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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Macca37 -
i have just got home after going to Sydney to see the game.  I have read all  the comments in this thread and my first comment is that I believe supporters are too quick in finding excuses for our team.

In the preliminary warmup about half an hour before the game, our players had no trouble kicking fifty metres or more towards the goal.  I was impressed with Dean in the way he marked and passed the ball.  There was no wind and conditions were perfect for football.

At half time I was happy with the way our players had applied pressure to the Swans causing them to make mistakes and restricting their scoring. Given the amount of time we had the ball in our forward line we should have been at least another two goals ahead.

The third quarter started, we kicked the first two goals, and then the wheels fell off.  Grundy suddenly made our rucks look second rate, brought the Swans midfield into play, and we meekly capitulated.  All the old faults surfaced: poor handballs, poor kicking to position, handballing and kicking to the Swans players.  With so much self-imposed pressure and lack of discipline it was only matter of time before the Swans turned the game into a training run.

At three quarter time I didn't think things could get worse but they did.  The last quarter was an embarrassment for Carlton supporters.  The side lost structure and the Swans were able to attack in waves of three or more players from their backline all the way to their forward line without any resistance from our players.  The Swans forward line was wide open with our backline players often 10 or fifteen metres away.

Early in the last quarter I saw Dean hobbling slightly. He looked physically stuffed and bewildered.  His opponent was firing on all cylinders.

Just another couple of thoughts.  Why do we keep selecting Fogarty?  He is not capable of playing in a winning forward line.  Finally, what do we do with Big H? He cannot win a contested mark and he certainly can't take a mark when the ball is lobbed on his head.

In conclusion, our football club is in trouble.





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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: shawny – on


yep sad but true.

He will never get another coaching gig and will be gone by mid season bye imo.
That loss was squarely on the players (e.g. skipper was the prime offender), they went to water as soon as some pressure was applied. EOS.

Yes, it is on the players but it is also on the coaches.

IMHO no-one gets off free of accountability for that 2nd half 'effort.'

Vossy has entered his fifth year at the helm and yet we saw another second half debacle... in fact, worse than many that preceded it over the years. Absolutely the same shambolic forward line and delivery into the forward line, even with different personnel!
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: Adelaideblue – on
Thought Swans had done their homework on Ollie Hollands, working him over and often not allowing him to break free.
Wasn't sure if he played the game on the backline, but if so he may be more effective playing back on the wing.
Agree, thought we were out coached and the Swans planned well. Adding Goodwin to help Cox might be a good move providing he can concentrate on football and not get distracted. I have a preference for Ollie on the wing and he is a very honest performer.

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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: shawny – on


yep sad but true.

He will never get another coaching gig and will be gone by mid season bye imo.
That loss was squarely on the players (e.g. skipper was the prime offender), they went to water as soon as some pressure was applied. EOS.
I agree the loss was on the players and the skipper and senior players let the team down but we all know who the fall guy will be.FWIW I wouldn't have continued with Cripps as captain and made the change to Walsh when he got his forever contract...
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: shawny – on
Quote from: laj – on
He's not. First year was good, but we always perform first year for a coach. Since then, bar a 14 weeks purple patch in the 2nd half of 2023 (after we were bottom 4 until then), he has struggled. The game has changed further since 2023, quickened up. Voss seems to have no idea how to evolve as the game evolves. If we don't pull the pin soon we could be on yet another wasted season. No good kicking the opposition for half a game then dying badly on our @rse. Can't believe we were 22pts up then 15 min later 6 goals behind.

yep sad but true.

He will never get another coaching gig and will be gone by mid season bye imo.
That loss was squarely on the players (e.g. skipper was the prime offender), they went to water as soon as some pressure was applied. EOS.
18
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: Baggers – on
Quote from: Thryleon – on
We can talk about these guys until the cows come home, but our issues lie with the following players.

Kemp
Young
McKay
Saad
Mcgovern
Fogarty
In this game cripps
Reidy
Williams

Yep, trying to do new things with older blokes with bad habits and ignoring the future of the club with promising younguns is just silly... conservative, risk-averse selections.

I disagree with you on H and Kemp. One game is too little a sample size to judge them, yet. Before Kemp did his achilles he was finally beginning to deliver on potential. I still wonder if his best position might not be inside mid. He's strong and quick.

H is a confidence player and will take time. But he'd better get a wriggle on.

Don't know what to do with Williams, to be honest.

I hope Crippa answers his critics. Against the Fluffy Ducks, our midfield was slow, way too slow and taken apart in the 2nd half.

Young, Saad, McGovern and Fogarty are not the future.

I know why youre disagreeing with me about kemp and McKay, but these guys must lift if our season is going to kick on.

Its not that they were bad, or terrible, they just weren't what you need from the top end of your list.  If you are in that equation, you need to be a top 5 to 10 performer every week.

Harry needs to lift and become a more imposing figure on games.  Kemp too.

If they dont we will struggle, particularly if we concede a winning score in a quarter again.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: Baggers – on
I disagree with you on H and Kemp. One game is too little a sample size to judge them, yet. Before Kemp did his achilles he was finally beginning to deliver on potential. I still wonder if his best position might not be inside mid. He's strong and quick.

H is a confidence player and will take time. But he'd better get a wriggle on.

Don't know what to do with Williams, to be honest.
I thought our lot got to where the ball was plenty, but not one of them could go a one grab, Harry Dean embarrassed them with his clean handling of the footy.

Most of our blokes fumbled and bumbled like Mr Bean, and when you are a slower side(relative) that is a poison chalice because that second grab costs all your time and space and delivers extra time and space to the opposition to setup. It's only a step or two, but it makes a huge difference!

H took 5 marks. And Weiters, Chesser and Florent took plenty of one grabbers. The delivery to H when up forward (and not running up the wings), was woeful. Cripps and Hewett were chief offenders re inside 50 delivery!
20
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by rocky -
Quote from: Baggers – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
I don't get all the hate for boyd.
Clearly not rated by the mc.
I don't think there's a lot of "hate for Boyd." This little black duck much prefers Boyd to Saad... for starters his defensive game is much better... he has a passion for the contest, and his body isn't crumbling! And he can kick on both sides of his body.
I don't think anyone on this site has hung it on Boyd? Maybe Krudd is referring to the MC. The only comments I recall were how he'd lost some form/confidence and wasn't getting picked when playing well enough in the magoos. I'd have him ahead of Saad