Preview Rnd 2 - Carlton v Western Bulldogs - Thursday 24th March 7.20PM @ Marvel Stadium - Team Post #1028

[Chief]

Game day:

Game Day - Rnd 2 - Carlton v Western Bulldogs Game Day Discussion

IN: Walsh, Fogarty OUT: Cerra, Martin (both AFL Health and Safety Protocols) Broadcast Guide :- CH7 from 7.00PM FoxFooty from 7.00PM Kayo Radio: MMM, 3AW, GuesSEN, ABC, AFL Nation Board & Site Posting rules apply! https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/help/terms/...

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[no fate]

​

Following an outstanding win against Richmond, the blues are off to a positive start to the season for the first time in 10 long years. And don't the fans love it! Now, the mighty blues can line up for a free hit against another strong team from the bulldogs, for the chance to go 2-0!

For the blues, it's also a chance to atone for their soul destroying fade out in round 8 last year, where the bulldogs kicked 8 goals in a row from late in the third quarter to turn a 27 point deficit into a 16 point win - for blues fans, arguably one of the biggest let downs of a disappointing season.

HISTORY
This will be the 151st meeting between the two teams, with Carlton holding the historical advantage, 89 to 57 with 4 draws. The blues' biggest win stands at 129 points (a glorious win with 30 goals on the board in Round 18, 1982 at Princes Park, en route to another flag) with the bulldogs' biggest win at 68 points (round 15, 2010), neither likely to be threatened this time.

The two teams have never met in a final, with the bulldogs filling the lower reaches of the ladder for most of Carlton's glory years. Incidentally, a golden opportunity for the first ever such final was spoiled when the blues coughed up a 30 point lead to Brisbane, coached by one Michael Voss, in the 2009 elimination final.

Nonetheless, throughout living memory, the bulldogs have consistently provided a challenge for the blues, with many hard fought contests played out over the years, with the inhospitable windswept Western Oval providing tough conditions for visitors (who could forget Mark Arceri's late goal to save the blues from going goalless in the 1991 shocker, played in driving rain).

In recent years, like many opposition teams playing Carlton, the bulldogs have enjoyed the upper hand, winning 13 of the last 20 against the blues - the first of those games being the last suburban clash, at Princes Park in 2004, incidentally also won by the bulldogs, prior to the unloved Docklands venue becoming the AFL-appointed regular home of these clashes.

The sides have traded wins over the last 5 games, as follows:

2021 Round 8 Bulldogs 107 d Blues 91
2020 Round 6 Blues 103 d Bulldogs 51
2019 Round 13 Bulldogs 103 d Blues 100
2019 Round 5 Blues 101 d Bulldogs 57
2018 Round 22 Bulldogs 66 d Blues 49

TEAMS
In the pre-season hit out against Melbourne, the blues showed what they are capable of in the middle of the park, and our new midfield put in another superb showing against the tigers. Certainly, a fit and firing Cripps, Kennedy, Hewitt and Cerra facing off against the much vaunted dogs midfield will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this match.

Up forward, Harry McKay

10

Harry Mckay

Age

27

Ht

200cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

2.4

2star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.4

5star

D

6.6

1star

K

4.6

2star

HB

2.0

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

G

1.4

5star

D

8.8

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

2.0

2star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

2.0

5star

will need to shake off his injuries(?) to get heavily onto the scoreboard against a dogs back line unlikely to be able to handle him in full flight. For the dogs, much may rely on Keath, with dogs fans unlikely to love Schache's recent performances, and the dogs not being blessed with many other options. In line with one of the blues' main summer objectives, the pressure coming from the small fleet of Fisher, Owies, Durdin will be key. Charlie Curnow

30

Charlie Curnow

Age

27

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

9.7

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

is an enigma, with a repeat of his 7 goal heroics from 2019 likely just a dream for blues fans at this stage, but perhaps a chance for later in the season.

In the back line, as always, much will rely on Weitering as the general of the defensive ranks, although it will be interesting to see how the blues team with McDonald and McGovern structure up against a dogs forward line comprising few noticeable tall targets, other than the often spectacular and potentially dangerous Aaron Naughton

33

Aaron Naughton

Age

25

Ht

196cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

6.3

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.3

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

0.8

1star

G

0.5

4star

D

12.8

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.0

1star

. The absence of Josh Bruce

17

Josh Bruce

Age

32

Ht

198cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.6

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

90.4

1star

D

8.9

2star

K

3.5

1star

HB

5.4

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.3

2star

MG

90.4

2star

D

11.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

, who is not expected to be running through a banner any time soon, provides a welcome boost for the blues in this match. With the bulldogs possessing a range of dangerous small forwards and rotatable mids, a more defensive role may need to be taken by the likes of Adam Saad

42

Adam Saad

Age

30

Ht

178cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.5

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

MG

349.1

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

12.0

5star

HB

8.7

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.4

3star

MG

388.3

5star

D

17.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.2

3star

and our incredible comeback hero Sam Docherty

15

Sam Docherty

Age

31

Ht

187cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.3

5star

K

15.1

5star

HB

7.2

4star

M

6.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

CL

1.1

3star

D

22.6

5star

K

16.0

5star

HB

6.6

4star

M

7.0

5star

T

0.6

1star

CL

0.4

3star

D

11.2

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.4

4star

CL

0.6

3star

.

INS AND OUTS
With Walsh and Stocker seeming another week away at least, expect there to be forced changes only to the blues' first round 1 winning team in a decade, unless there is an injury lurking somewhere. In case one unlucky player cannot get up, the positive news will be that there are no shortage of strong replacement candidates waiting in the wings, after the VFL team enjoyed party time at Punt Rd earlier on Thursday.

OUTLOOK
Despite the bulldogs' relative success in recent times, there hasn't been much between these two teams head to head, with the blues recording two handsome recent victories and being well on top for large periods of the two most recent losses.

Having been humbled in last year's grand final and again at the hands of the demons in round 1, to the coach's obvious and extreme displeasure (Beveridge might have needed a cold drink to cool down prior to his post match press conference), the bulldogs can be expected to come out snarling for this one. To counter this, the blues must be up for the fight early, and back themselves to get on top over four quarters - sparing no effort to ensure that they are in front at the final siren.

PREDICTION
Another hard fought affair, with the lead changing hands several times, as Voss' new band of blues keep fine tuning their exciting new game plan and gaining team cohesion. A decisive final burst from one side, stamping their authority on the game in the last 10 minutes. Carlton by 15 points!

 

[Arr0w]

Great write up no fate

I have always rated Bevo as a coach, has extracted the best out of the top end players and some average role players. Talented, desperate, but somewhat softish over the last 18 months if you force them backward from the stoppage.

We now have an AFL standard midfield to compete against them and if we breakeven in inside 50's, H and Charlie will have a party against their defenders

Apply body contact on Naughton in a marking contest (tough assignment) and you eliminate his weapon, his leap

Blues by 5 goals

 

[FRUMPY]

No change. Back in the round 1 team who won

Sent from my CPH2005 using Tapatalk

 

[Blue Ratts]

actually think the way of the bullies slingshot play will play into our hands, Gov will play a big role here and reverse the play. think we get this one

 

[Arr0w]

No change. Back in the round 1 team who won

Sent from my CPH2005 using Tapatalk

Spot on, but no doubt if we had lost we would be calling for changes

A win like that sets the bar as a whole, even the guys that played in the VFL

 

[Blue Ratts]

Spot on, but no doubt if we had lost we would be calling for changes

A win like that sets the bar as a whole, even the guys that played in the VFL

is Walsh a chance?

 

[FRUMPY]

Spot on, but no doubt if we had lost we would be calling for changes

A win like that sets the bar as a whole, even the guys that played in the VFL

Yep even the VFL....'had a good game, well good, do it again, bust the door down to get a game'

Sent from my CPH2005 using Tapatalk

 

[Blue Ratts]

Personally i think walsh gets another week , what do you think?

 

[Blue Ratts]

Spot on, but no doubt if we had lost we would be calling for changes

A win like that sets the bar as a whole, even the guys that played in the VFL

should always be the guys in the vfl busting the doors down, rather than stop gap thinking. this is where i think the big change is this year, and iits a psychological one too

 

[Arr0w]

is Walsh a chance?

Think it will be a cautious approach, could play against the Hawks, will play against GC

 

[Sammoll]

Regarding the thread title - the game starts at 7:20 not 6:20.

Regarding the game, will be a good test to see where we are at. There seem to be some troubles over in Footscray at the moment so it’s time for us to capitalise on that.

 

[marcmurphy3]

No changes

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

Williamson can have LOB's spot. Better kick for mine and infinitely harder.

 

[Stamos]

Blues by 5 goals

Conservative

 

[RPCB]

I wasn’t very confident last night against Richmond or Round 2 against the Bulldogs. I needed to see a team performance similar to the practice matches before I could be confident against good sides. So to win last night in the fashion that we did, I think we can be confident heading into the Bulldogs game. This year just feels so different to previous years. Voss and the coaching staff have us playing a real brand of football and I couldn’t be happier.

 

[Cringle]

Williamson can have LOB's spot. Better kick for mine and infinitely harder.

Mmm I thought LOB did his job well.

Couple of little mistakes but I thought he competed as hard as he’s ever and he covered a lot of the ground both offensively and defensively.

 

[bigblueboy]

No change.

 

[Blue and Blue]

The club is in a good place when Walsh has to earn his way back through the rezzies.....

 

[Mondyboy]

No change.

Though I’d give Willo a run in the VFL and maybe have Carroll or Kemp as the sub.


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[DirtyLeeds]

No Change, and personally not too impressed by the Dawgs, reckon they had a great run last September, but really were more of a "7th" team as the GF result demonstrated. Blues by 20 points.

 

[FRUMPY]

No change.

Though I’d give Willo a run in the VFL and maybe have Carroll or Kemp as the sub.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Yep a player should not be a sub 2 games in a row if they dont play

 

[jj1978]

Interesting the Fox crew were leaning towards the Dogs. Funny that recent history suggests that we match up well with this mob in recent times and have been in the games we've lost or have completely obliterated them! Heck we even had SPS make this mob his b!tc# for a game.

There is a smell about the Dogs at the moment with extra aromas added by the whole Beveridge incident. With selection leaks, sense of some players having their nose out of joint (not happy with the coaches and selection), something is a bit NQR with them.

When the Dogs are on they're hot, but they can't sustain it for a full game. This game will be much like last night where each team will have the ascendency for 2 quarters, it'll be who makes the most of it when it's their turn. The Naughton match up is the most crucial and don't think Weiters is best suited, not sure McD is either.

The Bont doesn't look fit and their midfield although deep can be picked apart as Melbourne has shown... contest, contest, go in hard... and it's looking like Cripps, Hewett, Kennedy, Cerra and Setters can do that quite well at the present moment.

We need our forwards to click, we can't rely on our midfield to kick the bulk of our score. People saying not worried about Charlie... I'm in the worry camp... it's not like it's his first game back.. he did play the tail end of last year, did a whole pre-season and looks completely void of touch.

They say your form tends to continue to how you left off your last game.... if that's the case our first quarter could be special.

 

[The Bighouse]

No change. Back in the round 1 team who won

I thought the heat was on; Fisher, Martin, Owies, Chas, TDK and even McKay to put in last night & pretty much all stepped up in the last Q to ice the game when something was needed.

The spread of goal kickers without our tall forwards having an impact bodes well for when it does click for H & CC with TDK kicking straight.

 

[teagueyubeauty]

I thought Charlie was bog ordinary last night, no urgency just in a light jog most of the night. He has to step it up a bit to stay in the team imo


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[Kramer1]

Mmm I thought LOB did his job well.

Couple of little mistakes but I thought he competed as hard as he’s ever and he covered a lot of the ground both offensively and defensively.

Yep. After all the shallow entries in the first, that came back with interest, and Cripps kneeing/shinning/floating in a half dozen more, LOBs deft pass to Durdin showed why we need the ball in his hands more.

A monumental win, but not a lot of goals came from forward craft and/or great entries.