We haven't played well against Hawthorn for some time. I'd like to give them a reality check.
Next Saturday night at 19:35 at the MCG.
We were a bit off the boil last night.
But hopefully we are a bit more focussed on this game.
They'll be looking for a big win after such a poor first half yesterday.
The reality is though that the current winning streak is probably unsustainable and the opposition jumps up a notch over the next few weeks.
I expect a loss here, but I'd like to see us have a good crack anyway.
It's reality. Good enough to beat the sides below us, but not the sides above us. Middle of the road.
That is my feeling at the moment and we’ll get fewer opportunities against the good teams which we can’t afford to keep burning. This game will give us a much better idea of where we’re at, no Dean or Weitering and Young out due to concussion protocols will be a major issue, hopefully Dean comes back. Our ruck/midfield lowers their colours last night, they’ll need a much better game next week.
I had this one down as a loss several weeks ago. I think we can beat them, there is something NQR about them that makes me not rate them as highly as everyone else does.
We shall see.
I think Sam Mitchell would be ropeable after the Demons game, and I would expect him to fire up his charges like never before. It doesn't help us at all that we catch them after they put it such a limp performance.
lets see who stands up now need to run and spread PLEASE for the 3rd year straight wen are we going to go away from the long bombs into 50 fwd zone
We gave them the mother of all hidings in our 2023 run. They were still goalless at half time. 2024 late in the year they thumped us like everyone did late. Last year was 2 competitive games. Hawks haven't been great lately. I've got confidence on this one but the fact we are due for a loss.
Hawks had their weakest team in for the year with 4-5 players I havent seen play so they were ripe to lose.
Id be expecting a rebound after the poor loss to Melbourne but Id be wanting to see the teams first before I make a prediction...
Interesting with the Hawks having 5 blokes out. A good side needs to cover better than that. We did in 2023 and alot of 2024 without absolute heaps out. West Coast won a flag in 2018 with 6 of their best out. Hawks want to hope they get their players back and get few injuries for the rest of the year. I thought we were looking at a 130 to 140pt defeat until the Hawks made up 73 points in just over the equivalent of a qtr of footy when the game was well over. Have to be one of the biggest drops in deficit ever, and still lost by 6 goals. Hawthorn and Essendon came back from from 63 and 69 pts once, late 90s and 2001, and won by a few goals, so they might be bigger, but they won.
The game has changed a lot under the current rules, the need for system and the allowable margin of error is much tighter.
All this frantic forward disposal needs blokes tuned into playing with each other 24x7, fill ins become a fish out of water because a millisecond of hesitation makes them look like bystanders.
If you are thinking about what to do next, it's already too late!
yeah agree. Mitchell is a of a simialr mould to that little snipping pr1ck clarkon and would have been tearing the paint off the walls after that game even with their cameback. He would not have been happy and will demand a strong response.
If we play our best and they are still without wizard battle and impey we are a big chance.
Only thing if we start poorly its game over. Need to set the tone from the first bounce.
Think our run will end on Saturday night
I just have a feeling that may not be a totally bad thing.
It will hurt of course
But it may be a setback that works in our favour in the long run.
We've sort of been preparing ourselves for the 'inevitable' loss.
The pressure keeps increasing with every win to keep the streak going.
It didn't look enjoyable at the end of the game last night.
The team knew they had dodged a bullet.
I suspect a loss would just give them a bit of perspective...and a challenge to regain that winning form in the weeks ahead.
I think they go better when they're up against, it rather than being expected to win easily.
It's a different mental challenge.
Winning against a good team would probably give you much greater satisfaction than beating someone you're expected to beat.
So if they do win that will be a bonus.
But if they lose it may be an experience that stands them in good stead for the coming games...and releases a bit of pressure that comes with the expectations to continue a winning streak.
We're only 6pts behind the Hawks if we beat them.
Been a long winning streak and at some point we will lose. Damn hard to keep those going. Like to win the next 3 to equal our 10 straight in 2023. Probably asking alot. Hawks tough, Pies middle of the road these days, not that bad but not that good either, and GC.
And most pundits, reasonably so, will predict exactly that. But what a terrific challenge for our group.
Bar playing bottom sides our form is good enough to be capable of beating Hawthorn and most others. Doesn't mean we will, given how good Hawthorn can be, but certainly good enough to be a damn good chance. Same was said when we had to play GWS in Sydney.
Be nice to win and get on the positive side of the ledger. Reckon if we win this we're a chance of going 10 straight. Should have beaten Collingwood last time as we played most of the game with 17 on the ground, given Elijah's, and still only missed with a kicked after the siren. 2pts there could have been handy as it stands. After that it's the GC here and I'm certainly confident there.
To win? Gee, a lot of reasons really. Their rucks will pound Pitto. Their forward line looks better than ours. Their backline solid. A couple of their best will be back in with Impey and Watson and they beat us quite regularly.
The only thing working in our favour is that I'm still overseas in Crete and we haven't lost a game since I left.
If we win this one I will seriously have to look at extending my ticket. I'm not joking.
i might have to come join you again for another beer and some raki!
Fair points, I still think we can win.
of course we can win, but it won't be easy.
If we aren't 100% switched on from siren to siren it will be easier to lose!
Riley in, Pitto to float D50 in the absence of Weiters and Young?
Quite a few Dawks also under injury clouds, and Weddle is still out suspended, not sure if Reeves will be back. Little push in the lower back for Watson and that hammy will snap again like a rubber band.
A war of attrition!
So do I, but only if we play our best footy for four quarters.
Hawthorn has been inconsistent this season. They will be looking to bounce back after their woeful performance against Melbourne but a loss like that can sew seeds of doubt.
They haven't been doing great through the midfield lately. They were better on paper than Melbourne in the areas above yet found themselves near 100pts down. Geelong looked better than us in alot of areas but we got them.
The way Hawthorn play they are easy to score against if they don't get the ball, however their slingshot football means they can score quickly when they do get it. To put it a different way, if David didn't have an aggot then his battle with Goliath would have gone a different way.
Battle may or may not get up after appendix removal surgery.
Blues by 7 points
Doubt they'd risk it, the risk far far outweighs the reward.
I'm sure they would think they can win without such a desperate measure, and whether you are up against the best of the best or the competition spuds, an accidental collision, a pointy knee or elbow, could be devastating, lifelong devastating!
The kid they brought in at CHB Mraz had a very good game, can't see Battle playing.
I’m going to back us in although it could be a very tough one. Hopefully the fitness gods will smile on us.
Dawks could have 3 big ins Amon Impey Watson
If so they may be underdone Bring em on go blues
These are the games we need to win.
Call me Shawny Nostradamus
Carlton wins:
Voss Sympathisers: Hawks had injuries and were prime for the taking. Win is good but still the real tests are to come.
Non Voss believers: We may never lose again. We could win the flag
Carlton loses:
Voss Sympathisers: First test and we failed. Told you sacking Voss was a mistake.
Non Voss believers: Going great. 7-1 to 1-8 is a massive upgrade.
Pretty much how it will go. ;) :D
And you know twenty years from now it wont mean a thing to the young Carlton fans looking at the AFL tables.
They'll just see topsy turvy season. ::)
It appears Frasers future if he has one as senior coach depends heavily on the next few games...the players couldnt save Voss or didnt want to so lets see how they go looking after Fraser if they really want him coaching for the future...
Not that we want to see it but....
It actually solves a few issues if it does go off the rails a bit.
The chase for Cody becomes easier.
The pressure to just give it to Fraser drops away...and that gives the new coach a bit of clear air without the Fraser comparisons.
It also makes it a little easier for Fraser to stay at the club as he won't be seen as the coach in waiting.
I give us zero chance against Hawthorn. If we win this week I will admit I was wrong.
Hawthorn have been top 4, top 6 most of the season, after making a prelim in 2025. I think we would be losing to them no matter who was coach.
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about modern footy, it’s that any team can be beaten if they’re not switched on and their opponents are.
Hawthorn has to be the favourite but, if our MC gets it right, our preparation is spot on, and our second tier players make things a little easier for Cripps and Walsh, we could cause an upset 🤞
Yes, they and any other team are not unbeatable, but IMO several things need to go right for us to win, probably more than we can reasonably expect.
Getting really tiresome Shawny, let it go and we all move on mate.
That’s terrific advice…for everyone.
It’s time to move on.
But we won’t.
What Shawny’s post highlights is that posters have picked a side.
It’s black and white, and there is little or no acceptance of alternative views.
But it’s not black and white. There are multiple shades of grey across a number of aspects of the difference before and after the change of coach.
As long as one side puts up an argument the other side will respond. But we’re covering the same territory over and over, across multiple threads.
That’s the only real issue I have with Shawny’s post…it’s sent the thread ‘off topic. ‘
Not intentionally, because it does have relevance.
People will see the result of next weeks game completely differently, and it will be used to justify a position.
But in the big scheme of things… it’s meaningless.
Because change is coming in 2027.
Carlton v Hawthorn….discuss.
Amen, Principal Lods. Exactamundo.
So here's the thing for me. I reckon we have gone back to the sort of form that on our day/night, we can beat anyone.
You can see it in the players actions in game (ie the type of footy we are playing) right across the board.
You can see it in the players demeanours.
You can hear it when they speak in the media.
The player that stands out the most to me in all this and IMO has led this "re-boot" of our club is S Walsh.
He's been the first to run in and start a blue to stand up for our club and say "f-off" to the oppo.
He has taken his hardness at the contest to another level (frankly I didnt think he had it in him.
The fact he extended his contract early shows he is committed to the club and wants to drive standards to another level.
You can see the determination in his eyes every time he runs out and goes for the ball.
Fair comment on Walsh, he has been as important as Cripps in the revival and has stamped his mark on being the clubs next Captain. I'll be interested if his form can continue if Fraser isnt the coach next season...
Walshy cares about the club, you're right though, what happens if he does't like the new coach?
You may recall there was a rumour last year that Walsh wanted out if Voss was remaining. Walsh extended with Voss at the helm but I wonder if he had the good oil on what was going happen which made him extend knowing Voss wasnt going o be around long?
It all fits together, but the bottom line is I still dont like players knifing coaches.
Ill give Walshy the benefit of the doubt and suggest that when he is fit and healthy, he is happy and only knows one way.
I get that players, like everyone, occasionally tell porkies and need to toe the line, but when Voss was sacked / resigned, Walsh stated that he (Voss) was the best leader he ever had.
Dressing room seems a lot happier and united under Fraser and the effort factor from all players seems higher as well, I wont debate the merits of Fraser vs Voss as thats not important anymore but I cant see that level of trust/belief being as strong initially under a new coach and that has to affect what happens on the field.
You mean they are happy when winning, and the pressure is off!
The players are out there selling their wares, the question is why did it take them to arrive at the cliff edge before they switched on?
The obvious simplistic answer is they were not happy under Voss despite the players all pledging their allegiance and praising his leadership abilities but I think it was more complex than that and some how they seemed mentally shackled to the dilemma of the coach fighting for his job and looked mentally exhausted.
Under Fraser its been zero expectations, the pressure released and freedom to enjoy the game and obviously some players are playing for their careers so have the pedal to the floor a bit more.
Maybe when Cripps ends his career he might write a book and talk about what happened but Im sure its a lot more complex than it looks...
I was thinking something similar the other day.
I used to have a boss. Principal/ teacher/ student situation. This guy was respected, not just by those below him but also by the higher-ups. He was the sort of the boss you’d walk through walls for…go the extra distance. And he was always on the go-doing extra- curricular stuff with the kids. He was also demanding and it was kind of an expectation that you’d be right there with him. Early mornings, lunch times, weekends. You felt guilty if you didn’t get involved. Long distance running, cycling, kayaking. And over the years it became a bit exhausting….the pressure and the expectations. So much so that when he left for another job it was kind of a relief. The new guy was much more relaxed. We still did a lot of the things we used to do, but it became more of a choice and the workplace became a much more relaxed but still effective place to be…because the pressure was no longer there and people were happier. Performance probably increased in a number of areas.
I can totally understand how the players might be feeling. Deep respect for Voss but no longer the same pressure and as a result a better performance.
I’m not saying that’s what’s happening, but it might be a factor.
Robert Walls said similar about Barassi. He was relentless, and despite the success, when he left the players were glad to see the back of him.
Pressure will come and you need to be able to not only cope but rise.
I was watching a video with Tom Brady talking about Coach Belichick. He said how normally in the dressing rooms and at the club, every one was happy during the week at training and then on Sunday, they'd get smashed and everyone was sad and unhappy. The club focused on making it a happy and enjoyable place during the week. Belichick flipped that on its head and made Mon to Sat absolute torture and then come Sunday, everything was easy, they were happy and the results changed. He trained them to suffer and endure to the extreme which made game day a stroll in the park (literally).
In life, you get back what you put in, simple as that. If blokes are happy with themselves being on a list and collecting a fat pay check for kicking a ball around? You'll get SFA out of what will be a short career. If you bust a gut day in day out trying to get better as individuals and as a group? You achieve success, plain and simple.
Pressure is not off as the last few weeks we have pushed a wildcard, and now in that position. There's plenty of pressure in that regard. Depends those if the players feel it is more the point
I've actually tipped us. In the last 7 weeks we have only averaged 67pts against, lowest or 2nd lowest in the competition. Previous 9 weeks the average was 101, so that is significant. Come down 34pts. Hawks are very offensive by contrast. Close them down and we can get them the other way on the rebound.
Pressure is a time and result dependant variable, it can be off yesterday and red lining tomorrow!
Nick Watson has been ruled out for the game.
I’m not sure about this one, the boys are playing with more intensity and imo, Purpose and care.
Plenty of pressure whenever you're in finals contention. which is much better than wooden spoon contention admittedly.
From your lips to God's ear!
Lewis Young is out under the concussion protocols and young Harry Dean's cut hand must have healed because he's back.
I wonder if he'll wear a glove :-\
I'm probably more concerned about Cripps's hand.
He was feeling it a bit last week.
Our line-up:
B: 14 Oliver Florent 47 Wade Derksen 26 Nick Haynes
HB: 24 Nic Newman 35 Harry Dean 15 Billy Wilson
C: 5 Adam Cerra 18 Sam Walsh 4 Oliver Hollands
HF: 19 Will Hayward 11 Mitch McGovern 12 Ben Ainsworth
F: 17 Brodie Kemp 10 Harry McKay 39 Talor Byrne
R: 27 Marc Pittonet 9 Patrick Cripps 7 Jagga Smith
Int: 2 Lachlan Cowan 46 Matthew Cottrell 29 George Hewett 30 Jack Ison 44 Francis Evans
Em: 36 Cooper Lord 38 Flynn Riley 8 Lachie Fogarty
[1] Still no Acres. I would have played him, although I'm sure that Ollie Hollands will be better for the run. Acres is a mature body who can run like few others, even if his kicking can be a little dodgy at times.
[2] Only 1 ruck again. I am not a fan, not going against 2 real rucks. Against a team with 1 real ruck, fair enough. But H is going up against a full-timer, not a fellow part timer. Similarly, Pitto has not played all that well against Meek in recent times. Meek actually did reasonably against Gawn from about a third of the way through the 3rd.
The only thing I can think of is that our MC think it is going to rain heavily. That is the forecast: 5 - 15 mm of rain.
Still, it is a potential point source error, which our structure has no clear answer to.
[3] I am happy to see Dean back. He is already making a name for himself. He also has the pace to deal with a leading forward, which Young doesn't.
[4] We have gone with our youngsters, which shows that the MC has faith in them. Ison has struggled in recent times; if he can get his confidence up, he could be interesting.
[5] I am not confident, but I'll be happy if we show more than what we did last week. I don't like Hawthorn at all.
I’m disappointed that Acres wasn’t selected. Hawthorn will try to bully us and, apart from Acres’ ability to have an impact at both ends of the ground, he doesn’t take any sh1t and has the size and attitude to back it up.
It seems like his ticket has been clipped 🙄
I don't think we have the Kryptonite Melbourne used to beat the Dawks, but we have our own Cripptonite up our sleeves ready to use.
I trust we will get competent umpires this week instead of the third stringers we had against the tigers.
Third stringers Prof? That’s remarkably generous of you!
One of the lowlights of that game was a boundary throw in that barely made it into the field of play and resulted in a free against Pitto for a “block”. Nankervis wouldn’t have got to the pill if Pitto had stepped aside and waved him through 🙄
There was a bit of talk in other places earlier tonight, before the teams were announced, that Flynn Riley may play.
He's named as a emergency so we still might see a late change....but it may be for Pittonet.
I was surprised Dean was back so soon, you never know.
I'm not. Did I hear he cut his hand opening a can of cat food?
We MUST go into the game with a "play our way to win" attitude and not a "try not lose" one.
I want to become a team that is "hated by many and feared by all".
Further to the umpiring debacle last week, did anyone notice how low a lot of the throw ups were. Barely cleared the rucks' heads. It was like they were umpiring an U11's game!
Just got a call from an avid Bluebagger mate... Riley in for Pitto.
It's official.
Riley will play.
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2065595/debut
Not sure how to feel about this, I assume Pitto is injured as I’m not sure Riley was busting the door down in e 2’s, no doubt there’s better informed listers in this site who can give a proper update on Wagga Riley will bring. Anyway, best of luck to the big fella!
I'm not sure he's ready for the jump in class....but we're out of options.
Reidy, Pittonet are injured.
O'Keefe is stuggling as a forward at VFL and doing limited ruck work.
Riley has been dominating taps most games, but he doesn't always direct them well.
He does have a good attitude and works hard...but may run out of puff at the pace of this game on a big ground.
He also goes OK around the ground and usually picks up more disposals than his immediate opposition.
It will be interesting... and given he was a mid-season pick this is what he was taken for...a break glass situation.
The glass hasn't just broken, it has shattered!
One thing that Riley does bring to the table is his ability to clunk marks. Pitto averages just over one mark a game (but he does OK at stopping his opponents marking). Riley is averaging three marks a game in the VFL and he will still be 206cm when he runs out on Saturday night.
It's probably fortunate that Hawthorn are without Reeves and it will be Riley and Harry against Meek and Chol.
A war of attrition.
It's an opportunity for Riley, and perhaps not as bad as fans think. Pitto is a known known to many Dawks staffers and opponents, while Riley is a relative unknown. As a newbie you always have an advantage, it's just that many newbies do not have the confidence to take it.
Go well son
Good luck to young Riley, reality is the new rule changes have changed the ruck landscape and Pittonet is one of the casualties and we really need a new No 1 ruck who can at least break even with Jackson, Grundy and the other high possession, high jumping athletic types who dominate games now more than we have seen for a long while, and Riley's height should at least make it difficult for Hawthorns rucks..
Pitto apparently has a 'minor hamstring'. That could mean anything from 1 to 6 weeks.
Reidy will probably be back for the VFL this week, as he was expected to play 'if he got through training'. That won't hurt the VFL team much, although Reidy would probably be somewhat rusty.
I don't like the idea of Riley vs. Meek, but it is going to be wet. If Riley can minimize Meek's influence, that will be a win.
HOK is now one of the Emergencies, even with his lack of form.
Riley is all about 2027 and beyond good luck to him
It's only his 2nd week back from injury, form isn't usually instantaneous!
Riley is our best bet for the future - may as well find out now before we need to decide on his re-contract situation.
I have actually liked his VFL form - he's a jumper, unlike Pitto - and with Cripps/Walsh/Hewitt alongside him, he may be a revelation
I thought his ruck technique was average, he got first hands to the ball a lot but scattered the distribution randomly. I think his best feature was his around the ground marking, if used well he'll be offering a useful chop out option for McKay, Dean, Derksen and McGovern. Even if he doesn't clunk it we should assume the pill will be hitting the deck.
Our Mids should work on the premise that they might not know where Riley is heading, but hopefully at least Meek won't get a free run.
I wanted us to draft Riley....because he was going to get drafted and we needed him. Success, this is exactly why.
However, I've been somewhat critical of his taps. Gets plenty of them, but not enough of them actually help the team. Id suggested when he is so dominant that he should hit to space and take territory and let our mids run onto it.
Lods confirmed that this had started to happen recently.
This is what i hope to see from him this week. He is big enough to get his hands on the ball first. So ensure it benefits the team.
Given a new set of mids to work with, timing and connection will take time so shortcut that and go for territory and get the ball to advantage a somewhat unconventional way instead.
If nothing else he probably has a better group of contested midfielders at his feet than he does in the VFL. ;)
I'm confident Riley will do his job, especially if it's wet. He just needs to be a physical presence and assist the running players with shephards, blocks etc. nothing fancy.
We can beat the Dawks if we bring the heat, but will need to be a 4 qtr effort with no passengers. Stating the obvious I know but you only have to look at how the Pies play and take down better credentialled teams - they do it with gang tackling and team pressure until their opponents crack.
Some rain about tonight it seems, does that favour us, them or neither.
Good question, GTC old son. The things we know about wet weather footy are that the game slows, skills diminish a little and the players tire more later in the game. Plus, the aggott is slipperyer! Our midfield is not the quickest so the wet grass may actually help... especially Crippa and Hewey.
Either way, I'm just hoping for a fair-dinkum crack from our lads against this mob. Most objective pundits would favour the Dawks, but I think we like it if we're the underdogs.
I hate, hate, hate, HATE, LOATHE this mob.
I’m tipping us.
Helps us IMO. Would have been a good game for Acres to play. Will help our contest, stoppage game which is stronger than Dawks I think
late in Flynn Riley for Pittonet hammy source carlton website
Whoops late news my bad just got home from travelling didnt check date of article
Looks like torrential rain will hit The G right on the bounce!