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22
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by DJC -
A win is a win and seven on the trot is some achievement!

Richmond had the yips in front of goal but some of our set shots were atrocious.  We had 17 marks inside 50 but could only manage ten goals!  Misses from 30 metres and virtually straight in front are inexcusable.

Haynes definitely took the ball over the behind line before he was pinged and that is exactly the kind of howler that the ARC should be used to eliminate.

Then there's the AFL's announcement that umpires will reverse free kicks against players who deliberately ruffle or pat an opponent's head.  Rather than Alger having a shot on the siren at the end of the first quarter, Walsh should have been roosting the ball down the line. Still, it was a brainfade on Walsh's part to give away that free.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by LP -

There were pre-match suggestions that Cripps was sore and might not have played so I am wondering if he was rotated out of the centre square more than usual as a form of protection.
@RiverRat
I was thinking the very same thing, like we were trying to limit further damage or something, because normally there is no way in hell when we are being smashed in clearances that we'd be moving Cripps out!
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by RiverRat -
And speaking of commentators - I am sick and tired of hearing them repeatedly telling us what they would do, instead of describing what tactics and match-ups are being employed.
How silly of you, to actually think the commentator would be calling the game! :o

Just wishful thinking.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by RiverRat -
Look at the result this way, we were smashed in the ruck, smashed at stoppages and smashed around the ground, the stats might not clearly show it. But we won, despite Cripps, Walsh and Cerra being soundly defeated. Jagga was probably a break even, and Hewett was a win.


Spot on - full credit to Hewitt and pass mark for Jagga's creative offensive play but he wouldn't want to give up too many easy goals like the one he yielded to the goal square clearance late in the match.

There were pre-match suggestions that Cripps was sore and might not have played so I am wondering if he was rotated out of the centre square more than usual as a form of protection.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by RiverRat -
We are fortunate Lynch had a dirty night.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving sniper.  Kicking for goal is almost on as reliable as the worst Casboult era. 

Apparently he kicked 2 goals 7 behinds in the earlier match - as the bloody annoying commentator kept reminding us.

And speaking of commentators - I am sick and tired of hearing them repeatedly telling us what they would do, instead of describing what tactics and match-ups are being employed.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 17 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by LP -
Tonight we saw the pointless nature of counting hit outs, because if you look at these stats in a year or so you'd probably think Pitto won on the night.
But excluding Hewett, I'd probably have Nankervis and Bolta as 2 of the 3 best on the ground.

But we shouldn't be shocked about this, we just have to go into games with open eyes and an open mind. If you put on the navy blue glasses you'll be disappointed because you be shuttering your eyes to our weakness. Look at the result this way, we were smashed in the ruck, smashed at stoppages and smashed around the ground, the stats might not clearly show it. But we won, despite Cripps, Walsh and Cerra being soundly defeated. Jagga was probably a break even, and Hewett was a win.

Last week we saw some of the early signs of the pre-Fraser Carlton starting to poke it's head out, last night was another step backwards. I hate that this happened but I predicted it, and I predicted Nankervis having that influence, because he's a poison to our Mids. This isn't about OH or Cottrell being in, Acres  or Weiters being out, that is just correlation. It's about the team starting to sit back and hesitate, waiting for the person next to them to do the hard work.

Go back and watch the replay, count how many times two blues get to the footy first and spend precious moments staring deeply into each other's eyes waiting for someone to pick up and give them the footy. The exact opposite of Fraser's "play so we look like a team you'd want to play for!" Partly this is a Nankervis / Balta aggression effect.

Sam Mitchell won't miss this fact, and you can expect next week the Dawks will be in full bruiser mode after that disastrous first half against the Dees.