Carlton Supporters Club

It's our "experienced" player who are the problem IMO, not the kids

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.

Quote from: crashlander – on March 06, 2026, 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.

Yep. We don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater after one game.

I hope we stick to the very same game plan, only with a few inclusions. Specifically, Haynes for McGovern, Derken for Young (the kid has a footy IQ, Young hasn't), Boyd for the injured Saad and Byrne for Fogary... and use Byrne like the Fluffy Ducks used Papley and Rottingwood used Pendlebury... sparing impact although the reasons for Papley and Pendles having limited exposure for obvious reasons but the principle is the same... bring on an impact player, sparingly.

The two ruck thing also needs a look. Plus blokes like Cowan, Carroll and Flynn Young should also be in contention...

Quote from: Baggers – on March 09, 2026, 12:33:04 pm

Yep. We don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater after one game.

I hope we stick to the very same game plan, only with a few inclusions. Specifically, Haynes for McGovern, Derken for Young (the kid has a footy IQ, Young hasn't), Boyd for the injured Saad and Byrne for Fogary... and use Byrne like the Fluffy Ducks used Papley and Rottingwood used Pendlebury... sparing impact although the reasons for Papley and Pendles having limited exposure for obvious reasons but the principle is the same... bring on an impact player, sparingly.

The two ruck thing also needs a look. Plus blokes like Cowan, Carroll and Flynn Young should also be in contention...

Papley and Pendlebury have the age fitness/age issue but its also about using up your rotations early and having none left later in the game when you need them. Swans worked it to perfection saving their rotations having 50 odd still in the bank to use in the 2nd half even though the temptation would have been to use them early when they were struggling.
We tired and they kept the pressure up with more rotations/fresher legs which Warner alluded to after the game...

Do you think Pendlebury would have played if he got stretchered off like weitering did that night? Not a chance.

Do you think Pendlebury would have played if he got stretchered off like weitering did that night? Not a chance.

The back half defense holds up ok but the problem is the defensive skills of our midfield doesnt.....Gulden and Heeney had high tackle numbers the same cant be said for our mids who dont apply much pressure when they dont have 1st use, we have too many one way players in the middle of the ground. Then you look at our forward pressure which was also non existant...Fogarty didnt have one tackle and he is employed solely as a pressure forward and Ainsworth had one tackle...
Its the not the defense, its the rest of the team who pick and choose when to defend  so the opposition mids and running half backs just stroll around unhindered and do what they like leading to the avalanche of forward entries and defenders bewildered by the pressure.
Cripps, Hewett and Walsh in the middle doesnt work as a group when defense is required, you look at Gold Coast and they have a main midfield of Anderson, Rowell and Miller who can win the footy, attack, defend and carry the ball....our group cant do the latter two skills well enough for long enough against quality opposition.