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11
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.
12
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).
14
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by LordLucifer -
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.

    

16
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by laj -
It's been a fabulous ride and finally after all these years we go in with some hope next season.

Wildcard showed tonight the benefit of being top 6 at least early in a final series. 2 week break to freshen up, sort injuries and soreness, while the other side is straight up after a hard H & A season. 6 days v 13 days. We started great but were out of legs by mid 2nd qtr. History of the wildcard so far in the VFL shows similar. One wildcard side won the next week, the others have been thumped by an average of a 60pt margin. No issue with that. Top 2 have an advantage sometimes of two home finals finals if needed (ie interstate sides involved) and a double chance, top 4 one home final if needed and a double chance, top 6, a week off, a home final if needed, a week off and play a wildcard side, tired from the previous week. It's how it should be. Wildcard did it job this year in a number of ways.

Now watch the Dogs make a liar of me tomorrow night...haha.
17
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 In Game Angst Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: laj – on
Quote from: Thryleon – on
so our boys coughed up a lead, in the wet and this time its not about mentality?


Nup. got a lead in the wet too. Just cooked. Mentally we were good last week. Not an issue there.

Going to find out now what an advantage is it to be top 6 early in a finals series with the wildcard system in. 6 days v 13 days of the H & A season, big help.
last night I said once the hawks lead 40 to 10, they would motor away with it and manage the game.

We are incapable of doing this.  As soon as they got out to a 10 point lead, you just knew we were done.  Mentally weak.  Sure its hard to stay up, but it isnt impossible.
18
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 In Game Angst Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by laj -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: laj – on
They're fresh, we're cooked. Can always make a scoreboard look worse. Wildcard did it's job and the benefit of finishing top 6. Come in fresh after a break, while the wildcard sides are non-stop after the end of a hard home and way season, Shown the same in the 3 years it's been in the VFL with only one wildcard side winning the EF and the average loss being 10 goals. In most cases the EF's was contested still between sides 5th to 8th but the margins have been much bigger.

That's how it should be too. A big reward for being top 6.
so our boys coughed up a lead, in the wet and this time its not about mentality?


Nup. got a lead in the wet too. Just cooked. Mentally we were good last week. Not an issue there.

Going to find out now what an advantage is it to be top 6 early in a finals series with the wildcard system in. 6 days v 13 days of the H & A season, big help.