We play the early game next Sunday against Melbourne, which fell apart late against Brisbane.
We have our injury probems, and one or two guys who really are not in form, but we did some really good work since the change of coach.
Win and we jump ahead of the dees on the ladder and up into 16th.
Lets do it.
I like not having to tank given how we don't actually have our own picks, it serves no purpose.
A bit like what would happen if you took away the certainty of the #1 pick....like say with a lottery draft....
Now where have i heard that before......;)
Any early word from over there as to whether Cripps and/or McKay might be available?
Interesting, I heard that if not for the location Cripps may have played. But the burgeoning injury reports and apparent hardness of the Perth surface put the wind up the MC on both Cripp's foot and McKay's back!
Will be interesting to see how our blokes pull up after the game on that surface. But geez Cripps in would be a massive lift.
Make them come back through the VFL...lol.
It's interesting now, if Gawn is really gawn, and based on the long term weather reports of rain, we might not make many changes!
Very hard to get a read on Melbourne. I feel like they can come good at any moment, but they just never do.
At this point, I'm not sure where I sit with this game.
Assuming McKay is fit, he replaces Charlie. Easy.
Who does Cripps replace if he's fit this week? Tough call IMO.
Dow probably did the least possession-wise, but not really considering he played mostly as a small forward. He impacted quite nicely I thought, and his skills were much sharper. My opinion is pretty clear on the youngsters. I think they should be played as flankers or pockets (or midfield in the 2's) until they are ready for proper midfield responsibilities. Dow's atrocious disposal at times could be attributed to him not being ready yet for all the running he's been asked to do, and he's simply stuffed and down on confidence when trying to execute. We all know he's not the best kick in the side, but I think he'll become a reasonable kick as he develops, as there's nothing too horrid when looking at his kicking style. I think he's finally being played where he should be given his development stage, and he should stay there next week.
So who gets dropped if Crippa is fit?
I suspect SoJ cops it in the neck, unjustified by still he is the ideal swap!
Well with Charlie out and Macca also injured maybe Cripps comes in and Jack goes forward?
McKay is at least one more week away, according to reports. Weather on Sunday looks a bit dodgy, so if McGovern and Casboult play forward, Curnow's replacement should either be Kerr (a forward who leads) or a smaller type, maybe Lang....?
If Crippa is fit, it's time to give Paddy a run in the VFL so he can get the ball a bit and work on his disposal.
No way could Silvagni get the chop again after that game. Dow kicked a good goal but his kicking generally is terrible and he's had 2 or 3 really quiet games....O'Brien has probably gone ahead of him at the minute. If Cripps is fit then him and possibly Kerr in for Charlie and Dow?
McGovern simply doesn't do enough so a big ask for him to be the only real tall option up forward. With Jones back into the team, Levi can play forward/ruck. Jones gets McDonald and Weitering on Weideman. If Melbourne play both Gawn and Preuss then Levi probably plays more back than forward. But I'd still like to see Kerr get a shot at it.
Dow brings pace that SoJ doesn't, if you keep SoJ and bring in Cripps with Kerr you are slowing the team down significantly.
Preuss hasn't played since Rnd 5, I heard he was carrying an injury, anyway two rucks doesn't really fit or suit the Dees run and gun style.
Dow on form has to go out, even my whipping boy Obrien completed his task vs Freo on Hill....Dow has been on the slide all year and needs a spell in the twos.
No use having pace if you cant get the ball, Jack stays in, he was part of the reason we won the game vs Freo and is also a candidate rotation for Oliver of Melbourne.
Gotta be Kennedy, surely.
Like for like.
Nobody deserves to be dropped but of the mid types...
Silvagni - 15 touches, 8 tackles, kicked 1.2 and tagged fyfe
Dow - 7 touches, 3 tackles and kicked 1.1 and adds speed
Obrien - 18 touches, 1 tackle and kicked 0.2 in career best game
Kennedy - 13 touches, 1 tackle and kicked 2.0
The only think that really puts Kennedy above the others is that he kicked straight.
He actually plays the most like Cripps already, so bringing Cripps in for him is a like for like upgrade that doesn't upset team balance.
Personally I would not like to see Kennedy dropped but maybe it's a healthy sign to be considering having to do that.
We could always give Cripps another week off.
Likewise, be good to see what he has with some consistency. But it is a huge conundrum, especially when you add the likelihood of Cuningham to also return. At least H for Charlie is obvious.
If he's not 100% then why not?
I would have thought that if Cripps is fit he would be replacing Curnow.
I was actually really disappointed with O'Brien's game. Defensively you could tell he ran his guts out but when he had the ball he was a disaster. Hopefully just an off week as he was building some form for the last 2 weeks.
Well that's what I would do.
Dow is the most likely to be dropped in my opinion. Kennedy played a Josh Caddy role and played it extremely well - I'd say he's undroppable.
Dow should have been dropped 2 months + ago....not doing the kid any favours allowing him to think slop is acceptable.
Go back to the 2s and iron out your deficiencies!
Bit tough on Kennedy, struggled for continuity of games and now he is fit and played a reasonable game and we turf him back to the NB's?
I like Dow but he has been poor all season and getting worse, he does add speed but he cant get the ball and his disposal...well we all know it aint great on a good day.
As Fly said send him back to the twos and let him refine his kicking and get a bit more footy then then bring him back in.
Cuningham (assuming passes his fitness test), in for Dow.
Cripps, McKay and Cuningham all still unavailable. What am I missing here?
Jimbo's usually first with the Thursday night team announcements. Anyhow.....
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2019-07-04/extended-squad-who-steps-up
This is a really important game for us as we meet a side we 'should' beat.
Strangely, these games can present a huge challenge for the coaching group to ensure not one scintilla of complacency sets in. Plus we have the very real challenge of finally getting off to a good start.
Actually, if we could win this game also without Cripps that would be a fantastic confidence booster for our guys. They must get a bit tired of hearing " no Cripps no Carlton". ::)
Ed is captain again. If Lang and Fazzy boy make it to the final 22, I'll be very keen to see what they can do with this new more attacking game plan. Should in theory suit them to a tee.
Wow, surprised. Just checked the 'experts' picks in the media and they're overwhelmingly tipping the 'Go Dees'.
('Go Dees' to be said in a very snobbish, Brightonesque tone... I got this from a game many, many years ago when this woman, dripping with expensive jewelry, stood and shouted, 'Go Dees'... which she immediately followed with, brace yourself, "Go number 9!" Laughter rang out and we didn't hear from her again for the afternoon... thank the gods.)
I suspect there'll only be 1 change. C Curnow out, but who comes in? Lang? Fasolo? Goddard probably deserves a run before either of those, but we just don't have a spot down back for him right now
I've tipped us this week. Maybe tempting fate but well worth going against the odds imo.
CARLTON
B: Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Caleb Marchbank
HB: Kade Simpson, Jacob Weitering, Dale Thomas
C: Will Setterfield, Ed Curnow, Lochie O'Brien
HF: Jack Silvagni, Levi Casboult, Sam Petrevski-Seton
F: Marc Murphy, Mitch McGovern, Michael Gibbons
R: Matthew Kreuzer, Zac Fisher, Sam Walsh
Int: Nic Newman, Darcy Lang, Paddy Dow, Matthew Kennedy, Matthew Cottrell, Andrew Phillips, Alex Fasolo, Hugh Goddard (Four to be omitted)
IN: Darcy Lang, Matthew Cottrell, Andrew Phillips, Alex Fasolo, Hugh Goddard
OUT:Charlie Curnow (Injured)
NEW: Matthew Cottrell, Hugh Goddard
Cottrell seems to be highly thought of.
MELBOURNE
B: Jay Lockhart, Steven May, Harrison Petty
HB: Marty Hore, Sam Frost, Christian Salem
C: Nathan Jones, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen
HF: Bayley Fritsch, Sam Weideman, Christian Petracca
F: Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald, Angus Brayshaw
R: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver
Int: Jordan Lewis, Michael Hibberd, Braydon Preuss, Oscar McDonald, Jayden Hunt, Corey Wagner, Josh Wagner, Kyle Dunkley (Four to be omitted)
I've watched this kid a bit in the VFL, a lot of fans are bagging him but he's an elite runner and a good size, I suspect like Stocker he's grown a bit since his figures were published.
He's the type that can tag all day then have an impact late in games, tough as leather, but still probably a little light for the big league but stronger than you think and doesn't take a backwards step in the Ken Hunter style. A bit more muscle and he'd be capable of doing the same job SoJ did on Fyfe, perhaps a Ed replacement long term, but with more capability to push forward!
Lang in for C Curnow
Same here LP. I think there’s something about him that says he’s going to make it. His desperation and second and third efforts are admirable.
Yeah, not who i would've picked from that bunch, but if Lang gets the chop at the end of the year at least we know we've given him a few goes at it.
Maybe THIS is the game his true talent presents itself. (i f***'n hope so!)
Lang owes this club big time. I'd expect him to really extract the digit.
If you aren't in our best 26 odd players and you're currently getting a game, odds are it's your last chance so make the most of it.
For someone with generally good disposal and an excellent kick at goal, another effort where he can't kick one from numerous attempts with 30 m of goal is going to cook Lang's goose. I have been really disappointed in Lang. If he is to remain on our list he has to start producing and start putting his body in.
Be good to get two in a row... hope this isn't the 'honeymoon' is over game (which there generally is for a caretaker coach).
I'm still fairly confident we have their measure.
I'm not. Just about to get in the car and head up to the big smoke to watch the game. I just hope we bring the effort and passion of the last few weeks again. And please don't give up another 5 goal head start!!
In some respects this game may be more difficult than last weeks.
A club up against significant odds can sometimes get themselves up for a huge effort.
It's harder to do that for a few weeks in a row.
Last time we met.
Dees by 109 points.
Gawn out will certainly help us, but 'fairly confident' is not something i can quite get behind.
Certainly in with a chance, but far from confident of a win.