A Friday night game against the Swans who are flying in Sydney. Doesn't get much harder than that!
Wonder how Will Hayward will be treated by our blokes......
Probably not well. ON BF they're saying he will stay in Sydney or go to SA. We've put forward a decent deal, but ...
Now this is BF, so the salt is in considerable supply, but it bodes poorly.
To be honest, if he doesn't get a kick, I'll be happy.
We've had three tough games in a row.
Our players looked pretty stuffed (although, happily smiling) at the end of last night's game.
This fourth will be really difficult.
We need to up our pressure which still seems to be well short of last year at times.
Heeney is a worry in a similar fashion to Petracca.
Can play a few roles and be hard to match up on.
IIRC, Most teams have performed poorly after playing us. Lets see how Melb go next week. Having said that, all games are tough these days, we seem to be recovering well and I expect us to recover well for the Syd game.
I was thinking the same re playing us, such a pain we didn’t get those wins!
I feel reasonably confident about Syd, I feel we mostly play well against them and have no issue with playing them up there in Syd either.
Agreed, I think it's actually an advantage to play them on the SCG. It might be harder for Charlie and Harry to find space, but I think it helps our slower midfield keep up with the play.
It will be interesting to see what Horse does regarding our ruck duo tactics, he's basically the ruck work Tactical Primo of the AFL.
Hopefully the travelling for Sydney this week (to Perth) plus 1 less day to recover will give us an edge. There seems to be very little separating the top teams at the moment.
I.Zucchini has started the season like a house on fire. His numbers are great across the board.
Newman and Cowan both escaped suspension. Both were fined.
Maybe Binns in for O.Hollands.
After Ollie played the best game of his career?
There seems to be some confusion about the criticism of Ollie's errors.
It's being assumed / inferred that the criticism means he played a bad game, but the assumption is very wrong.
I suspect some of those criticising Ollie for his errors will even give him votes!
It's no different to Walsh in the dying seconds of the Filth game, a huge error did not mean he played a bad game.
Reckon Hewett will get that gig...
Got to pick an opponent for either O Hollands or Binns, I thought Ollie was ok on Langdon in the first quarter and a bit but after that the Melb player took over and was one of their better players.
Acres will probably get McInerney given the size aspect leaving Gulden for Ollie or Binns and thats not a matchup Id want to see and if I was coaching Id be placing a stopper on Gulden like Boyd or even Cincotta.
Ollie Hollands got caught a couple of times, and that always looks bad. But is it any worse than a missed kick that goes to an opponent, or out on the full. Of a refusal to chase....or any other kinds of 'mistakes'.
Im pretty sure Vossy would prefer Ollies types of mistakes (taking the game on) than lack of effort mistakes.
I also don't put the blame all on Ollie. Teammates needed to inform him that he needed to kick it sooner ("you're hot" etc)
As for Binns, being good in the VFL doesn't mean you get a game in the AFL.
He needs to make sure he's going to be better than someone in the AFL side.
I'm not sure who he would be an upgrade on.
Pittonet hurt his hand late in the game.
It looked like he had a couple of fingers taped together when he came back up.
Hopefully not too serious.
I think that was from when he belted the ball out of bounds in a ruck contest and Gawn got pinged for the free :)
Edit: Pitto dislocated a finger. He said it popped straight back in and, although he was wearing a sling after the game, he'll be fine for the Swans.
We have to see how the Tiggers were able to dismantle them. Do the homework and they are beatable.
Just bash them in the middle and see where it takes us.
If Pitto misses, me thinks those who believe he is no good or believe in the one ruckman (TDK only) might learn a valuable lesson.
Pittonet had surgery on the finger.
He’s either got ligament damage or an x-ray showed a fracture.
Six weeks to fully heal … or he’ll wear a glove.
Or we might win more ground balls, run out games better and cover the ground faster...
While getting smashed in the clearances, struggling to take a mark around the ground and having our key forwards double-teamed 🤔
I believe it's his little finger, if Travis Cloke can wear a special glove that binds his fingers together, then Pitto should be allowed to do so also.
That's the point isn't it.
Same as it's always been....
It's never a case of one setup gives you a greater advantage every occasion.
That comes down to individual circumstances, strengths and weaknesses and match-ups in individual games.
In these situations you will gain in one area but you will lose in another.
That's the balance that the coaches have to determine.
It also depends on how the individuals themselves are playing and what the opposition does.
Pitto and De Koning weren't outstanding but they limited Gawn's influence and that gave us an edge around the ground. De Koning was also involved in the tactics to keep Lever out of the play. If either of them have a shocker, we're behind the 8 ball.
Another midfielder might have given us more run but at the cost of allowing both Gawn and Lever to run amok.
Ironic, the SCG is the ground where you'd probably get the benefit of 2 rucks without the negative of less run given its dimensions.
Heeney is the matchup that looks almost impossible. Sydney were ruthlessly efficient against the Dockers over here and he was their best again. It's a pretty powerful side when Luke Parker can't get a game.
Anyone anywhere anytime
Id expect Parker to be back this week....
TDK was winning clearances and tackles when he was solo ruck. (also taking marks around the ground and kicking goals) mids were slightly out of form first few rounds but our scoring from turn over was through the roof and that's pedal to the metal.
Pittonet was a main reason why we beat Melbourne imho, he was aggressive with Gawn and had the Melb player frustrated and sooking with his mind off the job. Having two very different ruckman is an asset in the modern game and you only have to look at Essendon to see what a difference Goldstein has made in his pairing with Draper.
Being able to play Pittonet and TDK in a horses for courses fashion will be a key for us going forward and Grundy this week is another player who I think would be happy to see the more physical Pittonet out and would prefer to back his skills vs TDK's rather than have Pitto working him over and making it far from bruise free.
Maybe Pitto was also the reason we lost three of four games.\Essendon looks better with only Goldstein and no Draper.
That goes with every team in the competition. If we want to be unique then sure - Cripps and Kennedy rucking against second string rucks was not ideal but need to utilise Harry more.
It's like a broken record, if we win a flag with TDK and Pitto playing, they'll be telling us we would have won by more with only one!
BigH has consistently been our only effective forward in the last month or so, Charlie is in a rut, and the anti-ruck-duo brigade want BigH out of F50 and rucking when he doesn't really need to do so, even contemplating it momentarily is pure insanity!
"Nah, let's put BigH against Gawn, or perhaps next week he can follow Grundy around like a tagger, we shouldn't worry though because I'm sure Grundy will lead him into our F50 just to play fair." We can surrender the midfield clearance on the SCG, the ground that's one good kick from the midfield break to the goal square!
Of course, for the last 4 or 5 weeks our rucks and midfield have been flogged witless, no wonder we need to make change!
(Or would that be f0rk up the only lines we have that are consistently winning?)
Playing devils advocate here...
Charles is leading the Coleman. He has kicked a goal in every one of his last 56? Games which is a record a that goes back decades to find a peer I believe. I'm not sure how out of form he is.
However that out of form also coincides with playing 2 rucks. Harry being in the 50 full time during the period you mentioned.
Soeaking of Harry, he only found form when he was able go break the shackles and play up the ground in the ruck.
For transparency, in not saying we should only play 1 ruck this week due to the above.
I'm just saying your reasoning is incorrect.
We probably need to consider the quality of opposition when comparing combinations.
Which block is the better, given who we beat, and where we currently sit?
Team-margin -current ladder position
Tom DeKoning rucking
Brisbane +1 (currently 13th)
Richmond +5 (currently 17th)
North Melbourne +56 (currently 18th)
Fremantle +10 (currently 9th)
Pittonet /DeKoning sharing the load
Adelaide -2 (currently 12th)
GWS +19 ( currently 5th)
Geelong -13 (currently 2nd)
Collingwood -6 (currently 8th)
Melbourne +1 (currently 4th)
Charlie has been inconsistent all season, but I admit he and coach have stated his role is a little different this year, he's had moments when his ability shines and he can score quickly, but he is not consistent like he has been the previous two seasons. He's also scored a bunch more of the Joe the Goose type goals courtesy of Harry or TDK contesting while Charlie roves the back of the pack. While I understand his ability to recover quickly is unique for a player his size and shape, he needs the others contesting to do that but that is not how we want to see Charlie Curnow scoring goals, it should be an occasional feature not a method operandi.
I'd like to claim we don't need TDK or even Cripps and Pitto pressing forward, but at the moment TDK is proving valuable. He can't do that and ruck, and even if he does push or rest forward when rucking it probably means one of Charlie or BigH aren't there and the advantage of being the 3rd wheel that needs a cover is lost.
But this debate becomes silly when people demand one or the other, it has to be horses for courses, and I expect some weeks even if the list is in full health we should / would go with only one ruck.
I would think that Kennedy will get the job on Heeney. TDK usually does alright against Grundy.
Although I can't see us leaving Kennedy as a defender if Heeney pushes forward, that hurts our own midfield and gives the Swans an advantage.
Does Kemp have the aerobic capacity to run with Heeney everywhere and anywhere, he'd be a good match for the overhead stuff and has enough zip to stop Heeney breaking away?
Heeney presents a similar problem for opponents as our own Martin, they both are agile and play in traffic very well, but are far better overhead than comparably sized opponents.
McCartin ruled out for them again.
Last time we played them in the EF Cerra and Saad were among our best, I don't see either side holding an advantage at the moment, it will be a tough game.
Probably most important to consider.
Whom it was against.
Swans are firing on all cylinders at the moment. Leaving aside I. Zucchini, they have plenty of stars going through that midfield, the highest %, highest points for and lowest against. They will be our toughest opponent to date. I can't see a win to be honest.
A big test of our toughness and nous.
Yes. There's a sizeable body of work recently that suggests we won't be blown away, and we are a real chance to win every game. But the Swans are a pretty tall order at the moment IMO.
Yes we have a real chance now of winning every game we play, provided that we can keep focus and do things right. The Swans will make that hard.
@PaulP it took a little while (2-3hrs) for I. Zucchini to sink in and then bob to the surface… 😎
Big no to Williams this week. Get fit first.
Yep. The one potent thing we're confronted with against the Fluffy Ducks is that they maintain pressure for four qtrs. We tend to have a lapse in just about every game, and that's all they will need to open up a lead... and keep it.
I wouldn't touch our backline until Saad is ready.
I actually thought Cowan struggled a bit last week, he looks like he needs a rest, and he got lost in play quite a few times, so if Williams is fit I'd put him straight in.
But I don't know the role Cowan was asked to play, however I wouldn't be removing Cincotta.
All of our defenders and our defensive structures stood up very well to intense pressure last week. Apart from Petracca, all of the Melbourne forwards were well beaten.
I would be inclined to go with the same seven this week unless there’s a compelling match up for Williams AND he’s completely fit.
Spot on Baggers. If we bring 4 qtr effort we can win. We have had in game lapses in every game this year. Swans don't. The hard 4-5 week block we've had makes it harder but they are still beatable. Mids set up and kick most of their goals. Need to get it in quick to our forward line. Swans slice defences by clean ball movement so 4 qtr pressure non negotiable for us to win.
I reckon he is straight back in for indigenous round.
Its happened before.
Cowan should be the first one removed from our backline, but i wouldn't drop him for Williams this week.
Not that long ago Boyd was the whipping boy, now I feel assured when I see him with the ball and even near the ball. Not saying Cowan will do the same but I hope he does. Our mate Marchbank might have other feelings about Boyd though.
Marchbank and Boyd play different roles.
Marchbank plays a similar role to McGovern and Kemp
I think BB may have been referring to Boydy’s collision that concussed Marchy and fractured some vertebrae.
Ah.....was that Boyd was it. Couldn't recall. Makes sense.
need to stop transition footy from our forward line ,most teams beat us when they go quick from there defense so our forwards Must bring the PRESSURE especially on the lizard
Cottrell for the Lizard.....?
Too outsized imo....Cottrell might have to play on Gulden, clearly the best and most damaging winger in the comp with his kicking being elite and if he plays well the the Swans forwards are going to be well supplied.
Just get Jack to give him a clip again ... not that I'm advocating violence :)
Actually, Jack could put a bit of work into Blakey and keep him accountable. Sydney's defence is under-sized and will struggle against our three talls and Martin. If Blakey is busting a gut trying to defend Martin or one of our talls, as well as trying to help his teammates, he's not going to be taking off on too many runs down the ground.
Sometimes I think that supporters worry too much about opposition players and don't think about how difficult it will be for the opposition to stop our blokes running amok.
Jon Ralph reporting that Cottrell is out for a month with a navicular stress reaction - whatever that is.
Just what we needed....
Cottrell out.
Cunners injured in the 2's.
Williams might be forced to come in.
Not sure I want to see Williams play down back with no suitable opposition....
Yep. Heard that on socials. That's the equivalent of season ending if our reporting is true to form.
I think in the last couple of years we have been honest.
The Fluffy Ducks midfield is deadly, and is where they get create many of their goals. Our midfield will have their work cut out for them controlling and then hurting this mob the other way. Hewett and Chugga will be critical in respect to defence at stoppages. Pity Cerra is injured.
They're good but we're better. Only thing keeping them in it is the SCG mini ground factor.
Gerard Healy is adamant that the smallness of the SCG is both overstated and a relic of the 80's.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/03/06/its-not-that-small-brownlow-medallist-dispels-famous-scg-myth/
Better perhaps, but if they are being honest they actually are saying they have no idea how long he will be out....
I wasn't saying that he needs to play down back, just that he might need to play. Running out of soldiers.
Who comes in for Cottrell?
The outs last week were Fantasia, Young, Cuningham and Williams.
Cunners is injured.
Young is a different type.
So pick 1 out of Fantasia and Williams......or someone else from the 2's. Binns?
He was listed as 1-2 weeks away in the latest injury report.
Thats some miraculous recovery
Appreciate he might have to play but I wouldn't want him down back and maybe a sub role would suit..
Healy would say that (for the record I'm a fan).
Where do you play him? Cant defend to save himself. The midfield experiment has already failed once. Maybe fwd?
Assuming his numbers are right, he does have a point. He is a Swans great, a member of their Team Of The Century, and a commentator of some repute. You hope he would know.
His credentials are irrelevant, it's his opinion based on fluff and bias, the ground is smaller than any other ground no matter how you wanna mix it.
Tough question....trial as a small forward?
I think Williams is best suited to running with the ball, if he must play, keep him on the hbf, not bp.
Use his speed and delivery, minimize his need to defend deep 1 on 1.
With Cotters out I don’t think we will win.
My Side is:
FB Newman Weitering Cincotta
HB Boyd McGovern Kemp
C O Hollands Cripps Acres
HF E Hollands McKay Martin
FF Durdin Curnow Owies
R De Koning Walsh Kennedy
Int Cowan Hewett Carroll Williams
Sub Binns
Out Pittonet Cottrell Cerra
In Carroll Williams Binns
Pitto is a test but won't play
Williams is a test and will play
I like your side, GTC.
Williams: I would definitely roll the dice and throw the Fluffy Ducks a curve ball with him taking Cotters role as a high half forward. With his skills by foot you can bet his delivery into the forward line will be good. A defensive role on the lizard, as well, perhaps.
Then give Cowan, Boyd and Cincotta a bit more license to run and carry. Gov and Kemp will do it any way, plus there has been a change in the way Weiters is playing... more involved up the field.
If we get Fog back, the loss of Cotters won’t be critical. If Fog’s not right, the next man up would be Binns. He isn’t far off Cotters in running power but his lack of experience and defensive intensity could be exploited.
Williams does his best work with the ball in hand and has produced moments of brilliance running off halfback. He is vulnerable when one out and closer to goal, particularly early in games when umpires are more likely to pluck frees. If our defence is well set up, Williams isn’t as vulnerable and can hurt the opposition with his run and creativity.
I guess that it boils down to whether we value rebounds from defence over stifling the opposition forwards.
are we cursed (injuries every week) if williams plays lock down fwd on lizard
Problem is finding a suitable opponent too where you can afford to risk him defensively hoping to gain an advantage with his rebound work.
I'm not seeing any suitable opponents from their forward group..
Martin broken down again! Re injured his calf.
Time to put a line thru this bloke or how long did we re sign our SC guru for again?
Year in year out constantly have the comps
worst injury lists - wont win a flag if this continues
Stamp the papers, he is cooked, cannot be relied up irrespective of his talent. Trade or delist at years end.
Martin, Cuningham, Williams, Marchbank.
So much talent.
So many injuries.
I have been saying this forever and a day - don't need superstars just dependable players that can play a role we already have dependable and reliable superstars. Continuing with these players is untenable.
Martin is far from a superstar but he is one of the more unreliable players on our list. The Captain of the rehab group is Marchbank who is the worst player on our list as far as reliability goes. Our injury list unfortunately is season defining.
Marchbank - Captain
Martin - Vice Captain
Cunningham Deputy Vice Captain
I'd fark them all off at years end, nuffs enuff.
I would offload all 4 for whatever we can get.
We just can't afford to carry them anymore.
Williams & Martin pushing 30...it ain't going to improve from here.
Replace them with youth
These guys are a big problem to build and maintain team cohesion - club keeps talking about connection between the lines well we have starting 23players that don't play on decent pay packets. Need to move them on and bring players where the team can build cohesion between the lines. More Acres, E Hollands, Fogarty types...
And send Russell with them.
Put them all on long term injury lists and replace them with mid season draft picks. At least we will know they are going to be 35-40 players on the list and give VFL abit of depth.
Doesn't work like that. Actually needs to be approved by the AFL, who would not.
You cant make strawberry jam out of pig crap. Russell isn't the one keeping them on the list.
It's the same players who are injury prone, not the staff's fault.
Yep.
Unbelievable
How on earth are we supposed to develop a structure, understanding, and a team approach, with these changes and unavailability.
I suspect there are players in the side carrying injuries and playing on despite them.
But it's the 'leg' ones that cruel us.
You can play with one shoulder like Acres did at the end of last year...but calves, knees,hamstrings, toes, and you're off for a spell.
And it's these injuries our serial 'victims' seem to attract,
Are we going to hear about the length of the Carlton injury list like the Tigers?
Yes
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2024-round-10-team-tips-predicted-sides-squads-ins-and-outs-team-changes-injury-news-latest-supercoach/news-story/4e6dd327ca7b748dbafa4f5df8f946f8
The matches don’t get any easier for the Blues, now travelling to Sydney to play the top-of-the-ladder Swans. And, stop us if you’ve heard this one before Blues fans, they’ve got some injuries to worry about - a list now stretching to 14. Jack Martin is the latest, suffering another calf strain after just one game back. It will cost him at least a week but has been described as slight. Their absences also include Adam Cerra (hamstring), who’ll be reassessed in Round 13, and Matt Cottrell (stress reaction in foot), who will be reassessed after the club’s Round 14 bye. Marc Pittonet faces a fitness test after undergoing minor surgery on an injured finger. Zac Williams didn’t play last weekend due to a glute injury and is listed as a test. Jesse Motlop and Adam Saad (both hamstring)are another week away from returning, while Lachie Fogarty will miss another one to two games.
No but our injury list even without the usual suspects is still unacceptable as the bulk of them as soft tissue injuries.
Plus blokes breaking down the week they return like Cerra last week is fully on him.
I wasn’t confident about our clash with Melbourne and expected us to lose. With what will be available in our list, I am even less confident that we will win this one against Sydney. Even though we beat both sides in the finals last season, and just got over the line last week against the Demons. I just hope they don’t belt us. I hope we don’t get more injuries to worry about fighting to stay in the game. I might pray to the footy gods.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/05/15/the-fremantle-curse-that-would-give-carlton-plenty-of-hope-against-sydney/
I'm not really a believer in the supernatural, but if it works, I'll take it.
^^ Sure fire way for that to be put to bed. The ultimate mozz is grasping at this sort of straw for why we can win this game. We now have a 20% chance of winning.
You might recall teams in recent seasons often fell the week after playing us also, I think it's a statement about the game style, mindset and tactics rather than a curse.
Teams are so accustomed to defeating us that when we hit the front they are almost shocked into action, games go to the death, they never give up, how dare Carlton think it might defeat us! The whole current generation of AFL senior players seems to have this attitude / midnset, even the media barrack against us, sows seeds of doubt, how long can Carlton keep it up, the tone is unmistakeable, it sounds familiar because you are always hearing it. For what it is worth, I'm not even sure when things get tight that we still do not have doubts, we are Pavlov's Dogs!
It's why I bang on about our fan base needing to learn to barrack loudly unconditionally, go quiet and the "Silence like a cancer grows!" Last week, we must have outnumbered the Melbourne fans base 3:1, yet in the dying minutes they sounded 3 times louder, it should never happen. Be like the Filth fans, scream "Ball", cheer "Marks" in anticipation before they are paid, and when umpire confirms the favourable decision cheer them as well, don't sit there schtum with faces of dread, get involved. The fan base can set Pavlov's Dog free!
These mind games can go either way. It could give us a mental edge, and simultaneously prey on the Swans' minds. Or it could make us complacent and simultaneously make the Swans go harder to buck the trend. Hoping of course for the former.
I suspect the Swans will feel duded after our last encounter, that has already been voiced and you could see it in faces post match, Blakey in particular. In the media following that game the focus was on the Swans bad kicking, under 40% accuracy with some relatively easy set shots being missed. They basically thought they won the battle but lost the game, I tend to agree.
Looks like light showers Friday night, how does that work for us playing the SCG?
I think this week we must keep BigH one out in the square, with a corridor between him and the CHF to lead into Plugger style. He's quick enough, there is no need for him to make everything a marking contest, just push off and go then rinse and repeat. He covers enough ground, he can do the repeat sprints no problem, he has the aerobic capacity. If they use a number to float into the zone, hit up Charlie instead. Just make sure we can deliver on the midfield wins when we get them.
you can (and im sure we have in the past), carry 1 enigma, thats super talented, but for whatever reason cant get on the park. but not 3 - its getting insane!!
With Cerra and Walsh becoming more injury prone we just can't carry the likes of Martin, McGovern and Cunningham anymore.
Jack Martin and Mitch McGovern are good for about half a season of games each. Whilst not great, I would hang onto both for now, especially Martin, who I rate.
Poor old Marchbank must have the Alex Johnson curse, and Cuningham not much better. You could make a good argument for "parting ways" with those two I guess.
Our list is ageing and these guys are not up to it. None of them have completed a full season of football.
Mitch McGovern played 22 games last season.
I meant to write Marchbank. Sorry.
McGovern was tunnelled twice in his return game, landing heavily on his lower back / gluteus on one occasion and getting a mild corky in the other. If he was a Handbagger I wonder what Scott would have to say?
I'd like to remind fans that our return to form late last season basically aligned with the return of Martin, was that cause or coincidence?
Fogarty came in the following week against the Suns. His last game was Fremantle this season.
Yep, the turnaround came when we went smaller and with more run.
Martin, Cuningham and Fogarty (and even Fisher) become staples of the side and we couldn't lose.
Take a few of them out of the side and all of a sudden we can't win.
Last year what impressed me most was the how we managed to "find a way" every week. To say we need to "find a way" tomorrow night is an understatement, personally I dont fancy our chances given how well the Swans are travelling.
in Williams Fantasia Carroll Marchbank
out Cerra Cottrell Martin Cowan
Pitto named but surely won't play
How does Cowan get omitted for Williams??
Probably no other options all things considered.
This is wrong.
Pitto stays in (for now), Cowan is out.
Cowan has been quiet over the past two weeks and Williams is seen as a rebounding defender who can deliver the ball. I think Kemp will play forward. If Pittonett doesn't play I think Young will, but I think Pittonett will play. I think Fantasia will be the Sub.
After last week I'm not surprised Cowan is an out, looked like he needed a rest no matter what fans think.
If they four coming in a fit, and if Pitto is right to go, then the side looks better than I had feared.
Time for Orazio to stand up in Cottrell's absence.
Elijah might get a bit more midfield time in Cerra's absence, I think it will be a closer game than sceptics imagine.
Hewett will take Cerra's spot. Marchbank for Cowan. Fantasia for Martin.
Carroll or Williams for Cottrell. One will be sub.
You have Owies in the side.
You've got Durdin and Fantasia on the bench....one of them has to be sub.
I'd start Williams and Carroll and see which one of them needs a rest (or Pitto) when we sub on one of the smalls.
Hewett was already in last game so he's not really a sub, he is just part of the rotation.
Fantasia isn't anywhere near as capable overhead as Martin, and Martin crashes contests with gusto. Marchbank or Kemp could easily take a wing, but so could Fantasia get him into some open space as a receiver, get him involved in the game.
Could be some rain and if there is I suspect a late change.
Marchbank not a bad option given they have McDonald, Amartey and McLean up forward. But based on history, he'll likely go down with an injury first game back too.
Could you run someone like Marchbank or Kemp as a defensive forward hard tagging Blakey?
I think stop Blakey's run and you smash Sydney's ball movement, he's the trigger for a huge percentage of the Swans attacking plays.
Marchy will be fine - provided he keeps out of Boydy’s way!
I doubt whether Boyd will be the sub and that gives us eight defenders in 22. I can’t really see Williams starting on the wing but one of those eight defenders will have a different role 🤔
Given our injury woes, they’re not bad ins. I probably would have gone with Binns over Carroll but Bot is probably better able to match the Sydney mids’ physicality.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how we line up for the bounce … and I think we might surprise the Swans with brutal footy.
Surely Binns deserves a run, given his performances over a run of VFL games.
Other clubs will be having a hard look at him if we continue to ignore.
Ab
Marchbank? Run? Youre kidding right?
Probably not.
We need to make Blakey accountable for one of Tom, Charlie and Harry, preferably the latter. If his opponent is getting good delivery and making the most of it, Blakey will be flat out like a lizard drinking.
Binns? One of the Swans players might mistake him for a slice of orange and eat him. If they are fair dinkum, Binns is 10kg away from playing senior footy.
I thought games in the seniors had to be earned, not gifted.
Binns had 43 possessions in the twos last week, Fantasia was as cold as a glacial lake.
Fantasia was one of the AFL listed players who stood up against Casey, and he’s more likely to be able to match it with our Sydney opponents than Binns, at this stage.
Would I prefer someone other than Orazio in the 23? Yes, but realistically, there’s no-one else.
Need to stop Gulden.....best disposal in the comp and AA material again.
Needs a stopper...
Need everyone to do a rain dance...might be our best chance!
They need to stop Cripps, Walsh, Curnow and McKay.
Play Williams on him and run a sweep Gulden under or over 40 possessions
It will be a very tactical game in terms of both teams trying to subdue the other teams prime movers...
Exactly!
I reckon that Horse will far more concerned about limiting the influence of our guns than Vossy will be about the Courgette, Gulden and the Lizard.
How the hell does Fantasia get another game ahead of Binns!?
I reckon Binns will be in next week, although the Suns are looking very good at the moment.
Probably because he’d get smashed.
I’m not sure that next week will be much easier but I’d be happier to see Binns in the 22 against the Suns.
Robert Flower (Melbourne) at only 68 or 75 kg (?) was handy GTC
Ab
Jim Buckley was knee high to a jockey too but the last bloke you'd call a lightweight or soft
Folk aren’t seriously comparing Binns with Robbie Flower or Jimmy Buckley?
I think that Binns could be a decent footballer and his form on the VFL this season and last season backs that up. His first AFL game cameo was promising and his VFL form has been outstanding over two seasons. However, he tends to drift out of games and is too easily brushed aside.
I still have serious doubts we can get over the line against a well drilled unit like the Swans. With less injuries it might be a yes we can and will. I can only hope they don’t recover well from the long travel to have played the Dockers. Them being way too confident with their start so far and being a little too complacent when we hit the ground against us. Expecting to pencil the win in for them before the first centre bounce. They are way too professional a unit for all of this to happen. I might just pray for the Fremantle curse. Otherwise I think I have nothing or little hope.
I'm really looking forward to tonight's game.
My hope (prayer) is for four qtrs from us, four qtrs of hunting the Fluffy Ducks and hunting them hard/ruthlessly/persistently. Should that happen, the result could surprise many. Put in two and a half good qtrs? We'll be dead in the Fluffy Ducks pond.
No of course not, Robbie Flower was a champion. Only time will tell how good a footballer Binnsie becomes.
Merely making the point that lighter footballers can make the grade, if they are good enough. Someone has mentioned David Glascott (71kg). Mathew Lappin (77kg) known as "Skinny" also comes to mind. Young versions of these guys would be handy to day! :) :
cheers
Ab
Just to be a smarty pants, I got what you meant, City of Churches. What about Michael Tuck? Way back, Ragsy Gould. Twiggy Dunn. Current day... King twins, bean poles. When his calves aren't playing up, Jack Martin goes alright. David Rhys-Jones!
So, as you pointed out, skinny/slightly built blokes can still do alright. If you're slight, you need a few tricks and core strength is really important. I don't see Binnsy being lightly built as being an issue, just needs to build strength. O Hollands is slight and gets pushed out of contests too easily, but makes up for it with work rate and tenacity... when he develops better awareness and disposal under pressure, he'll be a ripper.
One of the unique features of our game is that just about any physique can make it... except for really heavy, slow fellas.
I reckon Binns will be a ripper, perhaps the next Berkeley Cox … if he sharpens his elbows 🙂
I think that the cautious approach to his development is more likely to bear fruit.
Despite some disappointment he is not in this week, I admit the old Carlton used to let them develop in the seconds for a fair while and that system appeared to work okay. Was it Curly Austin who did his time in the seconds winning their BF before promotion to firsts? Remember a HBF with long hair anyway.
cheers Ab
from the.........City of (empty) Churches
Player management doesn't allow that to happen anymore, the player managers want the talent given opportunities at senior level the moment they show potential.
So it’s a good thing that player managers don’t have a say in team selection. The vast majority will go along with whatever decision their player’s club makes. The rest will struggle to survive.
During our dire period, I would often compare the games our draftees were getting with the ability of the leading teams to allow their draftees to develop.
There are many youngsters who are more than capable of walking straight into an AFL team and many more who will be better players because their clubs allowed time to develop. Player managers looking for a long term return will prefer clubs that can give their youngsters a measured transition to AFL.
I'd be happy either way regarding binns but truth be told he isn't vying with fantasia for the same role and binns doesn't bring afl experience to the table.
I love your enthusiasm, but if Fantasia comes in and has another 25pt rating game it's over for him the moment other players get fit.
If we are going to carry a player getting single digit disposals and having little game influence, it may as well be a longer term project. That's just how I see it.
Generally, you have some senior types around the club on the fringes, it is so they can come in and do a job having an immediate impact without the need to learn the ropes. As horrible as this sounds, we got more out of Tutt, Lang, Smedts maybe even Clem Smith than we have out of Fantasia for a similar number of games.
Agree LP. Better to play a young developing player than Fantasia. He has had enough chances and shown zip.
We resurrected Fantasia's career when all and sundry reckoned he was kaputt. Time to pay the rent or feck off. It grinds my gears to watch blokes going at half rat power when there's always kids crying out for opportunity.
Even if you can't get a kick, you can still lay tackles and put on blocks. Don't just stand there DO SOMETHING
Orazio spent the second half of last season in the SANFL and Port played Jed MCEntee ahead of him as a small pressure forward and he didnt exactly light it up imo so you have to ask why wasnt Fantasia played when he appeared fit and had some good games where he kicked goals and had decent stats.
Far be it from me to stick up for Fantasia, but its games like this one which is the reason we picked him up.
A senior body, with AFL experience, with the smarts to turn a game quickly against quality opposition.
If he ever wants to justify his position, its tonight under the above (finals like) conditions.
If we were outside of the top 8, then 100% you play the kid.....but thats not where we are as a team right now.
Tend to agree. He went back to the Magoos and regained some touch in the midfield. But this would have to be his last chance. Perhaps the smaller ground will help him... goodness knows he needs all the help he can get, going by his senior form to date!
Carroll starting sub tonight
Alastair Lynch saying that Zac Williams is doing goal kicking training with the rest of the forwards tonight.
Might be trying the Jack Martin role.
It's a marathon not a sprint. Binns ain't the second coming of Eddie betts. Come finals time if orazio gets up and running he'll be a difference maker. Binns is on L plates. He isn't Sam Walsh, he's in his second year and I'd rather we get orazio up to pace and see if it works. We aren't flushed for outside run either way so they should both be in the mix.
We cannot have Fantasia, Durdin, Ollie Hollands all in the one side, we are carrying too many non-physical types which leaves us too easy to play against.
binns isn't a tackle machine either
Fantasia been in the AFL system at 3 clubs for 10 years, Binns has 1 game 1 year under his belt!
Fantasia is embarrassing himself.
Cognitive ability is escaping you slightly. We've had about 10 passengers tonight, two of our best McKay and walsh have cost us dearly, TDK's not getting near the footy, our defense is under siege, our key forwards aren't kicking goals and binns for fantasia is what you're focussing on?
Did you see his one effort at afl level? He's not ready yet.
If only the disappointment was just this one game, but Fantasia is properly cooked, I can't understand why he is being defended.
Talking about the others is just deflection, this bloke Fantasia has underperformed to the point of having zero impact in every game he has played in 2024. So the point of developing someone is quite valid, they won't be worse.
He’s being defended on potential, same as Binns is being promoted…
Again, who goes in is largely irrelevant, arguing about the "others" is deflection.
We must not keep rewarding blokes who are in and doing nothing, not a scratch from Fantasia, nought, zero, zilch, niente!
we are trying to get blokes fit. Forget about the names. We can't run out games
No wonder, we have been playing one short for the whole season!