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21
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: Thryleon – on
most opposition supporters i know thought Charlie was over rated and only scored a lot of goals through favourable free kicks too.

Can I use that along with his decidedly chequered goal  scoring history to over ride what I see on game day most weeks too?

We all loved Charlie.   His best was amazing.  I don't think its reasonable for us to expect a player to replace his best. That won't likely occur.

I also think the optimists remember Charlie's worst which was often on show in the same games as his best and are hoping for someone a bit more reliably consistent even if they are not the match winner Charlie curnow could be (but invariably wasn't more often than not). 

When we lost Judd we were all similarly doom and gloom and then a young kid most of us hadn't seen much of flexed his muscles and is on track to becoming one of the best Carlton players we've ever had.

3 AFL clubs (4 if you include Collingwoods cursory interest) wanted Charlie on their list. 2 clubs offered 3x 1st rounders. What you're seeing there is a bit of jealousy and a lot of tall poppy sydnrome.

You see it towards Dangerfield, Daicos, etc They're all 'no good' to opposition supporters, but you wouldn't think that if they wore navy blue. This is what happens with Charlie.

I keep being told to trust the recruiters, well across many teams, they were desperate for Charlie. So why do we NOT trust them in your eyes?
weren't you one of the ones saying we should trade one of McKay and curnow to cash in and now weve done it you're full of criticism for doing it.

What scenario is ok in your eyes?  One where we have a kid to play key forward so we have options?  We have options.  We played more games missing one of Charlie and Harry than we did with both of them in 2025 (and across the journey that played out a lot) and saw a few players fill the void but not get the win because of key moments where we failed elsewhere.  I think back to a game against the bulldogs.  Charlie, Lewis young and kemp in the key forwards area.  Totalled 11.9 goals on the day.  Kemp kicked 5.  Charlie 3.  Young 2 (should have had more but he passed off a set shot from 45 rather than backing himself) and in remember losing because we lacked run at the end of the game.

Charlie's a gun.  I dont need to bag him to feel better about it, but the facts are his best form was in 2022 and 23, with 2024 being good and his 2025 form being a step behind again.  Its possible he's on the skids because he's an aging key forward who invariably relies on athleticism to beat his opponents.  Also a fine attribute.  The criticms are there even in his best years.  Remember the coleman he won scoring 19 goals against West Coast across two games? Yeah that was a criticism too.
22
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by Lods -
Geelong didn't fight too hard, even though by all reports Charlie was desperate to get there.
So 'many' clubs is a bit of a stretch.

Charlie went for his optimum based, not on his 2025 performance, but on his past performances.
Have a look at some of the Sydney forums and you'll see they're happy to have him, but concerns remain over his injury history.


"Navy Blue Glasses" is getting a bit of  run in some places.
And yes, generally club supporters are optimistic about their chances ahead of a new season.
It's a fresh slate...and usually comes with few injuries and some new talent.

The thing is Navy Blue Glasses work work both ways...In and Out!

If folks are looking at the 'Ins' with Navy Blue Glasses then it's probably fair to say that others are looking at the "Outs" with the same Navy coloured glasses. They rate the players they will miss a little more highly than an opposition supporter might.

I suspect opposition supporters don't rate the 2025 version of Tom, Jack and Charlie as highly as some Carlton supporters...except perhaps the supporters of the clubs they are going to.

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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: madbluboy – on
The vast majority of non Carlton supporters expect us to struggle in 2026.
most opposition supporters i know thought Charlie was over rated and only scored a lot of goals through favourable free kicks too.

Can I use that along with his decidedly chequered goal  scoring history to over ride what I see on game day most weeks too?

We all loved Charlie.   His best was amazing.  I don't think its reasonable for us to expect a player to replace his best. That won't likely occur.

I also think the optimists remember Charlie's worst which was often on show in the same games as his best and are hoping for someone a bit more reliably consistent even if they are not the match winner Charlie curnow could be (but invariably wasn't more often than not). 

When we lost Judd we were all similarly doom and gloom and then a young kid most of us hadn't seen much of flexed his muscles and is on track to becoming one of the best Carlton players we've ever had.

3 AFL clubs (4 if you include Collingwoods cursory interest) wanted Charlie on their list. 2 clubs offered 3x 1st rounders. What you're seeing there is a bit of jealousy and a lot of tall poppy sydnrome.

You see it towards Dangerfield, Daicos, etc They're all 'no good' to opposition supporters, but you wouldn't think that if they wore navy blue. This is what happens with Charlie.

I keep being told to trust the recruiters, well across many teams, they were desperate for Charlie. So why do we NOT trust them in your eyes?
24
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: DJC – on
Given the nature of footy supporters, I suspect that most think that their team will struggle in 2026.

What a load of BS.

As mentioned earlier, most supporters are 'delusional' when it comes to their own team.
Look at Bombers, "This year" is their year......every year.
Saints have a supporter base off the back of delusion alone. 1 flag in 130 years shows this.

Do a poll of each side and ask them if their side will make finals this year and 14 teams will say yes to finish in the top 10 (now).

Why do you think as a whole, we are any less delusional than the rest?
25
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: madbluboy – on
The vast majority of non Carlton supporters expect us to struggle in 2026.
most opposition supporters i know thought Charlie was over rated and only scored a lot of goals through favourable free kicks too.

Can I use that along with his decidedly chequered goal  scoring history to over ride what I see on game day most weeks too?

We all loved Charlie.   His best was amazing.  I don't think its reasonable for us to expect a player to replace his best. That won't likely occur.

I also think the optimists remember Charlie's worst which was often on show in the same games as his best and are hoping for someone a bit more reliably consistent even if they are not the match winner Charlie curnow could be (but invariably wasn't more often than not). 

When we lost Judd we were all similarly doom and gloom and then a young kid most of us hadn't seen much of flexed his muscles and is on track to becoming one of the best Carlton players we've ever had.
26
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: kruddler – on


Here's the thing though.

To cover the output of Charlie etc, we are 'expecting' the best from the incoming guys. The best output they can give. Even then, will that be enough to cover their output? Will a 1st year player in Dean be able to cover 10 years in the AFL system from SOJ?
Will a HFF and a FP be able to cover enough for a dual coleman medalist?
Who is covering for TDK?

Won't some of those players need to cover for other players who will be struck down by lack of form or injury? If those players are down on whats expected, who covers for them?

Shirt version in, we need the best of whats coming in, to cover for the worst of what we lost. Thats why i think we are destined to slide.

You're still focusing on one for one replacements and missing the big picture. 

We don't have to find a player to be like Charlie; we need to come up with a combination of players and a forward structure that works better than our forward line did in 2025.  We've got that with the addition of Hayward and Ainsworth, the return of Kemp, the development of Skull and Moir, Williams and Motlop in form, the emergence of Ison and better ball movement.

Harry Dean doesn't have to cover Jack's 10 years in the system, or his 12 games as a KPD; he simply needs to fit into a defensive combination that improves on our 9th ranked defence from last season.  That's the easiest challenge, particularly with Newey coming back from injury and Florent bringing talent, form, energy and great ball movement.

Again, we don't need to cover TDK; we need to come up with a midfield combination that's better than last season's.  Pitto is a perfectly adequate ruckman and Reidy is a bit of a surprise packet.  Skull and Harry are fine as part-time rucks, Jagga Smith looks like he's going to have a real impact, Acres looks like he's over his back complaint.

Forget about Tom, Jack and Charlie; they're the past.  Embrace the exciting new future!

Tell me you didn't read/understand my post without telling me you didn't read/understand my post.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: Lods – on
I'm absolutely shocked that the vast majority of non-Carlton supporters expect us to struggle in 2026. :D  :D
Who would have thought. ::)  ::)

It’s hard to believe Lods 🤣

To be on the safe side, I thought I’d see what AI has to say:

Quote
It's too early to know exactly where Carlton will finish in 2026, but they'll have a home-heavy run-in with their final nine home-and-away games in Melbourne, including a strong Marvel Stadium presence, offering a good chance for a finals push if they're in contention, with a new Wildcard Finals Round added to the mix in 2026.

So far so good, but then …

Quote
While past performances (like their 2023 Grand Final appearance) show potential, the actual finish depends on how the team performs throughout the entire 2026 season and the new finals structure.

Given the nature of footy supporters, I suspect that most think that their team will struggle in 2026.