Skip to main content
Recent Posts
91
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by shawny -


I think its pretty clear isnt it? Pretty much everything Doc spoke about was coaching based. No plan B. Game plan is Taxing. Can't change when the game opens up and when it does we get smashed.

Been the same thing since Voss arrived. Won 2 finals by the skin of our teeth apart from that havent been close. Not sure Voss is capable of more then what we have seen.      
He's not. First year was good, but we always perform first year for a coach. Since then, bar a 14 weeks purple patch in the 2nd half of 2023 (after we were bottom 4 until then), he has struggled. The game has changed further since 2023, quickened up. Voss seems to have no idea how to evolve as the game evolves. If we don't pull the pin soon we could be on yet another wasted season. No good kicking the opposition for half a game then dying badly on our @rse. Can't believe we were 22pts up then 15 min later 6 goals behind.

yep sad but true.

He will never get another coaching gig and will be gone by mid season bye imo.
92
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by LP -
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.
In fairness to Saad, he closes a gap better than anybody, but even before his injury it was an all or nothing result, no second chance! To me that isn't good enough for a front-line role, but OK if you're a plus one.

I think we got the balance wrong at the selection table, our tall defenders weren't able to stop the Swans, and our Mids and runners weren't able to stop their opponents. I think we would have been better off to go in with a Med/Sml to replace Young.

What I don't get is that before 1/2-time both teams fumbled horribly, it was like someone had oiled the footy, but after 1/2-time the Swans played like it was cool dry weather while we still fumbled.
93
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by LP -
I disagree with you on H and Kemp. One game is too little a sample size to judge them, yet. Before Kemp did his achilles he was finally beginning to deliver on potential. I still wonder if his best position might not be inside mid. He's strong and quick.

H is a confidence player and will take time. But he'd better get a wriggle on.

Don't know what to do with Williams, to be honest.
I thought our lot got to where the ball was plenty, but not one of them could go a one grab, Harry Dean embarrassed them with his clean handling of the footy.

Most of our blokes fumbled and bumbled like Mr Bean, and when you are a slower side(relative) that is a poison chalice because that second grab costs all your time and space and delivers extra time and space to the opposition to setup. It's only a step or two, but it makes a huge difference!
94
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by Baggers -
I don't get all the hate for boyd.
Clearly not rated by the mc.
Not well liked by our own supporters.

I don't know if it's got to do with him painting his nails or something equally nonsensical, but a his user of the ball who likes getting physical and flying the flag is something we could use at afl level right now.

To me he looks to play better at afl level. Maybe it's the pristine surfaces of afl over vfl that helps his kicking, but given newman, saad, cowan, carroll (williams?) All out and/or struggling....give him a go

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.
95
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
We can talk about these guys until the cows come home, but our issues lie with the following players.

Kemp
Young
McKay
Saad
Mcgovern
Fogarty
In this game cripps
Reidy
Williams

Yep, trying to do new things with older blokes with bad habits and ignoring the future of the club with promising younguns is just silly... conservative, risk-averse selections.

I disagree with you on H and Kemp. One game is too little a sample size to judge them, yet. Before Kemp did his achilles he was finally beginning to deliver on potential. I still wonder if his best position might not be inside mid. He's strong and quick.

H is a confidence player and will take time. But he'd better get a wriggle on.

Don't know what to do with Williams, to be honest.

I hope Crippa answers his critics. Against the Fluffy Ducks, our midfield was slow, way too slow and taken apart in the 2nd half.

Young, Saad, McGovern and Fogarty are not the future.
97
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL Practice Match vs Footscray 6th March
Last post by Thryleon -
Despite the scoreboard, there were names positively mentioned in that summary that we should buoyed by: Boyd, Byrne, Camporeale boys, Carroll, Cowan and Young. Good, also, that Acres got some game time.

Yes, we were clearly the better team. There seems to be a mini trend where both AFL and VFL teams play good footy and cannot capitalize.


Hopefully that worm will turn.

In every sport where the results arent going your way the in game trends are more important.  In this one better kicking for goal and its a landslide win.

That wasn't true of our seniors the other night but we'll see.
98
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by Thryleon -
Saad hurt his hamstring and may not play again. He was playing OK till then but he's just another old player we dont get enough from. 

Docherty retired early i thought.  Hes a top player who was coming back from significant injury and it was the desire that retired him.  Why?  Im guessing he didn't see a future in the team at the minute and just jumped before we pushed him. 
99
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Thryleon -
We can talk about these guys until the cows come home, but our issues lie with the following players.

Kemp
Young
McKay
Saad
Mcgovern
Fogarty
In this game cripps
Reidy
Williams

Reidy is the only one finding his feet at the level.  The rest gave us an average performance at best. 

You simply wont win many games when these guys are not among your better performers week in and week out.  Why?  Well, its simply a demographic thing.

Chesser i thought was rubbish in his first hit out with us, but he too but he's got some time up his sleeve.

The others we arent getting enough from as senior players.  Haynes (injured), Newman (injuries), acres, cotters.   Its fine to have older blokes around but you cant get average from the top end of your list.

We are focussing on our 20 year old second and third year players but the reality is its not them letting us down.

Sure be negative about Wilson. Lord (who still racked up a bigger fantasy football score than 3/4 of the team on Thursday) because they arent much better than bentick, but i reckon its the lack of reliable footballers on our list that hurt us. 
100
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by crashlander -
Id have Boyd in for the injured Saad..
To me Saad has been very disappointing now for the best part of two seasons. He seems to have lost the desire and it appears to be the same cycle that he showed just before he came to Carlton. Opposition have worked out his one-sided approach and he's not got a trick left to surprise anyone.

I had hoped a season opener during Ramadan might be his making for 2026, because I think in previous Ramadan's he has gone up a level, but this was a bad start. I think he's got a tough year ahead.
To be honest, I'd like to see us try Saad in some different roles. Certainly, opposition coaches know what he provides in the backline.
With him probably unavailable, I would be using Boyd. I'd like Cowan, but he needs some game time yet.