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Topic: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown (Read 2038 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #15
It has been an embarrassing day for Carlton, but it certainly didn't start the way it should have.
Carlton 12 - 7 - 79
Williamstown 12 - 12 - 84

[1] We haven't beaten Williamstown yet in this iteration of our 2nds. That is simply unacceptable! Granted that our VFL program has been turned on its head, with Power replaced by Truslove (and most of the other coaches as well), but with so many AFL LISTED PLAYERS, we should not be losing to VFL clubs!

[2] To start so poorly is unprofessional, especially as we don't run out games.

[3] To have Mirkov beat Reidy in the ruck is awful. For all his limitations, Mirkov gave his mids first look. That bodes terribly for Reidy. And it bodes terribly for Carlton as a team, as we badly needed Reidy to step up.
The positive was Reidy's work around the ground: 20 disposals is a positive. But it doesn't give our mids the service they need.

[4] Williamstown had the 3 top possession getters on the ground: FitzGerald, Hall-Kahan & Toner. And yet, did we have anyone run with them?
Our lack of run-with players is terribly obvious in the seniors, but it seems that there is nobody doing the job in the VFL.

[5] Nick Haynes: 13 marks. Nobody else got close to that. If he has done his hamstring, then we've lost something.

[6] Nic Newman: I was hoping that we wouldn't need Nic much any longer, but he does something few of our defenders do, he wins one on one possessions. His lack of pace might be an issue, but there is still a place for him in the seniors.

[7] Other than Flynn Young, who kicks our goals?
How did all the other senior listed players go? Moir, the Campos? The Irish guys?
Moir: 9 possessions and 1 goal.
Duffy: 3 possessions and 0 tackles.
Cottrell: 10 possessions and no scores. 1 tackle.
Acres: 11 possessions, no scores and 1 tackle.
Saad: 13 possessions and 1 tackle.
Not enough from players who should be doing more. Where is the leadership?
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #16
I watched the final minutes and we were banging it forward but without a target.
We had it locked in.
Moir had a snap in the last seconds that missed.
Let’s go BIG !

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #17
How did all the other senior listed players go? Moir, the Campos? The Irish guys?
Moir: 9 possessions and 1 goal.
Duffy: 3 possessions and 0 tackles.
Cottrell: 10 possessions and no scores. 1 tackle.
Acres: 11 possessions, no scores and 1 tackle.
Saad: 13 possessions and 1 tackle.
Not enough from players who should be doing more. Where is the leadership?
Pretty piss poor from establish, senior listed players in a VFL match.
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: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #18
I see Ben Camporeale got a bit of it, he might be a chance against NM
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: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #19
I see Ben Camporeale got a bit of it, he might be a chance against NM
Indeed. 27 disposals, 5 clearances and 3 tackles. He was definitely one of our best.

Next best were Nic Newman and newcomer Will Cookson, who had 23. Cookson also kicked a goal.
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #20
Surely Ben C must be a chance for the seniors soon, our midfield mix is clearly wrong but we have a pig headed MC....
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #21
Surely Ben C must be a chance for the seniors soon, our midfield mix is clearly wrong but we have a pig headed MC....
Do we need to drop one of Cripps or Hewett  to play BenC as a midfielder?

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #22
Cripps (omitted) would certainly send a message.
I'm not sure whether the repercussions would be positive or negative.

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #23
Cripps (omitted) would certainly send a message.
I'm not sure whether the repercussions would be positive or negative.
Probably negative but our midfield mix doesn't allow for another blue collar coalface mid imo.
It's a shame Cripps and Hewett are typecast to that one position...

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #24
Surely Ben C must be a chance for the seniors soon, our midfield mix is clearly wrong but we have a pig headed MC....
Do we need to drop one of Cripps or Hewett  to play BenC as a midfielder?

No way we'll drop Crippa, but Hewey is a distinct possibility.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #25
Very disappointed with Moir in this game.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #26
Surely Ben C must be a chance for the seniors soon, our midfield mix is clearly wrong but we have a pig headed MC....
Do we need to drop one of Cripps or Hewett  to play BenC as a midfielder?
Do we need to?
Yes.

Will we?
No

So how about this....
Out: HOK.
In: Ben C.

Cripps to FF and changing in the ruck.

That way we have another option at FF....and one that can actually wrestle.
We can play him as a ruck and have 4 mids in the middle.
We give exposure to Ben C in the process.

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #27

Do we need to drop one of Cripps or Hewett  to play BenC as a midfielder?
Do we need to?
Yes.

Will we?
No

So how about this....
Out: HOK.
In: Ben C.

Cripps to FF and changing in the ruck.

That way we have another option at FF....and one that can actually wrestle.
We can play him as a ruck and have 4 mids in the middle.
We give exposure to Ben C in the process.
Fair call...Im not adverse to playing Cripps down forward more especially after half time when he looks gassed.
BenC isnt quick but he might run out the game better being younger and I cant see how we can progress into the future with two slow moving mids like Cripps and Hewett who cant keep up with slicker moving players no matter how good a footballers they are.

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #28

Do we need to drop one of Cripps or Hewett  to play BenC as a midfielder?
Do we need to?
Yes.

Will we?
No

So how about this....
Out: HOK.
In: Ben C.

Cripps to FF and changing in the ruck.

That way we have another option at FF....and one that can actually wrestle.
We can play him as a ruck and have 4 mids in the middle.
We give exposure to Ben C in the process.

Yep
Ben C needs to be given an opportunity and there's probably no better time.
Move Cripps to the forward line, give him license to create a bit of havoc and hope that players like Byrne and Evans can capitalise on it.

 

Re: VFL Rd 2 2026 Carlton vs Williamstown

Reply #29
Looking at the replay of the game you can really see some things:
[1] The new ruck rules have really disadvantaged us. Mirkov really dominated because he isn't just tall, he's got a huge leap. He could rarely use it with the old rules. He really gave the Willi mids an armchair ride.

[2] We can't develop players for nuts!
The two players that stood out to me were Parks and Mirkov. Mirkov is a different player with the current rules and it showed in his confidence. He did much better in this game than in any game for us.
Parks played such a negative role when he played for us that he barely got a kick. He is taking marks, and getting close to 20 possessions a week as a defender. Why didn't we see this?
I could mention Cam Polson, but he didn't play yesterday.

[3] Our VFL side is seriously short:
Willi had three guys who were seriously tall. Preuss took marks, Mirkov dominated the ruck and Fullerton took marks.
We didn't have a defender to go with them. Derkson got out-marked quite a lot, but he was 10 cm shorter than Preuss and 13 cm less than Mirkov.
Nor did we have a tall target to kick to. Harvey wasn't on the ground that much and provided nothing much.
Then again, we got very few centre breaks. We actually scored from most of the ones we got.
With Paea and Phillips under injury clouds, we lacked strength and height.

[4] Ben Campo got a fair bit of ball, but he didn't stop his man getting it. Nor did he provide a lot of drive from the centre. It wasn't easy to do when Willi had such a dominance in the ruck.
Lucas, on the other hand, was probably the least effective that I've seen him. He just couldn't get into the game and was about 10 possessions down from his average.

[5] Our game plan reminded me of the 1's: kick it along the line and hope to win a contest, which we didn't.

[6] Cottrell played a half only. He wasn't bad, but he needed the run.
Acres played a half and was less effective. He is still struggling with his shoulder.
Ison did some nice things, but needed to be more involved.
Moir was similar, but the way we delivered the ball into the forward line didn't make it easy for them.

[7] We don't lead:
Our forwards don't lead. We don't make leading lanes. We don't honour the few leads that are made. Our forward line is just so stagnant that it really irritates me.

[8] Disposal:
Our disposal, even at this level, simply isn't good enough. Even good kicks m8issed targets.

Overall, I was really disappointed. You could tell that we needed the run. Willi had already played and it showed.
In the end, we were unlucky, even though Moir's last shot was particularly difficult. But, if we could hit a target, it might not have been.
Live Long and Prosper!