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The Sports Desk / Re: World Cup 2026
Last post by Thryleon -Fixing
It
For
Argentina
Was above board from where I was sitting.
Was above board from where I was sitting.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Jim Park Award 2026
Last post by crashlander -Probably our largest win for the year, it was also a game where we won all 4 quarters. That doesn't happen to us much.
Trends:
[1] There were 10 voters again this round, which is still closer to what we get for a loss than for most of our wins. Disappointing, but that's how it is. In the corresponding round last year only 8 people voted.
please do vote, win, lose or draw: it is something we appreciate and it makes our statistics a lot more reliable. And our statistics hold up pretty well when it comes to John Nicholls Medal night!
[2] The rating was a 9.77, which represents a A-, for the 2nd week in a row.
Our rating of the 1st Richmond game, for example, was 7.69 which is probably the lowest we could get and still win.
[3] 16 players managed a mention this week, which remains on the high side. Clearly, our voters decided that most of our players made a contribution significant enough to recognize.
[4] The average vote this week was 32, which is the equal 2nd highest of the year!. Scores are around 30 when we win, so read into that what you will. The only better one was against Geelong.
[5] Again 5 players managed 100 votes or more, which remains on the high side. If we get fewer than 4, we usually struggle.
[6] Crippa didn't win this week, although he did come second, for the 2nd week ina row. Sam Walsh was judged BOG this week, for the seventh time this year. George Hewett managed 3rd, his third top 3 rating for the year. Ben Ainsworth and Harry McKay rounded out the places.
[7] Only two player managed votes from everyone again this week; Cripps and Walsh. Hewett and Ainsworth missed one.
[8] Our midfield guns dominated the voting this week, with the top 4 spots going to our mids. Our defenders got votes, but nothing like what the mids got, and our forwards are making contributions, but not starring. Our youth continues to get noticed as well. And our more mature recruits have also been strong contributors.
[9] Harry Dean was our best youngster for the night, followed by Byrne, Smith, Cowan and Wilson.
Votes:
Walsh, Sam 366
Cripps, Patrick 308
Hewett, George 205
Ainsworth, Ben 190
McKay, Harrison 107
Dean, Harry 73
Byrne, Talor 63
Smith, Jagga 39
Cowan, Lachlan 39
Haynes, Nicholas 39
Wilson, Billy 10
Newman, Nicholas 5
Evans, Francis 5
Derksen, Wade 5
Florent, Oliver 5
McGovern, Mitchell 5
Progressive Voting:
Walsh, Sam 2939
Patrick Cripps 2642
Smith, Jagga 1195
Hewett, George 820
Florent, Oliver 817
Will Hayward 801
Harry McKay 784
Matthew Carroll 769
Newman, Nic 738
Ainsworth, Ben 737
Pittonet, Marc 714
Mitch McGovern 565
Kemp, Brodie 485
Weitering, Jacob 466
Cowan, Lachie 481
Dean, Harry 449
Hollands, Elijah 426
Ollie Hollands 413
Haynes, Nick 386
William, Zac 330
Blake Acres 223
Lord, Cooper 152
Evans, Francis 110
Byrne, Talor 107
Wilson, Billy 100
Young, Lewis 81
Cerra, Adam 80
Ison, Jack 43
Wade Derksen 35
Liam Reidy 28
Boyd, Jordan 27
Cottrell, Matthew 15
Adam Saad 15
Flynn Young 8
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Hawthorn at MCG
Last post by Gointocarlton -The obvious simplistic answer is they were not happy under Voss despite the players all pledging their allegiance and praising his leadership abilities but I think it was more complex than that and some how they seemed mentally shackled to the dilemma of the coach fighting for his job and looked mentally exhausted.
You mean they are happy when winning, and the pressure is off!
The players are out there selling their wares, the question is why did it take them to arrive at the cliff edge before they switched on?
Under Fraser its been zero expectations, the pressure released and freedom to enjoy the game and obviously some players are playing for their careers so have the pedal to the floor a bit more.
Maybe when Cripps ends his career he might write a book and talk about what happened but Im sure its a lot more complex than it looks...
I was watching a video with Tom Brady talking about Coach Belichick. He said how normally in the dressing rooms and at the club, every one was happy during the week at training and then on Sunday, they'd get smashed and everyone was sad and unhappy. The club focused on making it a happy and enjoyable place during the week. Belichick flipped that on its head and made Mon to Sat absolute torture and then come Sunday, everything was easy, they were happy and the results changed. He trained them to suffer and endure to the extreme which made game day a stroll in the park (literally).
In life, you get back what you put in, simple as that. If blokes are happy with themselves being on a list and collecting a fat pay check for kicking a ball around? You'll get SFA out of what will be a short career. If you bust a gut day in day out trying to get better as individuals and as a group? You achieve success, plain and simple.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Hawthorn at MCG
Last post by PaulP -5
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Hawthorn at MCG
Last post by Lods -I used to have a boss. Principal/ teacher/ student situation. This guy was respected, not just by those below him but also by the higher-ups. He was the sort of the boss you’d walk through walls for…go the extra distance. And he was always on the go-doing extra- curricular stuff with the kids. He was also demanding and it was kind of an expectation that you’d be right there with him. Early mornings, lunch times, weekends. You felt guilty if you didn’t get involved. Long distance running, cycling, kayaking. And over the years it became a bit exhausting….the pressure and the expectations. So much so that when he left for another job it was kind of a relief. The new guy was much more relaxed. We still did a lot of the things we used to do, but it became more of a choice and the workplace became a much more relaxed but still effective place to be…because the pressure was no longer there and people were happier. Performance probably increased in a number of areas.
I can totally understand how the players might be feeling. Deep respect for Voss but no longer the same pressure and as a result a better performance.
I’m not saying that’s what’s happening, but it might be a factor.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Hawthorn at MCG
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -Dressing room seems a lot happier and united under Fraser and the effort factor from all players seems higher as well,You mean they are happy when winning, and the pressure is off!
The players are out there selling their wares, the question is why did it take them to arrive at the cliff edge before they switched on?
Under Fraser its been zero expectations, the pressure released and freedom to enjoy the game and obviously some players are playing for their careers so have the pedal to the floor a bit more.
Maybe when Cripps ends his career he might write a book and talk about what happened but Im sure its a lot more complex than it looks...
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by DJC -Of course there are positional changes, selection changes, more input from the coach during warm up drills at training, etc, but don't downplay what's going on between the ears.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Hawthorn at MCG
Last post by LP -Dressing room seems a lot happier and united under Fraser and the effort factor from all players seems higher as well,
The players are out there selling their wares, the question is why did it take them to arrive at the cliff edge before they switched on?
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by LP -Carlton's game style has shifted significantly.
Our game plan is unchanged, we've been slowly getting better at executing it all season, perforated by some various roadblocks like injuries and form lines. We probably went very close to defeating the Lions in Brisbane, if not for 5 or 10 minutes of lapse, even Fagan claimed they were lucky. Cripps busted his guts trying to get the team to lift, but the problems never really been Cripps or Walsh, it's been those around them leaving the heavy lifting to too few. We had a team built on contested ball winners running around like accumulators.
If looks to me like Voss getting the flick was just enough of a rocket to motivate the players to put in 24x7. After all, given Fraser won't be coach they are almost all 100% insecure at this very moment, nobody is locked in as far as I can tell, realistic offers will be considered for all, and then we'll be into the rebuild Mk: VI. I wonder who'll be saved?
On the media videos, cherry-picking the best and worst case scenarios to suit an agenda or assertions is nothing more or less than deliberately misleading. In reality for most games this season we'd breakdown on the 3rd or 4th disposal / contest because our execution in either disposal or tackling sucked. How many times did you see an opponent stroll through a Carlton tackle in the first half of this season? They could have shown a hundred of those videos, instead they show the video that is contest free. That was disheartening, and players would drop their head and wouldn't commit, they started guarding grass which makes it even worse under the current rules, they aren't brain surgeons.
Just a bit later in the season, the errors start to diminish and the players persist, all of a sudden the media moguls claim it's a miracle, a miracle of eliminating the error every 3rd or 4th disposal / contest. We can call it "The miracle of the skills!" or "The miracle of the effort!"
btw., How much of the dropping of Hewett contributed to that new found player motivation, did someone pull just the right lever?
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Hawthorn at MCG
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -Walshy cares about the club, you're right though, what happens if he does't like the new coach?
Fair comment on Walsh, he has been as important as Cripps in the revival and has stamped his mark on being the clubs next Captain. I'll be interested if his form can continue if Fraser isnt the coach next season...
You may recall there was a rumour last year that Walsh wanted out if Voss was remaining. Walsh extended with Voss at the helm but I wonder if he had the good oil on what was going happen which made him extend knowing Voss wasnt going o be around long?
It all fits together, but the bottom line is I still dont like players knifing coaches.
Ill give Walshy the benefit of the doubt and suggest that when he is fit and healthy, he is happy and only knows one way.