Preview Round 2, 2025: Carlton v Hawthorn, Thursday 20th March, 7:30pm @MCG

[DogDaySonny]

I bet that Frosty stays sub for quite a while. Until Dear returns. He only plays the back two positions. They delivered him the best year of his career, after all. If he’s in the starting 22, it forces one of the swingers out of the defence and reduces our unpredictability.

Thats why I think we’ll do a like for like swap for Scrim, meaning Serong. CJ is a wing in this squad. With a first six defender out, CJ needs to beat Morrison , Amon or Massimo out of the side. IMO.

 

[kazzooka]

Who currently sit 1-0 after round 1.

If nothing else, the effort and output and result from Richmond on Thursday shows you there’s a lot to be said for a positive mindset in modern footy.

They were one of the least experienced teams for sure, but nothing we have seen is evidence they were one of the worst.

I've been rethinking my Richmond stance. I looked at a 2 win season and talent leaving as signs they were in dire trouble.

But what I didn't consider is that last year they probably lost far more games than they should have because they were still playing many players who had already checked out.

Then you have to acknowledge the talent they brought in and already had. Sometimes we look at names on paper and don't rate them as they haven't been around long.

Nobody would have looked at our side and expected 2 first year players to kick 3 and 4 in an elimination final last year.

 

[kazzooka]

He was also available for the finals in 2024 and didn’t come in. He’s clearly not a walk up start in the match committee’s view.

He was an emergency for the Essendon game which suggests he's high in the pecking order. Scrimshaw out and CJ is the most like for like replacement from the emergencies and probably on the list along with Serong.

Last year he played most games when fit, after the 2nd injury though they wanted to see form leading into a final to pick him and he didn't really build that from his I think 2 box hill games. Ward, Maginness, Morrison showed all year that they were a class above VFL and now all 3 are in the 23 still even with Day and Mackenzie back.

 

[CD Xbow]

Surely If CJ and Gunners are right to go they should play. CJ gives extra run, is like for like proven replacement and gets a 3 match block with the benefits that brings. Adds excitement and some good PR, and perhaps most importantly for CJ himself, he gets a run. Gunners played well last time against the same opponent and we lack tall forwards. If we don't play him this week, we never will. Out of Frosty, Harry and Finn, one plays, one doesn't and one is sub.

 

[HedgeFund]

I'm a big fan of the Cholster but that is not a good match up for Maboir.

Chols biggest weakness is his contested marking as we all know.

Hopefully the mids will lower their eyes and try and hit Chol up on some leads so no he can get some separation from Weitering.

I think this game will be decided on the basis of whether the Blues backline can handle our ground level work inside 50.

If that means our pressured entries are lower and more chaotic to minimise the ability of Weitering to intercept mark, I’m all for that.

Otherwise, short 20-30m kicks to players in space is what will get the job done.

It’s clear we are running with a short mobile front 6, so that is Carlton’s problem to address, not ours.

 

[HedgeFund]

Surely If CJ and Gunners are right to go they should play. CJ gives extra run, is like for like proven replacement and gets a 3 match block with the benefits that brings. Adds excitement and some good PR, and perhaps most importantly for CJ himself, he gets a run. Gunners played well last time against the same opponent and we lack tall forwards. If we don't play him this week, we never will. Out of Frosty, Harry and Finn, one plays, one doesn't and one is sub.

So drop players from a winning side to make one other player feel good and because another one played well in a 100 point belting last year?

Do we lack excitement and PR?

Don’t you recall that Harry, Finn and Frost all played finals when CJ was fit and available?

What’s changed?

 

[Bugs1977]

I'm thinking it will be CJ in for Scrim as the sole change but I'd be starting Frosty down back (with CJ sub) in place of Scrim and even though he's not as versatile as Scrim I trust him to do the job on one of their tall's in McKay or Curnow if he plays. Barrass can then take the opposite one to Frosty which will allow Sic + Battle to keep on with the intercepting roles they've been playing.

The only other player who I feel hasn't looked 100% fit is Ginni who has been dealing with the ankle. He looked a lot better on Friday night so hopefully it's on the mend.

 

[CD Xbow]

So drop players from a winning side to make one other player feel good and because another one played well in a 100 point belting last year?

Do we lack excitement and PR?

Drop a player yes, drop players, NO. Please be accurate*. None of Frosty, Harry or Finn are world beaters. First line back up. Lucky we have them. Scrimshaws unfortunate loss gives a perfect chance to give CJ a run in a managed sort of way. I think his run will be good weapon against the Blues. Gunners is self evident if he is right to go. The need is there.

So given your rather silly outrage about my suggestions, what are you going to do when Dear and Lewis are right to go? You got to drop someone. It's tough.

No we don't but more excitement and good PR are always pluses in the 21C.


*channelling my inner Grunbleguts

 

[Bugs1977]

So drop players from a winning side to make one other player feel good and because another one played well in a 100 point belting last year?

Do we lack excitement and PR?

Don’t you recall that Harry, Finn and Frost all played finals when CJ was fit and available?

What’s changed?

With the current form of each player yes I agree with you that Harry + Finn stay but if CJ can get back to full fitness but more importantly stay injury free (big if at this stage) then him at 100% is a far more damaging player than the other 2.

At full flight we all know his capabilities and I'm a huge fan of the other 2 but CJ can transform us into a team that run the opposition ragged with our transition.

As of right now it's up to Harry + Finn to keep up what they've been doing but IMO I think Sammy would love nothing more than to have another running weapon in the team to throw another wrinkle into how we've been playing.

 

[HedgeFund]

Drop a player yes, drop players, NO. Please be accurate*. None of Frosty, Harry or Finn are world beaters. First line back up. Lucky we have them. Scrimshaws unfortunate loss gives a perfect chance to give CJ a run in a managed sort of way. I think his run will be good weapon against the Blues. Gunners is self evident if he is right to go. The need is there.

So given your rather silly outrage about my suggestions, what are you going to do when Dear and Lewis are right to go? You got to drop someone. It's tough.

No we don't but more excitement and good PR are always pluses in the 21C.


*channelling my inner Grunbleguts

Problem is the match committee don’t appear to agree with you that those players are “first line back up” at this point in time.

It’s Gunston and CJ who are in that position at the moment.

Fit, available and playing at Box Hill.

When has Sam dropped players from a winning side?

 

[Fluro Boots]

Nash v Cripps will be a great watch. Interesting to see how Cripps who think is a wonderful player goes in the unfamiliar territory of playing on a bloke bigger stronger and faster

 

[Delisted]

We gonna be rebounding like Dennis Rodman

 

[CD Xbow]

Problem is the match committee don’t appear to agree with you that those players are “first line back up” at this point in time.

It’s Gunston and CJ who are in that position at the moment.

Fit, available and playing at Box Hill.

When has Sam dropped players from a winning side?

We shall see. If they don't get a run I suspect they didn't pull up quite right. Note I have no inside knowledge.
Also you didn't say who you would drop when the big forwards come back? By your logic if the team keeps winning you are going to leave them in the 2's!

 

[RX Hawk]

IN: Jiath

OUT: Scrimshaw


B: Impey, Barrass, Hardwick

HB: Amon, Battle, Sicily

C: Weddle, Ward, Day

HF: MacDonald, Frost, Ginnivan

F: Moore, Chol, Watson

R: Meek, Newcombe, Nash

INT: Jiath, D’Ambrosio, Morrison, MacKenzie, Maginness (Sub)

EMG: Gunston, Breust, Mitchell

Most logical selection. I think we will be too fast for them. Hope we had overcome our fatigue shown in the 4th quarter last week. Hawks by 30.

 

[Paul Kersey]

$18 to reserve a seat on level 4. Probably charges on top of that - no idea because I closed the page. Reckon this game will probably attract around 75k. Think I’ll just show up early.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Gunston did a number on Weitering last year so he has to come in. Weitering is good when he is left alone to patrol the backline. Drag him out and Carlton's defense has little depth. Also if you watch the Richmond game, look at where they got their goals from in the second half. Flanks and pockets. That's where Carlton are most vulnerable and exposed for lack of pace

 

[caseman2]

Ins: Gunston
Outs: Scrimshaw

Sub: Massimo - 2 very very ordinary games to start the season. I called it out in the pre-season, since Drew sat on him at the semi-final other teams have taken note and he has not been able to handle it - yet. His attack on both the man and the ball was exceptionally poor.

Key match ups -
Nash to Cripps
Barrass to McKay
Frost to Curnow. With Scrimmers out, throw the challenge to Frosty and let him go back to his previous role of playing on the key forward from the start.

Observations -

Meek was great week 1 but was soundly beaten against the Bombers. Will have his work cut out against the agile DeKoning.
Small forwards were better this week although Ginni yet to really get going and CMac whilst much better, his ball handling was awful. The number of fumbles and turnovers was staggering. Clearly a much better layer than what his first 2 games have shown
Weddle (one of my favorites) has been underwhelming. Still very early in the season but needs to involve himself more and use his run
Whilst stats don't show it Chol's ability to create a contest is way above where he ended last season
Yes there were a couple of turnovers with dinky little kicks but Josh Ward's kicking has improved and now has more penetration

Carn Hawkers!

 

[tommyk72]

Ins: Gunston
Outs: Scrimshaw

Sub: Massimo - 2 very very ordinary games to start the season. I called it out in the pre-season, since Drew sat on him at the semi-final other teams have taken note and he has not been able to handle it - yet. His attack on both the man and the ball was exceptionally poor.

Key match ups -
Nash to Cripps
Barrass to McKay
Frost to Curnow. With Scrimmers out, throw the challenge to Frosty and let him go back to his previous role of playing on the key forward from the start.

Observations -

Meek was great week 1 but was soundly beaten against the Bombers. Will have his work cut out against the agile DeKoning.
Small forwards were better this week although Ginni yet to really get going and CMac whilst much better, his ball handling was awful. The number of fumbles and turnovers was staggering. Clearly a much better layer than what his first 2 games have shown
Weddle (one of my favorites) has been underwhelming. Still very early in the season but needs to involve himself more and use his run
Whilst stats don't show it Chol's ability to create a contest is way above where he ended last season
Yes there were a couple of turnovers with dinky little kicks but Josh Ward's kicking has improved and now has more penetration

Carn Hawkers!

Agree with what you've said re most of these - Meek, CMac, Ginni, Weddle, etc. I really want to see them start to play more consistently.

Conversely, I think Mass has done some really nice things, and is popping up everywhere. Don't think he deserves to be reverted to sub with his running game.

 

[ReturningHawk]

This is the week for CJ! Bring back the dash!

 

[Sturty]

People naming CJ as sub - Sam has already said given his injury history that won't happen.
They don't want him doing the warmups, sitting on the bench for over a half, having to warmup again then play
Risk of re-injury would be high

 

[captain blood 17]

Dear Hokball enthusiasts, you know what to do here Thursday night. We did our bit. Love CB17.

 

[HedgeFund]

We shall see. If they don't get a run I suspect they didn't pull up quite right. Note I have no inside knowledge.
Also you didn't say who you would drop when the big forwards come back? By your logic if the team keeps winning you are going to leave them in the 2's!

Clearly if Lewis and Dear are fit and ready to play AFL then the likes of Frost and probably Morrison would be likely to make way.

However, that’s a complete hypothetical situation as we have no idea what the injury situation will be when/if Lewis and Dear are able to return.

I’m simply making observations on actual list availability and likely selection in the week of each game.

 

[Walshawk]

$18 to reserve a seat on level 4. Probably charges on top of that - no idea because I closed the page. Reckon this game will probably attract around 75k. Think I’ll just show up early.

Won’t get 75k on a Thursday. There will be fewer Hawk fans than last Friday, and fewer Blues than last Thursday after that loss. Will be in the 60ks.

 

[brew]

Have a read of the 'Bluemour Discussion' thread in the Carlton forum.

Interesting times!

 

[detox]

Finn would make way before Morrison.

Morrison's been a very good player for a while and it's like no one has noticed sometimes.

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