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Topic: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne (Read 3123 times) previous topic - next topic
bigTee, Bluesers, Tones, Shakin77, MickyO, madbluboy, laj and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #90 –
Hayward is used to the Sydney system and playing with Gulden and crew lacing him with the ball, at Carlton you have to work way harder for your kicks because quality entries are few and far between.
Even at Sydney he was an eleven possession a game player averaging one goal a game so not exactly a dial mover just a handy accessory at best to the real stars. The other problem with him is what is his man doing?, given most teams run high possession rebounders off half back and look for the easier players to exploit.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #91 –
Id try him out of the square as a leading FF
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?
 

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #93 –
McKay is a shadow of his former self:
He struggles to take an overhead mark without juggling the ball at least once.
He fails to get separation from a defender on the lead.
Even when he does get some decent foot passes to his advantage, he seems to be unable to use his considerable body size and reach to prevent an opponent from spoiling from behind.
He remains an unreliable kick for goal.

Might as well use him as a back up ruckman to allow him to try and regain some one-grab overhead marking.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #94 –
Quote from: PaulP – on
Even at their best, the Derksens, Reidys, Haywards etc are never going to be like-for-like replacements, but I think once they settle in they will play good footy for us.

All those trades were players that can lift the floor, but none of them are going to lift the roof.   What A-Graders did Montagna think we could get in?   Ainsworth and Hayward is better than any of the small/medium forwards that we had, but they are known qualities.     Add.   Florent.    All 27-28.   None have upside.   Reidy is a backup ruck that joins the back up ruck merry-go round.

The only one that might have upside is Chesser and given we gave up what ended being pick 42 it's a low-cost play with a low chance of being a smash pick.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #95 –
Regarding not replacing the 'topliners'.

Serious question....
With who?
Who would we have taken in the last draft/trade period to replace them.

You can make a good case for not developing the repalcements long term.
But when DeKoning (expected), Silvagni (unexpected) and Curnow (umming and ahhing) decided to leave who should we have replaced them with.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #96 –
Quote from: Shakin77 – on

All those trades were players that can lift the floor, but none of them are going to lift the roof.   What A-Graders did Montagna think we could get in?   Ainsworth and Hayward is better than any of the small/medium forwards that we had, but they are known qualities.     Add.   Florent.    All 27-28.   None have upside.   Reidy is a backup ruck that joins the back up ruck merry-go round.

The only one that might have upside is Chesser and given we gave up what ended being pick 42 it's a low-cost play with a low chance of being a smash pick.

I agree to a large extent. We were never going to replace like for like. I'm  not sure if Montagna is referring to this trade period or just generally. Either way, it doesn't matter. IMO, we have less A grade talent, more B grade talent, C grade is holding steady, and in terms of kids and futures like Cody, it's hard not to be excited.

Also worth noting, that irrespective of whether or not we trade like for like, all list changes taken in toto contribute to lack of cohesion and lack of continuity. When you think about that, plus the changes to assistant coaches, plus changes to the game plan, we have to be realistic. It will take time for things to gel.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #97 –
Problem we have is now that we are a designated bottom team and the better players and free agents wont be picking us unless its on Stkilda type offerings that are way overs. Im not happy with the Florent /Hayward contracts either...way too long and list clogging given what they offer. I think I read we have 19-20 players from other clubs and and none of them are A graders or dial movers.
Doing the moneyball recruiting worked for Collingwood because they had a once in a lifetime player like Nick Daicos joining the club in the same year as Frampton, Mcstay, Hill etc and he has lifted the roof(see Shakins comments).
Only road back is via the draft imo and developing more of our own and then looking for moneyballers to fill holes and not relying on them to be dial movers. You look at Smith, Dean,Ofarrell? and then the incoming Walker and you find we have nothing else coming through and Im already feeling sorry for Cody Walker who isnt going to be a cheap father/son pick and success starved Blues fans will be wanting Nick Daicos Messiah type results from him in his first season given the hype attached to him.
IMO its a full rebuild needed, plenty of patience given its harder with Tassie in the comp and a new regime off the field in all areas
including coaching and recruiting.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #98 –
We dont need a dial mover.  North brought in Luke Parker.  Hes not a gun anymore but he commands respect is a fine player, and was once one of the games best players and knows what it takes to climb the mountain.

Thats the one place we have stuffed it across the journey.  The only player of that ilk we've recruited is nick haynes.  Whilst he's a fine player he was never one of the games best.

Others import leadership when they need some, we are still relying on the understudies of chris Judd and losing dochertys leadership likely hurt us more than any of the talent that walked out. 

"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #99 –
Not sure if it's been mentioned but Hayward has been given a week for his hit on Wardlaw.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #100 –
Quote from: Thryleon – on
We dont need a dial mover.  North brought in Luke Parker.  Hes not a gun anymore but he commands respect is a fine player, and was once one of the games best players and knows what it takes to climb the mountain.

Thats the one place we have stuffed it across the journey.  The only player of that ilk we've recruited is nick haynes.  Whilst he's a fine player he was never one of the games best.

Others import leadership when they need some, we are still relying on the understudies of chris Judd and losing dochertys leadership likely hurt us more than any of the talent that walked out. 


Parker is a leader but he isnt a dial mover as a player imho, we dont have any real top consistent A grade talent and either do Nth and thats why that game was an error ridden mess like most of the other games we have played this season.
The cupboard is bare as far as leaders go and Cripps should abdicate the role...

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #101 –
Quote from: Lods – on
Not sure if it's been mentioned but Hayward has been given a week for his hit on Wardlaw.
Probably save himself  and the club the embarrassment of dropping him...

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #102 –
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Parker is a leader but he isnt a dial mover as a player imho, we dont have any real top consistent A grade talent and either do Nth and thats why that game was an error ridden mess like most of the other games we have played this season.
The cupboard is bare as far as leaders go and Cripps should abdicate the role...

That should probably have been the move at the start of the year.
If the message is "out with the old, this is a new beginning" a new captain would tie into that messaging.

Now it would seem like the result of a crisis, and an admission of failed leadership by Cripps.

Re: AFL Rd 4 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

Reply #103 –
He might appeal and get off.

Last leadership we recruited was Eddie betts back.   Did a job for a season or two.  Then went to geelong because we wouldn't give him a proper job.

Typical Carlton bollocks.  Let good people walk to our opposition because we cant appreciate what we have.

Im sick of this club.  Its all just history repeating over and over again.
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson