Preview 2025 Rd 3 Carlton vs Western Bulldogs Friday 28th March 7:40PM AEDT @ Marvel Stadium

[Aphrodite]

Team is in …

AFL team news: Blues recall two

The Blues have made two changes for the Round 3 clash with the Western Bulldogs.

www.carltonfc.com.au

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[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

Last week I called for the following to be dropped to set standards:

Harry, Gov, Haynes, Motlop

Harry didn't play anyway. Haynes was poor again, Gov and Mots whilst better than last week (which is as low as the bar can go anyway) were still average.

We were gonna get pantsed without these guys apparently... yet with them minus Harry, they didn't really do much anyway.

Because of their "better" showing last night, their spot is now secured.

Docherty is a liability. But his spot is also secured until he retires.

I just can't see us getting to the top 4 carrying all these players with their conditional performances alongside other passengers like Fogarty.

This side is crying out for a change in energy...

Lucas is just not ready. He panics and kicks long to players like Motlop and Williams when they're also outnumbered. He should be getting some development time in the 2's... but gotta get that feel good story in don't we Carlton?

Motts was average?
19 touches, 1.3 that could've been 3.1, 6 tackles (3 inside 50), got up the ground, played some mid time with 2 clearances, 8 score involvements.
I thought he was really good. Flip those goals and points around and I reckon everyone would be calling it his best game.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Motts was average?
19 touches, 1.3 that could've been 3.1, 6 tackles (3 inside 50), got up the ground, played some mid time with 2 clearances, 8 score involvements.
I thought he was really good. Flip those goals and points around and I reckon everyone would be calling it his best game.

Yeah the stats aren't too bad but the way he goes about it, he doesn't put his head over the ball, very soft and his tackles aren't great.

 

[Ald Gardiner]

Carroll replacing Haynes is the minimum I want, just hope he’s fit for selection

 

[Stamos]

Carroll replacing Haynes is the minimum I want, just hope he’s fit for selection

I don’t think you can bring in a debutant off a week where he missed a game injured

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Bailey Dale is one of the best kicks n the AFL - we don’t have that quality.
Libba is a left footer & crafty - also something that we need. Cez is about the only decent kick in our midfield.

Our forward line has been diabolical for 10yrs with highly recommended line-coaches such as Teague, Hansen & Russell unable to make it function.

Bailey Dale is one of the best kicks n the AFL - we don’t have that quality.

Newman had this role for us - how
Many times have we seen him kick to H?

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Haven’t posted for sometime. Apologies for long post.

Regardless of Darcy, l want McKay to play more CHB swinging forward with Silvagni when required.

A back line something like this:

Boyd Weitering McGovern
Cowan McKay Saad (speed & aerial strength)

A forward line something like this:

Motlop Curnow Kemp
Fogarty Silvagni Williams (with another small forward on bench)

Silvagni is stronger under ball & can bring smalls into game better than Curnow & McKay who will destroy you if they have space. Kemp still needs time to learn the craft. Silvagni is also better with the chaos ball because he can read it off the boot very well. He seems a lot stronger in the hips. If teams are on them counter, then McKay in defence will be better as Silvagni can’t close space as quickly.

Hollands interchanges onto wing/defence when required.

In the times when we smash teams and we are 35 points up early then in a blink of an eye opposition is 30 points up after flooding us & restructuring around stoppages & Voss does nothing preemptively. We should for 20 minutes as they flood, play Weitering full forward. Our strongest player under the ball. Who like Silvagni will bring the ball down to our smalls & stifle opposition counter. Play Curnow for 20 minutes as a floating defender. Among other positional changes.

These massive turnarounds must be addressed regardless. Turn the game into a grind for 20minutes. Don’t think because you are 35 points up you will be 70 points. Dumb coaching.

We struggle to play tempo footy. Especially, with the class, speed, leadership, adaptability of E Hollands, J Smith, Newman, Boyd & Cincotta missing the 1st 2 games. Along with Walsh, McKay & Curnow probably hampered/underdone. So the above option is better until he have enough players with poise & execution.

I want Voss to understand what our strengths are & how to adapt to them & understand how opposition coaches exploit our weaknesses & how to counter that. I have not seen this done satisfactorily in the time he has been coaching. l also want us to select team towards smaller than taller.

As disappointing the 1st game was, l definitely have not written season off.

I don’t think Harry is strong enough in the contest to handle CHB.

 

[The Bighouse]

Bailey Dale is one of the best kicks n the AFL - we don’t have that quality.

Newman had this role for us - how
Many times have we seen him kick to H?

Yeah, NN was our best kick into fwd50 IIRC last season (leading to scores).

NN was a dubious kick at times, certainly improved his game as a veteran. Sorely missed.

Would like more lefties drafted.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Yeah, NN was our best kick into fwd50 IIRC last season (leading to scores).

NN was a dubious kick at times, certainly improved his game as a veteran. Sorely missed.

Would like more lefties drafted.

Shame Fantasia tweaked his calf - he’s got a beautiful peg.

 

[Accidental genius]

We not only need Harry in, he also needs to step up in terms of having a bit of aggression…

Compare the pair…

H v Lynch

Like chalk and cheese

H not only doesn’t play with any aggression he comes across weak and often falls to the ground way too easily

Need a lot more from him than just going for marks/shots on goal

Sometimes he should just try and bring the ball to ground and to our smalls advantage

You see this a bit with other teams

Some of our important/high profile players play selfishly rather than for the team

 

[The Bighouse]

Shame Fantasia tweaked his calf - he’s got a beautiful peg.

Was looking like he’d finally overcome his injury woes and then come the season proper he succumbs again.

That’s him done for I’m afraid, too brittle.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Was looking like he’d finally overcome his injury woes and then come the season proper he succumbs again.

That’s him done for I’m afraid, too brittle.

Maybe - hopefully not.

 

[Wickzki]

Really surprised how some people thought we could actually cover the loss of Newman, supposedly with these so called ready to go youth

His skillset and leadership has always been severely underrated

Spot on. I wasn't posting here when that news dropped but my entire mindset flipped with that injury. It went from quiet confidence to "oh, ****. here we go."

We just cannot cover him adequately.

Boyd is our best shot at doing so but as he was already in the team we're left to hope that he improves his game and that his role can be covered too.

I love both Ollie and Cow but realistically they're a year away from taking the level of responsibility required. They would have grown into it this year.

Newman was the glue of the backline with Weiters.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

It’s the reoccurring issues in his game that still haven’t been fixed. We’re 10yrs in now
• Contesting (impose himself) / 1-hand marking attempts
• Kicking for goal
• Lack of imposing presence

There’s a lot of comparison with the brothers & their footballing. Getting paid way overs for output.

Harry was one of the best key forwards in the comp last year and one of our best players full stop. Had a fantastic year.

You're overreacting to a few poor games.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

We not only need Harry in, he also needs to step up in terms of having a bit of aggression…

Compare the pair…

H v Lynch

Like chalk and cheese

H not only doesn’t play with any aggression he comes across weak and often falls to the ground way too easily

Need a lot more from him than just going for marks/shots on goal

Sometimes he should just try and bring the ball to ground and to our smalls advantage

You see this a bit with other teams

Some of our important/high profile players play selfishly rather than for the team

Lynch got absolute bullied by Weitering a week ago. Was absolutely embarrassed for most of the game.

Far too harsh on one putrid performance that he reportedly was battling bone bruising through.

 

[Stamos]

Harry was one of the best key forwards in the comp last year and one of our best players full stop. Had a fantastic year.

You're overreacting to a few poor games.

A few?
It’s only 1.
And when he was pretty clearly not right with his knee.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

A few?
It’s only 1.
And when he was pretty clearly not right with his knee.

A few over the last 12 months. In general I'd say Harry was far better than Charlie last year in terms of impact. He was aggressive, worked hard and fairly accurate in front of goals.

 

[gbatman]

There is a lot to think about. Do we play Boyd, do we move Hollands back to a wing? I'm happy to keep the team together. Structurally it's not bad. The main issue is we are carrying players who just need game time but will come good. That and not getting much out of our forwards.

I wanted to see players improve and improve their touch and we saw that, though some have ways to go.

McGovern Weitering Cowan
Saad Haynes Hollands
Acres Cripps Camporeale
White McKay Kemp
Motlop Curnow Williams
DeKoning Cerra Walsh
Silvagni Docherty Hewett Cottrell
Boyd

IN:
White - Lets see how his pace and craft translate at AFL level.
McKay - Obviously
Boyd - Could be an ideal sub, allows us to change the defensive structure

OUT:
Fogarty - Been doing very little, low level player.
Young - Could nearly stay in but for mobility and flexibility purposes he is out.
Lord - I like him but just can't find a place at the moment.

Teams that play with three tall forwards usually have two up the ground and one deep. Seems to draw the defence up and make space deeper and allows teams to get the ball to that half area easier. Which for us is a problem. We tend to go long and byepass half forward. Hopefully having more strong targets in the area keeps our ball movement going and helps us get possession there before going inside 50.

Campo can have another change, I thought he was ok.

There are a few guys who are really out of touch who look to be better this week so should be better next.

Silvagni to play back and a little forward. Part of the taller rotations. Docherty the same. Part of the smaller rotations.

 

[bigm386]

I just want to play fit in form players. So we might not be able to field a 22....

Jokes aside. I think we should at a minimum play Will White and Boyd. Boyd would replace Young for me we are too tall down back.

Haynes out for JSOS back.

Outside of the two changes I'd be considered Moir and even Lemmy if Curnow and or McKay aren't fit.

 

[bigm386]

Re Doc. This is an issue. He is really out of form.

 

[bigm386]

We will beat the Dogs, but beyond that, not sure how this plays out

I'd love to be wrong but I see us going 1-5 and the North L being the tipping point.

It isn't the result that concern me. It's our method and absolute lack of systematic improvement or perhaps a lack of system.

 

[gab213]

Harry was one of the best key forwards in the comp last year and one of our best players full stop. Had a fantastic year.

You're overreacting to a few poor games.

There seems to be a lot of overreacting going on around here.

 

[Aphrodite]

There seems to be a lot of overreacting going on around here.

Are you new to our Board

 

[GoBlues!]

Re Doc. This is an issue. He is really out of form.

He’s not Robinson Crusoe, half the team is out of form, probably leading to poor cohesion and breaking down on transition to the forward line.

TDK, Cripps, Weiters and Hewett are the only ones putting full game efforts in our first 2 games.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

He’s not Robinson Crusoe, half the team is out of form, probably leading to poor cohesion and breaking down on transition to the forward line.

TDK, Cripps, Weiters and Hewett are the only ones putting full game efforts in our first 2 games.

Fitness is slightly concerning if I may say so myself. Players look utterly gassed by the 4th quarter, more so than in previous years.

Perhaps that's just that we're playing a less experienced side the first 2 weeks.

 

[Arr0w]

Fitness is slightly concerning if I may say so myself. Players look utterly gassed by the 4th quarter, more so than in previous years.

Perhaps that's just that we're playing a less experienced side the first 2 weeks.

Might also be the transition from endurance to this so called speed and power, but our numbers really haven't improved in sprints and endurance has declined

Fitness or intent/willingness to push

Still too early to tell