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AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond

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.
Live Long and Prosper!

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

Reply #1 –
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.
Live Long and Prosper!

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

Reply #2 –
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.

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

Reply #3 –
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
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time
2025-Carlton can win the 2025 AFL Premiership

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

Reply #4 –
Danger game

Tiges will believe they can beat us - if we play like last night they will beat us again

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

Reply #5 –
Quote from: shawny – on
Danger game

Tiges will believe they can beat us - if we play like last night they will beat us again
I'd expect a rebound from our blokes and a good win. Wouldn't change the team much apart from replacing injured players either..
Been talk we approached Craig McRae who said No before commiting to Voss to continue for this season and the club need to show everyone is on the same page and get a win to dial the pressure down.

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

Reply #6 –
Quote from: shawny – on
Danger game

Tiges will believe they can beat us - if we play like last night they will beat us again
we will knock the stuffing out of them.
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

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

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: shawny – on
Danger game

Tiges will believe they can beat us - if we play like last night they will beat us again
we will knock the stuffing out of them.

mate we couldn’t knock the stuffing out of a
pillow.

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

Reply #8 –
Reports from other places from the VFL practice (just opinions and pretty lukewarm in most cases)

Good (fair)
Derksen
Camporeales
Byrne
Charleson (early)

OKs
Boyd
The Irish boys
F Young

Not so good
O'Keefe
Cowan (may be reported)

Bit of a mixture -Carroll and Acres. (probably need another run)

No-one really staking a big claim, which was disappointing but Derksen, Boyd and Byrne suggested as possibles.
O'keefe not coming on at the moment is a bit disappointing.

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

Reply #9 –
I don't get all the hate for boyd.
Clearly not rated by the mc.
Not well liked by our own supporters.

I don't know if it's got to do with him painting his nails or something equally nonsensical, but a his user of the ball who likes getting physical and flying the flag is something we could use at afl level right now.

To me he looks to play better at afl level. Maybe it's the pristine surfaces of afl over vfl that helps his kicking, but given newman, saad, cowan, carroll (williams?) All out and/or struggling....give him a go

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

Reply #10 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
I don't get all the hate for boyd.
Clearly not rated by the mc.
Not well liked by our own supporters.

I don't know if it's got to do with him painting his nails or something equally nonsensical, but a his user of the ball who likes getting physical and flying the flag is something we could use at afl level right now.

To me he looks to play better at afl level. Maybe it's the pristine surfaces of afl over vfl that helps his kicking, but given newman, saad, cowan, carroll (williams?) All out and/or struggling....give him a go
Id have Boyd in for the injured Saad..
 

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

Reply #11 –
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Id have Boyd in for the injured Saad..
To me Saad has been very disappointing now for the best part of two seasons. He seems to have lost the desire and it appears to be the same cycle that he showed just before he came to Carlton. Opposition have worked out his one-sided approach and he's not got a trick left to surprise anyone.

I had hoped a season opener during Ramadan might be his making for 2026, because I think in previous Ramadan's he has gone up a level, but this was a bad start. I think he's got a tough year ahead.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

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

Reply #12 –
Quote from: LP – on
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Id have Boyd in for the injured Saad..
To me Saad has been very disappointing now for the best part of two seasons. He seems to have lost the desire and it appears to be the same cycle that he showed just before he came to Carlton. Opposition have worked out his one-sided approach and he's not got a trick left to surprise anyone.

I had hoped a season opener during Ramadan might be his making for 2026, because I think in previous Ramadan's he has gone up a level, but this was a bad start. I think he's got a tough year ahead.
To be honest, I'd like to see us try Saad in some different roles. Certainly, opposition coaches know what he provides in the backline.
With him probably unavailable, I would be using Boyd. I'd like Cowan, but he needs some game time yet.
Live Long and Prosper!

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

Reply #13 –
Saad hurt his hamstring and may not play again. He was playing OK till then but he's just another old player we dont get enough from. 

Docherty retired early i thought.  Hes a top player who was coming back from significant injury and it was the desire that retired him.  Why?  Im guessing he didn't see a future in the team at the minute and just jumped before we pushed him. 
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson