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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
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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.
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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.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by Lods -
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!)

Are you reading that table upside down?
His second year was better than his first.

Brownlow votes
2022-11
2023-28

AV disposals
2022- 25.8
2023- 31
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Robert Heatley Stand / VFL Rd 14 2026 Carlton vs Werribee
Last post by crashlander -
Saturday at 10:00, at home (for a change). Werribee are 3rd at the moment, while we've dropped off the cliff to 13th.
Our form has been putrid in recent weeks, so I hope we can see some improvement, especially from our experienced players. Our 2's are very young and need our experienced players to stand up.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by LP -
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!)
10
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 15 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: shawny – on
Dean, Jagga, Cowan, Wilson, Ainsworth and Haywood have all been great this year and made us a more even list
Dean and Smith will suffer 2nd year blues, all players do, will we'll have to sack the new coach for making them go backwards!

Watch this space!

Nick Daicos didn't. ;)  :D