Preview RD 15:- Carlton v Western Bulldogs, discussion, changes

[Xavi2Villa]

I thought Grigg looked a little off pace, but understandably so given he hasn't played in the seniors all season.

I was surprised that Lucas was left out, I thought he'd been one of your better players since making his debut (before he got injured), I would replace Grigg with him.

I think White was also one of your best performers early in the season before getting injured as well and would bring him back in if he's fit enough to play. I would probably let Thornton have a run in the reserves again, he struggled early in the season and hasn't been great in most games since returning to your side.

I think you've seen that Bower needs to another week or two off, if you plan on being a force in the finals, you need a fit Bower and him playing one week and then missing two isn't going to help your backline get settled before finals..

You need to make sure he's fully fit before bringing him back in.

The Bulldogs will probably be coming off a bruising clash with Hawthorn, so if you come to play, you should get over them and you do also have the wood on them in the past few seasons anyway.

 

[blues4flag]

Thought Grigg was ordinary. Unfortunately yet again lacked composure with the footy. At least he didn't blaze away with it as he's done in the past but instead held it for too long, unsure what to do with it.

That said, it was his first game of the season and he deserves a bit of slack. Give him a couple of weeks to get himself going and gain some confidence in his ability as from all reports he's been very good on the above at VFL level.

 

[ericpascoe]

Grigg and Lucas play very different roles for the team. Grigg is not "in" for Lucas. He is in for Hadley / Mclean - the "in and under" role. And he has not played senior footy for 10 months. Give him a go.

 

[Vamos Juddamente]

When Waite returns from suspension I think Setanta may be getting nervous. In the first quater he made three unacceptable errors all three resulting in costly turnovers. I know he was great early in the year but I wonder if he really is the answer going forward.

 

[The Grover]

When Waite returns from suspension I think Setanta may be getting nervous. In the first quater he made three unacceptable errors all three resulting in costly turnovers. I know he was great early in the year but I wonder if he really is the answer going forward.

Yeah have to agree he was very bad, he can't even sustain a decent chase.

Defintely out when Waite is back.

Walker also was very poor, if you can't tackle then see you later. Missed a target 20 metres away by 10 metres.


Outs: Walker
In: White or Lucas

 

[shell23]

OUT: Grigg - Cost us 2 goals early in the game and is slow

IN: Lucas

 

[Juddbemetron]

Let hammer and grigg have another go
only change would be
in: Bower (if fit)
out: thornton

 

[Alpha1]

Would like to see Lucas come back into the side, he gives us that polish and has very good foot skills something we need really badly.

 

[Bordi]

Grigg out for Lucas. Turned it over badly in the first (though alot of our boys did) but didn't reeally do anything to keep his spot, when Lucas is a better user of the ball than he is.

For his first game of the season, Hammer played ok...so many times our boys could have kicked into the goal square to a Hammer 1 on 1 but they chipped it sideways, turned it over, and we were scored against.

O'halpin got a bit of the pill in the first half but turned it over quiet alot....where do we draw the line with our Irish recruit? At least he presented and made a few contests.

Robinson provide some hardness at the footy (though that one contest in the first that he squibbed was shocking) and played a better game than a Hadley type player, so should really hold onto his spot for another week.

I really feel Setanta and Hendo HAVE to play together for the remainder.. the contest they provide is the key, they r rarely marked against which therefore gives our smalls the chances to pounce. The turnovers arise by being outmarked n pumped straight back intowards def 50.

In regards to Waite coming back in, i feel thorntons position should be more at risk than O'hailpins, and this is due to O'Hailpins desire to want the footy and the attack he has on getting the footy (makes him more acocampaignerable)

In summary - Setanta should stay (for now), Hendo should stay, and waite can be a very effective swing man (as like last yrs).

 

[Sin City]

Grigg and Lucas play very different roles for the team. Grigg is not "in" for Lucas. He is in for Hadley / Mclean - the "in and under" role. And he has not played senior footy for 10 months. Give him a go.

Cheers EP, is it fair to assume if he's playing this role he may get an extended crack at it until McLean is ready to come back?

 

[le dominateur]

I thought Hammer got to the right positions and read the fall of the ball quite well. We should have used the long bomb to Hammer at the top of the square more often as the 3 amigos were on fire. Hammer will improve heaps over the next few weeks. O'hailpin was the complete opposite and misjudged the flight of the ball on many occasions.

 

[DamoESP]

I thought Hammer got to the right positions and read the fall of the ball quite well. We should have used the long bomb to Hammer at the top of the square more often as the 3 amigos were on fire.

THIS.

The amount of times we got the ball past the center square and then chipped it around the 50 was shocking. Why they didn't try and bomb it to the goal square when Hammer was there was beyond me.

There was a few times when they showed Hammer calling for the ball in long (and looking pretty pissed when they didn't bomb it in) and instead they chipped it sideways to the boundry or turned it over.

 

[FRUMPY]

In: Bower
Out: Thornton (was better last night, but we need bower back)

Setanta to go out when waite comes back the week after. He looks lost and down on confidence at the moment.

Give Grigg and Hmapson anther week, think they will be better for the run.

 

[Aphrodite]

Only 1 change.

Will reassess later next week.

In : White/Bower
Out : Thornton

 

[blues4flag]

Was Thornton that bad last night? I actually saw a much more assured Thornton than the past couple of weeks.
He won't be going anywhere.

Nope. Appears to have become our new whipping boy.

 

[blue healer]

Bower in for Thornton only change.

Would like to see Bower back in but not at Thornton's expense. I think we need to focus on the backline and Thornton's experience will be needed.

Really worried about Bazza, I've seen nothing in any of Jammo's games that make me think that he can match him. Think Jammo has a lot of improving to do to match the wraps he gets here

 

[Bordi]

Nope. Appears to have become our new whipping boy.

Nothing against Thornton, i have thought hes played his part very nicely since the beginning of last yr, however someone should be at risk for Waites return and i believe Setanta is very important as his lil helpers seem to play alot better together wen he is there than wen he is not.

 

[Go_Blues!]

Grigg and Lucas play very different roles for the team. Grigg is not "in" for Lucas. He is in for Hadley / Mclean - the "in and under" role. And he has not played senior footy for 10 months. Give him a go.

Yep, Grigg should stay in until Mclean gets back. That will give him 3 or 4 games and a chance to settle. Similarly with Hampson, really needs an extended run of 3-4 games. There is nothing to be gained putting either of these guys back in the 2's after one game. I thought Grigg got better as the game went on, and did seem to be adjusting to the pace, but we were playing better then so maybe that is misleading.

 

[ericpascoe]

Cheers EP, is it fair to assume if he's playing this role he may get an extended crack at it until McLean is ready to come back?

I would like to think so but then again it's not as if I'm a member of the match committee. It would seem logical to give him 4 weeks or so - it seems as if his future at Carlton may hinge on it.

 

[Bell Ringer]

Setanta's mobility seemed to be a problem last night.

His gait when sprinting looked restricted. I know he missed the Freo game due to a calf complaint - me thinks this is still an issue.

His main attributes are his athleticism and competitiveness. If his body isn't right then he's not much use out there.

If he isn't 90-100% by the Doggies game I'd sit him out and seriously consider bringing in Wiggins to play a defensive role on Lake.

 

[raymagoo]

Grigg looked more clueless than JR ever did. More than once he was 15 metres in the clear running forward, yet he held onto the ball till he was under pressure then had to scoop a handball out over his head.

Hampson did ok. Got the ball to ground front and centre a few times even though he couldn't clunk it. Great spring in the few ruck contests he contested. be interesting to know how much time he actually spent in the ruck. Not a great game by any means, but definitely did a few of the right things. Will keep his spot.

Robbo is tough as nails, just wish he could keep his feet a bit more and improve kicking skills.

Wish Walker could STICK A TACKLE. Not sure if its his shoulders that bother him or what, but he just flaps his arms at him, rather than drive his body forwards into them. Terrible to watch on about 5 occasions tonight.

Jacobs fought back well after getting pantsed by Leuenberger early on. Very happy with that. Coming along nicely. Think Hammer could compliment him nicely.

Thornton is living on borrowed time. White & Bower will be making him look over his shoulder thats for sure.

It seems as thou Walker was tackling too high on the body last night, was getting shrugged off by ducking under him, seems he needs to concentrate more on the hips!

totally agree with griggamortis, he looked clueless last night & has just gone backwards since 08 nab, im sure he'd get better with more afl games but im not sure if we can afford to give them to him as a midfielder.

Hampson & warnock both need afl practise & although hammer wasnt good last night we have to give him a few games in succession, his vfl form has been great so lets reassess him in about 4 weeks

bower for grigg if fit, if not simon black (white even) idiot!

 

[blueboy25]

Hammer needs a few more weeks in the 1's plus more time in the ruck. Jacobs played the majority of the game in the ruck last night and the forward line was a bit of a graveyard for the bigger forwards on both teams.

Was not impressed with Grigg at all, a lot of posters on this board were calling for anderson and brownes heads after they had a bad one. I wonder if they will be making the same call on Grigg.

Does he work hard enough in the VFL? From the reports I have read grigga was gettting plenty of uncontested footy off half back and just cruising.

The big irishman is struggling but a lot has to do with the way we are delivering into the forward line. Looks down on confidence and hopefully he can pick it up soon as he will be vital come finals time.

Ins: will wait and see the VFL report before I make a call.

 

[Blue since 72]

Setanta's mobility seemed to be a problem last night.

His gait when sprinting looked restricted. I know he missed the Freo game due to a calf complaint - me thinks this is still an issue.

His main attributes are his athleticism and competitiveness. If his body isn't right then he's not much use out there.

If he isn't 90-100% by the Doggies game I'd sit him out and seriously consider bringing in Wiggins to play a defensive role on Lake.

Noticed this also. When he's fit he's quite quick. Doubt he's 100% but with Hammer and Hendo down forward last night maybe he was used more to take a defender out of the game. Bit of a decoy role perhaps.

Be interesting to see how White and Aussie go this weekend and whether Lucas gets a look in next week.

Grigg and Hammer will play again, no logic behind flicking them after one game

 

[LemmingMaster]

Those calling for Bower to come straight back into the team, surely a quick run in the 2's would not hurt his chances. He has missed too many weeks to be rushed straight back into the team. I would also not mind White having to work his way back via the 2's.

 

[Mister Carlton]

Would be very happy if White is in the side next week.