Are Carlton on the verge of something great?

[Robroy22]

Sydneys only used 27 players in total this season....they're having a dream run with injuries and other teams aren't. Finals (as we all know) are a completely different game and if the Swans were to lose a prime mover or two (yes we know Mills and Parker aren't there...but they haven't been there all year) well then their balance would truly be tested.

They look great when they're up and going....but then so too do most sides.

 

[Gavin Excell]

If Carlton have a second half to the season like last year, they are a big show
They do have a long tail though with a bottom 6 that's limited

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

If Carlton have a second half to the season like last year, they are a big show
They do have a long tail though with a bottom 6 that's limited

Who are our bottom 6?

 

[Gavin Excell]

Who are our bottom 6?

Durdin, Cowan, Cincotta, Fogarty, Hollands, Boyd

That's off top of my head
Blues lack an elite small forward. Motlop may be that player finals

 

[Gavin Excell]

Sydneys only used 27 players in total this season....they're having a dream run with injuries and other teams aren't. Finals (as we all know) are a completely different game and if the Swans were to lose a prime mover or two (yes we know Mills and Parker aren't there...but they haven't been there all year) well then their balance would truly be tested.

They look great when they're up and going....but then so too do most sides.

You need a good injury run to win a flag
Sometimes you get that

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Durdin, Cowan, Cincotta, Fogarty, Hollands, Boyd

That's off top of my head
Blues lack an elite small forward. Motlop may be that player finals

4 of them are arguably not even best 22 for us at full health. Probably best to have a better understanding of our list before saying that idk.

Boyd and Fogarty are also fantastic role players, Boyds one of the highest rated kicks in the comp and a very good lockdown defender, Fogarty one of the best fwds in the league for pressure and goal assists.

I don't disagree about the lack of elite small fwd claim however. Imo our biggest flaw.

 

[Gavin Excell]

4 of them are arguably not even best 22 for us at full health. Probably best to have a better understanding of our list before saying that idk.

Boyd and Fogarty are also fantastic role players, Boyds one of the highest rated kicks in the comp and a very good lockdown defender, Fogarty one of the best fwds in the league for pressure and goal assists.

I don't disagree about the lack of elite small fwd claim however. Imo our biggest flaw.

Just went off the last game.v Essendon

 

[Thrawn]

If Williams continues his form, we just might have our "elite small forward" by accident.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Just went off the last game.v Essendon

Fair enough. We aren't missing our big players ATM but the bottom 6 depth u speak of is mostly sitting on the sidelines still, most are expected to be back next week at some level.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Fair enough. We aren't missing our big players ATM but the bottom 6 depth u speak of is mostly sitting on the sidelines still, most are expected to be back next week at some level.

Is Motlop close to getting back in?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Is Motlop close to getting back in?

He'll play vs ur mob this week yeah. Had a decent week in the VFL last round so expect him to be straight in. Martin, not too sure if they'll give him a week in the VFL or not but he's expected back too.

 

[Gavin Excell]

He'll play vs ur mob this week yeah. Had a decent week in the VFL last round so expect him to be straight in. Martin, not too sure if they'll give him a week in the VFL or not but he's expected back too.

Big game.v Cats
I suspect you'll win but Cats were ok v Swans last week even with one of the weakest midfields in comp

 

[deeplivid]

As far as I can tell they have the lowest percentage of a team 2nd on the ladder after Rd 14 since Hawthorne in 2001 (106.9%)

 

[Thrawn]

As far as I can tell they have the lowest percentage of a team 2nd on the ladder after Rd 14 since Hawthorne in 2001 (106.9%)

You're 100.2% sure about that?

 

[HirdyLannister]

Anything bar a flag is a fail for Carlton, their season to lose.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Anything bar a flag is a fail for Carlton, their season to lose.

So they're clearly a level above Sydney?

 

[Gethelred]

Who said this?? We're nothing like that Richmond side. Docherty, Saad, Cerra, McGovern, Acres are all elite in their position and we have talented young kids like De Koning and Elijah Hollands. We're nothing like Richmond. That Richmond side actually was a bunch of spuds, carried by insane work ethic and defnesive pressure, combined with a penchant to infringe the opposition player and gamble on the Umpire not paying the free kick. Appreciate the faith you see in the Blues, but we're nothing like that Richmond side - our players are actually talented.

...

I mean, some of those spuds have three premiership medals and allowed Dusty to go through games without even attempting to tackle. They won three premierships in 4 years, and shoulda coulda woulda in '18; to describe their role players and non-stars as 'spuds' is just... bonkers. An inability to give credit where it is due.

It's like someone saying '**** me, but that's the worst double ton I've ever seen!'. Who gives a ****; when you can hit two hundred yourself then you can criticize.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

...

I mean, some of those spuds have three premiership medals and allowed Dusty to go through games without even attempting to tackle. They won three premierships in 4 years, and shoulda coulda woulda in '18; to describe their role players and non-stars as 'spuds' is just... bonkers. An inability to give credit where it is due.

It's like someone saying '** me, but that's the worst double ton I've ever seen!'. Who gives a **; when you can hit two hundred yourself then you can criticize.

I'd agree with you in abstract, generally you couldn't contemplate a scenario where a side could be that good but be made of so many spuds. Unfortunately the Richmond side is the ultimate outlier. As I said in my original post, insane defense effort and a penchant for infringing the opposition player and getting away with it (i.e, the only thing that keeps Dylan Grimes on an AFL list). You have to give credit to their defensive effort but it doesn't make them talented and as for their cheating approaching to infringing the opposition, it's not something I value nor support.

 

[Aphrodite]

So is this the part where we ridicule Essendon for having the worst percentage ever for a team 4th on the ladder after rd 14?

 

[Arr0w]

If making top four for the first time in decades is classified as something great then yes, yes they are.

Just a mid table side

 

[GastevsBeard]

this feels like 2017

Sydney = Adelaide
Carlton = Richmond

Gee they are building nicely

 

[kreuze_missile]

Dynasty.

2024
2025
2026
2027
2028

Bigfooty isn’t going to be much fun for anyone else

 

[HairyO]

Sydneys only used 27 players in total this season....they're having a dream run with injuries and other teams aren't. Finals (as we all know) are a completely different game and if the Swans were to lose a prime mover or two (yes we know Mills and Parker aren't there...but they haven't been there all year) well then their balance would truly be tested.

They look great when they're up and going....but then so too do most sides.

In 2005 they used 25 players across the year. Pays to have a healthy squad.

 

[Blue1980]

Chance for the flag, untested/unproven in finals though.

We won 2 finals last year.

Unless you mean grand finals.

 

[Drexl 31]

Ignoring the trolling, Sydney already destroyed Carlton though. They take the whole game away from their opposition in one quarter which is reminiscent of peak Richmond. Just like we knew Collingwood would win the premiership last year from mid way through the season because of their ability to win close games, I think Sydney is also a straight forward premiership.

It'll take a special effort for Carlton or anyone to win it.

Yes, destroyed us at the SCG. Sydney much better on that day. Could be a little closer at the "G" in a big final no?