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22
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Cricket thread
Last post by Professer E -
Anyway, back to the test cricket...another ****ing putrid batting effort which will end Webster's and Marnus' careers.  Lost 4/3 to hand the momentum back to Bangla.  Be nice if someone - anybody- would take the opportunity on offer.
25
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 24 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Fremantle at Marvel
Last post by RiverRat -
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: DJC – on
I think that it's time to concede that the new ruck rules, as flawed as they may be, haven't disadvanteaged Pitto and he's probably playing the best footy of his career.
He has adapted well, deserves a lot of kudos, and I'd suggest he has been very well coached because we are seeing now that even if he is beaten to the tap he's capable of creating a clearance by controlling the space around the contest, and that is far far more important.

Getting beaten in taps doesn't mean being beaten in the contest.

He's got Fraser and Kreuzer to feed off, should we expect any less from our rucks?

Even Young and Harry are looking better, both of them compete, especially in F50 and then immediately spread to become a target. In the past they would compete then stand watching.

Credit to Pitto for adapting to the new ruck rules, which severely disadvantaged him earlier in the year.

Credit to Lewis Young for his development into something resembling a ruckman and playing better football than he has shown since his initial season with the club - I guess playing second fiddle to Weitering as a defender severely restricted his capabilities.

Speaking of Weitering, I noticed that he seemed to be limping at various times during the game and spent all or most of the final quarter on the bench - hope he is okay for next week.
27
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 24 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Fremantle at Marvel
Last post by crashlander -
[1] In the best players, Freo named Jackson as their best. Are they smoking some illegal over there? Pitto had 17 possessions, compared to Jackson's 14. Pitto had 7 clearances to Jackson's 4. Pitto had much more effect on the game than Jackson did: thanks to Pitto, our mids had huge days! Did these idiots watch the game? It doesn't look like it.

[2] The Umpiring:
I really don't want to go there, but we really do have to start complaining. I just don't understand why frees to us were not paid, when similar incidents were paid the other way. It just doesn't make sense!
28
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2026 Wildcard #1 Carlton vs Williamstown
Last post by crashlander -
[1] We were always going to be in trouble with the injuries we've sustained in recent weeks. With neither Reidy nor Riley available, for example, we were always going to lack ability at clearing the ball. Mirkov beat us last time when we did have Reidy, so we were always on the back foot.
We had 9 listed players, which is by far the least we've had for any game this season.

[2] Kicking 9 in the last quarter was something to hang our hats on, as we showed something. Willi may claim to have slowed down, but good teams don't do that.
Impressed that Sam Paea kicked 4: he has some talent, even if his kicking is unreliable.

[3] Ben Camporeale makes a habit of back-ending games. In almost every game he's played this season, he gets more of the ball in the second half. That is not a bad thing at all! Now, to get him to make those possessions count! 36 possessions, 5 clearances and 4 tackles was a decent game.

[4] Cody Walker: his first half didn't work, but he also very much back-ended his game. Not bad for a kid.

I can comment further later I've watched the replay, but we were always on a hiding to nothing with the players we had available.
29
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 24 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Fremantle at Marvel
Last post by LP -
Quote from: DJC – on
I think that it's time to concede that the new ruck rules, as flawed as they may be, haven't disadvanteaged Pitto and he's probably playing the best footy of his career.
He has adapted well, deserves a lot of kudos, and I'd suggest he has been very well coached because we are seeing now that even if he is beaten to the tap he's capable of creating a clearance by controlling the space around the contest, and that is far far more important.

Getting beaten in taps doesn't mean being beaten in the contest.

He's got Fraser and Kreuzer to feed off, should we expect any less from our rucks?

Even Young and Harry are looking better, both of them compete, especially in F50 and then immediately spread to become a target. In the past they would compete then stand watching.
30
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 24 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Fremantle at Marvel
Last post by DJC -
Congratulations to Pitto on his 100 game milestone.  It's been a hard slog but he got there ... and always with a smile on his face.

I think that it's time to concede that the new ruck rules, as flawed as they may be, haven't disadvanteaged Pitto and he's probably playing the best footy of his career.

Well done Pitto for 100 games and a great game today 👏