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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Lods -
So from the sound of it (and many have alluded to it over the years) here's what I got from Docherty's comments

While we can apply pressure we can control the game.
But we can't sustain it for 4 quarters.
It's a high intensity effort that requires a physically draining style of play.
It's the arrow in our quiver.
And when it slackens off, we get run over because we don't have a second arrow.
A different arrow.
No plan B.
Defence is not solely to blame because the ball coming into the opposition forward line comes in like a Tsunami.
The midfielders tire and are swamped.
It's exacerbated by the poor delivery into the forward line where turnovers contribute to the pressure on the backs.

So in the end it comes down to the fact that we play a style of play that is not sustainable at our current levels of fitness (and in the case of youngsters... maturity.)
It may be it's a style that is impossible to sustain.
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Robert Heatley Stand / VFL Practice Match vs Footscray 6th March
Last post by crashlander -
Starting at 17:00 today.
The line-up:
2. Lachie Cowan,
13. Blake Acres,
16. Ben Camporeale,
21. Lucas Camporeale,
28. Harry Charleson,
30. Jack Ison,
32. Matthew Carroll,
34. Rob Monahan,
37. Jordan Boyd,
39. Talor Byrne,
40. Hudson O’Keeffe,
41. Matthew Duffy,
45. Flynn Young,
47. Wade Derksen,
51. Jaiden Magor,
55. Ethan Phillips,
58. Jack Sammartino,
59. Cooper Vickery,
61. Dane Harvey,
66. Sam Paea,
70. Darcy Hogg,
72. Charlie Cotter, a very quick mid from Claremont. He is 19.
73. Tom Stapleton,
74. Logan Prout,
75. Liam Farrar,
77. Will Cookson,
78. Tyson Gresham
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by PaulP -
Quote from: Lods – on
What do you think it is Paul?
I'm not saying your wrong, but just about the only common aspects of the team from days gone by... is Cripps.
Coaches, list management, admin, players have all been turned over.
Understandably a culture of struggle and losing can impact youngsters as they come into the side.
I suspect Byrce Gibbs and Marc Murphy were introduced to a culture of struggle,loss and division.
Is that's what's happened with our group...and if that's the case is that also affecting player retention..................................................


My best guess is three reasons :
1. players passing the vibes from one generation to the next
2. general knowledge in the public domain about our recent history and several semi successful / unsuccessful attempts to re-establish ourselves as a club that wins consistently. There does not need to be direct contact between generations of Board, coaches, players etc. The history can come to you in various ways.
3. The actual lived experience of losing more games than winning.

Based on this theory, there is some validity to the idea that some on here had suggested during the rebuild years, that we should have sacked the entire club at the time - all Board, all players, coaches, fitness, everybody, and started with a real Tabula Rasa. That would at least substantively take care of points 1 and 3.

The turnaround will undoubtedly come. Whether it's next week or after we're all dead, no one can say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzWJWUTySZM

I like this clip. It's only 4 minutes or so, but after the 2 minute mark Riewoldt gives a tiny insight into what I'd guess our players experience.