Preview Rd 1 - Carlton vs. Richmond, 7:40PM, 24th March @ MCG - Preview Thread

[CrippsonBlue]

What's the situation with AJ - why isn't he in the team?

 

[Sin City]

Could well be right. I really thought his effectiveness was dropping off (can't find the ED or 1% stats anywhere) and his tackling was definitely down (didn't even land 1 in the R20 game), so it was more all of those small things that make the difference between an adequate and a good player. You're definitely right about the running and link up play though, so could probably call it a big out on that alone. Be interesting to see if anyone can step up and provide that given the inexperience we're fielding.

Grigg will probably get as much of the ball but won't use it as well, won't run as hard or offer the on-field leadership.

 

[Quazza]

not being shown live here

unfknbelievable

hopefully my usual source is streaming it


that said Im all set. As per usual game day, the gunsey is on under the work shirt. 12 beers and a big steak in the fridge- all set. Lets do this

 

[Sin City]

What's the situation with AJ - why isn't he in the team?

Time for a new role for AJ I'd say, I reckon there's only one spot in the team for a tagging midfielder and even then a guy like Carrazzo can still get a lot of the ball while shutting his man down. AJ can shut a man down but hasn't offered as much offensively and there's too many in front of him for a back line spot now which is good as he wasn't that impressive down there on a consistent basis. He's naturally a good mix of inside and outside mid and I reckon he'll work on that in the VFL and hope to force his way into the team.

 

[Quazza]

I actually think he may struggle to keep his spot. And the sooner he realises he's not THAT fast, the better

 

[Sin City]

AJ? He's pretty bloody quick. It was when there was a man in front of him that he tried to dummy when he was getting caught a fair bit last year, at some pretty bad times too.

 

[The Goon]

Grigg will probably get as much of the ball but won't use it as well, won't run as hard or offer the on-field leadership.

Actually hoping Grigg is more inside with Foley and Jackson, who release Martin / Cotch / Conca to take up the link roles. Cotch and Conca in particular seem to have the smarts to be where they need to be to receive and then release to advantage. Martin being mostly inside last year didn't often have the opportunity to show what he could do with his foot, but when he has it's been pretty good.

None of them have shown the ability to do it for 4 quarters yet though (and obviously Conca is unlikely to have a significant impact), and fitness will also factor, especially with Martin and Conca (Cotch has of course been training the house down ).

 

[AndyLucimitis]

Raining down Geelong way !!!

 

[NAUGHT5]

It's been raining for half a at the MCG.

Can see it out my window.

 

[Sin City]

Actually hoping Grigg is more inside with Foley and Jackson, who release Martin / Cotch / Conca to take up the link roles.

Yeah, he should be but we'll see how they line up. No doubt it'd be fantastic to have Cotchin playing more outside, I've always thought that was the case. Surely you'd prefer Martin doing the inside work where he has the ability to eventually be a very good player rather than Grigg or Jackson?

 

[bluepride]

Not so confident about our boys ability to play in the wet.

Last time I remember was Judd draggint the boys across the line in the last quarter against the Dees and even then other boys seemed to struggle a bit

 

[blue_boys]

Not the hardest tag of his life.

Would be a few before Jackson, with the hardest being.... umm forget his first name but Curnley from the Crows would always take Judd completley out of the game, was one of the only taggers who could.

Shirley?

[YOUTUBE]0A5t5_O8hdA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[The Goon]

Yeah, he should be but we'll see how they line up. No doubt it'd be fantastic to have Cotchin playing more outside, I've always thought that was the case. Surely you'd prefer Martin doing the inside work where he has the ability to eventually be a very good player rather than Grigg or Jackson?

It's a good question. I've got Dusty on the outside more based on what our team list is at the moment and for development. I don't think Jackson or Grigg's skills are on par with Dusty's on the outside, but they're closer on the inside. All other things being equal then I'd like Dusty' given time to develop his outside game. Having said that Dusty will always have some sort of inside role, but if he can develop the outside as well ... think of how you would best like to use Judd (who Dusty reminds me of).

 

[Blues_Man]

Have a seat around Coffee Republic in the Launceston Mall, that place has the final say on ugly.

Sorry ..next time i'll get them to remove those Mirrors Sin

 

[Sin City]

It's a good question. I've got Dusty on the outside more based on what our team list is at the moment and for development. I don't think Jackson or Grigg's skills are on par with Dusty's on the outside, but they're closer on the inside. All other things being equal then I'd like Dusty' given time to develop his outside game. Having said that Dusty will always have some sort of inside role, but if he can develop the outside as well ... think of how you would best like to use Judd (who Dusty reminds me of).

I wouldn't do it. Looks a far better inside mid to me, he can turn the ball over a bit with his kicking and doesn't have the burst of speed a player like Judd has. Development is always good of course as long as it's for developments sake, not because you think it's the best way to use him.

 

[Sin City]

Sorry ..next time i'll get them to remove those Mirrors Sin

Don't think I could bear the sight of you lot with your black lipstick and piercings if they did that

 

[The Goon]

I wouldn't do it. Looks a far better inside mid to me, he can turn the ball over a bit with his kicking and doesn't have the burst of speed a player like Judd has. Development is always good of course as long as it's for developments sake, not because you think it's the best way to use him.

Don't necessarily disgree. I'll note though that given just how good he was as a first year inside player it's easy to forget he's still a 19YO with a lot of development to go - one who hasn't been given the chance to show what he can do on the outside. In that respect his turn overs to date would be no worse than what you'd expect from any draftee.

Having said all that tonight I can see him being in and under all game. Not much point trying to develop an outside game in wet and windy conditions.

 

[le dominateur]

Not so confident about our boys ability to play in the wet.

Last time I remember was Judd draggint the boys across the line in the last quarter against the Dees and even then other boys seemed to struggle a bit

Dees got back into the game when the rain came, looked like they were going to win going into the last quarter, Judd's effort was supreme.

Back onto tonight's game I still think we need a spare big man on the bench, if Hendo is fit enough to be named as an emergency he is fit enough to play.

 

[Quazza]

AJ? He's pretty bloody quick. It was when there was a man in front of him that he tried to dummy when he was getting caught a fair bit last year, at some pretty bad times too.

I just have too many visions burned into my memory of him trying to burn off his man, and getting pinged

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

This rain is starting to worry me a bit.

We are undermanned as is - and aren't really known for our 'physicality' and 'aggression' at the ball. We usually lose to sides that in harder than us at the pill. I'd be more confident with our full line up in (obviously), McLean and Ellard probably would have thrived in a game like this - so hopefully Curnow can fill that void.

 

[Sin City]

In that respect his turn overs to date would be no worse than what you'd expect from any draftee.

I do agree there are still plenty of areas for a young player to develop, especially as they only do 70% of the training in their first year. There's not much argument that he is an ordinary (albeit very long) kick though.

Jobe Watson kicking eff 66%
Martin kicking eff 60%

Martin during the TAC Cup
2008 kicking eff 57.7%
2009 kicking eff 58.0%
2009 Under 18 champs kicking eff 63.5%

 

[The Goon]

Where do get your eff% from (if you're happy to share)?

 

[parrot]

This rain is starting to worry me a bit.

We are undermanned as is - and aren't really known for our 'physicality' and 'aggression' at the ball. We usually lose to sides that in harder than us at the pill. I'd be more confident with our full line up in (obviously), McLean and Ellard probably would have thrived in a game like this - so hopefully Curnow can fill that void.

Not sure about that. There's a lot more physicality in our play from what I've seen, and this has been a focus in the pre-season.

The rain-situation is interesting. It makes me more comfortable with our lack of KPD height in this game . The advantage of playing someone like White on a taller, slow non-athletic talls like Jack or Vickery, is that'll be able to run off them easily and counter-attack.

Overall we're a much better side in the dry, but we do have a few wet weather specialists who stand up in these games e.g. Robbo. Judd continues to dominate regardless, and will just power on even in a downpour.

This is one game where Kruezer would have had a huge advantage over Hampson. Kruezer, like Judd, continues to perform even when the conditions are tough. He's a machine.

 

[MartinFoleyCotch]

It is pissing down in the city atm. To be honest I like these conditions for us as it takes the skill out of the game and makes it more of a kick long to a contest type gig. Riewoldt still plays well in the wet as well.

Foley, Cotchin, Martin, Grigg and Jackson will all love these conditions....as well as Tuck who I cannot believe is not selected for this game considering the conditions.

McLean is a big out considering the weather.

 

[DarkTint]

Getting so excited about tonight. Can't wait for the boys to run out and to hear that mighty cheer from our supporters again.

We've talked the talk, now it's time to walk the walk.