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91
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by PaulP -
I think the players deserve to be judged on a full season. I would struggle to name one clear winner last night. Maybe a couple of break evens, and that's about it IMO. Most of our guys played average to poor. I wouldn't be kicking McGovern, Acres etc to the kerb based solely on last night's game. McGovern has absolutely earned his extension, looking at his full 2026.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Bluesers -
Quote from: rocky – on
They smashed us. Lucky we got that close. Good ride but I think we all knew we've been lucky. Think we can improve next year. Just a couple of tweaks is all we need.
1. Enough with Young.
2. ..... that's it

Correct,  just a matter of when, not if, we hit the wall.   A good result from a train wreck start to the year.        Young has to go,  as does McGovern, Acres,  plus 1 or 2 others who are not up to it.  
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by crashlander -
Quote from: madbluboy – on
I think we need to move all of our home games to the MCG or all of them to Marvel.

It's not a coincidence Carlton and Essendon have gone to crap since they don't have a home ground.
I wish we could have just one home ground, but the AFL do not want Victorian teams having a home ground advantage. The only team that has has one is Geelong, and we all know how differently they have been treated.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Shakin77 -
You missed a line through the 2nd Chesser...

Cats (like the Hawks) played a pretty high press.    We weren't able to execute our short kicking game and the wet didn't help.    Cats also moved the ball so much better.    We often handballed or kicked to a guy under pressure.    Sides have had time to have a bit of a look at the changes Fraser made.   Scott did it very well.    Cats far too good on the night.   Work to be done
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by LordLucifer -
Quote from: Blue Moon – on
Besides E.Hollands and the two Irish guys, we had Motlop, O'Farrell, Chesser and Carroll out to LTIs, as well as Newman, Haynes, and Hayward to injuries, all improve our team and player depth when available. B.Camporeale, L.Camporeale, Ison, Charleson, Chesser, Riley, O'Keeffe, Moir and Byrne need to develop more and improve, and if we pick up Khamis and Amartey, along with Walker and maybe a couple of others, we should be able to sustain improvement over the long term.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by Blue Moon -
While it was a disappointing end, on reflection it probably wasn't that unexpected, no matter what we may of hoped or dreamed. Geelong is a very well organised team and specialise in one off performances like last night. They often work out a game plan to defeat an opponent and then implement it but will struggle the following week. They had two weeks to prepare for us.
As I have said many times, if you can't kick and handball to your team mates, then there is no game plan. However Carlton did continue to try and implement their plan the whole night. Dangerfield was able to impose his will on the game whereas none of our top players could.
Besides E.Hollands and the two Irish guys, we had Motlop, O'Farrell, Chesser and Carroll out to LTIs, as well as Newman, Haynes, and Hayward to injuries, all improve our team and player depth when available. B.Camporeale, L.Camporeale, Ison, Charleson, Chesser, Riley, O'Keeffe, Moir and Byrne need to develop more and improve, and if we pick up Khamis and Amartey, along with Walker and maybe a couple of others, we should be able to sustain improvement over the long term.
We have been where we are now a few times over the past 25 years and each time it has turned to custard. Hopefully we will have learnt from our mistakes and we can seize the opportunity this time.
After the 92,000 and 97,000 attendance figures at our finals games, it is clear to me that the over punishment of Carlton for our salary cap rorting, and the refusal to give us draft concessions ten years ago, like the AFL has given all other teams, it has cost the AFL millions over the years. Well done AFL.  If we do get to where I think we can, and it has been a torturous journey so far,  then we will have done it on our own merits.
Go Blues.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by laj -
Quote from: madbluboy – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
The MCG was a fortress for us for a little while and Docklands was an achilles heel. It seems thats flipped around. Problem is, finals arent played at Marvel (see Syd and the SCG).

The problem is no home ground advantage.

To finish top 4 you have to win as many games as you can.

We haven't finished the home and away season top 4 since we left Princes Park.
The Bombers barring 2000/2001 when they were already a powerhouse might be the same.
Yes, that top 4 now is the next step.
100
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL EF#1 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong
Last post by laj -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: madbluboy – on
One the rain really came down we were screwed. Bailey Smith and co become roo slippery.
They played the percentages. We were trying to take speccies
I didnt feel like the "rain really came down". I looked light and misty from my vantage point. To me, I didnt think the rain was much a of factor.
I'm the same. We went out to a good lead in the wet. Wildcard sides are at a great disadvantage with no break after the H & A season, as it should be too. VFL has shown that in the 3 years they have had it. One win but losses by an average of 60pts for the rest. In control 45 min in but once fatigue kicked in we dropped right off after half time. The wet then mades that even worse. Last 45 min last night it was the equivalent of playing with just one on the bench. We were knackered and Geelong ran away. Maybe some issues with our wet weather play but I'd like more than 2 games to comment on that. We were just out of legs this time.

Top 6 early in a finals series is now so important. Glad we had the wildcard. Doesn't feel like then we were in the 8 one week and straight out first game We had a win, which will only help our young blokes.     

Was a fun ride.