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11
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: 2026 Last Practice Match Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: Baggers – on
Quote from: DJC – on
I'm not sure that the second quarter was that bad.

We had 13 inside 50s with four kicks marked by defenders (one ball was tapped inside 50 and led to several possessions and a missed snap by Williams).  We took two marks inside 50 (three with Smith's "not 15") and kept possession or forced a stoppage from seven inside 50s.  Where we fell down was our goalkicking with two shots falling short (one from outside 50), two set shots missed from 35m and two gettable snaps missing.  We probably should have kicked three for the quarter and one of Geelong's two was gifted to Martin.

Our ball use and decision making was good but our finishing let us down and we really can't afford to miss set shots from inside 50.

And that's the issue, just like recent years we got it into forward 50 plenty of times in the 2nd qtr but finishing let us down... again. BUT, it was corrected in the 3rd and final.

The difference is that our forward 50 entries in the second quarter were much better than what we often dished up last season.  We dropped some marks, didn't crumb as a well as we should have and our kicking for goal was atrocious.  Our forward 50 entries were generally deep and well executed and Geelong only taking four defensive marks and only two spoils (neither of which killed the ball) reflected that.  We really should have scored three goals from the looks we got, and won the quarter by a goal (two if the umpires were fair dinkum) but bad kicking (for goal) is bad football.
12
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: 2026 Last Practice Match Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Baggers -
Quote from: DJC – on
I'm not sure that the second quarter was that bad.

We had 13 inside 50s with four kicks marked by defenders (one ball was tapped inside 50 and led to several possessions and a missed snap by Williams).  We took two marks inside 50 (three with Smith's "not 15") and kept possession or forced a stoppage from seven inside 50s.  Where we fell down was our goalkicking with two shots falling short (one from outside 50), two set shots missed from 35m and two gettable snaps missing.  We probably should have kicked three for the quarter and one of Geelong's two was gifted to Martin.

Our ball use and decision making was good but our finishing let us down and we really can't afford to miss set shots from inside 50.

And that's the issue, just like recent years we got it into forward 50 plenty of times in the 2nd qtr but finishing let us down... again. BUT, it was corrected in the 3rd and final.
13
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Name your team for Opening Round
Last post by DJC -
Fox Sports is going with:

B: A Saad, J Weitering, L Young

HB: N Newman, H Dean, O Florent

C: S Walsh, P Cripps, O Hollands

HF: L Fogarty, A Moir, W Hayward

F: B Ainsworth, H McKay, F Evans

FOLL: L Reidy, G Hewett, J Smith

I/C: M Pittonet, B Acres, Z Williams, C Lord, L Cowan

EMG: B Kemp, C Chesser, T Byrne

And I guess that shows how little thought they put into these exercises  ::)

My 23 back in December was:

Defenders - Weitering, Newman, Cowan, Florent, Haynes, Saad, Dean, L Young.

Midfielders - Cripps, Pittonet, Walsh, Hewett, Acres, Smith, Hollands

Forwards - McKay, Hayward, Williams, O’Keeffe, Kemp, Motlop, Moir

Emergencies - Lord, Cerra, Ainsworth

And a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.  Motlop is a definite out, and Cowan, Acres, Haynes, Cerra and Newman are unlikely to be available.  Ainsworth has shown why we were keen to bring him onboard and we've added Lij Hollands and Derksen, both of whom have done well in the practice matches.

My revised OR 23 is:

Defenders - Weitering, Williams, Florent, Saad, Dean, Young, Derksen, Boyd

Midfielders - Cripps, Pittonet, Walsh, Hewett, Lord, Smith, Hollands, O, Reidy

Forwards - McKay, Hayward, Ainsworth, Kemp, Hollands, E, Moir, Evans

Emergencies -  Chesser, O'Keeffe, Byrne

I suspect that McGovern will get a spot ahead of Boyd or Derksen.
14
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: 2026 Last Practice Match Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by DJC -
I'm not sure that the second quarter was that bad.

We had 13 inside 50s with four kicks marked by defenders (one ball was tapped inside 50 and led to several possessions and a missed snap by Williams).  We took two marks inside 50 (three with Smith's "not 15") and kept possession or forced a stoppage from seven inside 50s.  Where we fell down was our goalkicking with two shots falling short (one from outside 50), two set shots missed from 35m and two gettable snaps missing.  We probably should have kicked three for the quarter and one of Geelong's two was gifted to Martin.

Our ball use and decision making was good but our finishing let us down and we really can't afford to miss set shots from inside 50.
15
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Pre-game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney in Sydney
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: Professer E – on
Gulden and Heeney concern me more than the traitor, Swans are half the side when Gulden is absent or under control.
Gulden rolled his ankle in the game against GWS.  Odds are he will play, but he wont be at the peak of his powers.  Heeney and Warner are the other two we need to clamp down on, along with the lizard.  They have fewer weapons than they used to but are still dangerous.

Of their forwards, we know how this goes.  Papley is the one that will do the most damage.
16
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: 2026 Last Practice Match Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Adelaideblue -
Quote from: Baggers – on
Quote from: Blue Moon – on
My one concern is that we played another quarter where we didn't score a goal. The inability to manufacture goals when things are not going your way has been an ongoing problem for years.  I think we need to be able to score goals against the run of play more consistently than we have in the past.
However beating the two grand finalists from last year must mean we are Premiership favourites.

Yep, noticed the same thing. That 2nd qtr was a reminder of previous years. On the up side, the 3rd and final qtrs were strong improvements.

Yes we seemed to lapse back into old habits in the 2nd quarter. Several times we ignored the short kick to the player free on the flank and instead did the usual big kick down onto the head of our key forwards.
17
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: 2026 Last Practice Match Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Baggers -
Quote from: Blue Moon – on
My one concern is that we played another quarter where we didn't score a goal. The inability to manufacture goals when things are not going your way has been an ongoing problem for years.  I think we need to be able to score goals against the run of play more consistently than we have in the past.
However beating the two grand finalists from last year must mean we are Premiership favourites.

Yep, noticed the same thing. That 2nd qtr was a reminder of previous years. On the up side, the 3rd and final qtrs were strong improvements.
20
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Pre-game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney in Sydney
Last post by townsendcalling -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: Lods – on
If reckon if you can pick around 75% of the Round 0 starting line up at this stage you're going to be doing pretty well :D
Happy to move on from Gov & Acres

Gov offers more versatility than Young, can play small or tall and has far better disposal. Young is purely 'break glass in case of emergency'.