Carlton Supporters Club

AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond

Today at 10:44:35 am

I hate Thursday night football. Not only can't I get to it often enough to matter, but we lose the vast majority of the games. I can think of only one game that we've won that I haven't got to, and only a couple of wins in the few that I could get to.

Then there was last night, where we appear to have improved in no way. We ran out of gas. Our initial strategies might have been OK, but we don't react to changes in the game. Our disposal to our forwards was questionable. Our match-ups didn't work. We didn't stop the opposition play makers from having an influence.
When Sydney got on top in the middle, we were dead meat.

So, what can we do about it?
Well, Richmond are no Sydney, so hopefully we can find something. If we lose this one, we are in serious trouble.

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Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #1 – Today at 11:15:22 am

What can we do for next week?

[1] Plan to take Nankervis out of the picture. He isn't a jumper, so he won't be able to jump all over Pitto and Reidy, but he was the difference last year. We squash him and we go forwards.

[2] Saad goes out with injury. Hopefully, Cowan is fit enough to replace him. Otherwise, Billy Wilson, who has the pace and run we lacked.
As for Cowan, he might be able to do a negating job on one of Richmond's mids. If so, we will be improved by it.

[3] Zac Williams: he had 5 clearances in the first quarter last night, but lacked impact thereafter. I wouldn't have him in defence: small forward with turns in the middle.

[4] Fog goes out. Have Ainsworth, Flynn Young or Byrne do his job. All have more pace and are much faster. All can kick a goal from more than 10 m out, something that Fog doesn't do.

[5] Move McGovern forward or out. As a defender, he is too loose. He has brain fades. Moir to the bench or the VFL.

[6] L. Young: do we need him as a defender against Richmond's forwards? Derkson deserves a chance. It will be interesting to see what forwards Richmond present us with.

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Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #2 – Today at 01:38:18 pm

What can we do for next week?

Saad will be out and this is of no great loss to be perfectly honest. He really has reached his end date. Cowan is not listed on our injury list so I assume he's playing in the VFL praccy match this afternoon. If he gets through that then I'd be bringing him as a replacement. Failing that, Boyd would be my next option.

Fogarty out is a no-brainer although knowing our selectors who knows. If Frank is fit by round 1 (questionable) he comes in. Otherwise I'd give the kid Byrne a crack. At least he has a bit of toe.

Young out is a no-brainer although knowing our selectors who knows. Like Frankie, if Haynes is fit by round 1 (more likely than Frank) he comes in. Can't believe I'm saying that. I still remember the same match last year. Nevertheless, credit where credit is due.

McGovern OUT. He just grinds my gears. Can't trust him and he just doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes or doesn't care. Derksen in here. Should've been picked anyway.

Williams to go forward to actually continue on his good form of last year. Another no-brainer although knowing our selectors who knows.

Kemp to play at CHF and Harry at FF. Moir to start on the bench. Come on for short spells up forward then on ball for a couple of minutes then off.

If Carroll gets through todays practice match he comes in onto a HBF and Florent to the wing

Chesser out

Reidy stays, for the time being.

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Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #3 – Today at 05:30:19 pm

Gov out Deksen in
Fog out (shouldn't have been picked probably, didnt lay a tackle) Byrne in
Saad out not sure who comes in for him and I thought Wilson was also injured, Cowan maybe? Boyd?
Reidy out OKeefe In

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