With Gold Coast smashing Collingwood last night, next week's game ay Metricon Stadium is looking ... interesting. Last year we experienced a disaster at Carrarra. What is going to happen this time?
To get some sort of idea of how we've gone this year, Brisbane are one game off us and actually managed wins against Geelong and Essendon. They play Port next week so regardless of who wins, if we lose to GC we are in deep poo poo. Brisbane would go even on games with an easier run or Port would go two games clear. This is an 8 point game for us in every sense (other than the opposition not playing for 8 points).
Hey guys,
seriously thinking of taking my son up to GC for the game this Saturday.
Does the club offer any services for this?
Any suggestions for the best way to organise?
Interested in your thoughts.
Thanks
I don't believe that the suns can back their win up.
There is a chance they will be down R Thompson and Campbell Brown aswell.
(And us Carrazzo)
I have it coming down to the final game, vs PA for 8th and 9th.
There will be a few boys from the NBs who'd be presenting a good case to be included. Few blokes in the midfield should be nervous. Murph must rest... he's obviously carrying an injury. Juddy will make up for his soft game against the Kangabies. Blokes in consideration would have to be Robbo, Levi, Graham and White.
Fair enough. Looking at the team on Friday night and we have a few guys who are struggling physically at the moment: Murphy and Yarran to name but 2.
Murphy is definitely struggling with this butt injury of his. He played, and did OK, but he wasn't 100%. I guess it will depend on how he pulls up this week. I didn't expect him to play against the 'Roos.
Yarran also looked quite restricted and didn't have the burning pace that is one of his hallmarks. I remember 2 moments when he needed his pace to break contact and it just wasn't there. Also he limped quite clearly when approaching the bench. Mind you, I was impressed by the way he put his body on the line for 2 very nice marks, and his 8 tackles was a significant improvement over what he can be like.
Carrots looked a bit better on Friday: he must be getting some of his match fitness back. Eddie Betts was also one who looked less than 100%, but an improvement on what he has been recently.
Graham did his chances of getting a game no harm at all. He plonked himself at the front of the pack and managed a significant portion of our clearances on Saturday. Unfortunately he wasn't as successful at the centre bounce. But his 4 games at VFL level have been very promising.
Robbo showed some real G & D and was excellent for the Baby Blues: very effective in the conditions.
Buckley also showed a bit, but he went off with a shoulder injury that suggested to me that he probably won't be fit enough for next week.
Even though we have won the past two weeks, we have hardly played what you would call good football. Try that on against these young guys and we may well be boarding the plane home carrying our butts as hand luggage.
For me Robbo was the stand out - he will come back in for sure. I would also give Graham a run too. Must not go up there with one iota of complacency, this is definitely "a danger game".
The day was one that fit Robbo, and he delivered. Good chance of a call up.
Interesting to see if Waite is available this week....
For me, Port winning last night effectively ended our chances of making the 8 when you look at our run home versus theirs (see my post in AFL 2013 Season thread). I say leave Watson there to see what he has, then make a decision on him at the end of the year. Waite to sit out the rest of the year then retire gracefully. Menzel and Graham need to play ones. Carrots will miss this week so that one in. Scotland to the NBs for the rest of the year frees up the other spot, retire gracefully also. Whilst Robbo was good yesterday, he is still a butcher and I would prefer to see what the aforementioned two bring to the table for the rest of the year. My thoughts only, probably FOS but I cant think of anything better.
Everyone is focussed on port. I reckon if we get in we will get in at Collingwood or richmonds expense instead. Port are not that good and could lose to a few sides that we think they should beat but Richmond and Collingwood have tough runs hime and I can see them both dropping more than they win.
We need to keep winning though.
Thry, you are forgetting, we may get in at Essendon's expense. :P
Some one must tag Ablett, even 30 disposals with some under presssure is better than 49 touches, all quality.
I'd get Carrazzo to run with Ablett, Cachia to run with O'Meara and Curnow to run with Bennell. Limit those 3 influence and we'll be a chance.
I would like to agree with you here because their mids cause more damage than they have in the past. Their confidence is up. Playing over there will help them in terms of crowd support. We just can't under-estimate their motivations to win against us. Must get on top early and grind them out of the game. Kill the run in the middle of the ground to start with. Kill their supply. Kill, kill, kill.
I think it will be tough work vs GC...we ran out of gas vs Nth and GC are very young and quick.
re: Ablett...I'd play Cachia on him for the experience, a scalp like Abletts and Cachia becomes a better than average tagger.
Not really, i just want to finish above richmond and/or collingwood.
I also would love to give Richmond fans heaps if the one time the play finals is due to the bombers falling on their own sword.
Cant lose either way really as there will be someone to give heaps to just so long as its not us.
Sniped someone in the middle of the ground off the ball, cant remember who but it was dumb (as usual) an he will go for one at least.
[move]Bring in Joseph for Ablett.[/move]
(http://archive.carltonsc.com/modules/Forums/images/smiles/scared.gif)
EDIT: That's not annoying at all ;D
LOL! Perish the thought!
Roughead got off for a similar thing against the blues a few weeks back.
insufficient force
Carrazzo wont go for pushing someone over off the ball gimme a break. Player was right to go almost instantly.
Saw Ablett v. the Pies - wow! We'll need landmines to stop him based on that performance.
Collingwood paid him no respect, pretty sure they let him get over 50 touches last year.
Gold Coast are coming with a hurry. Remember in past years the younger players tired about this time of the year so it's noticeable that they're still in the game now.
Ablett as good as he is - is not the main reason they're now a threat. Remember he had 50+ possessions last year against Collingwood and the Pies won by 90 points. It's the other players around him that are lifting and that combined with his brilliance is surging them forward.
Carlton needs to turn up and treat them like any other team (pretend you're playing Hawthorn) because we will get done if we turn up without that intensity.
From MM in his weekly Dear Goat,
Interesting comment that he sees 5-6 players that could potentially coming in. Doubt we'd see that many but good to see that he is willing to put it out there to give those in the team more pressure to perform ;)
Thought Robbo did enough, MM also mentioned White in the presser after the game suggests that maybe he wasn't overly impressed with Macinnes on Friday. So at this stage those are the only two ins I can think of. And no Joseph does not come in, the day he is back n the side is the day we have officially gone backwards.
Mick said in his presser he doesn't want to push andy mac too far because he's coming off his knee and obviously didn't have full preseason. Never stated he wasn't impressed. White was mentioned as a replacement to give Andy a rest.
Thanks I didn't quite catch the reason and assumed :-[. Seems fair enough re the knee. Cheers
Reckon we ve learned our lesson from last year.
Wont be seeing any guys lapping up the sunshine at theme parks this time round.
Yeah I think MM would have a fit if he saw that happening. Gold Coast are a better team now than people give them credit for.
Some of our mids aren't 100%. Wonder if we need to bring others in to freshen it up? Will Waite be fit? Make a strong forward line with Henderson and Rowe.
like to see Graham and Menzel get a run but haven't decided my ins and outs yet.
I'll be really interested to see how we structure our defence and if Waite is fit, where will he line up?
Agree Jim, our midfield was not 100% last Friday so will MM make changes or rely on the fact that it will improve for this game?
Very interesting.
Did anyone hear Malthouse say that Garlett almost missed Friday's game. Robbo was warming up and was a chance to play until just before the game. Perhaps Garlett may miss against Gold Coast.
Carrazzo is cleared to play.
Going on what I saw at Box Hill, Robbo should be back this week and Graham and Casboult could be close.
A journo reported last week that he has personal issues (or at least alluded to)
As he is married to an Essendon supporter I am sure the club understand
Can't see any mids being dropped really, so where does that leave Robbo and/or Graham?
I'd swap graham for cachia this week.
Cachia probably needs a rest
Yep, agree. And I've a feeling from what MM said in his Media Conference that the side might need a 'freshen-up' with a few changes. He mentioned a good few blokes were in line for a call-up. I wonder if only one of McLean / Cachia will be in for our next game... making way for Robbo?. Maybe a rest for Andy Mac (in White or Bootsma)? Maybe even rest Kreuz (in Casboult/Warnock)? And rest Murph giving his bruised bum a chance to heal (Graham debut)?
Can't see Mclean missing out TBH. We are not good enough to be dropping players like that.
Perhaps they were giving Cachia a break by being the sub against the Roos? We might need Cachia to close down Ablett or are you thinking of Curnow or Carrots for that job.
Especially if Robbo misses again.
There is no point making changes for changes sake. Winning form is good form so I'd hold off for at least another week unless Waite is 100% or there is a doubt over the fitness of one of the blokes who ran around against North.
Mick's message to members this week mentions playing on a larger ground and 'five or six players from [the NBs] who can come into our side, if need be, and freshen it up'.
While I take that with a grain of salt, it wouldn't surprise me to see a couple of runners come into the side.
Yep, taking any slow blokes into next week's game would be ill-advised.
I wonder if AJ has put forward his case to MM re tagging G Ablett. :))
Thought the same thing :-[ ...but we've moved on and there will be another (Cachia/Carrazzo/Curnow?)!
Like to Cachia given an opportunity on Ablett...
Only issue I see with that though is Carazzo's poor current form.
I wonder if Curnow would be a better option? Or Joseph to come in to his speciality role of "Abblett tagger". I fondly remember a couple of occasions Joseph has stictched him up.
Out of the six or seven times joseph has run with ablett its worked twice. IMHO its 5-2 abletts favour. After the second scalping they started belting him (which wont be a problem against GC), and later they figured out a better plan which was run him into the back line and kick it to joseph. He is no good in marking contests and this has been the way to beat joseph ever since. You know you have been found out when richmond start taking advantage of this fact.
Its almost a myth that joseph has abletts number. Bit like Gibbs on Goodes. Got him once and Goodes has pulled his pants down six times since.
@Thry, I remember one and it was a preseason game.
For joseph or gibbs? I rember early 2010 or 2011 maybe? we beat the cats by 6 goals at the g with setanta kicking a bag, joseph got ablett that day and kept him to a modest number. Mclean was good that day also.
Hawthorn would rotate 2 or 3 different players on Judd to keep the pressure on him and to keep them mentally and physically fresh.
Why not rotate our 3 key taggers on Ablett?
Wouldn't MM love to win this game on the back of keeping Gary Ablett quiet with some taggers. He could then say at the media conference that it was a bit of a no brainer - any competent coach would recognise that the key to beating Gold Coast was keeping Ablett on a leash.
You reckon Duigs and Laidler come in as two of those 5 or 6?
Or are Collins and ROK more likely? :))
Danger game,
not a time for playing around!
As for Duigan, no not to be promoted.
His next move will be on to the Coaching Staff.
Quality guy, smart, the Northern Blues have been a rubble. We need a guy with a following and a plan!
I thought both Duigan and Laidler did well on Saturday but I will be surprised if either is recalled for this game. It would be a different matter if we were playing a more seasoned team, particularly in wet conditions.
That would only work if he adds the fact that he told our tagger, 2 weeks in advance that he would be on Ablett. ;-)
I like Cachia on Ablett for sure. Better Ablett get 33 hard fought possies than 49 damaging ones.
Not too sure how good cachias tank is, but we all know how good curnows is. He'd be my first priority to take on Ablett.
Put cachia on omeara.
Curnow on Ablett might make sense as Curnow has some pace and probably the endurance capacity to run a game out with Ablett.
Interesting listening to Thompson on AFL 360 last night re Ablett. He said Ablett wasn't a player who ran from half back to half forward all game. Rather his running is more constrained within the 50m arcs at either end. So his endurance is in spurts.
Maybe Cachia picks up Ablett within 50m but if he takes a dash down the middle or flank, then Curnow goes with him or someone like Army intercepts?
So, is the game still on this week or are we all waiting until the team is announced? ;)
I think we're all scared, after a couple of good wins this is typically the type of game we lose.
Nothing surer than a win this week.
As per usual, its got nothing to do with us, but the shoe is on the other foot. A young talented side, has just picked a big scalp, and has the opportunity to go back to back, and is about to run into a side that has been quietly going about its business, building some momentum. Quite a few of our players have had a point to prove, and after getting over a narrow one last week, i think we may turn the corner. I remember a couple of years back, the Hawks had an ordinary start to the season, and were looking like they were going to struggle till they faced us. They were being smashed every week till they played Richmond and limped over the line, and then they belted the living bejeesus out of us a week later.
This time its our turn. GC wont know what hit them, Im predicting a ten goal win as a minimum and I see percentage booster on the table.
I believe you're right Thry, but perhaps not by such a margin.
I'm expecting an extremely focused, even and determined effort that will produce a win by around 5 goals.
Yes I think MM will have the boys very focussed on just getting a win, even if it's only by a couple of goals. I'm expecting us to be very tight and measured and hopefully maintaining this for 4Qs.
Blues by 15.
I'll just take a win with 3 in a row and a severely weakened Freo side ripe for the picking next week! From there who knows?
A loss would almost certainly derail our season with the demise of the Bummers our only real chance to get into the 8.
Curnow is an elite runner and gets first crack to add Ablett as another notch in his belt.
Recently.
Leigh Montagna - 22
Steele Sidebottom - 23
Daniel Hannebery - 20
Isaac Smith - 11
Brent Stanton - 13
Travis Boak - 18
Bloke deserve a bit more credit for what he has done.
CARLTON
In: M.Robinson, J.Bootsma
Out: J.Cachia, A.McInnes (groin)
GOLD COAST
In: C.Dixon
Out: J.Hall
Understand Robbo in and Cachia probably being rested. With McInnes out and White injured would have thought Laidler or Duigan might get a go given they played well in the last Ants game by all accounts.
But obviously the MC are putting their faith in Bootsma.
No Graham? Disappointed
Does Cachia have an injury niggle? He wouldn't be dropped on form would he?
If we're never going to play Laidler again (Bootsma in instead) then I hope we have a good trade lined up for him.
Bootsma was pretty good against the Hawks (as were Laidler and Duigan). I think Bootsma will provide more run and he is better in the air than Laidler and Duigan.
Laidler or Duigan may be a better option if we were playing a team with more mature bodies.
I'm just hoping that Laidler is being kept in reserve for later this year or maybe on the back burner for next year. I'd be amazed if MM has passed judgement and stamped his papers already. :-\
Haven't heard of any injury to Cachia but who knows?
Doubt it's form related but he has looked a bit tired of late so due for a rest.
No problems putting faith in Bootsma as we need to put game time in to the kids but it makes you wonder what Laidler or Duigs need to do to get a game in the seniors again.
We'll certainly need to be on our toes this week, young bodies or not!
Surely not. I thought it was harsh he was made sub last week and put it down to match ups but it seems he was demoted, then after putting a decent performance when he came on he's been demoted again.
My take is Mick sees bootsma and mciness as the future in the backline, and get precedence. Duigan and laidler are very much last resort back ups
So Carrots and Curnow for O'Meara and Gaz... expecting one to run with Gaz all night is expecting a lot.
Was drafted in Round 4, swapped for Round 2 and Round 3 picks.
Has played 5 games in 2 years and doesn't look like he'll play again for us without lots of injuries. I'll take the round 2 and round 3 picks in a blink of an eye.
Gold Coast v Carlton
Metricon Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm AEST
GOLD COAST
*B:* McKenzie, Thompson, Tape *
HB:* Russell, May, Broughton
*C:* Harbrow, Ablett, Bennell
*HF:* Boston, Brennan, A. Hall
*F:* Day, Dixon, Brown
*Foll:* Nicholls, Stanley, O'Meara
*I/C:* Shaw, Sexton, Weller, Prestia
*Emg:* Gilbee, Sumner, J. Hall
In:* Dixon *Out:* J. Hall
CARLTON
B: Robinson, Jamison, Henderson
HB: Tuohy, Watson, Gibbs
C: Yarran ,Judd, Simpson
HF: Curnow, Walker, Garlett
F: McLean, Rowe, Scotland
Foll* Kreuzer, Betts, Murphy
I/C: Carrazzo, Lucas, Bootsma, Armfield
Emg: Menzel, Cachia, Casboult
In:* Robinson, Bootsma
*Out:* McInnes (groin), Cachia
I am surprised that Cachia is out, unless he is getting a 'rest'. But funnier things have happened. I still have my worries about the sanity of the MC, but I thought last week that we'd lost it at the selection table.
What is with the asterisks ?? Couldn't see a legend to answer my question.
Sorry, it was a feature of the website where I found the team. It doesn't add anything, but I didn't have the time to get rid of them. I was too lazy.
Oh. No its fine Crash, you work hard enough finding the attachments. Not lazy at all, and in fact I really appreciate you keeping us up to date with what is going on. I thought it might be a cut and paste type issue (or something coming from another website), but asked just in case it had something to do with players back from injury, first timers, seniors etc. Just asking and thanks for letting me know. Us bugs don't know way too much you know. ;D
Cachia has done nothing wrong.
27 dream team points in one quarter last week
One of he best the week before
I thought Cachia was brilliant last week when he came on.
Surely form couldnt be the reason for his axing this week :o
On another note, was filling up my car at 5.45 am Wed morning and lo and behold, so was Boots !!! I couldnt help myself and asked wtf he was doing up at that hour and he replied "trainen" !!
Was in all blues gear including beanie......just for those who figured he might've infact been coming home from the night before.....he wasnt.
Rotation?
I don't think MM will want to play Cachia, Curnow and Carrazzo in the same team very often tbh - all essentially shut-down players.
With out putting in too much thought, I reckon a player swap would be our best bet, if we were to try and move him on.
Hope Cachia plays...be madness if he doesnt IMO and another in a long line of MC stuff ups.
Its obviously warmer up on the GC and Ablett will wear out taggers quicker than most wear out shoes..you would have to think they will rotate fresh players on him to at least keep him down to a reasonable game only.
Bootsma is still learning the game and I always have that nervous feeling when he plays down back......like to see him play on the wing in a more attacking role.
MC may see Graham as a Brock McLean replacement - ball winner, but lacks pace. I would have liked to see Casboult into the side, to allow Rowe to play back to cover McInnis. We look like we need one more tall for balance.
Laidler and Duigan lack pace and I thinks thats the issue and you dont get quicker as you get older...reckon they are both in the out tray....
Not really, Carrazzo had a free reign last week, played as a normal midfielder. Things may be different this week though.
Curnow gets Gaz first up. He is fit and has a huge tank.
Bootsma in again . It's obvious now that Laidler is finished .
Probably should call Boots Stiffy . He's in , out , in , out , in , out all the time . 8)
Can I ask who do you think played better last week for the NB's, Laidler or Bootsma?
Why can't I tip my team with any confidence (to win) :(
Blues by *gulp* 6 pts.
I know how you feel Goat.
It feels like forever since I could look at a game and chalk up a win, rather than feel like we have to sit on the edge of our seats week to week.
Every game, bar GWS (and who knows how long before that changes) feels like a danger game with this team.
I watched the Blue Print with Andrew McKay the other day [Ep 8 on Youtube].
He talked specifically about Laidler - said that his knee tendon injury last year was very serious and has struggled with his recovery from his op for most of this year. He has only recently been back in to have the screw removed from his knee as it was still giving him trouble. He also said that he has previously played as a 'zone off' defender and he needs to work on his 1 on 1 game and his speed to fit the MM game plan.
It probably goes some way to explaining why he's not getting a game at the moment - fitness, form and his role in the strucutre all appear to be working against him at the moment.
They both played well but very differently. Bootsma was often third man up to spoil, he provided run out of the back line and his kicking was very good.
Laidler played a much closer checking role and belted his opponents at every opportunity. He read the play well, helped out team mates and created opportunities, as a player of his experience should.
In short, they are very different players both of whom probably deserve a run in the 22, but Bootsma is better suited to likely GWS opponents.
Coz we aint good enough yet. We we can tip them confidently every week, then we will be challenging for top 4 and a flag. Didnt mean to sound like Captain Obvious but its a fact.
\
Makes Sense.
It took me while to warm to Laidler when others jumped on him early as he is Very poor one on one. Rarely gets a fist to the ball and gets out positioned far too easily.
It is strange though as Mick has made Nick Mawell's Career as a zone off defender and Laidler is a better ball user by foot than Maxwell.
Well Shadesy, his one on one work, spoiling and positioning were what impressed me while I was standing in the rain at Box Hill. Perhaps he's been told to work on those aspects of his game.
He looks bigger in the upper body but seemed to still favour his knee at times.
I remember Laids playing on the resting ruck and outpositioning said ruckman to mark the ball. Not all the time, but I do remember it happening.
McKay explictly said in the interview that working on his 1:1 game is what he has been told to do by the Footy Dept. From what you're saying [and what McKay also mentioned] there are still concerns about how his knee is going to hold up, and they are probably loathe to risk him at the top level until they have 100% confidence that it is right. It makes sense that he's not being picked on this basis.
I just hope that he can make it through the rest of the year and then get the knee and his fitness right over the preseason for a big 2014, as I was a big fan. He is a very smart footballer and we could do with his poise and reading of the game and organsiational skills in the back half.
I guess in his first couple of Games (6-8) I was very critical of him and Tribey and I had were opposed to his value. By the end of last year, I was a big fan of him, his ability to read the play and use the ball.
I still think its a weak part of his game, but I still can't see why Boots is preferred ahead of him.
I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Charlie Dixon on a career-best game tomorrow; assuming he's got Jamo on him......
I hope you're going for the reverse moz with that comment Brettie!
Not an ideal match up for Jamison, Brettie. With McInnes out, I suspect Henderson will have to play back :-\.
Henderson has to play forward. If Watson plays you have to back him against players like Dixon. Dixon has missed a lot of footy this year too, so he should be lacking match fitness.
GCFC have also said that they're sweating on Prestia with a hamstring and Rory Thompson with an ankle. If Thompson doesn't come up Dixon may have to play back on Rowe. Then Jamo to Brennan and Watson to Day?
We should win by about 3 goals either way.
Watson certainly has to stake his claim today to his spot in the team. With a good performance he could begin to convince the powers that be that he is one serious solution to our key defender needs. Convincing people on here will be a lot harder for him of course. ;D Go Watto!
Fair point Cookie and really, he is going up against blokes with similar maturity. Good luck to the young fella, we need it to take a trick sooner or later.
I always thought Watson 'could' make it, unfortunately only on a number 2 or 3 forward. With time he will get better, natural progression suggests this, just hope it is sooner rather than later.
I would also like to say I was one of Sugar's detractors, didn't like his attack on the ball and his use of the ball continually putting team mates under pressure.
BUT and a big but, he has proved me wrong, he has improved and hopefully will continue to get better. Although this is only been for a few games it has been good to watch.
Gotta love MM and what he sees in players. Just hope he is scouring all other teams looking for underperforming player to snatch.
True. Today will be a huge test for him as this mob is quick. He'll no doubt take the slowest tall (which is sensible) but GC will try to expose his lack of speed over the track.
Watson played against this mob in our first encounter where we flogged them by 20 goals.
At the time the HUN were doing a 'AA team of the week' and actually named Watson in the side for the week. :o
Hopefully he can repeat that performance.
Surely you havent given up on Jammo? Has lowered his colours lately but is still probably among the elite key position defenders in the afl, he is just out of form, and has had some massive tasks over the last month and a bit. To me his issue is confidence. An opponent gets a hold of him and it seems to effect him.
Pic on twitter of the bus has Levi front and centre?
Late in?
The week leading into the Saints game, I was extremely worried because we always find ways of losing to those guys.
The week leading into the Kangas match, I was extremely worried because they could really belt us if they all clicked into gear at the one time.
This week leading into the Suns match, I'm extremely worried because they are quite unpredictable and have come off a morale boosting win over Collingwood.
Don't know what to expect actually, won't be easy and a loss is not out of the question but a win is not ruled out either. Good test for our players especially as some are now playing for their futures.
Surely Mick and the match committee studied last weeks game v the pies and came up with something.
The lack of pressure on their onballers wont be repeated this week i can assure you!
Out: Bootsma
In: Cachia (sub)
Thompson and Prestia out for GC.
Cachia In, Bootsma Out (ill)
CACHIA SUB
Tagger as a sub again?
Ho hum.
Huge outs for them.
No excuses.
Double black armbands on Blues?
Don't think Cachia deserves to be the sub on his performances.
I was going to say Bootsma would be better as a sub, maybe a little more versatile but he must be replacing McInnes.