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81
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by shawny -
Too many fans think because we have holes we cant compete for a flag.

Go thru the last 10 premiers and theres holes on there list and most will have several areas needing work or no depth in some areas. Nothing is every the finished piece as injuries can ruin the best plans.

You need a consistsnt strong list, playing confidently, mentally strong, with a good coach and then have a decent run with injuries and then get some 50/50 big calls in big moments your way lock straight when it matters and a list with holes will be very hard to topple.
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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 think the list needs much, and I've been saying as much for the whole season, we are just one or two pieces off being in a position to enter the Top 8, turning more of those close losses into close wins.

The thing is as we are now seeing, a couple of wins instead of a pile of close losses, and the headspace of the entire list changes. It's not a big deal to get those extra wins, as long as the club doesn't b0rk things up.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: PaulP – on
Not really part of this thread, but Davies has stated the club's belief that the list requires "significant work." What exactly he means by that is anyone's guess.

Probably a summary of what every on here has been saying.

We know it needs work.

Can they find the parts to fix it? Thats my biggest concern.
85
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Is Lewis Young showing more than ever before?
Last post by DJC -
In the game against the Suns, Lewis Young took a mark at CHB, faked a handpass to a teammate behind him, then played on past wrongfooted opponents.  It was not what I would have expected from Young but it now seems to be the way he's playing.  His round the corner goal and deft tap on for Frankie's goal are what you'd expect from a confident player enjoying the game and not feeling pressure to perform.

His ruckwork is barely competitive, but he gives it a crack, and he demands a KPD when he goes forward, making life easier for our other talls.  His work in defence is still his bread and butter.  Although he does tend to be on the end of some defensive breakdowns, we're losing nothing when it's his turn to man an opposition KPF or resting ruck.

Who knows why, I just hope that he can keep it up!
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by LordLucifer -
Quote from: bratblue – on
I also have a question...............Will that change your lists?

Kruddler partly answered the question for you but the key issue for me is that a leopard doesn't change its spots.

We definitely have 6-8 who have to go and should go (eg. Saad, Fogarty, Boyd etc), however, there are some who have been playing for their career and have played a little out of their skin doing a Jake Stringer impersonation.

We can wax lyrical or pontificate in theory over why this has happened but when it all boils down, the same question keeps coming up, why have some of these players not done this before ?? 

In the main, we are not talking about the young chaps either, it's the more mature players who were coasting and terribly inconsistent earlier in the year.  

I accept that I am "old school" here but I have always had concerns over players who don't dig in when the going gets tough preferring to just take the weekly pay packet without any remorse or commitment.

These are the players who, IMO, will let you down in a cut-throat final, it's their natural fallback position.

For that reason, I still see a handful of other players who should be shown the door anyway bearing in mind that 10-12 changes is the limit in any one year when it comes to list changes.

Factoring in the need to address the onfield deficiencies we currently have should also have a serious bearing on how many goes and who they are.
87
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by DJC -
I think that Brisbane’s Achille’s heel is lack of depth.  They have three players out injured and Gallop is suspended.  We have eight players out injured, excluding Motlop and Carroll but including Lij Hollands, and we pumped them in the Magoos. Their best 25 is very good, after that, not so much.

Hipwood was a liability in defence for them and that reduced Andrews’ effectiveness, as did our forward set up and ball use.

Draper and Fort may have had the better of Pitto, Harry and Young in hitouts and hitouts to advantage, but I thought that Pitto was the best big man on the ground.  His work at centre ball ups and stoppages helped stop Brisbane making the most of their hitouts to advantage and we won the centre clearances comfortably and just won stoppage clearances, with Pitto managing three of each. Pitto employed different ruck tactics throughout the game and didn’t give away any rucklotto frees. He also took three marks, two of them contested.  One resulted in a goal and one was potentially goal saving deep in defence.  That’s what a ruckman should bring.

Kemp’s forward craft has been good but he has been let down by his kicking for goal.  What a turnaround with 5.1, a goal assist, and nine score involvements.  He also did his bit providing a target when we went down the line.

What really stood out for me was the contribution from our “bottom six”, the whipping boys if you will.  Acres, Cottrell, Lord (back to his best), Young, Cerra (great game) and Evans all played their part.  The youngsters in Smith, Dean, Byrner, Wilson and Cowan were great and our older newbie in Derksen is playing like a veteran.

Harry’s importance to the team was emphasised by his ten marks, many of them as a marking target down the line, as well as inside 50.

The skipper had a quiet night by his standards but he still cracked in.  I was disappointed that he didn’t quite get to be our seventeenth goal scorer, but I suspect that he wasn’t too fussed.  It was good to see him enjoying the last quarter of his 250th, as did Haynes.

Our three imports in Hayward, Florent and Ainsworth have made a big difference with their attitude, endeavour and footy smarts and all were important last night.

The players I haven’t mentioned were either good, very good or outstanding; they know who they are!

And it was good to see Fraser giving credit to the assistant coaches for their work since the pre-season.  
88
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Is Lewis Young showing more than ever before?
Last post by kruddler -
Forward, back, ruck with or without weitering.... its all irrelevant.

Young is a confidence player. When his confidence is high, he can do what you need him too.
When his confidence is shot, he's a witches hat.

Right now is high. Enjoy it while it lasts.
89
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Is Lewis Young showing more than ever before?
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: crashlander – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Been saying it for a while, he is no where near as bad as people make out. In fact, he's been pretty darn good. Plays his role, is team first, excellent solider.
He certainly has put his best foot forward and will probably be retained. His footy smarts yesterday were something we haven't always seen. Hopefully, he can continue that.
Did you notice the quick gives to runners going by instead of vital seconds of procrastination and poor decision making? He has been reliable and playing his role.
90
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 20 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Brisbane at Marvel
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: laj – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Too slow
Those types forward don't have to be that fast, just read it well, and, of course, have the ability to play forward. Read it well and it makes up quite a bit for pace.
Nah, he has a Queen Mary turning circle. Dont trust his kicking either, mugs to the backline as the old saying goes. Mirroring Crashes comments, we need a "premiership" KPF and ruckman. As brave as Pitto is, he isn't "the one" and neither is Harry IMO.