At 1950 on Friday night. Why the Hawthorn vs Dogs game can start nice and early and our is so late ...
It is possible that Weitering will return. No certainty, but we can hope.
Personally, I'd prefer he had the extra week off, King is not the ideal opponent first up from injury and King already gets away with blue murder playing against Weiters.
I can't say I've ever seen Weiters get a fair run against King!
Weitering with 1 arm amputated is still better than anyone else that could take his spot.
King will be slinging opponents to the ground without penalty as he usually does, that's a recipe for disaster for someone coming back from an AC.
I week early just isn't worth it, no matter how desperate fans become!
Same tactics as vs Freo, win the midfield, dominate possession and if the ball doesnt get down to King he cant mark it or sling tackle anyone either. Think we are much better than the Saints and I'd be saving Weitering for Hawkins and his buddy Cameron..
Voss has indicated that Weitering is most unlikely to play this week, they need to stick to the timeline. I wonder if they had thought that way if we had lost today?
It's the only sensible thing to do, the calls from fans for Weiters to return early is emotive gibberish, the sort of gibberish decision making that ends up causing you to shoot yourself in the foot!
Its a cover all bases comment.
'No, we need to let him recover, don't want to rush him.'
'Well, he made a miraculous improvement throughout the week and did everything we asked of him, so we picked him.'
Either way, its a win.
Voss doesn't appear to me to be a panic merchant!
Excluding players who fail to get up due to injury, I suspect the only likely change for next week will be Cerra in probably for Motlop, and even Motlop might be a bit unlucky because he wasn't bad at all yesterday.
Based on the last few weeks, I wouldn't be adverse to seeing Young start on King even if Weitering came in. It's the sort of challenge a kid growing in confidence like Young could really relish, and that would leave Weitering or whoever to get up the ground and hit some targets from intercept marks.
Freo as a KPP / Ruck group type opponent was a significant challenge and we got through it pretty well, in conditions that should have suited Freo perfectly.
Ironically we could get Ratten sacked again.
Can’t recall the talking head who said it on radio (though it was probably Nick Riewoldt), but the comment was made that King needs to add more to his game rather than just being a jump and mark exponent. The comparison was made that Josh Kennedy’s body really should see him in retirement but he is still kicking goals because he has great forward craft.
If anyone can play him back into form, it's a team that uses Young as their loose man and plowman and Kemp as their kpps. ::)
Cerra will return not sure who will go out for him.
Reckon Kempy has done more than enough to take over the Marchbank role
So we move on...
Everything being well this is a game we should win.
There are a couple of issues we need to watch.
As much as the coaches will be aware of it, there will be an issue of keeping focus.
We'll get a fair few kudos in the AFL world this week.
Even if the players don't get too exposed to this publicity, they know they've done good.
Added to that....we played a very physical game yesterday.
We no doubt set ourselves for a big effort...and produced.
These things sometimes result in a bit of a let down in the following game.
Now some will suggest Voss and his coaching team won't let that happen.
But it's a test of progress.
Another challenge.
Another layer.
Hopefully we're up to the task.
Wayne Carey wrote about it and suggested that King should get on the phone to Nick.
King is a very unreliable kick for goal as well, I see a few Saints games during the year as my daughters inlaws are mad keen fans and I would agree King doesnt do enough body wise to make his life easier and manufacture some marks or create opportunties for his smaller teammates. Stkilda also have another problem that Jack Higgins is used as their second marking target/leadup player so King gets double teamed. Membrey is used more as a roaming forward and trouble shooter down back so the Saints need another true KP Forward to see the best of King. ie Kennedy has Darling and good KP Forwards hunt in pairs...
If we play the way we did against Freo, we will smash St Kilda.
If we don't, will open the door for them to find form and will be all over us like a rash.
Based on what I have seen from us this year, I doubt very much Vossy and Crippa will permit the latter to happen.
Hopefully those days are well behind us.
Saints will bring back Ryder, Brad Hill and maybe Higgins. I think there will also be some backlash from their insipid effort in Sydney. I expect they will start with steam coming out of their ears.
This game is far from a certainty, as indeed are most games. This season, any side that takes their foot off the pedal can get rolled by anyone (except probably NM....). I hope the team prepare with this in mind.
It's a bit hard to believe that at 10-4, we are still not locked in for a finals berth. With the run home we have, we just have to win games like this one.
Win this one and the games against WCE & the Crows and we’re finals bound. And it’s very unlikely that we won’t chalk up some wins in the remaining games.
If we don’t win most of the remaining games, there’s not much point to making finals.
It has taken a while, as was to be expected, but it seems that the coaching group now has the team playing our game style consistently. If we can maintain that, we should be able to account for every team in the comp, even with our depleted line up.
With Cerra, Weitering and Pittonet back, anything is possible.
Ratts will be desperate for a win but I’m not sure that the Saints have the players to disrupt our winning formula. Relying on King would be falling into the trap that snared Longmuir.
I understand the sentiment, but I am not sure fans should assume we will just go back to the default setups.
I get that Weiters, Cerra and Pitto returning give us something, but if Pitto comes in at the expense of say TDK or SoJ we lose something as well.
When Cerra returns, who goes out, probably someone like LoB or Cottrell, without doubt the equation favours Cerra but still it's not a free lunch.
They can't all play, and they won't all play!
Both sides coming off a 6 day break. At least that keeps things on par rest wise.
Chuffed as it should be on fta tv here in SA.
LP....I doubt Pittonet would come in at the expense of either TDK or Silvagni. Pittonet and TDK would both ruck and TDK would drift forward....and Silvagni plays as a roaming forward pushing up the ground. He'd probably take the place of Martin in that regard and I know who I'd prefer in the 22. Earlier in the season it worked perfectly.....the first game without Pittonet was Gold Coast and we got our pants pulled down. He went down early against Freo and we lost again.
When Pittonet comes back TDK is going to dominate.
In round one, Pitto was running a little low on juice having beaten Richmond's rucks. Tom de Koning moved into the centre square and jumped all over Nankervis, got a couple of clearances himself and allowed us to get the ball out of the middle. At that time, it was probably Tom's most effective period in the ruck. However, conditions were hard and he got good contact with the ground.
In our recent losses, that wasn't the case. Tom struggled for his footing and didn't get as high off the ground at any stage. I think his confidence was down a bit, too. He really appreciated the conditions at Marvel and lifted his game.
I'm not sure Pitto will come straight in after the period he had off, but he'll be back sooner rather than later. He offers us the strength that Tom doesn't have. He was the leading ruck in the competition until he got hurt. We dominated the centre square with him there. We've improved in that area of the game, because we haven't had to depend on him. But it meant we lost games, as TDK isn't yet the premier ruck in the comp.
Why would Pitto come back at the expense of Jack or Tom? All three were playing when we were flying at the start of the season.
Same with Cerra; he doesn’t necessarily replace O’Brien or Cottrell. It’s more likely that he would come in for Motlop and join Walsh and Fisher in the high half forward-midfield rotations. We may lose some defensive pressure inside forward 50 but that would be more than compensated by more midfield possessions and good delivery inside 50.
It doesn’t really matter who goes out provided we select the 22 players best able to execute our game style.
The Saints will be desperate for a win considering they have lost the last 3 games. Out of the top 8 by percentage. Lots of pressure on Ratten to build this squad. Keeping his job as head coach. So much to gain with them winning this week and beating a side that will be a big scalp. We just need to be hungry enough and not underestimate our opponent. The Saints have more to gain and more to lose depending on the end result. A win for us helps with the next few games getting players back. The best test will be our mental focus. Sticking to the basics and the game plan. Controlling the tempo of the match and keeping the pressure on for 4 quarters. I hope there is enough time to recover before this match.
Saints are getting slammed in the media this week - seems three of them got into a verbal altercation at a pub during their week off (and two of them subsequently missed the Sydney game).
King being called a sook.
Clarko being touted as a replacement for Ratten.
This week against us they will either be a disorganised rabble, or the 'backs-to-the-wall' factor will kick in and they will grow an extra leg.
Here's hoping it's the former.....
Ive seen plenty of articles this week about us able to win the flag. One of the authors being saint Nick himself.
It's the usual Hun gee up up for our pre-game opponent, they've basically targeted the Aints all this week, and are trying to paint it that we are some sort of flag favourite by proxy. They are making out the inference to be that we killed Bambi(Ratten) twice!
But it happens almost every week, the Hun typically go quiet on the CheatsFC opponent and slam ours.
As I've written before, we should take this as a compliment because while it is happening more frequently at the moment it's only happening because Carlton winning games is Flubbo's biggest fear. His Hun based motley crew will always target us because they are overloaded with disciples of the Sheedy dynasty, which had a first priority of hate Carlton, and they get support from the current generation of lead AFL commentators who use Carlton's TPP violations as an excuse for their own lack of success.
Robbo has been scathing of "his" Cheats on Fox, called them irrelevant the other night.
But by declaring them irrelevant, he was effectively saying he won’t be drawn on them each week. So while he’ll bag other teams and players repeatedly, Essendon is off the table.
I'm pretty confident we can win this one quite comfortably despite the machinations of the windbag Robbo.
The problem with that scenario is that it would require Robbo to be a lot smarter than he is. ::)
He is a seasoned media performer, he knows exactly what he is saying and doing, as does Caro, as does Darcy, as does Sheedy.
Every question, every response, has an agenda.
Saint Nick is full of bd. We have the longest injury list in the league. How could you make a reasonable prediction of a flag based on that fact.
Tigers, Lions, Suns, Swans, Pies all have <6 out. They are some of the teams we're up against for a top 8 finish.
Really smacks of acknowledging our performances in the hope of us failing and fearing our success. No one would have expected us to contend this year, much less with the worst injury list in the league, yet we continue to defy the odds and these closet critics can’t stand it. Gotta love what we’re doing right now!
No he’s not!
He is a print media hack whose inability to think on his feet and articulate a meaningful sentence makes for cringeworthy viewing/listening.
Robbo isn’t smart enough to have an agenda. Watch his gibbering, nonsensical banalities when he attempts to have a conversation with Vossy 🙄
You must not let your personal hatred of Flubbo colour your perception of his abilities.
I hate Flubbo as much as anyone, but I'm not going to allow him to pass himself off as a fool, because if you do that you will fall victim.
I booked my grand final tickets before weitering got injured. The lid is off.
I hope you're watching Blues v ?
I'm just hoping we get some finals experience. Not that I have doubts about our boys but GF might be out of reach with our injury horrors. Next year. Now that's another story.
I don’t hate Robbo. He is someone of little consequence in my universe and, I suspect, of little consequence to anyone but the less discerning readers of the Hun.
Footy writers like Caro, Sheahan, Pierik and Lane have the ability to set agendas and influence the AFL. Robbo just regurgitates platitudes, chases his own tail, and pats himself on the back while doing so.
This is probably the most optimistic I have been for decades Thry, but you’re way ahead of me.
I hope your investment pays off!
For the moment, I'll be happy for us to get to the point where we will definitely play one final. Then we will see from there.
Cerra the only in, Boyd Out
No Weitering, smart move.
We've gone in with only six defenders with Cerra replacing Boyd.
Newnes to go back?
Four good ins for Stkilda, this is going to be a tough game.
Having the two genuine rucks will test TDK again allows Stkilda to play Marshall down forward with King.
Hopefully we play as we did vs Freo and control the ball from the middle and just deny forward entries for the Saints.
Been smashed in the media have the Saints so I expect a rebound effect.
Good test for Voss and the players...
True, but they need to be a hell of a lot better than their recent form to knock us off. On paper our midfield is stronger and their defence can't contain our fwd line.
Agree, think we will win but it won't be easy. Cripps usually struggles vs Steele and as I said I expect a solid rebound from the Saints in terms of contested footy..
Agree re Cripps v Steele, me an interesting match up this time. Our themes this year have been (in no particular order):
- Play for your mates
- Anyone, anytime, anywhere
- Better for longer
- Hard to play
- Next man in
- Fierce contested footy
- The gap between our best and worst has diminished significantly
Stick to the above and that will hold us in good stead every week.
Keen to see two things in particular, tonight against the Aints.
1. Membrey. This guy loves playing us and has dined out on our defense on a good number of occasions.
2. Backing up. I hope we challenge the players to do even better, or to see this as a new and different challenge. Asking for a repeat (carbon copy) performance is fraught with danger. The Aints will come hard and Ratts has a (strategic) high footy IQ and will no doubt come in with tactics to test our game. Plus they'll be desperate to atone for their last effort.
Warms the cockles when I hear the Vossmeister say that we expect the oppositions best, every week - the only way to go. The Aints best is good enough to beat or at least test most sides. As much as anything, this is a really good test for us - above the shoulders, because man for man and game plan, we've well and truly got them covered.
Last time we played the saints our midfield included Dow, Curnow (and a sub of Murphy).
The addition of Cerra and Hewitt, as well as an improved version of Kennedy and a fit Cripps is a different beast.
If Steele wants to play on Cripps, let him rest forward all game....he's doing that more this year anyway.
We still have Hamill's inside knowledge of the Aints.
This should solve a few issues.
Re Cripps v Steele, we have an uninjured bull at the moment and a Team defending as a Team... end story.
They can go to shut down Cripps, but they cant cover all of him, walsh, cerra or hewett without going extremely defensive.
The inclusion of Bradley Hill is my biggest concern.
I look at their wings, and I see it as a position of strength. I look at ours, and I see Lachie O'Brien, Newnes and Cotters. Whilst it is growing on me and the confidence in it is improving, they have a bonafide jet on the opposite wing, and he knows how to play smart footy.
re: Steele vs Cripps.....the former usually does a nullifying job on Cripps but also seems to get plenty of ball himself but you are right in saying they cant tag all of the others and the Saints midfield does drop away with players like B. Crouch, Ross, Gresham, Billings etc all handy but not at the same level as our group Imho.
Obrien, Newnes and Cottrell after being quiet vs the Pies and Tigers have been in decent form in the past couple of games,. have actually given LOB votes in his last two games🤨which thought I would never do. I could see Cottrell picking up Hill and tagging him given he has good endurance and leg speed.
We will only get into trouble if we leave players on their own like Hill like we did with Sidebottom but I reckon Voss wont allow that to happen again...
St Kilda’s problem is that Hill is their star midfielder but the modern winger is a more blue collar role. Wingers are supposed to maintain width to provide defensive cover and outlets for the switch while running from D50 to F50 with metronome-like consistency. There’s a helluva lot of unrewarded running and, like Melbourne’s Langdon, they have to have insane endurance.
To capitalise on Hill’s talent, they’ve tried to bring him into the contest more. That’s not his strength and they surrender some of the strategic advantages of getting their wingers to keep their width. But that’s what happens when you have a Ferrari on a wing while the VWs are chugging around the ball. Hill would do very nicely in our team because we have an elite centre square crew and he could be left on a wing to provide flashes of brilliance when required.
LOB and Cottrell have the discipline and endurance to play their roles well and LOB matches Hill’s skill by foot.
St Kilda really need to get more out of Hill by running him as a high half-forward with stints in the centre square. If they play him as a high half-forward, he’d probably draw Saad and that will make him earn his paycheck. He’ll have to match Walsh’s output in that role for us, and that’s a high bar. Maybe they could run him as a rebounding HBF.
It'll be intriguing to see how the teams manage play across the quarter, you'd think early on the Aints might have advantage with run and carry, but later in quarters and the game we should have an advantage, as long as we stop the Aints rucks beating up on our mids too much early on!
A trick for us will be to get Charlie and BigH on the scoreboard early, it will force the Aints hand structurally.
Cripps and TDK could be real weapons tonight when floating forward, I'm not sure the Aints have the defence to cover all four if we vary our targets.
A shootout!
It's one of those games where by rights there shouldn't be any thoughts of losing.
They're often the games that don't go as planned, and there's a fair bit of nervousness across Carlton fan social media.
It would be good to put it away early and have a relaxing night,
That's what a genuine top side would do with a game like this.
Brad Hill is an expensive version of SPS, chooses when to play/turn up. Doesn't scare me one bit. If he is your biggest concern, rest easy my friend.
Saints can dare to focus on Cripps if they want. Freo did it last week and look what happened.
Not super confident given our injury list down back, but get enough ball in the middle and no chance St Kilda have the talls down back to stop McKay and Charlie. Reckon you'll see Membrey getting back every chance he can to try and intercept.
Pretty much how I see it also.
If you're superstitious, don't turn on fox ch 504 now.
What are they showing?
Im not superstitious.
Carlton Stk game from 1991, Plugger had 10 when I turned it off, they were giving us a smacking.
Even St Kilda had to win once.
Maybe with some luck we could give them a smacking as pay back and revenge tonight.
They are a real bogey side for us. Particularly at Etihad. I think we were smacked soundly by then during the Toss Lyon era and only started squaring up the ledger recently.
Haven't seen a single stKilda fan on the train.
The Vosswagen has arrived!
Lets not get carried away...
P:223 W:164 D:2 L:57
From the last 12 - its 6-6.
From the last 4 - its 2-2
We won last time out.
These 7:50pm starts are a pox and a scourge.
When I talk you should listen.
You are a bigger jinx than me.
Hill was allowed to wander free early then was manned by Cottrell who did well on him for a quarter but Hill had his mojo back and we probably didnt respect him enough initially. Think he might have been played on Walsh early off half back and they both ran wide of each other which probably suited Hill and was a win for Ratten.
Bogey side? or 50-50?
Big difference IMO.
With the injuries we have, it should always have been a 50-50 game.
My recent memories of facing st. Kilda. Fevola repeated kicking 0 with max hudgton being bog.
Getting bullied on the inside and cut up on the outside.
Getting beaten by them at the dome.
Membrey getting his regulation 3 votes.
Ed curnow being damaged when we were aiming to go top and sent back out not being able to move his arm. Instead of going top, it was the beginning of the end for Ratts.
One of Bolton's last games in charge against St Kilda where we made a spud like Parker look BOG.
Ironically Teague was one of our few recent coaches to win convincingly against the saints.
Tonight's 50 50 should have been an easy win, but we spent the night kicking it poorly.
Face it, I know my footy. Brad Hill destroyed us today and I called it before a ball was kicked.
We struggle with the saints. Always have in my memory. In our best season ive witnessed they thumped us and we won the flag.
Not having a real home ground is a problem.
We play home games against teams more familiar with our home grounds.
Tigers, Pies and Melbourne at the G
Dogs, Saints and North at Marvel.
Bradley Hill cut us to pieces.
recent you say....10 years ago