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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 23 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel
Last post by tonyo -
On occasion, we have a problem converting dominance into scoreboard results - 20 points up 10 mins into the second quarter, we should have been looking to turn the screw.  Instead, we became patchy again, and our inside 50 delivery was appalling.  Same thing happened in the Rich and Ess games a few weeks back. 

It's like we 'pitch' our game to the level of the opposition - and if you give an opponent a second chance, they will probably exploit the offer.  We are simply not ruthless enough yet to squash teams consistently.

Bevo out-coached Fraser with centre clearances - we started so well, but let them take control.  And yet their plan was so simple - hit it straight down, Libba in and under as usual feeding it out to Richards, Sanders and others for a simple take away.

Hoping this isn't the 'real' Blues, as opposed to the side that smashed Brisbane with precision kicking and perfect F50 craft.
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The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Cricket thread
Last post by LP -
Quote from: northernblue – on
As much as the batting failed the bowling group abjectly failed to build pressure.
This has always been my assertion regarding the erratic performances, it's OK to crow about some player's best efforts as being a class above, but if the average output is ordinary it drags down everybody around them. This applies to both batting and bowling, probably fielding as well.

For example, the Australian Cricket mafia will use Green's latest innings as a excuse to persist, and Marnus just needs one good innings to secure another extension off the back of an isolated effort, ignoring repeat failures for the sake of one spectacular success here or there. That seems to be modern cricket, a flash in the pan T20 betters the 5 day grind.
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The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Cricket thread
Last post by northernblue -
As much as the batting failed the bowling group abjectly failed to build pressure.
Barely a maiden, with a few dotballs scattered throughout.
The Bangers cruised along at 3.5 an over.
They applied themselves on the opening day and 1st session in particular against a bunch of blokes who looked like they hadn’t played for 6 months, in conditions that suited the bangers, not us.
The pitch then turned into a road, game over.

I missed the weekends play as I went bush and was shattered to see that Jake missed out, he’ll play in Qld next up he’s going to need some luck…
The selectors want Head to drop down the order, they want 2 openers… but who wants the job, who can do the job, who’s in form ?

As an aside 3 fellas spent all day marooned on a sandbar yesterday after missing the tide… 🤣
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL Rd 21 2026 Carlton vs Footscray at Footscray
Last post by LP -
Quote from: crashlander – on
FOOTSCRAY VFL 2.2 5.3 7.4 9.6 (60)
CARLTON RESERVES 5.3 7.6 9.11 13.13 (91)

GOALS
Carlton: O’Keeffe 3, Howard 2, Boyd, Charleson, Farrar, Hollands, Moir, Prout, Reidy, Walker

BESTS
Carlton: Saad, Prout, Hollands, Fogarty, L.Camporeale, Young

Interesting selection of best players. Maybe Saad will get a goodbye game? Obviously the club were impressed by Prout's performance.
I thought Saad was our best, back to the movement he is capable of.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL Rd 21 2026 Carlton vs Footscray at Footscray
Last post by laj -
Quote from: Lods – on
I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't manage a few players and both may get a game against Freo.
It will depend on whether we want to play  Adelaide in Adelaide or have a crack at Collingwood in Melbourne by bating Freo





In a final I'd actually prefer Adelaide to Collingwood, even over there. Crows have been shown to be brittle on those occasions, losing 2 finals at home last year in straight sets, Collingwood, on the other hand, tough as teak and rise to these occasion big time. Wonder if we'll rest a few and the like of Ben Campo, Charleson, for example, get a run in a dead rubber. VFL are playing a Wildcard this weekend but the AFL prep comes first.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL Rd 21 2026 Carlton vs Footscray at Footscray
Last post by crashlander -
FOOTSCRAY VFL 2.2 5.3 7.4 9.6 (60)
CARLTON RESERVES 5.3 7.6 9.11 13.13 (91)

GOALS
Carlton: O’Keeffe 3, Howard 2, Boyd, Charleson, Farrar, Hollands, Moir, Prout, Reidy, Walker

BESTS
Carlton: Saad, Prout, Hollands, Fogarty, L.Camporeale, Young

Interesting selection of best players. Maybe Saad will get a goodbye game? Obviously the club were impressed by Prout's performance.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 23 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel
Last post by DJC -
How good was it to have Weiters back where he belongs?

He wasn't at his absolute best but his marking, both in defence and as a target when were transitioning from defence, was a key factor, as was his spoiling, accurate disposal and steadying influence.  And no! I don't buy the baseless speculation that Weiters is a negative influence.

I was a little concerned that Lewis Young going out of the team would reduce our flexibility but Weiters' return gave Fraser the opportunity to move our talls around and try Derksen as a KPF. 

The post-match interview with Weiters is good value.  Apart from the cuteness overload from Florence, it was interesting to learn that it was the "Fossil", Nick Haynes, who instigated the save the game tactics, Haynes and Georgie Hewett are the most reliable teammates, and Weiters doesn't need to teach Harry Dean anything.  One other interesting snippet was the conservative approach to Weiters' rehab and return to play.

It's bad luck that the boys couldn't sing the club song for Weiters and Crippa's 200th game together but the game was still notable for us making the knockout round after such a dismal start to the season.