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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by crashlander -
A few thoughts:

[1] Our possessions game doesn't stand up in the wet.
We use the ball a lot. Our skills have improved a lot, but when it was slippery we overused the ball badly. Our skills fall away in the wet. We need another gear and style when the weather is like it was tonight. What have all 3 of our losses since Fraser got on board have in common? Wet weather.
That is an area we really need to address as we head into 2027.

[2] Another issue that arose when the rain came was that the umpires started umpiring differently. Our tackles were not rewarded. Geelong got some very ordinary, incredibly soft frees. We lost more than a little confidence when we were not rewarded for our hard work.

[3] I doubt that Dangerfield will be able to repeat his effort again this season. Things really went his way. He was a champion, he is now a player who can produce an occasional big effort, but not a consistent one.
For all that, we don't really have a player designed to play on him. Cowan gets the job, but Dangerfield has maybe 10 kg of muscle on him and a lot of umpire attention.

[4] Like in the Voss days, our turnovers are coach killers:
We were outcoached this time, Geelong were ready for the way we move the ball and how fragile it is in less than perfect conditions.  Our turnovers provided them with most of their score. We were unable to return the favour.
Also, we were turning the ball over in the middle, which gave them far too many opportunities.

[5] We got out tackles after 1/4 time:
We were up 19 tackles to 8 in the first quarter. We got belted after that. They had a lot more tackles after that.

[6] Some of our guys had absolute shockers:
Mitch McGovern couldn't get near it. Part of the problem was that we weren't moving the ball like we usually do, but that wasn't everything.
Lewis Young had a shocker: he got beaten in the ruck, he fumbled the ball terribly, he couldn't get the ball to a teammate. He will probably survive, but we need someone better for the job.
Harry Dean had probably his least effective game. He was bowled over, but he never got into the game at all.
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Ladies Lounge / Re: VFLW 2026
Last post by crashlander -
Our line-up:

B:   0 Kiara Bischa   74 Lucy Burke   33 Lou-Lou Field
HB:   68 Emma Horne   6 Gabriella Pound   51 Octavia Di Donato
C:   79 Hannah Scott   8 Lily Baxter   69 Tahlia Plunkett
HF:   13 Aisling Reidy   71 Hannah Bowey   78 Alessia Acquaro
F:   58 Grace Matser   59 Ellie Sbeghen   26 Tayla McMillan
R:   77 Zoe Larkins   53 Asha Turner Funk   66 Steph Demeo
Int:   17 Danika Spamer   80 Matilda Fitzgerald   73 Mia Fuller   72 Katelyn Busuttil   16 Alana Mulvahil   55 Jemma Stokes   64 Harriet Bingley

[1] 6 AFLW Blues named, but I doubt all will play. Someone will be the senior Energency.

[2] Nice to see Tayla McMillan named. She's had injury issues.
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Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW Rd 4 2026 Carlton vs Collingwood at Carlton
Last post by crashlander -
Quote from: crashlander – on
Team as yet indeterminate, but here is what we know:

B:   1 Amelia Velardo   49 Madeline Hendrie
HB:   14 Siofra O'Connell   21 Harriet Cordner   36 Ciara Fitzgerald
C:   17 Dayna Finn   19 Erone Fitzpatrick   11 Yasmin Duursma
HF:   25 Keeley Sherar   7 Poppy Scholz   23 Lila Keck
F:   4 Claudia Whitfort   42 Tara Bohanna
R:   12 Jessica Good   10 Mimi Hill   5 Abbie McKay
Int:   6 Gabriella Pound   20 Lily Goss   24 Brooke Vickers   8 Lily Baxter   22 Brooke Boileau   55 Sophie McKay   35 Nell Morris-Dalton   13 Aisling Reidy

3 girls in, none out as yet.
Gab Pound out for Brooke Vickers.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Sexybronco -
Quote from: RiverRat – on
Quote from: LordLucifer – on

We played Hawthorn a while back in the rain and got spanked, tonight we didn't handle the slippery conditions again. It's clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.


Spot on.  The short passing and possession handball game is definitely more risky in the wet.

Apart from the increasingly wet conditions, the other main turning point seems to have been when Dean went off and stayed off injured in the second term.  He was not a factor when he returned and Weitering was similarly less effective without Dean's support.
Second quarter was when the tide turned and being at the game it was evident that their run in the second half was a major factor. Incredibly well coached and prepared for this game, it was simply too much for us to overcome. The rain didn’t help but we were regularly picked off when going for that decisive kick forward.
What also stood out over the last 2 weeks is that we need a quality forward who can stand up in big games, neither Harry or Kemp are the answer. Not sure Amarty is either but we seem hell bent on rolling the dice with him. I agree with Laj and would prefer Hogan for 2 years while we develop a longer term option.
2027 will be a true test of what Wright and Davies plans for the club will deliver.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by laj -
Quote from: JonDorotich – on
Quote from: LordLucifer – on
When the bough breaks ...........

Started off like we wanted to really win it, finished like we were still being coached by Voss.

We played Hawthorn a while back in the rain and got spanked, tonight we didn't handle the slippery conditions again. It's clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.

What is also of serious concern to me is that some of our players who have been adequate for many weeks, crumbled under the pressure and did some extremely stupid things.

Young & Cottrell were braindead tonite, some of the things they did completely defy logic. Kemp going for the left foot checkside from the right forward pocket only to kick the ball in the middle and float it across goal to the opposite pocket where Cottrell took a chest mark. From the set shot, Cottrell kicked across the body and hit the post - two appalling choices let down by poor skills. I also wasn't impressed with Cottrell laughing when he hit the post, seriously champ, this is a cut-throat final which requres a little more focus than what you showed.

We got a few bum decisions from the umpires but that is not why we lost, we failed to maintain the pressure & chase like we have seen for many weeks.

Fraser got a coaching lesson tonite, we were all over them early and made them look second-rate, Scott made some subtle changes and they stormed back into the match.

Yes, it's been a really weird year for us with plenty to like but this elimination final showed just how far off the pace our list is and how we cannot cut corners in our pursuit for the ultimate success.

I’d expect that the club knows full well that it needs to upgrade the likes of McGovern/Kemp/Hollands etc to force our way into the top 4. Our shopping list starts with a consistent key forward who can kick, a mobile back, another ruck option, some pace  on the wings, & a clever small forward etc. tick two or three of those and we’ll have a great year.

This year gave us so much
- a great coach
- the return to form & mobility of Cerra & Walsh & McKay
- 4 new young guns Jagga, Dean, Wilson & Byrne (4x rising stars)
- emergence of Franky Evans!

Next test is securing Cody Walker…

Lots to look forward to.
I'm happy too we kept faith with young blokes while still trying to make wildcard. Going 10-2-1 from round 10 and only squeezing into a wildcard showed us how far we had to come back from. Normally, if you finished like that you'd think you'd be top 2 or top 4 at least. We were cooked.

We are looking at Amartey. To be honest, I'd rather we look at Jesse Hogan for 2 years while we develop another key forward. Help for Harry. add some class to our forward line. We are suddenly in the "window", as you are when you finish "top of the ladder" the last 14 rounds. and that, plus adding the like of Walker, O'Farrell coming back, Carroll mid year, further development in our young blokes. Not to mention looking at good trades. That could put us really close. It's disappointing but one of the more encouraging 8th place finishes.

Depending too on the outcome of the Swans 5 I'd look at Nick Blakey. There is talk that he was hard done by and might not be happy, but that's talk still. If that's the case, go for him. If that's wrong then don't go for him of course. He's sounds like he is not happy.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Micky0 -
I agree, we were not disgraced at all and Geelong was never going to go easy or roll over; so we had our work Cut out for us.  Thought we started really well and looked confident and poised mostly then seems fatigue and errors began and Geelong always had more in the tank than us.  Some bewildering umpiring but not the reason we lost and at this stage Patrick Dangerfield is top of my list of most loathed oppo players - he is just a flog; hopefully Freo bury them, cant imagine Freo will allow their next game to be lost.

But back to Carlton, proud of the effort and the turnaround of the season, gave us all some great memories and we were even being barracked for by oppo supporters! So getting some respect in the game and our young ones will be the better for 2026!

Bring on 2027!
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by RiverRat -
Quote from: LordLucifer – on

We played Hawthorn a while back in the rain and got spanked, tonight we didn't handle the slippery conditions again. It's clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.


Spot on.  The short passing and possession handball game is definitely more risky in the wet.

Apart from the increasingly wet conditions, the other main turning point seems to have been when Dean went off and stayed off injured in the second term.  He was not a factor when he returned and Weitering was similarly less effective without Dean's support.
8
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: LordLucifer – on
When the bough breaks ...........

Started off like we wanted to really win it, finished like we were still being coached by Voss.

We played Hawthorn a while back in the rain and got spanked, tonight we didn't handle the slippery conditions again. It's clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.

What is also of serious concern to me is that some of our players who have been adequate for many weeks, crumbled under the pressure and did some extremely stupid things.

Young & Cottrell were braindead tonite, some of the things they did completely defy logic. Kemp going for the left foot checkside from the right forward pocket only to kick the ball in the middle and float it across goal to the opposite pocket where Cottrell took a chest mark. From the set shot, Cottrell kicked across the body and hit the post - two appalling choices let down by poor skills. I also wasn't impressed with Cottrell laughing when he hit the post, seriously champ, this is a cut-throat final which requres a little more focus than what you showed.

We got a few bum decisions from the umpires but that is not why we lost, we failed to maintain the pressure & chase like we have seen for many weeks.

Fraser got a coaching lesson tonite, we were all over them early and made them look second-rate, Scott made some subtle changes and they stormed back into the match.

Yes, it's been a really weird year for us with plenty to like but this elimination final showed just how far off the pace our list is and how we cannot cut corners in our pursuit for the ultimate success.

    


Scott definitely made some tweaks, they really got us on the counter and outside by backing themselves to sit a couple off the contest.
Fraser didnt adjust the long kicks to Harry. Not sure how many marks he took but every mark he didnt mark it, when the bal hit the ground Geel punished us by taking it away. They needed to put it bed because Geel were waiting for it every single time.
Our fwd line looked dysfunctional by large tonight, Stewart seem to gobble up everything, we played into their hands (literally).
9
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by JonDorotich -
Quote from: LordLucifer – on
When the bough breaks ...........

Started off like we wanted to really win it, finished like we were still being coached by Voss.

We played Hawthorn a while back in the rain and got spanked, tonight we didn't handle the slippery conditions again. It's clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.

What is also of serious concern to me is that some of our players who have been adequate for many weeks, crumbled under the pressure and did some extremely stupid things.

Young & Cottrell were braindead tonite, some of the things they did completely defy logic. Kemp going for the left foot checkside from the right forward pocket only to kick the ball in the middle and float it across goal to the opposite pocket where Cottrell took a chest mark. From the set shot, Cottrell kicked across the body and hit the post - two appalling choices let down by poor skills. I also wasn't impressed with Cottrell laughing when he hit the post, seriously champ, this is a cut-throat final which requres a little more focus than what you showed.

We got a few bum decisions from the umpires but that is not why we lost, we failed to maintain the pressure & chase like we have seen for many weeks.

Fraser got a coaching lesson tonite, we were all over them early and made them look second-rate, Scott made some subtle changes and they stormed back into the match.

Yes, it's been a really weird year for us with plenty to like but this elimination final showed just how far off the pace our list is and how we cannot cut corners in our pursuit for the ultimate success.

I’d expect that the club knows full well that it needs to upgrade the likes of McGovern/Kemp/Hollands etc to force our way into the top 4. Our shopping list starts with a consistent key forward who can kick, a mobile back, another ruck option, some pace  on the wings, & a clever small forward etc. tick two or three of those and we’ll have a great year.

This year gave us so much
- a great coach
- the return to form & mobility of Cerra & Walsh & McKay
- 4 new young guns Jagga, Dean, Wilson & Byrne (4x rising stars)
- emergence of Franky Evans!

Next test is securing Cody Walker…

Lots to look forward to.
10
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Oh well, thanks for the fun ride Baggers, great while it lasted. Geel were too good after quarter time, clearly the 2 weeks off and great coaching allowed them to step up couple of gears. We dropped off intensity after qtr time, to be honest I thought Geel would win by plenty in a final like this. We weren't disgraced, we found out a lot, we learnt a lot, as Fraser keeps saying, we have much work to do.
Here's looking to an exciting 2027 (our premiership year according to my mate's premonition many many years ago).