Preview 2023 Rd 24 Carlton vs GWS Sunday August 27 6:10PM @ Marvel Stadium

[Aphrodite]

Final Team is in ...



IN: Cerra, Fogarty, McGovern, Walsh, C. Durdin
OUT: Cripps (soreness), Docherty (soreness), E.Curnow, Marchbank, Pittonet, Motlop (illness)

AFL team news: Blues welcome four back

Midfielders Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh are among four returnees for Round 24.

www.carltonfc.com.au

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

*Update 26th August

AFL team news: Motlop out for Round 24

Jesse Motlop will miss the final round clash with GWS.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[Stamos]

I don't think we will but it's the only way we keep two good marking options forward and maintain that forward speed and pressure.

TBH when he was first recruited I thought great, a top level forward/ruck and early days did play that role a little but quickly evolved into a pure forward.

It's too late in the season to do it now, but it's something we need to think about.

We also need to consider we may be carrying a very out of form McKay into a finals series and the way to get the most out of him and get him into the game would be ruck.

To remind us of a similar scenario, go back to 2016 and remember Boyd's final series, particularly his grand final game. Could we do a Boyd 2016 with McKay? Same situation in many ways, coming from 5th, ruckman size forward a bit out of form, moves into the ruck and becomes a match winner in a grand final.

As for the knee injury, it's not the sort of knee injury you worry about re-doing. It's cartilage removal. Had it done, once it's right it's right.

The only way?
Silvagni is the obvious answer if Pitto goes out.

 

[Skull Face]

ps in what world will the Dogs beat the Cats in Geelong?

Very, very few.

Cats are talking about sending their forward line in for surgery and playing a vfl side, in a year of up and down performances from.the cats this is likely going to be a down one.

 

[CJMB]

McGovern IMO is best 22. But does that mean Marchbank and Kemp are up for the same spot?

In order, Weitering, MovGovern, Kemp, Marchbank.

I'm with you, in 2023 run is king.

Does that mean we Play DeKoning 1st ruck and McKay 2nd ruck/forward and rotate the two? Keeps the smaller faster forward line and enables us to have the two tall forwards as well.

I'm not particularly keen on putting Harry in for centre bounces, especially in his 2nd game back from a knee injury.

With the TDK+Harry combo we'd have two tall forwards, but not for the whole game, probably close to 80-85%, while GWS have some fantastic talls in Taylor, Buckley, Himmelberg (& Idun's a big lad).

I'd guess we start Pitto, TDK, Harry & Charlie, then there's the option of subbing off Pitto in the back half to add some run (provided we don't sub Cripps, Doc, etc to manage them).

If we want to be a bit more mobile from the get-go then I'd suggest Jack replacing Pitto could be an option, provided he's fit.

Possibly worth noting the ruck too, where Pitto is a better like-for-like match up, especially early in the game.

Interesting times with selection, this week and for finals.

 

[jj1978]

Can dogs even get out of their kennels these days? Wouldn't count on it.
The team I'd most like us to face first would be Aints.

Geelong has officially put the bowls of milk out and expect to see some big names out for the final game. Dogs if they have even 1% of pride should win this game.

Aints being our biggest bogey team for 20 years and with King hitting form and an empty injury list are starting to purr like they did to start the season. Benefit is we'd probably play them at the MCG which suits us more, but Ross has a habit of getting his teams deep into finals. Saints regardless will provide us with a huge arm wrestle and are drilled well.

Dogs without Darcy (our biggest danger beside Bont), with Naughton and many others out of form (won 4 of 13), at the G... I don't think their defence could contain our forward line even with Liam holding up fort there.. and I think our defence can cater quite well to their attack.

 

[BlueGum]

I don't think we will but it's the only way we keep two good marking options forward and maintain that forward speed and pressure.

TBH when he was first recruited I thought great, a top level forward/ruck and early days did play that role a little but quickly evolved into a pure forward.

It's too late in the season to do it now, but it's something we need to think about.

We also need to consider we may be carrying a very out of form McKay into a finals series and the way to get the most out of him and get him into the game would be ruck.

To remind us of a similar scenario, go back to 2016 and remember Boyd's final series, particularly his grand final game. Could we do a Boyd 2016 with McKay? Same situation in many ways, coming from 5th, ruckman size forward a bit out of form, moves into the ruck and becomes a match winner in a grand final.

As for the knee injury, it's not the sort of knee injury you worry about re-doing. It's cartilage removal. Had it done, once it's right it's right.

NFW Gbatty. OK with the occassional rucking in the forward line, but we need to keep him providing marking options on the wing and most importantly, stopping clubs triple teaming Charlie.

 

[Juddrockz]

Voss will want continuity this week. We win, Dogs win, we play Dogs Week 1 of finals. Eeeeeeaaaaaaaassssssssyyyyyyyyy!

If that occurs,it better not be played at Marvel?

 

[Juddrockz]

I know we’re in a different era and this s**t generally doesn’t fly, but the Giants may well know that they’ll be playing us in the first final… I wouldn’t risk Charlie copping a knee to the ribs in that scenario.

They have to catch him first! But yeah,its dog eat dog come finals.

 

[passmark]

Drop Charlie it's the selection master stroke they won't see coming!!

 

[jj1978]

If that occurs,it better not be played at Marvel?

95000 members, AFL owe MCG X amount of finals over a period of time. $$$$$$$ to all in this one....

 

[Benaly28]

Drop Charlie it's the selection master stroke they won't see coming!!

Only way Charlie dosent play is if Walker kicks 7.


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[Juddrockz]

ps in what world will the Dogs beat the Cats in Geelong?

Very, very few.

Theyve mentioned Cameron in for early surgery an resting Hawkins,would help out Dogs.

 

[CJMB]

If that occurs,it better not be played at Marvel?

No chance they turn away an additional 45K punters.

Also I think if the dogs make it, then you've either got Pies hosting Port and Lions hosting Melbourne (or vice versa, Bris-Port & Col-Mel) which is only 1 MCG game. The other game is probably Sydney vs St Kilda, so not an MCG game.

I think there's only 3 MCG teams anyway, so they'd still make it work if Pies, Demons & us all get home finals.

 

[Benaly28]

Selection problem we have is bringing back too many players all at once.

Cerra/Walsh MUST play for match fitness.

Gov has played well in the past after coming back from injury.

It’s going to be a balancing act.


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[Graffy4242]

ps in what world will the Dogs beat the Cats in Geelong?

Very, very few.

I agree. I think the Cats will want to make a statement to their fans after missing Finals.

 

[jj1978]

In: Walsh, Cerra, McGovern, JSOS
Out: Ed (sub), Pitto, Marchbank, Cunningham, Hollands

• Hollands to be sub - needs a small run for touch but will be a physical game and let him expend his run later on as he's been looking a little tired after a long first season
• Marchbank makes way for McGov
• Cunningham been in average form for 3 weeks
• Pitto didn't look right during his output around the ground against the Suns could barely move and go for second efforts at times
• Ed, logical with Walsh and Cerra back.
• At most would only want one of Doc/Cripps out... manage their minutes if both fit enough to play... need their leadership and level headedness around the group. Replacements for them just in case - in order would be Fog, Ed, Cunningham... if both out Hollands in with Fog and Cunningham sub.

 

[gbatman]

NFW Gbatty. OK with the occassional rucking in the forward line, but we need to keep him providing marking options on the wing and most importantly, stopping clubs triple teaming Charlie.

That is very important. Could keeping one of DeKoning or McKay forward have the same effect if McKay was second ruck?

 

[gbatman]

The only way?
Silvagni is the obvious answer if Pitto goes out.

Yes he is. I still think that might be the way to go, as good as Pittonet has been at nullifying good ruckmen, I think keeping forward mobility is super important as well. We have seen this work.

 

[Gez1969]

In: Walsh, Cerra, McGovern, (Maybe) JSOS.

Hard to know which of the following play, Pittonet, Fogarty, Ed Curnow, Cincotta, Boyd, Dow, Hollands and Marchbank perhaps:

Pitto for JSOS,
Cunninghham for Walsh,
Marchbank for McGovern
Cerra for Ed Curnow

Cunningham Sub.

If we have the luxury, I'd consider resting Cripps, he had chest protector almost the size of a boogie borad around his rib cage last week, cracked ribs you'd think.

The best part is we have the option of sitting back and waiting on results to see how we tackle the game tactically.

 

[Benaly28]

In: Walsh, Cerra, McGovern, JSOS
Out: Ed (sub), Pitto, Marchbank, Cunningham, Hollands

• Hollands to be sub - needs a small run for touch but will be a physical game and let him expend his run later on as he's been looking a little tired after a long first season
• Marchbank makes way for McGov
• Cunningham been in average form for 3 weeks
• Pitto didn't look right during his output around the ground against the Suns could barely move and go for second efforts at times
• Ed, logical with Walsh and Cerra back.
• At most would only want one of Doc/Cripps out... manage their minutes if both fit enough to play... need their leadership and level headedness around the group. Replacements for them just in case - in order would be Fog, Ed, Cunningham... if both out Hollands in with Fog and Cunningham sub.

I think you’ve got it spot on.


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[CJMB]

That is very important. Could keeping one of DeKoning or McKay forward have the same effect if McKay was second ruck?

But in that scenario, McKay is rucking when TDK is on the bench, leaving Charlie all by himself.

I'd rather keep Harry and Charlie forward, with Harry playing higher than Charlie. Meaning we've ether got Pitto playing about 70% ruck then TDK chopping out the remaining 30% and spending about 55% as a forward (either the bail out kick option, up the field, or moving closer to goal for a mismatch).

Alternatively we go TDK ruck 80-85%, SOS ruck 20-25% (with Harry taking some of the forward 50 stoppages) and 3rd tall another 50-60%.

 

[gbatman]

Yes that’s exactly what I’d do. Overlap run from half back, outside runners alongside a dominant on ball brigade and forward pressure are what has been working for us. Must keep the smaller lineup.

NFW Gbatty. OK with the occassional rucking in the forward line, but we need to keep him providing marking options on the wing and most importantly, stopping clubs triple teaming Charlie.

In order, Weitering, MovGovern, Kemp, Marchbank.



I'm not particularly keen on putting Harry in for centre bounces, especially in his 2nd game back from a knee injury.

With the TDK+Harry combo we'd have two tall forwards, but not for the whole game, probably close to 80-85%, while GWS have some fantastic talls in Taylor, Buckley, Himmelberg (& Idun's a big lad).

I'd guess we start Pitto, TDK, Harry & Charlie, then there's the option of subbing off Pitto in the back half to add some run (provided we don't sub Cripps, Doc, etc to manage them).

If we want to be a bit more mobile from the get-go then I'd suggest Jack replacing Pitto could be an option, provided he's fit.

Possibly worth noting the ruck too, where Pitto is a better like-for-like match up, especially early in the game.

Interesting times with selection, this week and for finals.

The only way?
Silvagni is the obvious answer if Pitto goes out.

We face an interesting equation. Play Harry and Curnow, don't ruck Harry which means Silvagni comes in for a ruck or both rucks remain. This means one of Fogarty, Owies, Motlop and Cuningham go out to accommodate this.

Harry Stays and rucks, we keep all of Fogarty, Owies, Motlop and Cuningham.

Harry not rucking and doing SFA as seen in the GCS game is a reality and a waste. Let's hope this does not happen. As He's probably in at the expense of Fogarty or Cuningham who's forward pressure has been great plus their ability to give an onball rotation has been huge for us.

They only way we can have Harry's impact and Cuningham/Fogarty's forward pressure and onball rotation is to ruck Harry.

On the flip side, not rucking Harry means we lose Cuningham/Fogarty but swap Silvagni for Pittonet which gives us a little more forward but we still lack what Fog and Cunners bring. Both guys have been a big part of our turnaround. Owies and Motlop are not getting dropped, it will be out of Fogarty and Cuningham.

I'm glad I am not making the big decision but the only way we keep Cuningham and Fogarty, who have been huge is to ruck McKay.

Then again we have seen McKay and Curnow at home with Silvagni second ruck work well.

What does not work as well to me is McKay and Curnow at home and Pitto and DeKoning in as pure rucks.

The question is. Do we maintain our run speed and pressure? Or do we give a little bit of that away to gain extra height?

Could this be a game where we make a sub for a half and try Harry in the middle for a half and just see how that works?

I think there are many combinations which work for us. What works best may depend on the weather or the opposition.

We have a great list and a fit one. Is it ok to say that again? I don't think I have said that before.

 

[The Sultan]

If that occurs,it better not be played at Marvel?

wont happen (there would be huge backlash), even if we end up playing GWS, 90k odd members, no finals for 10 plus year, one of the form teams of the comp. would easily get 75k plus to the G against GWS and 85k+ against doggies.

 

[Stamos]

We face an interesting equation. Play Harry and Curnow, don't ruck Harry which means Silvagni comes in for a ruck or both rucks remain. This means one of Fogarty, Owies, Motlop and Cuningham go out to accommodate this.

Harry Stays and rucks, we keep all of Fogarty, Owies, Motlop and Cuningham.

Harry not rucking and doing SFA as seen in the GCS game is a reality and a waste. Let's hope this does not happen. As He's probably in at the expense of Fogarty or Cuningham who's forward pressure has been great plus their ability to give an onball rotation has been huge for us.

They only way we can have Harry's impact and Cuningham/Fogarty's forward pressure and onball rotation is to ruck Harry.

On the flip side, not rucking Harry means we lose Cuningham/Fogarty but swap Silvagni for Pittonet which gives us a little more forward but we still lack what Fog and Cunners bring. Both guys have been a big part of our turnaround. Owies and Motlop are not getting dropped, it will be out of Fogarty and Cuningham.

I'm glad I am not making the big decision but the only way we keep Cuningham and Fogarty, who have been huge is to ruck McKay.

Then again we have seen McKay and Curnow at home with Silvagni second ruck work well.

What does not work as well to me is McKay and Curnow at home and Pitto and DeKoning in as pure rucks.

The question is. Do we maintain our run speed and pressure? Or do we give a little bit of that away to gain extra height?

We have a great list and a fit one. Is it ok to say that again? I don't think I have said that before.

The simple answer is Fog misses out.

I think history is being rewritten a bit in terms of our change in form and our 9 win streak.
We turned it around against the Suns when we kicked 18 goals (3 from H).
H was in the coaches votes the next 2 weeks against Hawks and Freo.

We only went with all 4 of Cunners/Owies/Motlop/Fogarty in our 6th straight win against the Pies. This was when both H and SOS were injured. It also coincided with our scoring and winning margins dropping off significantly (admittedly against better teams).

Fog brings great pressure, has been playing his role very well and has earned another contract (which looked extremely unlikely 3 months ago). But we're better balanced with more talls. And Fog isn't going to win you a match in the way that Motlop or Cunners or even Owies can.

 

[Stamos]

If that occurs,it better not be played at Marvel?

Zero chance.
In the highly unlikely outcome that Melbourne clinch 2nd spot, if we're playing Giants, that means Saints play Swans. That game would be in Sydney, or Marvel.

 

[Show_Me_The_Money]

In order, Weitering, MovGovern, Kemp, Marchbank.



I'm not particularly keen on putting Harry in for centre bounces, especially in his 2nd game back from a knee injury.

With the TDK+Harry combo we'd have two tall forwards, but not for the whole game, probably close to 80-85%, while GWS have some fantastic talls in Taylor, Buckley, Himmelberg (& Idun's a big lad).

I'd guess we start Pitto, TDK, Harry & Charlie, then there's the option of subbing off Pitto in the back half to add some run (provided we don't sub Cripps, Doc, etc to manage them).

If we want to be a bit more mobile from the get-go then I'd suggest Jack replacing Pitto could be an option, provided he's fit.

Possibly worth noting the ruck too, where Pitto is a better like-for-like match up, especially early in the game.

Interesting times with selection, this week and for finals.

I dont subscribe to the 'dont play Harry in ruck' theory. He's on massive coin and we need him to do a job. He may actually turn out to be a very handy ruck with his athleticism and speed. But either way, no more cootton wool.