I don't think we've beaten Willi in this iteration of the 2's, so I'd very much like to see that happen!
The game is at 11:05 at Willi, which doesn't suit our timing well. At least 1 senior Emergency won't be playing.
Our line-up:
B: 66 Sam Paea 61 Dane Harvey 42 Adam Saad
HB: 28 Harry Charleson 37 Jordan Boyd 74 Logan Prout
C: 30 Jack Ison 50 Darcy Tucker 21 Lucas Camporeale
HF: 76 Cody Walker 45 Flynn Young 57 Alwyn Davey
F: 43 Ashton Moir 40 Hudson O'Keeffe 75 Liam Farrar
R: 56 Flynn Riley 16 Ben Camporeale 8 Lachie Fogarty
Int: 58 Jack Sammartino 60 Will Reinhold 62 Oliver Warburton 70 Darcy Hogg 77 Will Cookson
Em: 72 Charlie Cotter 65 Jed Rule 68 Taj Logan 63 Ryder Corrigan 78 Tyson Gresham 64 Archie Stevens 54 Jack O'Sullivan
[1] Only 11 listed players, the least we've had all year!
[2] No Reidy, who has been very good lately. Last time Mirkov was the difference. He slaughtered Reidy early. Not sure what is wrong with Reidy either.
[3] Our structure looks pretty suspect, with our lack of KP types, but with Paea back and Reinhold still in, at least we have some talls. On the other hand, Farrar has been a consistent goal kicker since he's come up.
[4] Cody Walker: I wonder what sort of role he'll play? He's played a number of different roles of late, mainly outside. His best footy was probably as an inside mid.
[5] There is certainly a strong Carlton flavour to Willi, with Parks, Cuningham, Polson and Mirkov playing for Willi.
Carlton v Carlton with all the ex-players in the Seagulls side.
As well as our ex's Simon Minton-Connells boy Harry is also playing for Williamstown.
They have the lead with 2 early goals.
Wind will be a factor here.
The ground is so open to the elements.
3 goals to 0
Reidy and Riley (illness) both not playing.
O'Keefe has a big job.
They have the wind and are 4 goals up now.
Need to hold the margin until its our turn.
Usual service returns, 9 shots to 2 is not caused by the wind!
Quarter time
Williamstown 5-4-34 lead Carlton 0-3-3
Charleson 11
Boyd 8
Mirkov and Preuss combination is too strong for O'Keefe in the ruck
They say its a 5 goal breeze, let's see.
As soon as i heard the minton-connell name i knew lods would flag it. Didn't disappoint.
In conditions like this it highlights why you need some talls... and we have none today besides HOK.
Let's see some walker magic in what will likely be his last non (afl) carlton game if we lose
Worst trade ever :D
The bloke we got in exchange for SMC didn't amount to anything...and ended up filling up space on our board.
One goal each in the second.
To O'Keefe's credit he's not playing all that badly and is probably more involved than when anchored at FF.
They're kicking them against the wind...we're in a fair bit of strife here.
HOK is doing OK, but will fade after half time.
Our defending is very poor. We are giving them front position and with the breeze it falling in their lap.
Need to play the conditions better
....and right in cue.
Mark and shot at goal because we played behind and the ball dropped short.
Williamstown 9-5-59 leading Carlton 2-4-16
22 minutes gone second term
Walker just 4 touches almost half time.
2nd round pick only
Half time
Williamstown 9-5-59 leading Carlton 3-4-22
Charleson 15
Ben Camporeale 14
Yep
Walker has been quiet.
The wind is overstated, it's not that bad, it's more steady than gusty.
Gusty wind plays havoc, steady wind is a skill issue.
Into the third now.
Ison hasn't had a great involvement to this stage but has done couple of nice things that show a bit of class.
Seagulls out to a 47 point lead now.
Make that 53.
The party's over.
No-one really making a claim for next week.
Probably time to pack my binoculars and head over to Marvel. ;)
Might have seen the last game for quite a few boys today.
Campo
Moir
Fogarty
Saad
O'Keeffe
Ben C has done his usual false start...but has picked up his diposals as the game has gone on.
Does he hurt the other side that much is the question.
I'd personally like to see him, his brother and Charleson all get another year.
But the cut has to come somewhere.
3/4 time
Williamstown 17-6-108 lead Carlton 3-9-27
100 point loss in the making.
Disposals
Ben C 23
Charleson 19
Boyd 19
Goalkickers
No Carlton listed players
Paea
Farrer
Hogg
We'll see what trades we do, but they all might be saved simply because we use all our half-decent picks to get Walker.....they might be competing against a bloke likely to be taken at pick 60.
Considering the ladder position and form line of the two teams, I was hoping for a lot better than that. Hopefully the boys can show something in the last.
Willi is a tough ground for anyone, really unique ground and very affected by the wind and rain, but let's not make excuses.
Good last quarter. At least they showed something.
Final Score
Williamstown 19-7-121 def Carlton 12-11-83
Disposals
Ben C 35 (Not bad from someone who doesn't get interested until quarter time.)
Charleson 27
Walker 23 (another who only played the last 3 quarters-actually he only played the last half-Had 3-4 possessions at half time.)
Goals
Paea 4
F Young 3
Walker ended up with 23, 3rd most disposals.
Halfway through the 2nd quarter he had 3.
If thats his worst game, i'll take it.
[1] We were always going to be in trouble with the injuries we've sustained in recent weeks. With neither Reidy nor Riley available, for example, we were always going to lack ability at clearing the ball. Mirkov beat us last time when we did have Reidy, so we were always on the back foot.
We had 9 listed players, which is by far the least we've had for any game this season.
[2] Kicking 9 in the last quarter was something to hang our hats on, as we showed something. Willi may claim to have slowed down, but good teams don't do that.
Impressed that Sam Paea kicked 4: he has some talent, even if his kicking is unreliable.
[3] Ben Camporeale makes a habit of back-ending games. In almost every game he's played this season, he gets more of the ball in the second half. That is not a bad thing at all! Now, to get him to make those possessions count! 36 possessions, 5 clearances and 4 tackles was a decent game.
[4] Cody Walker: his first half didn't work, but he also very much back-ended his game. Not bad for a kid.
I can comment further later I've watched the replay, but we were always on a hiding to nothing with the players we had available.
Gave nothing and copped a hiding?
Ben C looks ready for AFL but he his game style sits well back in the queue here. Hence why Kennedy is at the Bulldogs now. Alot of those types. He'd probably made a decent player at another club.
Hewett will be 31 at the start of next season.
Ben C with a couple more pre-seasons and a bit more experience may be able to take on that role.
Finding the ball isn't the issue with Ben.
It's what he does with it at the moment in terms of impact.
I think we might regret it if we cut him too soon.
With players like the Camporeales and Charleson there may be a few in front of them at the moment...but they represent 'young depth'.
anyone who looks the part should be persisted with.
Talent pool dilutes soon with tassie joining. Players that can find the footy will be useful.
We need to be measured with what we do moving forward.
A week is a long time in football. Last week Willi dominated because they won the rucks with Preuss and Mirkov, while we had only O'Keefe. A week on and Willi lose both Preuss and Mirkov by 1/4 time. The result? Essendon wipe the floor with them. I'm not sure if we can consider this fate, or a message. But it does show how important rucks can be.