulden all tore us a new one especially McInerney.

There will be some serious soul searching this week amongst the playing group and a loss to Richmond for the second year in a row will be unforgivable. I'm sure the coaching group will take responsibility but that in my opinion gives the midfield group a big out.
I'll say again that I question the fitness of our most of blokes, after half time they all looked to be sweating profusely compared to the Swans. It's been hot and humid up here since I've been here so I'm sure there was an acclimatisation issue. Our fitness guy is ex-Syd so he should have known the conditions I would have thought. Pretty sure it was at the 3 qtr time break, Syd players who had been on the bench were in the centre square doing run through drills FFS. Interesting to see how we back up this week.

Papley was doing run throughs after the game. ::)
3
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: Baggers – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
That loss was squarely on the players (e.g. skipper was the prime offender), they went to water as soon as some pressure was applied. EOS.

Yes, it is on the players but it is also on the coaches.

IMHO no-one gets off free of accountability for that 2nd half 'effort.'

Vossy has entered his fifth year at the helm and yet we saw another second half debacle... in fact, worse than many that preceded it over the years. Absolutely the same shambolic forward line and delivery into the forward line, even with different personnel!
Its up to the onfield leaders to arrest 3,4,5 goal runs. If the senior leaders cant see it and do anything about it then we may all pull up stumps and call it quits. The ruck and  midfield division (perhaps Walsh aside) got utterly trounced from about the 5 min mark of the third qtr. As I said, I was sitting at ground level behind the fwd pocket where Syd were kicking to in the 3rd and we watched 12 goals sail over our heads, it was embarrassing. Only four from key fwds, the other 8 were all mids/smalls. The usual  suspects, Heeney, McInerney, Warner and Gulden all tore us a new one especially McInerney.

There will be some serious soul searching this week amongst the playing group and a loss to Richmond for the second year in a row will be unforgivable. I'm sure the coaching group will take responsibility but that in my opinion gives the midfield group a big out.
I'll say again that I question the fitness of our most of blokes, after half time they all looked to be sweating profusely compared to the Swans. It's been hot and humid up here since I've been here so I'm sure there was an acclimatisation issue. Our fitness guy is ex-Syd so he should have known the conditions I would have thought. Pretty sure it was at the 3 qtr time break, Syd players who had been on the bench were in the centre square doing run through drills FFS. Interesting to see how we back up this week.
6
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: MickyO – on
Lets all hold fire for a few weeks. Remember how terrible Hayes was in his first game with us? Then he became one of our most valued players.

We had players that didnt play last year, we have 5-6-7? New players. We have lost two important cogs in our wheel.

Surely with all eyes on what voss is doing, itd be identified by now that he is the issue?

This game was always set to see Sydney win for their CC marketing bs.

I think we need to take a  breather and see what the next few weeks show.
Obvs having Simpson there is our filler if and when voss gets the arse and i do agree that 3rd quarter run on is inexcusable.



I wouldn't be going with Simpson, agree we don't need to panic but the pressure is on now and every week is now going to be an audition for Voss to keep his job and that isn't going to help him or the team.
If we can blow Richmond off the park and kick a big score we might be able to relieve some of that pressure and give Voss a couple of weeks breather from scrutiny.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by MickyO -
Lets all hold fire for a few weeks. Remember how terrible Hayes was in his first game with us? Then he became one of our most valued players.

We had players that didnt play last year, we have 5-6-7? New players. We have lost two important cogs in our wheel.

Surely with all eyes on what voss is doing, itd be identified by now that he is the issue?

This game was always set to see Sydney win for their CC marketing bs.

I think we need to take a  breather and see what the next few weeks show.
Obvs having Simpson there is our filler if and when voss gets the arse and i do agree that 3rd quarter run on is inexcusable.


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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Macca37 -
i have just got home after going to Sydney to see the game.  I have read all  the comments in this thread and my first comment is that I believe supporters are too quick in finding excuses for our team.

In the preliminary warmup about half an hour before the game, our players had no trouble kicking fifty metres or more towards the goal.  I was impressed with Dean in the way he marked and passed the ball.  There was no wind and conditions were perfect for football.

At half time I was happy with the way our players had applied pressure to the Swans causing them to make mistakes and restricting their scoring. Given the amount of time we had the ball in our forward line we should have been at least another two goals ahead.

The third quarter started, we kicked the first two goals, and then the wheels fell off.  Grundy suddenly made our rucks look second rate, brought the Swans midfield into play, and we meekly capitulated.  All the old faults surfaced: poor handballs, poor kicking to position, handballing and kicking to the Swans players.  With so much self-imposed pressure and lack of discipline it was only matter of time before the Swans turned the game into a training run.

At three quarter time I didn't think things could get worse but they did.  The last quarter was an embarrassment for Carlton supporters.  The side lost structure and the Swans were able to attack in waves of three or more players from their backline all the way to their forward line without any resistance from our players.  The Swans forward line was wide open with our backline players often 10 or fifteen metres away.

Early in the last quarter I saw Dean hobbling slightly. He looked physically stuffed and bewildered.  His opponent was firing on all cylinders.

Just another couple of thoughts.  Why do we keep selecting Fogarty?  He is not capable of playing in a winning forward line.  Finally, what do we do with Big H? He cannot win a contested mark and he certainly can't take a mark when the ball is lobbed on his head.

In conclusion, our football club is in trouble.





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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: shawny – on


yep sad but true.

He will never get another coaching gig and will be gone by mid season bye imo.
That loss was squarely on the players (e.g. skipper was the prime offender), they went to water as soon as some pressure was applied. EOS.

Yes, it is on the players but it is also on the coaches.

IMHO no-one gets off free of accountability for that 2nd half 'effort.'

Vossy has entered his fifth year at the helm and yet we saw another second half debacle... in fact, worse than many that preceded it over the years. Absolutely the same shambolic forward line and delivery into the forward line, even with different personnel!
10
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: Adelaideblue – on
Thought Swans had done their homework on Ollie Hollands, working him over and often not allowing him to break free.
Wasn't sure if he played the game on the backline, but if so he may be more effective playing back on the wing.
Agree, thought we were out coached and the Swans planned well. Adding Goodwin to help Cox might be a good move providing he can concentrate on football and not get distracted. I have a preference for Ollie on the wing and he is a very honest performer.