Prediction 2025 - Best 23 + Emergencies - Rolling

[Bennyboy7777]

Gov Weitering Cowan

Saad Haynes Newman

Acres Cripps Docherty

Kemp McKay E Hollands

Motlop Curnow Williams

Foll: TDK, Walsh & Cerra

Bench: Hewett, O Hollands, Smith, JSOS Sub: Lord

Emerg: Moir, Fogarty, Cottrell, Durdin, Pittonet

 

[The Bighouse]

While all sides can improve defensive intent, our numbers were reasonable

6th for tackles
3rd for I50 tackles
7th for pressure
6th for defensive pressure acts

Interestingly, for the same metrics, Lions recorded

17th
7th
17th
18th

In the modern game, I believe it's still what you do, when you have the pill

Scores from turnovers, Swans and Lions were both top 2, we were 4th

We also lead the league for goals per inside 50

We aren't that far away

That’s where we’d like to see overall skills improvement to hit our targets along with some composure (+ stop leaking at stoppages) and we’re away..

 

[JustaBattler]

That’s where we’d like to see overall skills improvement to hit our targets along with some composure (+ stop leaking at stoppages) and we’re away..

Good luck waiting for that to happen - Carlton doesn't have anywhere near the kicking skill between the arcs required to play that kind of game.

 

[GoBlues!]

Interesting looking at our leading goal scorers and goal assists along with games played this year:

1. Charlie (21 games ): 57 + 15,
2. Harry (21): 49 + 6
3. Owies (23): 33 + 15
4. Fogarty (15): 9 + 21
5. Elijah (22): 17 + 10
6. Cripps (24): 17 + 13
7. Williams (19): 15 + 12
8. Kennedy (24): 16 + 8
9. Kemp (3 as fwd): 6 + 3
10. Motlop (7): 6 + 3
11. Durdin (14): 7 + 3
12. Moir (2): 2 + 0

Owies and Kennedy provided 49 goals and 23 assists between them. Their loss will need to be picked up by others, who is going to step up?

Fogarty only played 15 games and generated/contributed to 30 goals which is a fair effort.

Elijah and Williams played most of the year and contributed to 27 goals, less than 1.5 score involvements per game - both will need to pull the finger out and do a lot more next year.

I think Motlop and Kemp are the most likely to succeed - a good preseason and run of games from Motlop and Kemp’s attributes and experience will see them both step up. Moir will get games but is still developing. I’m not convinced Durdin will make it as a small forward.

Jagga on the half forward line could provide some goal scoring opportunities particularly from stoppages. His extraction, distribution and evasive skills are something our small forwards have lacked in the past.

 

[The Bighouse]

Good luck waiting for that to happen - Carlton doesn't have anywhere near the kicking skill between the arcs required to play that kind of game.

Hence the query by a few on our missing skills training &/or coaches to address this..

 

[marcmurphy3]

Interesting looking at our leading goal scorers and goal assists along with games played this year:

1. Charlie (21 games ): 57 + 15,
2. Harry (21): 49 + 6
3. Owies (23): 33 + 15
4. Fogarty (15): 9 + 21
5. Elijah (22): 17 + 10
6. Cripps (24): 17 + 13
7. Williams (19): 15 + 12
8. Kennedy (24): 16 + 8
9. Kemp (3 as fwd): 6 + 3
10. Motlop (7): 6 + 3
11. Durdin (14): 7 + 3
12. Moir (2): 2 + 0

Owies and Kennedy provided 49 goals and 23 assists between them. Their loss will need to be picked up by others, who is going to step up?

Fogarty only played 15 games and generated/contributed to 30 goals which is a fair effort.

Elijah and Williams played most of the year and contributed to 27 goals, less than 1.5 score involvements per game - both will need to pull the finger out and do a lot more next year.

I think Motlop and Kemp are the most likely to succeed - a good preseason and run of games from Motlop and Kemp’s attributes and experience will see them both step up. Moir will get games but is still developing. I’m not convinced Durdin will make it as a small forward.

Jagga on the half forward line could provide some goal scoring opportunities particularly from stoppages. His extraction, distribution and evasive skills are something our small forwards have lacked in the past.

In fairness to Williams he played the first half a season in defence.

His first 8 games 0 goals 2 assists.

His last 11 games 15 goals 10 assists

Extrapolate that out to a 22 game season and you got 30 goals 20 assists. Thats top shelf.

 

[JustaBattler]

Hence the query by a few on our missing skills training &/or coaches to address this..

I dont think there are a lot of between the arcs players that have it in them to improve- tbh. cripsp has improved from hopeless to ok sometimes. Walsh has never been a good kick and probably never will be Hewett is ok at shorter distances - sometimes, Cerra is the pcik of that bunch and he is average - but at least put ome thought into it. Acres? Cottrell?

Mids have to be able to execute elite kicks under pressure - much harder than defenders who usually have more time and space or forwards who have goals to look for as an excuse.

Carlton right now is a contested and runnign team much more than kicking - it is what it is because of who is there...Charlie is teh best field kick in the team and he is our full forward - why I believe he should play CHF in more space...but that is another story.

 

[GoBlues!]

In fairness to Williams he played the first half a season in defence.

His first 8 games 0 goals 2 assists.

His last 11 games 15 goals 10 assists

Extrapolate that out to a 22 game season and you got 30 goals 20 assists. Thats top shelf.

Good pick up mm3. Forgot his first 8 games were in defence.

That extrapolation puts him in the Owies level of output.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

In fairness to Williams he played the first half a season in defence.

His first 8 games 0 goals 2 assists.

His last 11 games 15 goals 10 assists

Extrapolate that out to a 22 game season and you got 30 goals 20 assists. Thats top shelf.

I see a small wrinkle in that plan...

 

[gbatman]

Forward line very much is

X McKay X
X Curnow X
X

But hopefully that will change.

You fill the rest in with Fantasia, Cottrell, Fogarty, Williams, Motlop, Moir, Kemp, Durdin, E Hollands and possibly Smith and Silvagni.

Kemp IMO is a given for third tall. Was super impressive in the last few games playing key forward. He's the modern day 3rd tall because of his mobility and running ability. 3rd tall used to be a ruckman type, now because of the need for speed they are more Kemp's size. Kemp can play deep, the classic third tall role or he could use his massive running capacity and play the Cottrell role at half forward except he'll get the ball. I see him playing CHF a bit with the two keys deep. So he allows them more freedom. He also takes the crowd of defenders away from our main targets or opposition teams risk giving Kemp a one on one. I really like his inclusion. I really like that we will have talls forward when our ruck rests.

I think Moir has to be in this side. The main thing this team lacks is genuine forward IQ. We have a lot of guys in there who just run and get lost. You don't have to do a heap of running if you're smart enough. He is. He also has the overhead and ground level game. So important in today's footy. We have seen both Brisbane and Collingwood win flags in recent times with a wealth of smaller forwards who are super good overhead and on the ground. An injury free preseason and he is in. Loved his intent to run down opposition players but also the talent to mark overhead and kick goals at ground level.

Williams is an interesting one. He had a few good games as a forward. The thing about him is that he is a natural footballer and a good quality footballer. Put him anywhere and he is going to play well. Coming back from a knee last year was not ideal but he got himself fit. Should be better off this year. He showed he has some natural ability as a forward but he never really played the half forward role I really wanted to see him play. I think he will this coming season. His crumbing game looked good, he has some natural instinct there. A lot of the good small forwards are strong overhead and read the game so exceptionally well. It will be interesting to see how he progresses in these areas as I feel to have a real impact, these are what he has to improve on.

Motlop is the one we have high hopes for but again there are a few holes in his game as a small forward. His fitness, repeat efforts and his overhead game to me need to improve as does his defensive efforts. A strong preseason is the key here.

Durdin is another in the same boat as Motlop. 2022 he was good. Strong overhead game, quick, tough, kicked goals, laid tackles. He's since lost it all. Get those back and he will be really handy.

E Hollands was ok last season. I feel he is more of a developing midfielder. As a forward I want to see him doing more in the air. I would like more pace from him as well but again, I think he is more of a midfielder. What he offers is a change on the ball and on a wing for us.

Cottrell is handy depth. He's a forward only but perhaps experimenting with him in defence is the go. No footy IQ is the issue with him.

Fogarty is also handy depth. Has some footy IQ but his skills let him down. Kicking for goal is woeful although slightly improved and lacks a little pace. Also lacks an overhead game. His effort and mobility make him handy but as a forward his skill level is more that of a part time forward than a full time forward.

Fantasia is another who has some talents but is limited. No overhead game and isn't good when the game is physical and contested. So 50% of the time he is out of the contest. The other parts he's hoping to get into space and for things to go his way. He's depth.

Smith I believe can go forward. I am not sure at all where he will play but if he can contribute forward and go into the midfield at times then this is valuable. Really high footy IQ and talent so I can see him impacting forward. Particularly in the half forward plus 1 role playing up around the midfield.

Silvagni playing back this season seems on the cards but expect him to come in for injured forwards.

McKay Curnow Moir
Williams Kemp Smith/Durdin/Motlop
E Hollands

I can see this being our forward line for the first game. Durdin or Motlop could easily make their way into the side. Perhaps Smith plays elsewhere and they fit in on a flank.

What I want to see in 2025 if McKay in the ruck more often. One, because when he goes in there he gets involved in the game more, performs as a forward better and as a ruck, he's blood good. I love how he grabs it out of the ruck, he's got ruck x factor. I also want to see DeKoning spending a little time forward and less time in the ruck, preserving him more.

More players with a strong overhead game, some more speed and more footy IQ is going to see us kick more goals and move the ball a lot better. Having more options to go to forward of the ball when we are on the move.

I think we will go hard at smaller forwards recruitment wise. In the meantime we need to make what we have work.

 

[BlueGum]

Every AFL team’s best 23 for 2025: Carlton Blues

Do the Blues have the names to contend this year?

www.zerohanger.com

 

[GoBlues!]

Only change to Zero Hangers’s best 23 I’d make is Kemp in for Cottrell in the forward line. Also a toss up between Moir and Lord as sub.

FB: Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Nic Newman
HB: Oliver Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
C: Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Blake Acres
HF: Elijah Hollands, Harry McKay, Matt Cottrell Kemp
FF: Jesse Motlop, Charlie Curnow, Zac Williams
FO: Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra
I/C: Lachie Cowan, George Hewett, Jagga Smith, Lachie Fogarty
SUB: Cooper Lord / Moir

 

[gbatman]

We are a side that is close but not quite good enough. The exciting part for us is that there should be an injection of new faces both new and old into our lineup.

Moir, Lord, Smith, Haynes, Wilson and Binns could easily be good inclusions as well as those who we hope will return in good shape such as Silvagni, Williams, Docherty, Motlop, Durdin. Could even see Ben Camporeale as well.

We need an injection of talent, just to take that next step.

I think Moir, Smith, Lord and Haynes are definitely coming into the side. It will be good to have Docherty back. Durdin and Motlop have talent but we need to see it.

McGovern Weitering Newman
Hollands Haynes Saad
Acres Cripps Smith
Williams Kemp Hollands
Moir Curnow McKay
DeKoning Walsh Cerra
Docherty Hewett Lord Motlop
Durdin
Cowan Fogarty Binns Boyd Wilson

I'm thinking our round one side will be around this mark still. Could easily be a heap of changes though. There's every chance Cowan and Wilson are just too good to leave out and Binns is another if we want a genuine wingman. The good thing is we should see us playing more players and resting players more.

I think Lemmy will come in when we are a tall forward down. Two decent ruckmen in reserve. Silvagni I think will be backup for a number of players such as the key forwards, Haynes or McGovern. Docherty will play everywhere I feel. We have small forward depth but need to recruit for here going forward. We have onballer depth with Camporeale but also Docherty and Hollands able to go in there more if needed. We have really good general defender depth. We were criticised a lot for not playing the youth last year and flogging the best 22. I think that will change as the youth are a little older and some a little more talented.

We start against Richmond who will likely be a bottom side playing a lot of young players so I am hoping we aren't afraid to play more youth as well.

We have had a stable backline for a number of years now. Adding Haynes is adding a really strong talent and having youth banging the door down is exciting. Midfield is stable but a few new additions and good rotations will be useful. It's our forward line which has been weak that I feel is getting a significant upgrade. Williams fit, Moir, Kemp, Motlop and Durdin fit is something that could really spark us. We become a hell of a lot stronger in the air and add a lot of skills and forward smarts. I think our ball movement will really bounce from this.

It's the mini-rebuild i kept talking about a few years ago which we needed. It's a nice little talent injection and I hope embracing the draft really pays off for us.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Gov Weitering Cowan

Saad Haynes Newman

Acres Cripps Docherty

Kemp McKay E Hollands

Motlop Curnow Williams

Foll: TDK, Walsh & Cerra

Bench: Hewett, O Hollands, Smith, JSOS Sub: Lord

Emerg: Moir, Fogarty, Cottrell, Durdin, Pittonet

Love this attempt!
Potentially my only change would be to say playing both Kemp/JSOS could make us too slow. Going smaller with a Fogarty for JSOS instead would be my preference.

JSOS and Kemp can both play that utility role IMO...but only need one.

 

[Arr0w]

We are a side that is close but not quite good enough. The exciting part for us is that there should be an injection of new faces both new and old into our lineup.

Moir, Lord, Smith, Haynes, Wilson and Binns could easily be good inclusions as well as those who we hope will return in good shape such as Silvagni, Williams, Docherty, Motlop, Durdin. Could even see Ben Camporeale as well.

We need an injection of talent, just to take that next step.

Continuity is the most important factor, that's the main injection this group needs.

Certainly enough talent on the list, but i wouldn't say any particular player "needs" to be in the side from that list for us to take the next step

McGovern Weitering Newman
Hollands Haynes Saad
Acres Cripps Smith
Williams Kemp Hollands
Moir Curnow McKay
DeKoning Walsh Cerra
Docherty Hewett Lord Motlop
Durdin
Cowan Fogarty Binns Boyd Wilson

While I have it slightly different, it's a strongish side

I'm thinking our round one side will be around this mark still. Could easily be a heap of changes though. There's every chance Cowan and Wilson are just too good to leave out and Binns is another if we want a genuine wingman. The good thing is we should see us playing more players and resting players more.

I'd pick the strongest side for the start of the season and or the first 6 or so games, we will get a better idea of how the side and players are travelling

I think Lemmy will come in when we are a tall forward down.

Perhaps not, as we have others ahead of him that play tall

We start against Richmond who will likely be a bottom side playing a lot of young players so I am hoping we aren't afraid to play more youth as well.

Tigers have no choice but to play the kids during their rebuild, we have been there, no need to do it again at this point

No other finals contenders will play "the kids" early in the season against the Tigers, it's about building continuity

It's the mini-rebuild i kept talking about a few years ago which we needed. It's a nice little talent injection and I hope embracing the draft really pays off for us.

It's not a mini rebuild, it's sound list management for where we are, nor do we need to load up on experience to jag a flag due to our list being at the older end of the scale like the Pies