Injury Blue Healers Medical Room - 2023

[Blue__Balls]

do u think he bulked up?

Not noticably so, but as an outside runner I wouldn't have expected him to come back huge.

Just noted that last season he seemed to be going harder at ground balls, trying to hold space better in contests, working his way through traffic a bit more rather than letting the ball go and going to ground for a milked free kick. He had some good cameos down back, holding width around contests close to the opposition goals and being used as a handball outlet.

Preseason he looked a little stronger, standing up a bit more in tackles, still not great at holding position in a marking contest but I was willing to let that slide if the improvements elsewhere helped make up for it.

Hoped that a full game against an ordinary Roos outfit, without Acres in the side, would have been a good opportunity for him to stake a claim. Had some moments, but on the whole it was a pretty forgettable performance.

So yeah, now I've got him well behind Acres, behind Hollands, and probably behind Cottrell when fit (assuming that's for the sub role). Haven't written him off, a good month in the VFL could see a boost to form and confidence - he's typically responded pretty strongly to being dropped in the past - but he's slipped down the order for sure.

 

[Lace_Out]

Cotts is ahead of LOB.

Hollands will need a rest at some point and LOB will be able to play the role.

Cotts will play ahead of LOB if fit.

Can't keep carrying LOB.

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[Juddernaut08]

Not noticably so, but as an outside runner I wouldn't have expected him to come back huge.

Just noted that last season he seemed to be going harder at ground balls, trying to hold space better in contests, working his way through traffic a bit more rather than letting the ball go and going to ground for a milked free kick. He had some good cameos down back, holding width around contests close to the opposition goals and being used as a handball outlet.

Preseason he looked a little stronger, standing up a bit more in tackles, still not great at holding position in a marking contest but I was willing to let that slide if the improvements elsewhere helped make up for it.

Hoped that a full game against an ordinary Roos outfit, without Acres in the side, would have been a good opportunity for him to stake a claim. Had some moments, but on the whole it was a pretty forgettable performance.

So yeah, now I've got him well behind Acres, behind Hollands, and probably behind Cottrell when fit (assuming that's for the sub role). Haven't written him off, a good month in the VFL could see a boost to form and confidence - he's typically responded pretty strongly to being dropped in the past - but he's slipped down the order for sure.

Yeah great observations.

My guess is that being 3rd in line has put extra mental pressure on him. He seems to be trying too hard, so it's affecting his ability to think clearly and make good decisions. It's also affecting his polish.

One thing that's hard to balance is strengths and weaknesses. I think with a few players like Dow and LOB, we've focused on ironing out their weaknesses rather than finding ways to use their undoubted strengths. I don't know what the right call is for both of these guys, but I feel like Voss definitely leans towards the 'ironing out weaknesses' camp.

RTB found a way to make Stocker valuable. Our mid mix is diff to the Saints but I daresay he'll find a way to unlock Dow in 2024.

 

[thylacine60]

i thought cottrell was well on his way to be being in our best team last year, playing as the third winger, defensive forward.

the guy can run all day, doesn't shirk from body contact, runs well defensively and when he gets a look at goals is a good finisher, from both set shots and in play.

disposal was shaky and his game awareness maybe isn't as good as some but he has improved each of those elements year on year.

great summary

 

[I bleed Blue]

Cotts will play ahead of LOB if fit.

Can't keep carrying LOB.

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I agree.

Sorry I had a typo. Meant to say cotts will play the role when hollands needs a rest.

I did say cotts is ahead of LOB in the first sentence

 

[Own The Future]

Yeah great observations.

My guess is that being 3rd in line has put extra mental pressure on him. He seems to be trying too hard, so it's affecting his ability to think clearly and make good decisions. It's also affecting his polish.

One thing that's hard to balance is strengths and weaknesses. I think with a few players like Dow and LOB, we've focused on ironing out their weaknesses rather than finding ways to use their undoubted strengths. I don't know what the right call is for both of these guys, but I feel like Voss definitely leans towards the 'ironing out weaknesses' camp.

RTB found a way to make Stocker valuable. Our mid mix is diff to the Saints but I daresay he'll find a way to unlock Dow in 2024.

Totally agree and I’ve been saying this for a long time. We do seem to focus on what guys cannot do and ignore their strengths - Stocker the prime example. Never going to be an elite runner but always gave his all in whatever role he was given. Happy for him that he’s found a home at StK.
That said, with Dow’s only real asset being his work as a clearance mid - that is the one area we are overstocked in our best 22. He is well down the pecking order when we’re fully fit, but when he doesn’t get a look in with Hewett and/or Kennedy out it is clear he’s just not anywhere near contention.
Shame as he has the tools, just apparently not doing what our coaches want. He is a poor defensive runner and historically doesn’t put on much pressure, but I have seen him apply himself more with tackling of late so maybe the penny has dropped a bit.

 

[jj1978]

Bar Doc and Williams, is a bit weird to almost have close to a best side avail and depth coverage. Looking forward to Cotters and Boyds return for that extra pace and agro.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Bar Doc and Williams, is a bit weird to almost have close to a best side avail and depth coverage. Looking forward to Cotters and Boyds return for that extra pace and agro.

Yup I think we have 22 of our best 26 available at the moment. Of those missing, only Docherty is best 10.

Williams, Owies and Boyd are all imo in the fringe range. Williams is maybe top 15 on talent, but he's still only in conversation for the 7th defender because of how good Doch/Saad/Newman are.

 

[teagueyubeauty]

Totally agree and I’ve been saying this for a long time. We do seem to focus on what guys cannot do and ignore their strengths - Stocker the prime example. Never going to be an elite runner but always gave his all in whatever role he was given. Happy for him that he’s found a home at StK.
That said, with Dow’s only real asset being his work as a clearance mid - that is the one area we are overstocked in our best 22. He is well down the pecking order when we’re fully fit, but when he doesn’t get a look in with Hewett and/or Kennedy out it is clear he’s just not anywhere near contention.
Shame as he has the tools, just apparently not doing what our coaches want. He is a poor defensive runner and historically doesn’t put on much pressure, but I have seen him apply himself more with tackling of late so maybe the penny has dropped a bit.

Been playing mid/hff for the last 2 years in the reserves and been on the score sheet more often than not on top of accumulating possession adnauseum.

If I was Dow I’d be looking to get the hell out of Carlton as he’s being held to a much higher level on his weakness than anyone else on the list.

Perfect opportunity to come in last week at HFF and take minutes in the middle when needed, instead we being in a guy who did nothing in the 2’s to be promoted and contributed in the game way less than Dow would have.

Having said that, he needs to come in for a block of games and not be dropped the next week because we have some bloody good ins so maybe that’s what the MC were thinking.


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[Love the Drake]

Cottrell and Boyd back will be good. Cottrell probably not best 22 but he needs these developing games. If he puts a bit of size on he could fill in the gaps in his game and become that sub O'Brien is at the moment or extra wingman. Boyd could come straight in with Docherty missing.

Cottrell was excellent as the medical sub some years back. Would come on and have an immediate impact. Was talked about as the AA sub that particular year.

 

[Revenant1965]

Are some of the discussion points here LM topics?

 

[Aphrodite]

Are some of the discussion points here LM topics?

Yes they are & belong in the List Management thread.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Cottrell and Boyd back will be good. Cottrell probably not best 22 but he needs these developing games. If he puts a bit of size on he could fill in the gaps in his game and become that sub O'Brien is at the moment or extra wingman. Boyd could come straight in with Docherty missing.

Cottrell would make a fantastic sub, i can see some good upside still within his game…
Boyd’s a very promising player whom also has the potential of great upside as well…
More speed’run endurance toughness pressure & hunger for the contest…

 

[Aphrodite]

Cottrell would make a fantastic sub, i can see some good upside still within his game…
Boyd’s a very promising player whom also has the potential of great upside as well…
More speed’run endurance toughness pressure & hunger for the contest…

Please take it to the List Management thread.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Please take it to the List Management thread.

No problemo

 

[marcmurphy3]

According to Voss Saad had some hamstring tightness towards the end of the match. Reading between the lines we benched him as a precaution once we were out of the game. McGovern issues with calf during the week, trained fully but then pulled up sore in the warm-up. Didnt want to take any risks. Pitto no concussion. Was struggling to see out of his eye after the cut.

At face value with a 10 day break no reason all 3 shouldn't be available. Though given our record of players missing months with "tightness" we will have to wait and see.

 

[Beyond Blue]

According to Voss Saad had some hamstring tightness towards the end of the match. Reading between the lines we benched him as a precaution once we were out of the game. McGovern issues with calf during the week, trained fully but then pulled up sore in the warm-up. Didnt want to take any risks. Pitto no concussion. Was struggling to see out of his eye after the cut.

At face value with a 10 day break no reason all 3 shouldn't be available. Though given our record of players missing months with "tightness" we will have to wait and see.

Voss also said that Owies also had hamstring tightness afte the GWS game and Gov was apparently fine after his cork last week…as always all will be revealed when the teams run out next week.

 

[Juddernaut08]

will Gov return? really missed his kicking and intercepts last night.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

will Gov return? really missed his kicking and intercepts last night.

And his clearances & goal kicking

 

[Red Bull]

will Gov return? really missed his kicking and intercepts last night.

Play Kemp as the third tall defender.
Give him the chance to make the position his long term.
McGovern playing every now and then and Marchbank once in a blue moon is unsustainable.
Enough’s enough …

 

[Beyond Blue]

will Gov return? really missed his kicking and intercepts last night.

It won’t surprise me if he’s out for a week or more - like Cunners, Marchy, Martin - his body is just not able to handle regular competitive football.

We need to make some hard decisions at the end of the season about these injury prone types because it’s killing any ability for the team to get any sort of continuity.

 

[Crippa#9]

any light on Cuningham & Martin re; VFL this week?

Geez the continual lack of status surrounding our players is frustrating. Is Marchbank alive?

 

[Bletch]

Martin was a test for this week per the stickied injury list update. He's not named for the VFL, so guess didn't pass the test.

And Cuningham not named for 2nd week in a row. No idea why.

 

[curnow inferno]

Do we know if doch's meniscal surgery is to the same knee he had both his ACLs on? It's almost certain that he would've had meniscal cleanouts included at both recos & now to have a 3rd shave out of the same meniscus would mean there is very very little cartilage remaining in the knee, leaving it very close to being bone on bone. Hopefully it was the other knee or at the very least the lateral meniscus instead of the medial one usually implicated in ACL injuries.

 

[Beyond Blue]

any light on Cuningham & Martin re; VFL this week?

Geez the continual lack of status surrounding our players is frustrating. Is Marchbank alive?

Martin was a test for this week per the stickied injury list update. He's not named for the VFL, so guess didn't pass the test.

And Cuningham not named for 2nd week in a row. No idea why.

Cunners 2 weeks missed now with the latest calf tightness setback. Martin has missed 4 weeks with calf tightness. Marchy returning to training this week after missing 8 weeks with a calf strain. Im preparing myself for the inevitable that Gov will be joining them for a stint on the sidelines too with his calf tightness.

4 list spots on 2 field positions wasted and giving us no choice but to choose the only other option in both positions. No competition for spots. No options when things go wrong like last night. The problem can’t properly be addressed until the end of the year or start improvising by playing guys out of position.

Herein lies the cost of holding onto injury prone players for too long.