At the moment we are supposed to play Port in Adelaide. However, there is no certainty of that There isn't anywhere to escape lockdown either.
WARNING IRRATIONAL RANT FOLLOWS - WRITTEN AS A NEXT ROUND PREVIEW BUT WITH A FAIR BUT OF VITRIOLIC REVIEW THROWN IN AT THE END.
Before I fire up let me say I know it is unjustifiably harsh, I know the players turn up with the intent to try their best even if some days they don't fire a shot, I know some busted a gut today and all who play at this level have not only skill beyond us mere mortals but also courage I can't honestly say I know i would display (albeit that courageous is a word that was often used to described my pathetic playing career but largely because to my skill level my courage was impressive rather than it being objectively so) and that they by and large make sacrifices in their lives to ever get to that level but most of us couldn't and/or wouldn't BUT DAMN IT I HAVE LOVED THIS CLUB SINCE 1968 AND I AM GOING TO BE IRRATIONAL ALL RIGHT!
With any luck the competition might be shut down and/or this game cancelled due to Covid.
By my calculation there were 14 players not playing today who might be fit enough to play next week ("the Fit 14"). That would be 14 of my starting 18. If any don't come up it saves another "player" (and I use the term loosely) from today. That leaves 9 spots including medical sub. I would fill them with those that most deserve to be there - a mix of performance this week (not that many get a plus mark), effort over the season, effort over their career and those that need another game under their belt to develop (maybe Honey), continue a comeback (Charlie) or show they are worth a place on the list next year (arguably Kennedy, Dow, O'Brien etc) So category 1 for example would be Newman possibly our best player today, category 2 Walsh, category 3 - well we may as well carry Murph to 300 games now, and category 4 Charlie.
In terms of who played well enough today to have any case to argue for staying in the side - well there's Newman, Walsh, Ed Curnow. Others weren't disgusting but these are the 3 that I reckon flew the flag. Of course Walsh is in category 2 (and H Mac if he is fit but for the sake of the exercise I will assume he is out injured) and Ed C in category 3, so let's start listing "THE NON-SACKED NINE"
Category 1 Newman E Curnow (also could be in category 3)
Category 2 Walsh
Category 3 Murphy
Category 4 TBA
Cripps would also deserve category 3 status for his career, but for the sake of this exercise I am going to say (as may well be the case) he deserves even more a rest for his battered body.
Add Charlie C as category 4 - so 4 more to go. Given I have already suggested only 3 fit category 1 let's look to categories 2, 3 and 4. To my mind we should address category 3 first - those whose body of work over their career with the Blues has them deserving to avoid the ignominy of the cull. Possibles excluding Cripps as aforesaid are Betts of course, Jones and maybe even Weitering albeit he is still young. In any event Weits would surely get in under category 2 for his season performances. That would make 22. I also think JSOS deserves a spot on his year and his drive (and no doubt the family name subconsciously comes into play), so without having any consideration of category 4 we are already at 23 but let's see whether any category 4s deserve to oust any and how many of the names above.
I see the category 4s beyond Charlie as being:
Young guns Honey Stocker Dow
Last chancers Kennedy Williamson O'Brien
Comebackers Nil
I think all but O'Brien have either shown enough or had enough chances to make a decision on their future without needing another look - I won't digress into who I think should stay and who should go that's for the list management discussion, but ... no I won't digress. :smile:
So if you include O'Brien there is 24, one miss out (be one of the 3 emergencies not medisub) and two other bodies to also be named an emergency. End of the day I think Honey's goals probably earn him at least an emergency slot and that leaves 1 emergency and I don't give a rat's tossbag which of these underwhelming (I'll again use the term loosely) "players" get that spot but forced to pick one I'd go Williamson as a harder body who is trying to save his career. Of course if any one or more of the Fit 14 don't come up then one or more of the emergencies and (if we had a run off injuries to the Fit 14 - and let's face it with our injury run this year anything's possible) even beyond might get saved, but for the sake of the exercise let's go with Fit 14 plus 9 plus 3, and I'd line them up with the Fit 14 plus 4 others starting on field ike this:
Williams McDonald Parks
Cottrell Weitering Ramsay
Carroll Setterfield SPS
Durdin McGovern Fogarty
Casboult C Curnow Owies
Jones Kemp Murphy
Then bench plus medisub
E Curnow Newman JSOS Walsh / Betts
Emergencies: MEDISUB Honey O'Brien Williamson
Eddie gets medisub to hopefully limit his workload and set him up fresh for round 23 just in case it is his last game. Smurph gets to play all day (injury aside) in his 300th, that is how it should be for anyone's 300th if the season is over, and he should retire at the final siren or better still announce it before the game. Not that I expect he would do that,, but if I ran the club I'd tell him it's that or medisub for his 300th and see which choice he would make - but if he said medisub I'd start him anyway, his career deserves it. I am a softy/romantic at heart.
Of course no AFL club would do such a thing but it would send such a message. Of course the team would get pumped unless the Port coach completely stuffed up (by which I mean their bus breaks down and they don't reach the ground). But that is the point - the players today other than the ones I have named forfeited the right to wear the first team guernsey for one week at least and it's only the rules around player lists and availability that save even them. It was a collective failure and warrants collective consequences. On on the point of consequences surely the Teague train has been derailed. He should get on the phone to Clarko himself and offer him the job (and ideally stay on as senior assistant with a Roos/Goodwin deal to take over in a few years). Again never going to happen, but then neither was my 3QT suggestion he send one assistant coach out to tell the "players" words to the effect "if you aren't going to turn up for us then we're not going to turn up for you" and then turn around and walk off.
END RANT
It's more eloquent and well written than most rants, so big ups for that, but that's a pretty complicated rating system, somewhat overreaching IMO. Somewhere on the axis connecting :
- giving established players the BOD
- giving young kids a chance
- injuries etc.
Is a happy medium whereby they pick the best side to win the game.
Williams wont play surely.
I'd play Kemp and Ramsay /or Carroll this week, and keep LOB in as well.
Watch these pricks go out contrite and really out in this week and put it to Port now it is all over. Just 5hits you.
Delete
There is absolutely no way known we can win this game. None. Ziltch.
Said the same thing leading to the St Kilda match, but this time there will be no surprises.
This is Carlton, one never know. They are a 5hit enough side to win this then lose by 10 goals to finish.
H and Sam Walsh getting scans today. Doesn't bode well for them. I guess we assume they won't there.
Honestly, Port should pound us: they have finals to worry about. We have nothing.
They interview Walsh on Ch7 News, said it settled well and should be right. Having said that, I'd park him and H for the year, get any surgery on H done now.
As
@Lods said the other day, shut down, turn off. Surgeries done, start again
H is almost guaranteed the coleman from here. Tex is out for the year as his closest rival. Hawkins is out of form and 11 behind i think with 2 games to go.
If its a significant injury, rest him.
Walsh....obviously its not worth breaking him, but these last 2 games could net him a brownlow.
Walsh won't win a brownlow....1. he's a Carlton player and 2. We don't win enough games.
Cripps almost did and we were performing worse at the time.
In reality though, who is taking votes of Walsh?
I'm surprised by how often McKay gets AFLCA votes, it is our coach or theirs?
I think Walsh should be comfortable B&F winner this year, Weitering second and then some margin to 3rd, but you never know.
But I can't see Walsh winning the Brownlow, his inside game style isn't the type umpires often notice, he is not like Judd winning footy and breaking free. But I'll be happy to be wrong.
I think someone like Bontempelli will win the Brownlow. Walsh should still poll very well.
Defenders don't often get votes.
Harry, for all his goals, has dominated very few games. In a lot of games he is soundly beaten but for a quarter where he kicks 3 or 4.
7 against the dockers will get him votes (Walsh had 33 and 1 goal), maybe 6 goals agaisnt the lions (Walsh had 37)
how many other games?
Weve won 5 games. All he has to do is dis lodge him from the best on ground performance and thats all she wrote.
Watch Touk Miller poll off the charts, flying under the radar for Melbourne footy fans, but is having an A+ season and has that X-Factor.
Having a Robert Harvey like season for GC.
Yes, he could be right in the mix.
5?
Were the other 3 in the win column gifted to us via forfeit?
yep sorry.
8 games.
Let's see how he polls.
Will get a lot of one votes IMHO as the winning teams usually contain the three voters....
I think Petracca and the Bont are the ones to beat....
Bontempelli, is an elite , splendid footballer most games, rarely has a quite game, he certainly deserves to win the Brownlow.
Sam Walsh will to well for a youngster, just watch in couple of years time.
Yep, he'll probably even win it at his next club. Because seriously, why would he stay at this ****ed one. For starters, he's one of the few players with an AFL standard work rate.
Despite his age, I would add Ed Curnow as having AFL standard work rate.
Wonder how the Bont would have gone if we'd drafted him?
Ed gives you effort every game which is something rare on our list..
Plus Jack and Weeters.
Rest of the list suffers from conditional effortitis
I'll add Jones into that group, sometimes he can be chaotic with his ball use but he is always trying and both him and Weitering at least know what defending your man means.
I'd also include Jack Martin (on one leg). Highlighted by the folk on Fox footy. Problem is he can't sustain it for the 4 quarters. Hopefully with an injury-free pre-season we'll see him get the endurance he needs.
Wish I could agree on Martin, love his talent and he is a skillful player to watch but his output isnt great and if indeed he is injured he shouldnt be playing. His history with GC was similar, great talent but very spasmodic, not unlike Shaun Burgoyne when he played at Port, hopefully Martin can get to the same level as Burgoyne but at the moment he probably needs dropping due to form/injury if the latter is his problem.
Yep, Martin is a terribly disappointing player. Seems to be always injured or carrying a niggle.... A lot of excuses keep getting thrown about for not much output. Been in the system a long time and needs to step up as the senior player he now is on serious coin. And he isn't the only one in the same boat.
I think he was on big coin year one (heavily front loaded to scare off other suiters) then year 2 onwards was a normal not too ridiculous wage.
We will be lucky to field a team.
White flag up..
Give Murph and some kids a run..
Harry out, one skinny kid in the ruck, a few on one leg, a lot with no heart, Charlie at Full fwd and McGovern in..
McGovern "in" is a must.
According to the club website, Walsh expected to play, McKay "highly unlikely."
This could realistically be the worst loss under Teague. Port can obviously smell blood, and are eyeing off the minor premiership. We are desperately undermanned, and distracted / disheartened by various off field issues.
No Jones :(
Yep, I read about that earlier this morning. A 10+ goal loss is on the cards I reckon. Even with the blokes that take the field, how many of them are carrying niggles, underdone etc.? No doubt those ingenious souls running the review are taking all this into consideration.
Murphy's last game.
He's retiring.
https://www.carltonsc.com/index.php?topic=5658.new#info_345953
Meanwhile back at the ranch, an "unscheduled' Board meeting is on this Thursday to discuss the review. Sure, how could that possibly distract Teague and the players from the Port game ?
Another from the era ends, well played sir.
Murphy milestone game
Doc health issues
Hammered from pillar to post by the media hyenas.
Teague pushed along the plank by the media (please don't blink Carlton).
Surely we see some kind of response this week ?
I'm wondering if it's worth trying the "chaos entry" approach used by GWS against Geelong ? No McKay, Allir Allir in sensational form, McGovern and Charlie underdone (McGovern may not even play forward). Maybe a mosquito fleet forward line, and scrubby entries that take the aerial advantage away from Port ?
Rnd 4 seems so long ago, if I recall Port ran all over us when we meet earlier in the season, I recall Wines and Boak had a field day!
I think since the mid-season break, our game plan and Port's game plan have been very similar, can we execute it though?
If we try bombing into F50 as we often do, they will feed off that and kill us on the rebound.
Possible Lineup....
Plowman Weitering Saad
Stocker Casboult Newman
Walsh Cripps O’Brien
Silvagni McGovern Martin
Betts C. Curnow Honey
De Koning Kennedy Dow
i/c Murphy Williamson Kemp Ed Curnow.
Med Sub Newnes
Out: Jones, McKay, Fisher, Newnes
In: Murphy, McGovern, Casboult, Kemp
Need to see more from O'Brien, we know what Newnes offers.
Need height down back and Casboult has played a couple of cameos there before.
Give Kemp an interstate trip and a run in the team.
Williamson is lucky and could be swapped with Fisher.
Kemp in, nice that he will debut in Murph last.
Pretty much the team I was thinking but Williamson out instead of Fisher.
That will be something to tell his grandchildren, particularly if he gets close to Murph's tally.
I don't think Willo has done much wrong since he was recalled ... and he can play tall.
need to change the game plan /style NO LONG BOMBS for a start
I'll argue that point, Williamson is shocking overhead, in both spoiling and marking. He is not the player I thought he would be, and this trying to break tackles and fend off is not working for him.
Youre right Rayden, its like he is trying to play a way thats unnatural to him. Stick to the basics, he was known for his endurance and a good left foot, use those assets more.
I'll agree with Raydan.
I don't think Willo can play tall. In fact, he can barely play at all.
Looking at the $h!t that plowman cops and compare that to the love that Willo gets and its laughable. Plowman is twice the player Willo is....and Willo has half the responsibility.
Long bombs are never the plan. You are either forced into it by the opposition or by players that refuse to work as hard as they should.
In: M.McGovern, B.Kemp
Out: L.Jones (injured), H.McKay (injured), J.Silvagni (injured)
3 more talls are out.
We get our smallest one back.
This is going to be painful.
Emergencies...
[41] Levi Casboult,
[5] Sam Petrevski-Seton,
[29] Corey Durdin,
[8] Lachie Fogarty
Nice one CFC website. 2 Paddy Dows and no Charlie Curnow!! Proooof read!!
(A quick fix by the Club thought Charlie was out. Get the defibrillator out!)
I think we have enough on ballers and flankers to cover if anyone goes down, I’d put Levi as the sub, covers all key positions and the ruck.
I thought he was one of our better players in the first half last week and kicked a couple of nice goals recently - even seems to have worked out how to kick with his right foot - still might be a player with something to work with.
Very surprised Casboult wasn't named. Without Silvagni to play ruck, we're left with probably only McGovern to pinch hit in the ruck. Would've thought Casboult could fill a few more holes than the others even just for this week.
Could get pretty ugly I think.
Yes, RR, I have noticed his right foot kicks :)
Since he got his recall in Round 16, he is averaging just over 12 disposals, 2 tackles, 4.5 marks, 2 1%ers (generally spoils), 3 score involvements and 250m gained ... and he kicked those two telling goals against the Saints. More to the point, he looks like he belongs out there.
Agree. Completely insane not to include Levi. Surely he would be a better fit at CHB than Plowman? Surely he would be the logical change in the ruck? This could also have been his last opportunity to impress in search of another contract. Not sure what goes on at the selection table. Then again this is Carlton.
If Levi is fit enough, then he needs to be there. We badly lack height and strength.
Things are not looking good.
Must still not be right. Its the only thing that makes sense.
Or looking at it from a different angle. Levi's papers have already been stamped?
Quite possibly, but should the whole team suffer as a result.
Plowman at CHB?
McGovern at FF, Charlie at CHF.
Who is backup ruck??
We can't afford to lose a tall unless they're retiring. Levi has survive 10 years in the system because our tall stocks have always been unreliable.
Unless we trade in or pick up free agent KPP/rucks, Levi has to get another season.
Suggestions Charlie has a bit of a sore ankle.
Agree....we need to get another ruck who can be be handy forward or visa versa a tall forward who can spend some relief
time helping out in the ruck and not be useless in the process.
Levi has been a handy perfomer in recent years, his kicking has probably devalued what a lot of people miss about what he offers.
I thought he was always reasonable value down back too when he had to fill in and its hard to get those types.
Rory Lobb is on big money doing the dual ruck/forward role at Freo but his mark, kick and goal average are no better in real terms than Levi and his only real advantage is he averages 5 hitouts more a game but is on double the money.
So the 150 game Levi has been undervalued IMHO especially coming off the rookie list....
If Levi goes we need 2 genuine ruck options to recruit to go with one more key back to go with omac as a swing man and one more key forward to have on slow heat if Charlie doesn't come good.
Thats 4 genuine talls with 2 being ruck options required. They can be young or old. Doesn't matter.
Talia? Finally get him after passing on him in the draft! He's only 29.
If Lobb stays with Freo, I'd be asking the question of Lloyd Meek. Dominates most weeks playing in the WAFL but only cracks it for an AFL game when one of Darcy or Lobb are injured.
Surfie, Can he play forward?
Lloyd Meek has improved a lot in the last couple of years. I wasn't overly impressed by him playing for GWV Rebels. But I wouldn't be expecting much from his forward play. I'd be more willing to go for a pure ruck and have TdK doing some forward work. TdK can take a good mark and kick a goal.
With questions appearing over Charlie's ankle for this weekend, I am having really bad feelings about this game.
EB....Meek clunked a couple of nice marks last week up forward and kicked his first goal at AFL level. If Casboult goes around again then maybe not as much of an issue.
Jack Martin withdrawn because of injury....Levi into the starting 22.
We could probably name a competitive lineup on paper consisting of the blokes injured
I'm actually a little more comfortable with Levi in the 22. He gives us far better options in the big man department. Make Fogarty the medical sub!!
You'd have to be feeling a bit stiff not to be selected if you aren't injured atm.
If there is an issue with the ankle he shouldn't play.
If he goes into the game with an injury he'll compensate for that, even perhaps subconsciously.
Doing so will place further strain on other parts of the leg.
Even if it's the opposite leg to his latest injury, it's still a risk not worth taking, in a nothing game.
And nobody mentions us when it comes to injuries. We barely have enough guys to play in the last round.
Agree, assuming he is fit.
Total mismanagement from the get go.
Stick a fork in Martin, he's cooked.
Martin and Z Williams rapidly turning into a nightmare for us.
Not sure on the exact numbers but Martin has probably missed nearly as many games through injury in the last 2 years as he's actually played.
Just being there it spreads the defence a bit more a he will take a man or two, even if he struggles. When we lacked talls in a couple of games it didn't go well as our structure was badly hurt.
Decimated by injuries.
Distracted by the review and the coaching shenanigans,
Playing away from home
Port would be feeling like they just have to turn up to win ;)
You know what sometimes happens in that situation. ;D
Lods, let me know what you're drinking because my usual red is not doing it for me.
We're still a chance!!!!!! Hahahaha!
Just need the Richmond to win tonight, Suns to beat Essendon, Dockers to beat the Eagles. Then the week after the Lions beat the Eagles, Collingwood to beat Essendon, St. Kilda to beat the Dockers over here.
Of course we just need to beat the Power and the Giants. Just hand us the flag now...haha!
Of course I more fancy my chances of winning lotto...lol!!!
Let's just say it is not the way I have done my tips.
You're onto something Lods!
This is exactly the situation where one team digs deep and the other is complacent and a little off the pace. Hopefully we will get the job done :)
Will take a lot of character to win this one.
Im not sure we have it.
26 out of 43 so far.
He had a couple of good seasons with the Suns but 15-16 games seems about average for Jack. I reckon he probably played more than he should have this season but was looking fitter in the last couple of games.
We are often good for character for one week at a time, especially after a media shellacking (but even that wears off after a while). When we do we very hard to beat. Go one of two ways. Chuck everything bar the kitchen sink at Port or with everything that has happened just turn up, go through the motions and play as lazy as 5hit. Unlikely to be anything in-between.
Looked good in the training clips, beard suits him!
....and there goes another one.
Cripps is OUT (quad tightness)
Corey Durdin to make his debut
Anyone in Adelaide prepared to kit up...we may need you.
:( :(
Teague might have to pull on the boots......I think Durdin has potential, hope him and Kemp do well.
Dont expect to win but being the fickle team we are we might give them a scare if they rock up thinking its going to be easy.
Has there been a team with so many injuries to senior players?
Ratten may have been close in 2012, ironically the year he got sacked too. I know one game we ran out of rucks so Levi got bumped off the rookie list to debut. We won too.
Gee, it gives a number of players the perfect opportunity to really step up!! Newnes should be a leader as should Levi, Saad needs to show his worth, Fisher too...................and plenty of others!
I feel for Murph - although it isn't the first time he's played in a much depleted line up. I've enjoyed the CFC articles, stories, interviews and highlights this week.
I hope the boys put in and don't get disheartened when we're getting belted.
Sorry - I can't share the optimism of a few!
We ranked 2nd in the league for games missed by players in the best 22. Saints were worse.
Is Gibbs available to lace up in an emergency?
I reckon this is like one of these at training proposals ‘you kick the goal son and you’re in this week’. ‘Tragedy, you come up sleigh a game plan to beat Port and motivate the boys to execute it and win….. and you coach next year!!’
I suppose it can be a bit subjective based on who you think is best 22.
Ask 10 supporters who is in their best 22 and get 10 different answers.
Why can't another club have injuries? Why so defensive?
Sam Ramsay unlucky not to be given a run?
(assuming he is fit)
He seems to have featured regularly in our VFL best players.
cheers Ab
Defensive? Stating facts.
Works both ways.
I've often said that its not just about the sheer numbers but the position and (lack of) coverage that we've had that has hurt more than anything.
I don't feel at all defeated before this game.
If we bring a strong defensive strategy and intensity, like we've done since the bye on a number of occasions, we're a chance.
This mob (Port) do not respond well to intense defensive pressure.
Playing in Adelaide has not been a bogey venue for us, and our record against Port is respectable.
With so many changes, and certain blokes missing, we will be unpredictable.
Great to see, finally, coupla kids getting a go, rather than selecting 'safe'.
I'm looking forward to this game. Go Blues!!!
How many happy pills do i have to have to get to your level?
No hope.
No happy pills,. We brought the defensive intensity I was mentioning in that qtr... we keep this up and we are a chance. Key is to keep it up.