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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by LP -
I don't want to be negative, it was a great win, but on this result don't read too much into the scoreline.

This time of year is the traditional heavy work-load period for teams embedded in the finals, they usually pound the training track 4 or 5 weeks out and start to taper from about 2 or 3 weeks out, to be cherry-ripe for the first finals.

It's a point of difference between teams struggling to make the finals and teams already there, and it could explain some of the apparent flatness from both Brisbane teams this weekend.

 The only thing countering that, is the fact the Lions were quite lucky to defeat us the first time, as Fagan coach pointed out!
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by LP -
Quote from: crashlander – on
Some reflections on what will be my favourite H&A game for the 2026:

[1] Pitto was murdered in the ruck. But did that stop him? Not in the slightest. He may not have won the taps, but he made Draper's and Fort's ineffective. He often sharked the hit out himself. he had 6 clearances and helped our mids stop Brisbane's avenue to goal.
His tackle early in the game really showed that we were on.
As the game went on, he started to get more taps himself.
Pitto had a big night. We really missed him when he was out.
For that matter, Lewis Young showed similar intelligence when it was his turn to ruck. He didn't get a lot of taps, but he sharked more than a few and made it hard to the Brisbane mids to get their hands on the ball.
Both guys really stood up tonight.
I don't agree, I think it was Pitto's best game for the season, and probably Young's as well.

Fans think losing the tap is losing the contest, that is far from the truth, it's a misnomer that results from putting too much faith in the stats.

The purpose of the ruck contest is to get the ball heading where you want it to go, where you have planned for it to go, even if that means having the opponent direct it to that general location. You can control the drop zone of the footy, so that it's falls in the place your team is expecting, and you do not need to actually tap the footy to have that happen. You just have to make sure the opponent taps it to where you think they will.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by Baggers -
Over the years if Crippa has 18 touches we lose or struggle to win. Maturity and the emergence of Jagga & Co. to take responsibility and the workload in and around the ball. Love that Frase has mentioned a few times over the weeks that our experienced players and leaders also had to lift.

That's what mental toughness looks like. Ruthless persistence. 'Nice' Carlton has finally gone... RIP, and never come back. Our newbies aint choir boys and they're showing some of the experienced players how it's done. You push one of our bloke's face into the turf when he's on the deck, you take us all on. (You know the situation I'm especially referring to). Walshy is an experienced player who has this and is loving what the newbies are bringing, he'd feel supported.

With reward for effort -- hitting the scoreboard -- comes confidence. Maintains and builds connection from end to end.

6 gls each and every quarter. Holy mackerel.

However, it's now the past... A fantabulous memory. Love how Frase and some players already acknowledged that the Aints will be a completely proposition. Ross will do his homework. And so will we.