It will be nice to see whether the blokes who are “flying” continue to do so against real opposition.
Apart from that, I’m looking forward to seeing how Jack goes at CHB and whether Jagga can continue to be a ball magnet against AFL opponents.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: crashlander on February 13, 2025, 04:23:48 pm
Not a lot of idea as to how we'll line up as yet, but I do expect jack Silvagni at CHB and Jagga in the middle. How many other young'uns will be interesting.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: LP on February 13, 2025, 04:29:48 pm
Not a lot of idea as to how we'll line up as yet, but I do expect jack Silvagni at CHB and Jagga in the middle. How many other young'uns will be interesting.
Personally, a fit Gov is a lock, he's comfortably the best ball user coming out of our D50 and we can't fit them all in. If Charlie and Harry are fit, you want Gov hitting them up from 50m!
The best ball users never get noticed until the f0rk it up, Houlihan and Scotland were the same, you just expect them to find a target.
The only thing I'd say against Gov is that he's not as brave at target selection as Weiters, at the death when you need to roll the dice Weiters is the better choice.
Title: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: DJC on February 21, 2025, 05:14:31 pm
We have named a squad of 30 players for tomorrow's practice match:
2. Lachlan Cowan, 3. Jesse Motlop, 4. Oliver Hollands, 5. Adam Cerra, 6. Zac Williams, 7. Jagga Smith, 8. Lachie Fogarty, 9. Patrick Cripps, 10. Harry McKay, 11. Mitch McGovern, 12. Tom De Koning, 13. Blake Acres, 14. Orazio Fantasia, 15. Sam Docherty, 17. Brodie Kemp, 19. Corey Durdin, 20. Elijah.Hollands, 21. Lucas Camporeale, 23. Jacob Weitering, 25. Jaxon Binns, 26. Nick Haynes, 27. Marc Pittonet, 29. George Hewett, 31. Harry Lemmey, 32. Matthew Carroll, 33. Lewis Young, 36. Cooper Lord, 42. Adam Saad, 43. Ashton Moir, 46. Matthew Cottrell
Notable, but not unexpected, absentees are Jack Silvagni, Sam Walsh, Nic Newman, Charlie Curnow and Alex Cincotta
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: LP on February 21, 2025, 05:25:56 pm
No Ben Campo is a bit of a surprise for me, getting some early career games into kids is usually desirable, injured?
It never hurts to give a kid a few minutes of pre-season against some old body, just to see what happens.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: DJC on February 21, 2025, 05:30:01 pm
No Ben Campo is a bit of a surprise for me, getting some early career games into kids is usually desirable, injured?
It never hurts to give a kid a few minutes of pre-season against some old body, just to see what happens.
Ben is recovering from an infected ankle.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 21, 2025, 05:31:15 pm
Would have thought Boom recruit Frank the tank would be displaying his wares, tearing up the stat sheet and dazzling us with his brilliance vs the mediocrity that is the Stkilda football club.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: DJC on February 21, 2025, 05:51:15 pm
St Kilda's squad is:
1. Jack Higgins, 2. Marcus Windhager, 5. Tobie Travaglia, 6. Jack Macrae, 7. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera**, 8. Bradley Hill**, 9. Jack Steele, 10. Mitch Owens, 13. Ryan Byrnes, 14. Liam Stocker, 16. Dan Butler, 17. Isaac Keeler, 21. Zaine Cordy, 22. Darcy Wilson, 24. Angus Hastie, 29. Jimmy Webster, 31. Harry Boyd, 34. Hugo Garcia, 38. Hugh Boxshall, 40. Max Hall, 41. Angus McLennan, 42. Max Heath, 43. Cooper Sharman, 44. Callum Wilkie, 45. Liam O'Connell, 47. Anthony Caminiti
Would have thought Boom recruit Frank the tank would be displaying his wares, tearing up the stat sheet and dazzling us with his brilliance vs the mediocrity that is the Stkilda football club.
He hasn't learnt the 'playbook' yet. :D
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: kruddler on February 21, 2025, 06:15:17 pm
Would have thought Boom recruit Frank the tank would be displaying his wares, tearing up the stat sheet and dazzling us with his brilliance vs the mediocrity that is the Stkilda football club.
He hasn't learnt the 'playbook' yet. :D
We'll teach him how to pass to an opponent soon enough. Just have to make sure we get rid of any polished to his disposal first and workout how to make him run through treacle
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: DJC on February 21, 2025, 08:40:36 pm
Would have thought Boom recruit Frank the tank would be displaying his wares, tearing up the stat sheet and dazzling us with his brilliance vs the mediocrity that is the Stkilda football club.
Frank is the 44th player on our list. Most of the other 43 probably have a decent head start over him when it comes to getting a game in a practice match.
I would have liked to see Frank going at it with Stocker but we’ll just have to look forward to Corey Durdin giving him a touch up again.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 21, 2025, 11:02:15 pm
Would have thought Boom recruit Frank the tank would be displaying his wares, tearing up the stat sheet and dazzling us with his brilliance vs the mediocrity that is the Stkilda football club.
Frank is the 44th player on our list. Most of the other 43 probably have a decent head start over him when it comes to getting a game in a practice match.
I would have liked to see Frank going at it with Stocker but we’ll just have to look forward to Corey Durdin giving him a touch up again.
Corey has one goal in 3 games vs the hapless Saints and Frank the Tank has never played a game vs Stkilda, touching the ball rather than touching up Stocker remains a difficulty for both of them in most games unfortunately and Corey had a very poor 2024 season being below average in every key stat so I guess he is on his last chance this season.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: DJC on February 22, 2025, 02:08:19 am
Frank is the 44th player on our list. Most of the other 43 probably have a decent head start over him when it comes to getting a game in a practice match.
I would have liked to see Frank going at it with Stocker but we’ll just have to look forward to Corey Durdin giving him a touch up again.
Corey has one goal in 3 games vs the hapless Saints and Frank the Tank has never played a game vs Stkilda, touching the ball rather than touching up Stocker remains a difficulty for both of them in most games unfortunately and Corey had a very poor 2024 season being below average in every key stat so I guess he is on his last chance this season.
You don't recall Corey running through Stocker and leaving him in some difficulty?
It seemed to be a sign of genuine ill-feeling towards Stocker but also a reminder of how a little bloke can knock the stuffing out of someone 10kg heavier.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 22, 2025, 09:24:58 am
Corey has one goal in 3 games vs the hapless Saints and Frank the Tank has never played a game vs Stkilda, touching the ball rather than touching up Stocker remains a difficulty for both of them in most games unfortunately and Corey had a very poor 2024 season being below average in every key stat so I guess he is on his last chance this season.
You don't recall Corey running through Stocker and leaving him in some difficulty?
It seemed to be a sign of genuine ill-feeling towards Stocker but also a reminder of how a little bloke can knock the stuffing out of someone 10kg heavier.
I recall the incident but I'd rather Corey get a kick or two and contribute a bit more on the scoreboard than evening up some old score with an ex player.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: Lods on February 22, 2025, 09:41:35 am
Time to keep in mind that this is just a practice game. The result is basically meaningless...unless it's a complete blow-out, which would probably indicate some areas that need attention. We're not playing for sheep stations. Not playing for four points. It's just a hitout to blow out the cobwebs.
The younger/fringe players will no doubt be looking to impress ahead of round one. The older/established players will approach it as they see fit, and put in the effort they think necessary. Their level of commitment may determine the scoreboard result.
The level of intensity and physicality won't match a regular season game. There is a bit of a paradox though...sometimes it's best not to go too easy. The one who attacks with intensity will sometimes come out of a contest better than someone who holds a bit back. The main goal will be to get everyone through in good shape...and maybe try a few different things.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: kruddler on February 22, 2025, 10:25:52 am
The players that go hard are the players playing for a position.
Someone like binns for.example isn't in anyones best 22, so he needs to impress.
Someone like weitering could have 10 kicked on him and it wouldn't matter in the slightest.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: rocky on February 22, 2025, 11:56:59 am
Gee we're very average.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: madbluboy on February 22, 2025, 12:15:12 pm
Someone like weitering could have 10 kicked on him and it wouldn't matter in the slightest.
He would be on the cracked list by Monday.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: rocky on February 22, 2025, 12:17:45 pm
Not a great 1st half after we looked pretty good early on we just couldn't capitalise up forward and then let the aints work their way back into the game. Backline has been terrible other than Ollie hollands who was using his run to effect and Cowan who is very hard at it. While we're on the topic of not hard enough at it Motlop has really annoyed me. Very soft. Hope they're trying to conserve the energy because they look very slow. Anyway lets get through this injury free, that's the main thing
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: blueday on February 22, 2025, 01:29:18 pm
We give away so many free kicks. If Young plays home and away we are cooked.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: LP on February 22, 2025, 01:30:05 pm
I don't get why fans keep investing in pre-season rubbish.
We've won pre-season comps more than once and finished last or close to last in the real season.
In the old days we would hardly ever win a pre-season game, and then go on to win a flag! ;)
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: Lods on February 22, 2025, 01:42:04 pm
The effort was fine. They looked at times that they wanted it just a little more than us. But both sides would be reasonably happy.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: pinot on February 22, 2025, 01:45:04 pm
Saints defended better only because we kept giving the ball back to them. Some of the turn overs and poor skills was diabolical.
Other than that defended stoppages much better and moved the ball well for alot of that scratch match.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: tonyo on February 22, 2025, 01:48:36 pm
3 observations....
I hope we have a plan to man-up on half-back flankers in the real season. Wanganeen-Milera and Hill had an absolute picnic.
Motlop is ready to have a big year.
Need TDK's signature - we he got out of second gear, he was playing a different game to everyone else out there.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: rocky on February 22, 2025, 02:06:31 pm
Thoughts on the game. Lord did well when he got on. I hope he gets some game time this year. Haynes did not impress me at all. Matt Carroll may have saved his career. Lewis Young could be the dumbest footballer we've ever had. Cannot be played during the season unless we are desperate. Really desperate. Lemmey has a long way to go if he wants to play in the big league. Binns gets to the ball a bit but his disposal is shocking. Can't see him making it. Nice cameo from the Campo boy (Lucas), but like Binns has suspect disposal. Still, has some toe. Plenty of our senior players had poor games. Williams, Saad and Docherty to name a few. Thought Weitering was a bit off too. Thought our last quarter was our best Thought the umpiring was ridiculously one-sided. Love to know the count Hope everyone got through relatively unscathed.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: kruddler on February 22, 2025, 02:15:06 pm
Someone like weitering could have 10 kicked on him and it wouldn't matter in the slightest.
He would be on the cracked list by Monday.
Thankfully, that doesn't matter in the slightest ;)
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: kruddler on February 22, 2025, 02:20:24 pm
Only saw bits and pieces.
One thing that really bothered me was how we seemed to not learn from our mistakes last year, that is with players (potentially) being injured.
Saad copped a whack right before half time, looked to be a quad (or corky). Was getting taken off the ground, then decided he wanted to stay and then the siren went for half time, all in the space of 30 seconds.
Then the 2nd half starts and in the first 10 seconds he was on the ground again holding his leg.
Why did we put him back on when he clearly wasn't 100%. What does Saad have to prove to us? Nothing. Put him in cotten wool and don't risk reinjury for a complete nothing match.
Now he seemed a bit better later in the match, but the point remains.....why risk it?
Motlop looked dangerous in patches that i saw. O'Keefe looked better than i expected at this stage. Lemmey looked worse than i expected at this stage. Not sure either will make it long term, but considering our list makeup we really need one of them (if not both) to take it to the next level. Nobody else really stood out.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: BluePhantom on February 22, 2025, 02:37:08 pm
If we are going to be serious this year we NEED to get rid of the long bomb into the forward line. It doesn't work and hasn't worked for us for the last 20 years. Clear out the forward line, CLEAR out the forward line. Honour leads. It's not rocket science.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: kruddler on February 22, 2025, 02:43:10 pm
If we are going to be serious this year we NEED to get rid of the long bomb into the forward line. It doesn't work and hasn't worked for us for the last 20 years. Clear out the forward line, CLEAR out the forward line. Honour leads. It's not rocket science.
Yep.
I was talking tactics with my kid and explaining players running and kicking into space, waiting until there was a good option, going backwards if required. Too many times i had to explain that 'THAT was a poor kick' because it allowed 3 on 1, 4 on 2 etc etc against us which allowed them to clear very easily. It was always long bombs forward that got us outdone. Even with our merry men of small forwards, its not a gameplan i would encourage.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: crashlander on February 22, 2025, 03:16:39 pm
Well, I've seen some ordinary football from us, but today was close to the worst. Granted that it was a practice match that nobody gave a damn about, but the lack of intensity, the poor skills, the poor decision making, the inability to find a forward, the inability to pick up the 'Aint's defenders, ... I was pretty frustrated. And the umpiring was almost as bad as how we played. Even so, that isn't why we lost. We lost because we didn't have contributors, our ball handling was poor, our good players were non-existent and our small forwards were invisible.
[1] The rucks: We were beaten on the day by the guy who hasn't played a senior game yet. Granted he's a proven match winner in the SANFL, but the point had to made. We got nothing from the centre taps and didn't win many clearances. Tom de Koning showed about 10 minutes of brilliance, in which he marked everything, got a couple of clearances and generally was superlative. But before that, he didn't do much. Marc Pittonet had a shocker. Skull O'Keefe came on in the last quarter and got some taps and some ball, but he is still light and weak compared the giants he is going to be playing against. Even so, he showed something, which Pitto didn't.
[2] Mids: Our 1st ranked mids did very little. Cripps was on the ground, but that was about it. George was likewise. He had a chance to win the match with a set shot from about 40 m, passed the ball (poorly) instead, turned the ball over. The ball went down the other end and they kicked the sealer from 50+ into the howling gale. It encapsulated the match; they played with confidence and dash, while we didn't. Cerra got a bit of it, but his disposal today was dreadful. The shining light was Jagga: he looked like he is ready. Then he went off injured. Again, that says so much. :( :( :( Cooper Lord wasn't bad late and Blake Acres did some nice things, but our midfield lowered its colours. Lucas Camporeale kicked a nice goal and got a bit of it, but he isn't there yet.
[3] Defenders: Weitering had a poor day and struggled in the wind. Young wasn't bad in patches, but wasn't there when it mattered. Haynes wasn't bad. Ollie Hollands had some good patches, as did Matt Carroll, but we were loose and didn't have the same run the 'Aints had.
[4] Key forwards: Total non-contributors. H had 2 early goals, but nothing after that. I don't think he took a mark after quarter time. Moir was dangerous, but we couldn't get it near him. Lemmey looked lost. Our resting rucks did nothing either. Probably our least effective players.
[5] Small forwards: Motlop got 3, but did very little else. He may not have got a possession for 2 quarters, even with the players going on and off. His last quarter was reasonable. Fantasia: Invisible. Had a set shot and missed badly, which took the wind from our sales. Otherwise, he was invisible. Fog and Zac - I think they were out there, but they didn't contribute. They didn't even stop St. Kilda's playmakers from running the ball out of defence.
I found it difficult to find any positives out of the game: they wanted it more, their ball handling was better and their decision making wasn't much better than ours. But their shanks found targets, while our defenders didn't find the ball.
The game was there to win, but we didn't do anything near enough to get over the line. As a spectacle, it was one of the worst games I've ever seen. When I was coaching the kids at Charlton College, they more game sense, more desire and better skills, and my kids were the U14's.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: Gointocarlton on February 22, 2025, 03:23:27 pm
I don't get why fans keep investing in pre-season rubbish.
We've won pre-season comps more than once and finished last or close to last in the real season.
In the old days we would hardly ever win a pre-season game, and then go on to win a flag! ;)
Gee I hope that happens this year.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: Gointocarlton on February 22, 2025, 03:36:20 pm
Only saw bits and pieces of the 2nd and 3rd. Watched the 3rd. What stood out for me (clearly based only on what I watched): - Defensively we looked terrible (maybe disorganised is a better word). - Docs disposals were as bad as I have seen. - Silly, undisciplined free kicks (especially in defence) needs some serious internalising. It must be stamped out come the real stuff. - I dont think Ollie in the back line is a good idea. - Matty Carroll in the back line is a good idea. - Commentators referring to O'Keefe as O'Farrell crapted me to tears. A bit of a meh game. Much work do if its a indicator for form, nothing to worry about if it isn't. -
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: crashlander on February 22, 2025, 03:36:42 pm
PS: Will someone please merge the 2 threads we have for this disaster. I can't seem to be able to do it at the moment.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: LoveNavy on February 22, 2025, 03:42:25 pm
I don't get why fans keep investing in pre-season rubbish.
We've won pre-season comps more than once and finished last or close to last in the real season.
In the old days we would hardly ever win a pre-season game, and then go on to win a flag! ;)
Gee I hope that happens this year.
Whilst that may or may not happen, one thing's for sure GiC. The ride will be full of highs, lows, and nail-biting moments and Carlton fans will age at twice the rate. Health permitting, it's in our own hands.
Go Blues
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 22, 2025, 04:30:11 pm
Result didn't matter but how we played and our defensive setup is concerning. Our kicking is still poor and the absence of Newman really has upset our backline as well as our ability to run and deliver the ball from half back. TDK has to play 99% of the game in the ruck for us to be successful imo. I have watched Boyd play for Norwood and knew he would be no pushover even as a rookie AFL player in his first game and if Marshall had played we would have been really exposed in the ruck when TDK wasnt there. Haynes kicking is terrible and combined with Young we have a real dodgy look coming out of defense. Didn't like the Ollie Hollands move down back either and he also has his disposal issues. Matt Carroll isn't a bad user but defensively I'm a tad nervy if he has to play on anyone half decent. Walsh and Charlie are irreplaceable and we need both back pronto even though we might get away with it vs the Richmond kiddies in round 1. Motlop showed some flashes of form and Harry started well until supply dried up and I thought Acres was steady as he always is but we have plenty of work to do and position wise I'd be looking at how we can replace Newman with a better kicking ball user than what was on display today. Thought Jagga Smith and Lucas Camporeale(limited time on the field) showed some skills which is promising for the future and McGovern was our best defender as well as providing some decent deliver further up the field. Cant see the Saints being a finals threat this season but they have recruited some decent kids and down the track with a more offensive minded coach might prove a handful.
Title: Re: Practice match vs St Kilda lineup
Post by: 31Tommys_barber on February 22, 2025, 05:25:43 pm
Thought these matches were to blow out the cobwebs and sharpen up the game plan. If this rubbish is our game plan we are in trouble. Either bomb it long to a pack or try a miracle chip to a manned player, it hasn’t worked before and isn’t going to again against the better teams. Don’t feel the saints are going far. I know these results don’t matter but I personally want to win everything we have Carlton represented in from the handball on the footy show to match sim when one team wears blue jumper against the orange. EVERYTHING ! 😵💫
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Baggers on February 22, 2025, 06:01:08 pm
I watched the entire game, from the good opening 10 minutes to the disjointed tedium that followed.
Once the Aints clicked into defensive pressure, we seemed to become a bunch of individuals... sound familiar?
We were only kept in it by good individual efforts. Cameo stuff, with little team cohesion.
They looked like a side who'd completed a pre season of knowing what they want and knew how to go about it - disciplined and well drilled, we didn't. It seemed the game meant much more to them than us. Just maybe we made them look better than they are with our indifference.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: pinot on February 22, 2025, 06:09:56 pm
Wouldnt take much from this hit out. We got clobbered by Melbourne last year by 10 goals and they didnt make the finals and we were sitting 2nd after round 17 or something like that. Saints seemed more motivated and thats ok this time of year.
Cant play TDK and Pitto in same side - no idea why Kemp was dropped in VFL.
Looking forward taking on the Giants for final tune up.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Lods on February 22, 2025, 06:20:16 pm
I suspect the level of disappointment with the performance is pretty much determined by the expectations we had prior to the game.
While a lot of the criticism has some merit, some of the things concerning folks should probably be viewed in terms of the fact that it was 'just a hit-out'. At this time of the year you may see a wide variation in how teams approach these games. Some will take it more seriously than other.
Skills will be a little off. Intensity and pressure will be nowhere near what it is in the season proper. Your key players will play well within themselves....they have the experience of many pre-seasons behind them.
And importantly ...if you're rotating almost your entire list through four quarters of football things like stucture, cohesion and even momnetum will be seriously affected.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Baggers on February 22, 2025, 06:34:36 pm
Wouldnt take much from this hit out. We got clobbered by Melbourne last year by 10 goals and they didnt make the finals and we were sitting 2nd after round 17 or something like that. Saints seemed more motivated and thats ok this time of year.
Cant play TDK and Pitto in same side - no idea why Kemp was dropped in VFL.
Looking forward taking on the Giants for final tune up.
You're likely right, Fine Wine. I'm one of those supporters who -- probably unrealistically -- wants to see our best, regardless of day. I guess rotating 30 blokes through the game would be more about 'having a look' at certain blokes and plays rather than a 'winning' intensity.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: cookie2 on February 22, 2025, 06:41:11 pm
Wouldnt take much from this hit out. We got clobbered by Melbourne last year by 10 goals and they didnt make the finals and we were sitting 2nd after round 17 or something like that. Saints seemed more motivated and thats ok this time of year.
Cant play TDK and Pitto in same side - no idea why Kemp was dropped in VFL.
Looking forward taking on the Giants for final tune up.
You're likely right, Fine Wine. I'm one of those supporters who -- probably unrealistically -- wants to see our best, regardless of day. I guess rotating 30 blokes through the game would be more about 'having a look' at certain blokes and plays rather than a 'winning' intensity.
Sort of agree Baggers but always like to see us win. 🙁
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 22, 2025, 06:43:00 pm
I suspect the level of disappointment with the performance is pretty much determined by the expectations we had prior to the game.
While a lot of the criticism has some merit, some of the things concerning folks should probably be viewed in terms of the fact that it was 'just a hit-out'. At this time of the year you may see a wide variation in how teams approach these games. Some will take it more seriously than other.
Skills will be a little off. Intensity and pressure will be nowhere near what it is in the season proper. Your key players will play well within themselves....they have the experience of many pre-seasons behind them.
And importantly ...if you're rotating almost your entire list through four quarters of football things like stucture, cohesion and even momnetum will be seriously affected.
Depends a lot too how you rate the opposition and how we were meant to be flying during inhouse match sims etc and playing with cohesion and purpose especially down back. Stkilda are mediocre imho and with four of their few stars missing as well as perennial nemesis Membrey now a Magpie I was expecting more yet a lot of the old problems resurfaced and we looked untidy down back and messy trying to connect with our forwards with the long bomb in operation too many times. I need to see something different not more of the same especially down back where we have several players whose disposal and decision making is iffy..
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Professer E on February 22, 2025, 07:18:29 pm
Won't be long before we're screaming for Doc back in defence to sort them out, but that seems a retrograde step.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: crashlander on February 22, 2025, 07:30:00 pm
Wouldnt take much from this hit out. We got clobbered by Melbourne last year by 10 goals and they didnt make the finals and we were sitting 2nd after round 17 or something like that. Saints seemed more motivated and thats ok this time of year.
Cant play TDK and Pitto in same side - no idea why Kemp was dropped in VFL.
Looking forward taking on the Giants for final tune up.
Apparently, he wasn't that impressive i the VFL. His kicking for goal was quite ordinary.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Lods on February 22, 2025, 08:11:38 pm
I reckon this is a good way to judge the level of commitment to these practice games.... When we win or have a close loss probably half a dozen of our better players will have had very good games.
Which of our 'better' players had good games today?
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: pinot on February 22, 2025, 08:26:41 pm
Wouldnt take much from this hit out. We got clobbered by Melbourne last year by 10 goals and they didnt make the finals and we were sitting 2nd after round 17 or something like that. Saints seemed more motivated and thats ok this time of year.
Cant play TDK and Pitto in same side - no idea why Kemp was dropped in VFL.
Looking forward taking on the Giants for final tune up.
Apparently, he wasn't that impressive i the VFL. His kicking for goal was quite ordinary.
Well that's a damn shame - stamping his papers?
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: laj on February 22, 2025, 10:11:31 pm
Practice matches when overseas are different when one is out and about. Given these games are often more about seeing who performs rather than the scoreboard, checking in on Kayo seemed almost pointless. Scoreboard doesn't matter and one can't tell by simply checking in every so often who played well.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Gointocarlton on February 23, 2025, 07:41:18 am
I wonder what the comments on here would have been like if we utterly smashed the Saints in a completely convincing fashion. Would we still be saying "I wouldn't take much out of the result"?
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Thryleon on February 23, 2025, 08:09:05 am
I'd be measured. I genuinely don't care. This is all about how the individuals went, which rubs against the green of what i look for most weeks.
Questions for anyone who watched:
Was Jack Carroll playing for the saints? Was he any good?
I've heard good things about lord. Promising?
How was binns?
Lemmey and o keefe?
The bonfide senior boys are just wiping away the cobwebs at this stage and like the regular season we don't know how hard we are going off the park at this point too.
Cotters is he going ok?
Was the fual ruck setup the abject failure I thought it would be?
Finally, was this match a trial of a mosquito fleet type forwardline?
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Lods on February 23, 2025, 09:57:55 am
I wonder what the comments on here would have been like if we utterly smashed the Saints in a completely convincing fashion. Would we still be saying "I wouldn't take much out of the result"?
I'd still say that. I said it before the game. Don't take much notice of the result. A big loss by St Kilda would have refelected more on their issues. A big win by us would probably have indicated we were after the win rather than just having a look at the list.
Sides approach these games with different levels of commitment. They're often trying different things. Results will bear no resemblance to the season proper. I don't think any of our core group had great games Those players were going half pace.
Cripps had about 10 touches and half a game DeKoning had a few cameos but nothing special Harry clocked off at quarter time. Weitering was out there...I think I heard his name mentioned.
That was the level of commitment.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: shawny on February 23, 2025, 10:30:38 am
The only way to know if that game is meaningless or a tad concerning is how the club itself views these matches. If they use it as a rehearsal for R1 then im very concerned. The ball movement/decision making which has always been an area of concern looked as though they didnt change a thing over summer as it was crap again.
I dont care about the score line and i doubt the club do either and the main objective you would think is come out of it unscathed but still I cant find a reason why going into 50 was again so poor - practice match or not i cant find an excuse why that still occurs.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 23, 2025, 10:32:04 am
I think we are trying to find excuses for a poor effort, no one cares about the results but its the method and improvement in weak areas from last season that you want to see and less reliance on those core team carrying players. We are lucky we are playing the bye(Richmond Rnd1) where we should be able to mask our deficiencies but like a few of the scribes who have us missing the eight I'm starting to get concerned with what I am seeing and questioning the list management.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: rocky on February 23, 2025, 10:37:05 am
I'd be measured. I genuinely don't care. This is all about how the individuals went, which rubs against the green of what i look for most weeks.
Questions for anyone who watched:
Was Jack Carroll playing for the saints? Was he any good? Thought he was one of the better back men compared to the others, but that's not saying much
I've heard good things about lord. Promising? Yep, I think he was pretty good when he came on. There's hope there
How was binns? As I said earlier on, he got to the ball a little but his disposal is crape
Lemmey and o keefe? Both have a fair way to go before ever being considered at AFL level. O'Keeffe ahead, slightly, at this stage
The bonfide senior boys are just wiping away the cobwebs at this stage and like the regular season we don't know how hard we are going off the park at this point too.
Cotters is he going ok? Only positive for him is he got through the game. You mentioned cobwebs and after his layoff he's earned a pass. At this stage
Was the fual ruck setup the abject failure I thought it would be? Both our boys had their colours lowered to a lesser known first gamer. At least TDK had some impact up forward. Pittonet should only play when TDK is injured or being managed.
Finally, was this match a trial of a mosquito fleet type forwardline? Motlop was the best but I'm critical of his intensity AT the ball. Fogarty was virtually unsighted. Williams played a half and did SFA. Durdin came on and immediately injured himself and went off and Fantasia was his usual (how he gets a game is beyond me).
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Lods on February 23, 2025, 10:50:26 am
We're going to get a range of opinions and concerns reagrding the performance. Time will be the judge of its merit. As I said before, the level of disappointment is probably tied to the level of expectation. I expected just a run around and that's what I saw.
Things like structure and cohesion can be affected when half the side (the better players) are just there for a run. The support and pressure is nothing like what it is in a 'real' game. Add to that the need to fit 30 odd players into 4 quarters and your structures are out the window as players come on and off. Attack and defence, (mostly attack) was a 'dog's breakfast'.
I'd expect the next game we'll have a bit more structure and purpose, something approaching the round 1 set-up
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Gointocarlton on February 23, 2025, 10:51:41 am
@rocky Agree re Binns, if he gets a game we are in strife I reckon.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: pinot on February 23, 2025, 10:55:34 am
Some played one quarter others half a game. Rotated 30 players - played with intensity for a quarter and then dropped off.
Acres, Cerra & Hewett were very solid Motlop was good TDK was good 4th term Matt Carroll and Ashton Moir showed signs Elijah Hollands only played a qtr and looked good The rest of them seemed disinterested after qtr time.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: townsendcalling on February 23, 2025, 11:31:40 am
We can all have our opinions, but the most important opinions are those behind the closed doors. Did we achieve what we wanted in these 5 areas? Did our top liners get to crash and bash against a real opposition for a quarter or two. How did we perform when we put our foot to the floor for the first 20 min?? Another game in 6 days time. Is busting your gut in 34 degree temperatures really a good prep?? Get out there, have a training run, and get off.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: LP on February 23, 2025, 11:57:03 am
Another game in 6 days time. Is busting your gut in 34 degree temperatures really a good prep?? Get out there, have a training run, and get off.
They've built strength and conditioning in the off-season, enough to get through a full season, you don't waste that conditioning and also risk a dehydration related soft tissue injury by flogging yourself in a meaningless and hot pre-season game.
We want them to be fit, fresh and firing at the pointy end of the season, not limping across the line on the last remnants of their legs!
The same applies to managing players through the season, sharing the load, making sure you have them when it matters.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Lods on February 23, 2025, 01:17:30 pm
I've seen a bit of criticism about Docherty around the traps. For me that was one of the better aspects of yesterday. I was seriously concerned that he might never make it back to a regular position in the side. I thought he was rusty but he showed enough to dispel some of those concerns. He's missed a lot of football under true match conditions and more than anything else he needs game time I reckon he'll get better as the season progresses, and while his best may probably be behind him, I think he'll be a more than useful part of the side.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: pew2 on February 23, 2025, 01:35:45 pm
has anyone NOTICED anything different to our game plan from previous years ,are we still doing that crap long bomb into fwd 50 ???
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Gointocarlton on February 23, 2025, 01:41:23 pm
Anyone read the reports Jagga has torn this ACL?
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: madbluboy on February 23, 2025, 01:48:11 pm
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: madbluboy on February 23, 2025, 01:52:09 pm
The new fitness bloke can't prevent injuries. Who would have thought?
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: Gointocarlton on February 23, 2025, 01:56:30 pm
We are farken cursed I tall ya.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 23, 2025, 02:05:24 pm
Brisbane had some season ending injuries and poor start but managed to overcome all those hurdles and prevail so we have to have the next man up mentality. Maybe Ben Campo gets to play Smith's role and can rise to the occasion....
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: crashlander on February 23, 2025, 02:14:55 pm
I'd be measured. I genuinely don't care. This is all about how the individuals went, which rubs against the green of what i look for most weeks.
Questions for anyone who watched:
Fair enough, Thry. I, for one, cared a fair bit, because I was looking for improvements in our areas of weakness and saw none of them. That irritated me a lot.
Binns got a fair bit of ball, 21 possessions I think. However, his disposal was excremental. He basically gave the ball back. It wasn't easy hitting targets in the wind, but we were particularly poor at it. Worse, we had no faith, and looked to pass the ball, which killed us.
Lemmey only played the last quarter, but had 1 possession and 2 tackles. He still has a long way to go. Mind you, it wasn't easy being a key forward for us, not the way we butchered the ball. Skull O'Keefe also came on for the last quarter and wasn't bad. He got his hands to the ball more than Pitto did (Pitto had a shocker). He also took a couple of huge marks; alas, he couldn't control them. He also played at least half of the second's game and was decent.
The bonfide senior boys are just wiping away the cobwebs at this stage and like the regular season we don't know how hard we are going off the park at this point too.
I have never seen Cripps do ineffective. His first few minutes were Cripps-like, but that was it. H was the same; 5 minutes of glory and barely a kick thereafter. Weitering was a long way off the pace and had no impact on the game. He really struggled in the wind. George got it 26 times, but really didn't do much with it. he had a change to win the game, with the wind at his back, and passed the ball off, missing the target. The ball went up the other end and Travaglia kicked the sealer from 50 into the gale. Young took a couple of reasonable marks, but didn't provide much drive. McGovern took a couple of screamers, but didn't do a lot else. Zac ... did not much. Fantasia was invisible for 3.5 quarters. Motlop was our most effective small forward and he was missing for quite a while. His last quarter was more than decent. Doc was ineffective.
Was the dual ruck setup the abject failure I thought it would be?
Wouldn't have been such an issue without the wind; it made being a forward problematical. Pitto was well beaten and did nothing up forward. Tom didn't do much for a while, but he turned in on in one patch, getting clearances and taking some ripper marks. His kicking at goal - I'm not going there. To miss by so far when the wind is pushing the ball in the other direction ... you get the idea. :(
Finally, was this match a trial of a mosquito fleet type forwardline?
We were thrashed on the ground, especially in our forward line. St. Kilda ran it out ridiculously easily. Their 2 playmakers had picnics as our guys wouldn't go near them.
And then there was the piece-de resistance: Jagga, who looked very good, went off with what appeared to be a minor knee injury: it is an ACL. :( He was good. Now, he'll miss the year.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: pinot on February 23, 2025, 02:40:53 pm
Bad luck for Jagga Jet.... will do rehab with Nic Newman who is like a coach anyway and come back bigger and better.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: laj on February 23, 2025, 03:17:21 pm
Brisbane had some season ending injuries and poor start but managed to overcome all those hurdles and prevail so we have to have the next man up mentality. Maybe Ben Campo gets to play Smith's role and can rise to the occasion....
Maybe he could but he's also injured at the moment and the way we're travelling he'll be out for half a year
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: cookie2 on February 23, 2025, 05:22:09 pm
Very very frustrating! Anyway, onwards and upwards I suppose.🙁😤
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: LP on February 23, 2025, 06:02:13 pm
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: DJC on February 25, 2025, 03:57:06 pm
While it's never good to watch our team lose, I kept telling myself that the objective of the game was to get set minutes of game time into players and to work through scenarios. Of course that doesn't make it any easier to deal with the season ending injury to Jagga Smith in what was really a meaningless game.
The conditions weren't ideal for footy and it's no wonder that some players seemed to be going at half rat power. With those qualifications, I thought that there were some promising signs.
First of all, Adam Cerra was moving like he has full confidence in his hammies and I think we'll see him back to his best this season. The passage of play that ended up with him kicking a goal was notable for his work in chains of possessions and going forward to create the inside 50 target. Our ball use during that passage of play was superb and every player involved made good decisions and executed well.
Jesse Motlop's game was excellent in the circumstances. He made the most of his opportunities, created opportunities for others, was active all over the ground, including a run in the midfield, and, best of all, completely shut his opponent out of the game.
Ollie Hollands seems to have taken to his new role like a duck to water and Matt Carroll showed why he was given a second chance. Nick Haynes looks to have slotted in well and I thought Lewis Young was pretty good. Mitch McGovern defended well but some of his decision making and ball use left a lot to be desired. Hopefully, that was just some cobwebs being blown out.
The last quarter cameos from Lij Hollands and Lucas Camporeale were promising, Skull looked like he was relishing his ruck contests but Harry Lemmey didn't get much of a go. He should have had a shot from just outside the goal square but the umpires were having none of it.
Has anyone mentioned that St Kilda got 28 free kicks to our 12. I wonder if that was one of the scenarios we were practising ::)
Although we had three genuine ruckmen in the squad, and not all were on the ground at the same time, we still used the two Harrys as second rucks. Clearly', that is going to be a scenario throughout the season. Pitto really struggled against Boyd but I guess Kreuzer hasn't had much of a chance to analyse his ruckwork. I thought that De Koning probably allowed too many ruck contests to become tests of strength when he should have been jumping into him ... bit that's easy for me to say.
Apart from Jagga of course, and Corey Durdin's injury, one of the disappointing aspects of the game was how Jaxon Binns faded after a relatively bright start. He needs to improve if he's going to be a genuine contender for a gig on the wing.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 25, 2025, 04:19:38 pm
While it's never good to watch our team lose, I kept telling myself that the objective of the game was to get set minutes of game time into players and to work through scenarios. Of course that doesn't make it any easier to deal with the season ending injury to Jagga Smith in what was really a meaningless game.
The conditions weren't ideal for footy and it's no wonder that some players seemed to be going at half rat power. With those qualifications, I thought that there were some promising signs.
First of all, Adam Cerra was moving like he has full confidence in his hammies and I think we'll see him back to his best this season. The passage of play that ended up with him kicking a goal was notable for his work in chains of possessions and going forward to create the inside 50 target. Our ball use during that passage of play was superb and every player involved made good decisions and executed well.
Jesse Motlop's game was excellent in the circumstances. He made the most of his opportunities, created opportunities for others, was active all over the ground, including a run in the midfield, and, best of all, completely shut his opponent out of the game.
Ollie Hollands seems to have taken to his new role like a duck to water and Matt Carroll showed why he was given a second chance. Nick Haynes looks to have slotted in well and I thought Lewis Young was pretty good. Mitch McGovern defended well but some of his decision making and ball use left a lot to be desired. Hopefully, that was just some cobwebs being blown out.
The last quarter cameos from Lij Hollands and Lucas Camporeale were promising, Skull looked like he was relishing his ruck contests but Harry Lemmey didn't get much of a go. He should have had a shot from just outside the goal square but the umpires were having none of it.
Has anyone mentioned that St Kilda got 28 free kicks to our 12. I wonder if that was one of the scenarios we were practising ::)
Although we had three genuine ruckmen in the squad, and not all were on the ground at the same time, we still used the two Harrys as second rucks. Clearly', that is going to be a scenario throughout the season. Pitto really struggled against Boyd but I guess Kreuzer hasn't had much of a chance to analyse his ruckwork. I thought that De Koning probably allowed too many ruck contests to become tests of strength when he should have been jumping into him ... bit that's easy for me to say.
Apart from Jagga of course, and Corey Durdin's injury, one of the disappointing aspects of the game was how Jaxon Binns faded after a relatively bright start. He needs to improve if he's going to be a genuine contender for a gig on the wing.
Boyd is no novice but isnt the tallest of rucks and if anyone has watched the SANFL over the last couple of years would have known he is probably the best ruckman outside of the AFL system and uses his strength and positioning in ruck duels and likes to wrestle. Id find it amazing Kruezer wouldnt have done a scout on their only ruckman or hadnt watched some video of the Magarey medalist and known what to expect. Disagree on Hollands who looked out of place down back imo and Id have him back on a wing, his kicking out of defense isnt great and that applies to Haynes as well who is a turn over merchant by foot highlighted by his first kick which was a loopy cross ground pass that got picked off for a goal. I thought McGovern was our best defender and rebounder and will have a lot of work to do in Newmans absence, Matt Carroll is an ok kick but some of his defensive work found him out of position and playing catchup. Motlop was one of our few positives I agree...Fantasia on the other hand was poor including a piece of play where he put the short steps in where he thought he was going to get contact and dropped an easy mark. Evans and White with Durdin probably injured again would be thinking we might be in with a chance of a round 1 call up after watching Fantasia. Lewis Young remains a mystery...dont remember him doing anything wrong or anything great either vs Saints and his status after being told to look around for another club is still at that fringe level and in competition with Jack Silvagni for that 2nd KP defensive post. Will he go hard and fight for a spot in the seniors or just be prepared to go through the motions knowing the club dont really rate him and he will more than likely be back on the trade or delist table unless something dramatic happens.
Title: Re: 2025 Practice Match vs St. Kilda
Post by: rocky on February 25, 2025, 06:07:05 pm