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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 19 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Collingwood at MCG
Last post by Lods -
Kemp...
He's a bit off the boil just at the moment and that's probably influencing perceptions a bit (mine included)

I think the thing that affects most people's opinions with regard to Kemp is that he is essentially our main forward target but he doesn't hit the scoreboard often enough, especially in the block of games since Voss's departure.
There's a couple of goalless games there, and another couple where he's only kicked the one.

He makes position very well and provides a good target.
He's probably attracting the best oppostition defender while McKay is off in "never never land" away from goal.
He averages around 6 marks a game...so it's not like he doesn't get opportunities.
In fact he should be getting more, because in recent games he's dropped a lot of marks he would normally take.
(that may be the reason folks are a bit down on him at present)
He'll probably finish the season with around the same number of goals as Curnow kicked last year.

It's true, he would benefit from another big body up there...either McKay back closer to goal, maybe Derksen when Weitering comes back or a resting ruck.




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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Hawthorn
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: Sexybronco – on
Quote from: Thryleon – on
was that our worst performance of the year against any team?  Certainly seemed to be our lowest points total.
We weren’t in the same postcode as the Hawks on Saturday night, our response between will be telling next week but Saturday night was worse than most of our performances in the first 8 rounds this year.

Hawks game and the bombers game have been our worst performances of the year IMO. Thankfully the bombers are the worst team of the past decade (or more) so we still got a win out of it.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 19 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Collingwood at MCG
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: Macca37 – on
Surely Kemp has to be on shaky ground.  When I watch him play I am reminded of the saying "Jack of all trades and master of none".  He has been tried on the back line, the forward line and positions in between.  On a good day he breaks even with his opponent, and on most other days his performance can best be described as mediocre.

The fact he is able to retain his position in the side is a reflection of our desperate shortage of KPPs.

Re kemp....
Very poor game from him, no doubt.
However, did you see our entry inside f50?
As best i can tell it was sit it on harrys head and hope for a miracle.....and it didnt come.
Our f50 entries are terrible, and the conditions have a large say in that, but when its decent weather, kemp finds space and is ok 1 on 1 and on a lead.

Given we have SFA behind him knocking on the door, we must persist with him.
Hes much better as 3rd banana not #2.

Had we recruited some KPFs over the years, hed be playing 2s, but we didnt, so here we are.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2026 Rd 16: Carlton vs Box Hill at Box Hill
Last post by kruddler -
Didn't see any of the game but based on summaries and the form of the 1s, its pretty clear to me that we need to make a couple changes.

1. Williams into the 1s.
Losing George, we need some mid help.
Kicking goals is a struggle up forward, zac is our most effective when played there.
Clearly can play down back as well.
With 5 on the bench, surely you find a spot for this utility.

2. Acres should never have been dropped and should be back in the 1s.

We know george is out.
So we need 1 more to make way.
To me it seems to be between ison and hollands. Either way, those ins can cover us.

I wouldnt be playing fogarty. Hes gone at seasons end.
You could think about playing flynn young as well....but not sure there is a spot for him.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2026 Rd 16: Carlton vs Box Hill at Box Hill
Last post by crashlander -
One thing I liked about Reidy today was that he kicked 2 goals from ruck stoppages. Whatever his limitations, eh can think on his feet.

Flynn Young seems to have some of his early season form back. I didn't see the long leads that he was doing in the first few rounds, but he jagged a couple from crumbs, which doesn't happen a lot with our guys.

The other thing I noted is that our guys don't appear to have the body strength that many of their opponents had. We might be running out games better, but we really need to get stronger, all across the park.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 19 2026 Pre Game Predictions Carlton vs Collingwood at MCG
Last post by crashlander -
Quote from: Professer E – on
Maclean is better EB
I'm not sure Maclean is the answer, but he is a better option than Amartey, who is far too conditional for my tastes. I don't think Maclean would be as expensive, as in draft capital as well as pay packet, as Amartey would be.

As for Calsher Dear, he appears to be Hawthorn's version of Moir. No matter how much talent he might have, he doesn't put in the effort. He made no impact today against .... For some of the time, he was on Dane Harvey. Sam Paea, with 1 goal 3, 17 possessions, 7 marks and 4 tackles was a much better contributor.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 18 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Hawthorn
Last post by crashlander -
Quote from: Sexybronco – on
Quote from: Thryleon – on
was that our worst performance of the year against any team?  Certainly seemed to be our lowest points total.
We weren’t in the same postcode as the Hawks on Saturday night, our response between will be telling next week but Saturday night was worse than most of our performances in the first 8 rounds this year.
For one of the few times this year a team really got hold of us. It hasn't happened often, but it happened against St. Kilda, who are nothing compared to Hawthorn. Our guys lost confidence in each other.
One of the reasons is that we were thrashed so badly in the ruck. Meek bashed the ball, he didn't tap it. Cripps, for example, was where he usually is, close to the rucks. He couldn't get near it. Walsh, who stood much further back, was much closer to the ball and sharked quite a few Meek taps. It was a clear setup and was one of the few things that worked on the night.
Pitto, for all his limitations, rarely get thrashed. This year he has been one of our best competitors. His only really poor game was against Richmond. Others might have been able to get hold of him for a quarter, but never more than that.
Riley isn't the competitor that Pitto is yet: he approaches every centre bounce the same. Around the ground, he couldn't compete with Meek's strength. Riley will improve, but it wasn't the opponent he needed for his first crack.
Not sure any of our (fit) rucks could have done much better.

The second reason was Hawthorn's disposal: they hit targets, while we couldn't. That sapped the confidence very quickly, as our players' hard work was not rewarded.

The third reason was the total incompetence from our key forwards. Mitch McGovern did well enough, considering the way he just bombed the ball into the forward line, but neither H nor Kemp could take a grab in those conditions.

It might be time to give Brodie Kemp as week or two off, as he has struggled recently. The problem we have is who to bring in!?
If we bring Moir in, and that would be a pretty big if, given his (lack of) form today. However, he would benefit from the better disposal of the 1's. And he does lead. Sometimes I wonder if our forwards remember that.
If Weitering is available, again no certainty there, then we could play Derksen forward. He moves well and can take a grab.

Hawthorn had a guy named Hill who played yesterday. He barely touched the ball, but got 2 junk time goals. I was really frustrated by that, as he literally hadn't had a possessions until then. But by the end, our pressure had really fallen away.