Carlton Supporters Club

What can we do for next week?

[1] Plan to take Nankervis out of the picture. He isn't a jumper, so he won't be able to jump all over Pitto and Reidy, but he was the difference last year. We squash him and we go forwards.

[2] Saad goes out with injury. Hopefully, Cowan is fit enough to replace him. Otherwise, Billy Wilson, who has the pace and run we lacked.
As for Cowan, he might be able to do a negating job on one of Richmond's mids. If so, we will be improved by it.

[3] Zac Williams: he had 5 clearances in the first quarter last night, but lacked impact thereafter. I wouldn't have him in defence: small forward with turns in the middle.

[4] Fog goes out. Have Ainsworth, Flynn Young or Byrne do his job. All have more pace and are much faster. All can kick a goal from more than 10 m out, something that Fog doesn't do.

[5] Move McGovern forward or out. As a defender, he is too loose. He has brain fades. Moir to the bench or the VFL.

[6] L. Young: do we need him as a defender against Richmond's forwards? Derkson deserves a chance. It will be interesting to see what forwards Richmond present us with.

Quote from: Baggers – on March 07, 2026, 05:04:16 pm

I don't think there's a lot of "hate for Boyd." This little black duck much prefers Boyd to Saad... for starters his defensive game is much better... he has a passion for the contest, and his body isn't crumbling! And he can kick on both sides of his body.

I don't think anyone on this site has hung it on Boyd? Maybe Krudd is referring to the MC. The only comments I recall were how he'd lost some form/confidence and wasn't getting picked when playing well enough in the magoos. I'd have him ahead of Saad

Quote from: Baggers – on March 07, 2026, 05:04:16 pm

I don't think there's a lot of "hate for Boyd." This little black duck much prefers Boyd to Saad... for starters his defensive game is much better... he has a passion for the contest, and his body isn't crumbling! And he can kick on both sides of his body.

I don't think anyone on this site has hung it on Boyd? Maybe Krudd is referring to the MC. The only comments I recall were how he'd lost some form/confidence and wasn't getting picked when playing well enough in the magoos. I'd have him ahead of Saad

Get us back on the G, give us space to create space, let the runners run, be bold in our approach......and actually show some of the preseason tricks we have been practicing without being suffocated on a postage stamp by a very competent team, like we were last week. 4 - 5 goals would be nice.

i have just got home after going to Sydney to see the game.  I have read all  the comments in this thread and my first comment is that I believe supporters are too quick in finding excuses for our team.

In the preliminary warmup about half an hour before the game, our players had no trouble kicking fifty metres or more towards the goal.  I was impressed with Dean in the way he marked and passed the ball.  There was no wind and conditions were perfect for football.

At half time I was happy with the way our players had applied pressure to the Swans causing them to make mistakes and restricting their scoring. Given the amount of time we had the ball in our forward line we should have been at least another two goals ahead.

The third quarter started, we kicked the first two goals, and then the wheels fell off.  Grundy suddenly made our rucks look second rate, brought the Swans midfield into play, and we meekly capitulated.  All the old faults surfaced: poor handballs, poor kicking to position, handballing and kicking to the Swans players.  With so much self-imposed pressure and lack of discipline it was only matter of time before the Swans turned the game into a training run.

At three quarter time I didn't think things could get worse but they did.  The last quarter was an embarrassment for Carlton supporters.  The side lost structure and the Swans were able to attack in waves of three or more players from their backline all the way to their forward line without any resistance from our players.  The Swans forward line was wide open with our backline players often 10 or fifteen metres away.

Early in the last quarter I saw Dean hobbling slightly. He looked physically stuffed and bewildered.  His opponent was firing on all cylinders.

Just another couple of thoughts.  Why do we keep selecting Fogarty?  He is not capable of playing in a winning forward line.  Finally, what do we do with Big H? He cannot win a contested mark and he certainly can't take a mark when the ball is lobbed on his head.

In conclusion, our football club is in trouble.