VFL Rd 21 2026 Carlton vs Footscray at Footscray

August 13, 2026, 09:27:50 pm

We really need to win this, as our fate is no longer in our hands. We need teams above us to lose, but if we screw up, we've no chance.

Game is on Sunday morning at Footscray at 10:35.

We will have 3 rucks, while the Dogs are struggling in that area: we've got to make this a structural win!

No Zac Williams: his larynx is kaput. And I read elsewhere that St, Kilda are courting him! Not the way to convince a player to play for you!
No Camporeale: a dislocated shoulder should keep him out. We've been down in the midfield of late and need to win this. Will Hogg return? He has been an inside mid this season. We need Darcy Tucker to play, as he can do that role.
Matt Duffy? He is headed back to Ireland next week. Will he get a final game? I'm disappointed that he didn't work out, but we just haven't seen the run and carry he had in Gaelic footy.
We really need a key target. Not sure who can do that job! I'd play Farrar, as he does kick goals. But we still have real issues in the key position player area.

Re: VFL Rd 21 2026 Carlton vs Footscray at Footscray

Reply #1 – Today at 06:37:07 pm

Our line-up:

B:   28 Harry Charleson   61 Dane Harvey   37 Jordan Boyd
HB:   58 Jack Sammartino   33 Lewis Young   42 Adam Saad
C:   21 Lucas Camporeale   50 Darcy Tucker   62 Oliver Warburton
HF:   45 Flynn Young   8 Lachie Fogarty   30 Jack Ison
F:   43 Ashton Moir   40 Hudson O'Keeffe   74 Logan Prout
R:   25 Liam Reidy   16 Ben Camporeale   4 Oliver Hollands
Int:   75 Liam Farrar   76 Cody Walker   60 Will Reinhold   63 Ryder Corrigan   80 Thomas Howard   66 Sam Paea   57 Alwyn Davey   65 Jed Rule   68 Taj Logan   77 Will Cookson   72 Charlie Cotter

[1] 13 listed players, with at least one almost certain not to play (AFL Emergency): not the best outcome for us, but we've had quite a few injuries recently, with none of them coming back.

[2] We're only playing 2 rucks this week, with Riley getting the rest. It doesn't improve our overall structure. Reidy does like slaughtering 2nd string rucks, but we don't always get midfield dominance from it.

[3] I'm surprised to see ben Camporeale named, but it does improve our midfield significantly. We really need a few of our mids to stand up, especially after last week, If we lose, we're done.

[4] This time last year the Dogs murdered us. The previous year, in a similar position, we were thrashed by over 100 points by Southport. We have a very poor record in last H&A games, which we really need to do something about.

[5] Cody played op a wing last week, I hope he plays some inside mid minutes this week. He showed he can really lift our clearances.

[6] We have developed quite a decent VFL cohort this year. I hope they can stand up one more time. Then they can enjoy a finals campaign for the first time in years.