Carlton Supporters Club

Quote from: Professer E – on Today at 12:49:43 pm

I thought the sniffers were rather keen to impart err.... physical pressure on our blokes (a lot of marginally late, marginally high, borderline excessive stuff), and Acres is certainly doesn't back away from that stuff.
I still think sides cling to the trope that we're soft but what I saw on Saturday Sunday suggests otherwise.

It would be unfair to say that our softer players were playing for St Kilda.  Pitto certainly had his way with TDK though and I thought that he was looking forward to the final siren midway through the second quarter.

Lyon is never reluctant to resort to questionable tactics but their attempted physicality backfired, like most of Lyon's plans.

I don't think that we've ever been soft but there has certainly been a perception that we are.  The addition of Ainsworth, Hayward, Florent, Dean, Byrner, Ison and Derksen has hardened us up. 

I think that confidence plays a part too.

I thought the sniffers were rather keen to impart err.... physical pressure on our blokes (a lot of marginally late, marginally high, borderline excessive stuff), and Acres is certainly doesn't back away from that stuff.
I still think sides cling to the trope that we're soft but what I saw on Saturday Sunday suggests otherwise.

Quote from: LP – on Today at 09:45:18 am

Battling for 10th spot is not playing finals, the Wildcard gig didn't exist 9 months ago.

In that regard it can't be a "false dawn" because technically we haven't really improved ladder position from 2025, unless you think going from 11th to 10th is an improvement. Despite appearing better on form at this moment, we haven't improved just yet, the ladder has degraded!

If we were 6th or 7th, that might be a false dawn.

If we win both the next and some other results go our way, we can finish 8th and get a week off. That would make many happy.

However, Acres' gathering of the ball at speed, running away from opponents and hitting up Byrner for the last goal of the game was very impressive, particularly when just forcing a stoppage would have been an honourable result.  And I can't recall the last time Acres had an OOBOTF 🤞

Someone asked about Acres game - it is an interesting question.  When he was playing at his peak, an absolute running machine and would get us out of trouble in defence regularly, then bob up for a goal or two - and it really stood out.  Now, he has plenty for company in the running and effort department, so doesn't stand out as much.  This is a good thing.  Don't think that he is playing badly.  Still a strong mark, still waiting for the kick OOF, still running heaps, but not as prolific.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if the largest crowd in the finals series happens a week before the 'real finals' begins.......

The moment that The Aints looked unlikely and we looked more likely, a huge chunk of the AFL Media started calling the Wildcard system bogus.

Just a week or two earlier, many of the same commentators had called the Wildcard system an unbridled success, now they are complaining about Rnd 24 being a dead rubber. I suggest you refer to them as Flipper from now on!