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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: DJC – on
I don't think that there's any question about Billy Wilson's ability to have an impact at AFL level now, and I think that he has probably consigned Adam Saad to depth player status.  Billy's chase and run down tackle with 30 seconds to go warmed the cockles of my heart.  That's the effort and desperation that wins finals.

I'm a Billy Wilson fan.

I like his work ethic. He provides pace and link work coming out of defence and has a pretty good boot on him.
His run-down tackle late in the game on the weekend was sensational, occurring when it did.
His pace allows him to do those run-downs.

But if I was to identify a weakness in his game it's probably the front-on tackle.
It's an issue that will probably be addressed with extra strength and experience but just at the moment he does find it difficult to contain players running straight at him.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: DJC – on
You shouldn’t take Cripps and Walsh’s performances in isolation.

Their best performances are when the support cast is firing.

You may debate which is the cause and which is the effect and, to a certain extent, it’s a feedback loop.  However, my observations are that Cripps and Walsh are riding on the wave of support from their teammates.

^
This.
If the players around him aren't contributing then the job of Cripps becomes that much harder.

It is easier for the opposition to nullify him....because their own jobs aren't difficult and they can lend a hand.
But if they're tied up with their Carlton opponents it gives an opportunity for Cripps to get off the leash.
At the moment a few of our 'big dogs' are loose.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: kruddler – on
People talking about 2nd year blues are just guessing. We'll know soon enough.

But every year i say the same thing when evaluating our chances.
Some kids won't come on as expected, or even go backwards.
Some older players will decline in output, some may even fall of a performance cliff and/or retire early.
Some gun players will get injured.

Happens to everyone, every year.
Whether thats Jagga and Dean, or Byrne and Ison.....or whoever.
This year O'Keeffe definitely fits that bill.

Skull has the added burden of being set for a new role and one that may not entirely suit his skill set.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by DJC -
You shouldn’t take Cripps and Walsh’s performances in isolation.

Their best performances are when the support cast is firing.

You may debate which is the cause and which is the effect and, to a certain extent, it’s a feedback loop.  However, my observations are that Cripps and Walsh are riding on the wave of support from their teammates.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: DJC – on
While I wouldn't say that we had players standing back, I think that the improved form and effort of the support cast in Hewett, Acres, Cerra, Aisworth, Hayward, and now Cottrell, has taken pressure off Cripps and Walsh.  If Cripps or Walsh is quiet, others are filling the void but that support is also enabling Cripps and Walsh, as well as Jagga Smith, to accumulate possessions and distribute the pill effectively.

Cripps' form is scary when compared to the teams performance

Have a look at the following breakdown of team with Cripps possessions in that game in brackets.

Our worst 2 games for the year IMO would be...
Sydney (19 touches)
St. Kilda. (14).

Our best games of the year would be IMO
GWS (33)
Port Adelaide (32)
Geelong (30)
Brisbane (32)
Fremantle (32)
Richmond (32)
Bulldogs (29)

Average/poor performances against....
Melbourne (21)
North Melbourne (21)
Adelaide (29)
Collingwood (25)
Essendon (23)


Coincidence??

No Cripps. No Carlton
Thats the point I have been making yep others have improved but imo its all down to Cripps and to a lesser extent Walsh returning to their best. The timing of the improvement is also confusing for me, why did the change of coach prompt such a massive form reversal and ability to run out games. I dont buy its all the new Fraser game style/methodology etc etc ...Cripps couldnt run out of sight on a dark night under Voss but under Fraser is bobbing up as the matchwinner late games under Fraser and is in brownlow form.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: DJC – on
While I wouldn't say that we had players standing back, I think that the improved form and effort of the support cast in Hewett, Acres, Cerra, Aisworth, Hayward, and now Cottrell, has taken pressure off Cripps and Walsh.  If Cripps or Walsh is quiet, others are filling the void but that support is also enabling Cripps and Walsh, as well as Jagga Smith, to accumulate possessions and distribute the pill effectively.

Cripps' form is scary when compared to the teams performance

Have a look at the following breakdown of team with Cripps possessions in that game in brackets.

Our worst 2 games for the year IMO would be...
Sydney (19 touches)
St. Kilda. (14).

Our best games of the year would be IMO
GWS (33)
Port Adelaide (32)
Geelong (30)
Brisbane (32)
Fremantle (32)
Richmond (32)
Bulldogs (29)

Average/poor performances against....
Melbourne (21)
North Melbourne (21)
Adelaide (29)
Collingwood (25)
Essendon (23)


Coincidence??

No Cripps. No Carlton
7
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: LP – on
I have to reiterate this because it's obvious and yet ignored.

The current good form of Cripps and Walsh is a direct consequence of the players around them making an effort. Instead of standing back waiting to benefit from what Cripps and Walsh do, the players around them are now rolling up their sleeves and helping out more which gets Cripps and Walsh to the end of games in much better condition. That, along with confidence in execution, is the real reason for the current 4-Qtr efforts, not some invisible change of game plan.

We are playing the exact same style that we did from Rnd 0, the difference is we are now making less mistakes at it and sharing the load. Our better players aren't hitting the wall at the end of the game, and the lapses are diminished. It's the same game plan the Lions play, and even with the Lions you can see how it can go horrible wrong when it's left to few.

While I wouldn't say that we had players standing back, I think that the improved form and effort of the support cast in Hewett, Acres, Cerra, Aisworth, Hayward, and now Cottrell, has taken pressure off Cripps and Walsh.  If Cripps or Walsh is quiet, others are filling the void but that support is also enabling Cripps and Walsh, as well as Jagga Smith, to accumulate possessions and distribute the pill effectively.

Cottrell's ability to get to contest after contest and affect the outcomes of those contests is elite.  I don't think that he'll ever by a high possession player but his work rate, endurance and ability to snag a goal or two is invaluable ... and then there's his gob iron  :)

I don't that there's any question about Billy Wilson's ability to have an impact at AFL level now, and I think that he has probably consigned Adam Saad to depth player status.  Billy's chase and run down tackle with 30 seconds to go warmed the cockles of my heart.  That's the effort and desperation that wins finals.

Harry Dean's ability to hold down a KPD spot, even in the absence of Weiters, has probably exceeded my fairly high expectations.  You know that he's not going to lose many contests, even against the best key forwards.  Then there's his willingness to fly the flag for his teammates.  I wonder how Toby Greene felt when he was ragdolled by an 18 year old.

Harry's equally inexperienced fellow KPD in Wade Derksen has also exceeded my expectations and has shown that he's more than capable at AFL level.  His lack of experience shows at times but his ability to intercept and spoil is right up there.  Some folk have concerns about his lack of height but he's on a par with Dean and Weiters.  It would seem inevitable that Weiters will replace Derksen but the latter will be stiff to miss out. Maybe he should get a shot as a forward  :-\

I was on board with Thry's prediction that Ainsworth would the best of our trade-ins but I think that Hayward has just shaded him now, and Florent is not far behind.  The ability, aggression and attitude that those three have added to the team is really starting to pay dividends.

Brodie Kemp's ability to win the ball inside 50 was a real bright spot but his kicking for goal is reminiscent of Levi Casboult at his worst.  His field kicking is good but his technique is all over the shop when he lines up for goal.  The "experts" will tell you that kicking for goal is the one aspect of the game that has never improved and Kemp is living proof.  I'm reminded of a Nathan Burke anecdote.  He thought that having his AFLW players just concentrate on the goals might help so he had the behind posts removed for training.  It made no difference at all to their accuracy.  Anyway, a goal kicking coach for Kemp is a must.

Lods suggested that it might be time for Jack Ison to refresh with a run in the Magoos.  I'm not to sure about that.  While he may not be getting much of the pill, he is tackling and his tackles stick.  I'm more concerned about Byrner, but he is also contributing to our forward pressure.  Like Kemp, he needs to work on his goal kicking.

I wasn't confident going into the game, particularly without Weiters, but it was a good win even if our poor kicking for goal reduced the margin.


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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by kruddler -
People talking about 2nd year blues are just guessing. We'll know soon enough.

But every year i say the same thing when evaluating our chances.
Some kids won't come on as expected, or even go backwards.
Some older players will decline in output, some may even fall of a performance cliff and/or retire early.
Some gun players will get injured.

Happens to everyone, every year.
Whether thats Jagga and Dean, or Byrne and Ison.....or whoever.
This year O'Keeffe definitely fits that bill.
9
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: Lods – on
Nick Daicos didn't. ;)  :D
All players suffer it to some degree, it's a consequence of increased scrutiny.

Picking Daicos as an exception doesn't work as his worst year statistically was his 2nd season, so he isn't one of the handful of exceptions.
Nick Daicos career to date on FinalSiren

But my comment is more about the stupid things fans blame on the coach.
(Actually, they are right to blame a coach, just that they blame the wrong coach, it's the opposition coach who is at fault!)

Crippa's first season was a write off but he was Rising Star runner up in his second season.  He didn't really suffer from second year blues until his seventh season.  The Bont's second year blues hasn't happened yet.

Dean and Smith, by their performances and importance to our team, have made themselves the objects of as much scrutiny now as they will get next season or throughout their careers.

Some players may well experience a physical and/or emotional speedbump in their second season but the idea of a universal second year blues malady has no basis in fact.