Preview 2023 Elimination Final - Carlton vs Sydney Friday 8th Sept 7.50PM @ MCG

[Aphrodite]

Team is in …


IN: Patrick Cripps

9

Patrick Cripps

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

16.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

5.8

5star

CL

7.4

5star

D

21.0

5star

K

10.1

4star

HB

10.9

5star

M

2.5

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

6.3

5star

D

12.6

4star

K

4.8

2star

HB

7.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.4

4star

, Sam Docherty

15

Sam Docherty

Age

31

Ht

187cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.3

5star

K

15.1

5star

HB

7.2

4star

M

6.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

CL

1.1

3star

D

22.6

5star

K

16.0

5star

HB

6.6

4star

M

7.0

5star

T

0.6

1star

CL

0.4

3star

D

11.2

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.4

4star

CL

0.6

3star

, Marc Pittonet

27

Marc Pittonet

Age

28

Ht

202cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.7

2star

K

2.9

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

22.3

5star

D

8.6

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

4.0

3star

CL

3.7

5star

HO

25.9

5star

D

5.8

2star

K

1.2

1star

HB

4.6

4star

CL

2.4

5star

HO

16.6

5star

OUT: Paddy Dow

15

Paddy Dow

Age

25

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

7.1

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.9

4star

CL

2.6

4star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

12.4

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

2.8

5star

CL

2.6

5star

, Corey Durdin, Zac Fisher

16

Zac Fisher

Age

26

Ht

175cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.2

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.0

5star

MG

384.0

5star

D

17.0

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

384.0

5star

D

12.2

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

3.0

5star

, Ollie Hollands

After starting the last game as sub, Caleb Marchbank has been elevated into the starting 22.

AFL team news: Who's in for the elimination final?

Some big Blues are back for the clash with Sydney.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Backs:	Brodie Kemp	Jacob Weitering	Nic Newman
Half-backs:	Alex Cincotta	Mitch McGovern	Adam Saad
Centreline:	Blake Acres	Patrick Cripps	Sam Docherty
Half-forwards:	Jack Martin	Harry McKay	David Cuningham
Forwards:	Lachie Fogarty	Charlie Curnow	Matthew Owies
Followers:	Marc Pittonet	Adam Cerra	Sam Walsh
Interchange:	Matthew Cottrell	Tom De Koning	George Hewett
	Caleb Marchbank
Emergencies:	Paddy Dow	Zac Fisher	Ollie Hollands
	Jesse Motlop

 

[lukep_86]

Bounce the ball FFS! Tickets booked today and I'm pumped for this one. Definitely going to be a long week and a bit waiting for next Friday

 

[lukep_86]

Do you know what is more valuable than pressure in finals footy?
Goals.

Pressure leads to goals being scored for a team..and less goals being scored by the opposition

 

[berisha]

Had to wait for GA to unlock because partner isn't a member. Tried from about 3:10 (she tried from 3-3:20) by the time I got in just after half past, sold out. Spewing.

 

[bigblueboy]

Most of Fog's career at CFC has been invisible until the last handful of games.

That last quarter against Melbourne I thought he was incredibly important. Against the very best he stood up.
Unexpected but he has well and truly earned best 22 consideration.

 

[teagueyubeauty]

Ticketek loading screen... vomit

You’ll go through nothing compared to trying to get Taylor Swift tickets, saw that line so much I could have gone Russian roulette multiple times….


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

That last quarter against Melbourne I thought he was incredibly important. Against the very best he stood up.
Unexpected but he has well and truly earned best 22 consideration.

Yes, he was terrific.

But he remains in the last handful picked discussion....with quite a few other good players.

Good luck to the lad.

 

[teagueyubeauty]

Swans also had the equal (with Dogs and Freo) 3rd easiest draw this year (according to this metric on the AFL website). Only West Coast and North had easier draws.

Whose fixture was hardest? Pies defy odds, Dockers miss chance

Which teams ended up with the hardest and easiest draws in 2023?

www.afl.com.au

How TF does that happen when you lose the GF the previous year?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Aphrodite]

I’m still concerned about the way they ran amok on us, in the pre- season game - Gulden did as he pleased.

Yes I understand it was a pre-season game but if we don’t bring our game from the first bounce they have the potential to get a hold of us.

Go Blues!!!!

Don’t just “believe” …. D.O!!!

Stronger. Together.

 

[zeggie]

Getting tickets via Ticketek took longer than the absolute BS Bigfooty suspension I just sat through.

Pumped for it!

 

[haveago]

Sydney certainly haven't been playing 4 quarter footy lately.

Our backline is better, our midfield is better and our forward line is better.

Just need to bring the intensity, the rest will take care of itself.

What have you got against our bench?

Seriously though, I hope and think you are right, need to tidy up our disposal from last week though.
Was back to like V Essendon and prior,killed us V Giants.

The wait is killing me. Got sweet F.A sleep last night worrying that I would miss 10am ticket sale time even though I always get up at dawn.
6am till 10 felt like an eternity. (got good tickets )

As toey as a single dromedary.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Sydney certainly haven't been playing 4 quarter footy lately.

Our backline is better, our midfield is better and our forward line is better.

Just need to bring the intensity, the rest will take care of itself.

Whilst I agree, I think their midfield is pretty dangerous. Seems full of skill and run which can open us up at times.

Hopefully we dominate the clearances but if becomes a running game we shouldn't be cocky.

 

[haveago]

Can you imagine how our Champion Captain is feeling.........

All these years and in less than a week he will be finally playing his first final.
If anybody was made for September....

Nobody deserves it more and odds on he RIPS IT APART.

He will be breathing fire and pole axing any fool that gets in his way.

 

[BlueGum]

Sydney will have to adjust their entries into forward fifty for the longer MCG - a positive for Carlton defenders - but they will aslo have more width to use- a positive for their fast flankers. Up front they have experienced weapons in Heeney/Papley and to get things going a young gun in Gulden who sets up a lot of inside fifty entries and is also a capable finisher given the opportunity - he will need close attention. Sam Wicks is in very good form as well - and has kicked multiple goals against Carlton in teh past. Sydney's outside run is their one wood in attack with Blakey rebound run and booming kick the default from defensive turnovers.

The midfield on ball battle will favour Carltons bigger mids with plenty of running power in Walsh and Cerra - more dangerous than Parker's smarts is a young fella called Warner because of his burst speed. Their ruck is serviceable without ever being dominant - Pittonet would find it relatively easy to halve if not win contests - but lose in leg speed. TDK would jump all over him as he does most rucks. I would desccribe Sydney mids as role players compared to Carlton's combination - however they are well drilled and not ever allergic to the ground ball game and they play 4 quarter football.

If both teams play to their best Carlton wins - fairly comfortably. However it will be more difficult for Carlton to play to its best as Walsh, Cerra, McGovern are all one game back from hamstring injuries and a bunch of players have copped a battering playing what have been a series of elimination games starting two months ago...

The one glaring mismatch between the two sides is the height difference between Carltons potential mix of forwards and their KP defenders. Sydney can cover Charlie for height - but they really dont have any cover for Harry and TDK - against this is Sydney's ability to scramble as a defensive team with excellent rebound run from Blakey in particular. They like a boundary side first kick followed by a quick centering balls when rebounding via kicks- when runnign the ball they rely on Blakey's straight running power and go through the middle. Carlton can probably outmatch them on defensive boundary flank contests - but covering the center will require the mids to run with their opponent. The Sydnrey midfield run will test Cripps and Dow's two way running power - so effective forward defensive capability will go a long way to winning this game - by depriving Sydney of the corridor and pushing them wide. Voss ahs to appoint a mid to be able to intercept a centering kcik and or take a relief contested mark in similr position.

Sydney will look to exploit the opposite flank to Acres and test the forward defensive pressure capability of Carltons smalls - a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Carlton's 'role' players in this game- because that is who Sydney will run through from defensive 50. In Carlton's forward fifty - Sydney will look to use their fast crumbing smalls as much as their marking targets - they may have Carlton 'covered' in forward leg speed - with Saad being the only Carlton defender capable of runnign with Papley or Wicks. Cincotta wil be tested for this ( as woudl Marchbank)- so I can see arguments for Boyds inclusion - although he too has been absent due to suspension. Weitering and Newman will jhabve their hands full organising the defensice structure to make sure leg speed mismatches are minimised. McGovern and Kemp's intercept marking - could nullify Guldens 50 entry kicks- if they are switched on - so it is imperative that Carlton mids run hard each way - because Sydney are well capable of exploiting tired legs - that is what they are set up for.

Thats a great summary of Sydney's strengths and weaknesses JaB. Hope you are making it down with your Sydney supporting mates, and have a lovely evening.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

M

Marchbank lost 50% of his 1 on 1s against GWS,

From the AFL website:
Contested defensive one on ones: 1
Contested defensive losses: 0

Not sure how reliable those stats are.

 

[JustaBattler]

Thats a great summary of Sydney's strengths and weaknesses JaB. Hope you are making it down with your Sydney supporting mates, and have a lovely evening.

Cheers BG - no won't be attending but will be watching - all the best to you and yours. Its been a long time coming and I think Carlton are on a roll - just need a tiny bit of luck to go our way here and there - anything could happen - that was teh best that GWS had last week and we had that covered - easy. Sydney will be easier.

 

[Michael Jezz]

From the AFL website:
Contested defensive one on ones: 1
Contested defensive losses: 0

Not sure how reliable those stats are.

From Almost Blues Brothers' podcast, they know what they are talking about

 

[RAPPA]

Hollands / Fog / Cuningham.

Can’t see all 3 playing with Cripps, Doc and Mots at a minimum coming back in. Either way, any one of those three to miss out will be incredibly unlucky.

 

[Show_Me_The_Money]

I’m still concerned about the way they ran amok on us, in the pre- season game - Gulden did as he pleased.

Yes I understand it was a pre-season game but if we don’t bring our game from the first bounce they have the potential to get a hold of us.

Go Blues!!!!

Don’t just “believe” …. D.O!!!

Mate its finals. Any team we come up against will be a huge challenge. I'm happy we didn't have to back up against GWS then I'd be really concerned. I honestly think they along with us can win the whole thing.

 

[reg_lower91]

Tickets secured.

Can’t. Bloody. Wait.

I’m SO pumped.

 

[Kruezing]

Tickets secured.

Can’t. Bloody. Wait.

I’m SO pumped.

Same here …

 

[LemmingMaster]

Hollands / Fog / Cuningham.

Can’t see all 3 playing with Cripps, Doc and Mots at a minimum coming back in. Either way, any one of those three to miss out will be incredibly unlucky.

Acres for Cripps
Cincotta/Fish for Doc
Durdin for Motlop

 

[charred_fate]

Quietly confident about this one, though a couple of concerns.

Main concern, and it's not insignificant, is that we really don't know what our best 22/23 is - whichever way it ends up, we're taking something of a punt. We haven't had an opportunity to assess it with so many players in and out (and available), including major decisions that could influence the "identity" of our performance, like whether we're better with Pitto or without. It means the team is somewhat unsettled/light on for match fitness, both of which are cause for concern. Would feel more confident if we had a 23 all but locked in and the team knew exactly the game we will play.

Cerra looked well short of his level against the Giants. Really hoping he's back to his best come next Friday night. Harry is a major concern. If he's not clunking marks or being a physical presence (or kicking goals), his value significantly diminishes. We need him playing with full confidence. Hasn't looked anywhere near it the two games since injury, and our forward line has looked a little less dangerous and dynamic for it, imo. Something of a gamble playing him bc I feel his lack of confidence infects the team sometimes (though I have no doubt they will play him, and I probably would too). On the flip-side, if he finds his best form, could be a game-changer. It's a gamble.

Hope like hell we don't return to a 22 that's too slow. Some of the opposition transition the past couple of games has been reminiscent of pre-round 14 performance.

I'm expecting the rest will have us mentally rejuvenated and at our high-pressure, physical best come Friday week, which should be enough to get the job done.

 

[Arr0w]

From the AFL website:
Contested defensive one on ones: 1
Contested defensive losses: 0

Not sure how reliable those stats are.

From Almost Blues Brothers' podcast, they know what they are talking about

Has had 3 for the year and lost 1

Too small of a sample size

AFL Stats - AFL.com.au

Share

www.afl.com.au

 

[DirtyLeeds]

Little Dirty and me sitting in Row A 18/19!!!!

So pumped to take my boy to his first final, just win it so we can poo-hoo those * tossers for another decade!!!!!

 

[passmark]

I’m still concerned about the way they ran amok on us, in the pre- season game - Gulden did as he pleased.

Yes I understand it was a pre-season game but if we don’t bring our game from the first bounce they have the potential to get a hold of us.

Go Blues!!!!

Don’t just “believe” …. D.O!!!

I get where you’re coming from. I thought our pre-season effort was non-existent. Even people going to the training in February March were commenting on how lacklustre the sessions were.

Let’s hope we show the G&D of a few weeks ago instead.