Preview Round 4 Carlton vs Essendon 16/4/11

[Blue since 72]

Robbo though may be there for some time just to put mini Watson off his game.

No issues with that as long as they don't waste a body on a hard tag. If the club think top 4 is in reach then give the midfield the opportuntiy to go head to head with the opposition.

Hard tagging a Watson or a Black basically says you've conceded them 1st touch.

Why can't we back our guys to get first touch (other than Judd) and start making the opposition think more about our midfield.

When Murph plays outside the contest the opposition quite often tag him because he can be dangerous with his run and carry and as a consequence we tend to see him fade in and out of games. The times I've seen him at centre bounces he's a great reader of the ball drop and is very ellusive in traffic (he stops and turns like G Ablett).

Even Gibbs while not as ellusive is still a very good reader of where the ball's going to be.

Let's start backing the boys to win first disposal, spread away from the stoppage like Collingwood do with the ball into the Hands of Judd, Gibbs, Simmo etc. Would even run Walker through there as a receiver too.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Watson has played well against us the last few seasons. We have always had a hard tag on him and that has generally meant it is 4 on 3 in the centre circle as we have one looking for him and not the ball. He is very good in traffic and generally has the ball gone long before the tackler catches up with him.

We now have the quality in the middle to have 4 blokes looking for the pill which gives us a much better chance of winning it. That is all. We wont be letting him roam free, we will be making him compete for the ball, not just look to dispose of it before the tackle sticks.

fair enough

Bullshit. The fans may have thought your team was gonna get spanked by our midfield but I seriously doubt Ratten was prancing around thinking it was in the bag.

He's actually quite conservative and when playing perceived bogey sides he'll go more defensive than not.

I'm not so sure. Don't get me wrong, of course I don't think Ratten thought you "had it in the bag", but he definitely backed his midfield to win head to head against us in most of the games. I think he is conservative, but I think he and the coaching panel thought (probably with some reason) that your cattle were better than ours, pound for pound.

The media in particular, rightly or wrongly wack on about the quailty of our midfield but Ratts doesn't seem to believe it as I hardly ever see it given a licence to flat out go for it.

This year Gibbs in particular and Murph should really have self expectations of stepping into the upper echelon of midfielders and Ratten should back those expectations in, not use them as taggers like he did with Gibbs last week.

I agree with that. I have no idea why Gibbs isn't allowed to be more creative

 

[HARKER]

Hard tagging a Watson or a Black basically says you've conceded them 1st touch.

Why can't we back our guys to get first touch (other than Judd) and start making the opposition think more about our midfield.

I agree whole-heartedly.

We'll have the ruck division to back ourselves at the back end of this season and we should start having others worry about us, rather than the other way around.

I do though think that after all the "free Gibbs" calls we had and for all the talk of setting him free through the centre, and then seeing him tag Pendlebury may have been a little disappointing to some.
Had have we won it would have been a stroke of genius, of course.

 

[Blue since 72]

I agree whole-heartedly.

We'll have the ruck division to back ourselves at the back end of this season and we should start having others worry about us, rather than the other way around.

I do though think that after all the "free Gibbs" calls we had and for all the talk of setting him free through the centre, and then seeing him tag Pendlebury may have been a little disappointing to some.
Had have we won it would have been a stroke of genius, of course.

No doubt he did a good defensive job on Pendlebury and kept him fairly quiet but he could have served us better in 'attack' mode.

Don't get me wrong I'm not against tagging and Pendlebury is/was a good one to tag but why use Gibbs to do it. Carrots is actually quite a good tagger (and there are others), is not essential to stoppage play in terms of making the play and could have done the job on Pendlebury.

As I've said before I wouldn't bother tagging the opposition '1st possession' player as I don't see the point but a crucial play maker should certainly be looked at. Just don't do it with one of your own crucial play makers.

 

[Claypigeon]

No doubt he did a good defensive job on Pendlebury and kept him fairly quiet but he could have served us better in 'attack' mode.

Don't get me wrong I'm not against tagging and Pendlebury is/was a good one to tag but why use Gibbs to do it. Carrots is actually quite a good tagger (and there are others), is not essential to stoppage play in terms of making the play and could have done the job on Pendlebury.

As I've said before I wouldn't bother tagging the opposition '1st possession' player as I don't see the point but a crucial play maker should certainly be looked at. Just don't do it with one of your own crucial play makers.

If Gibbs was cleaner of hands then he might have hurt Pendlebury the other way. .. I can remember a few minor fumbles that meant Gibbs lost clean runs through the midfield. .. I don't think it was entirely the tagging duties that took him out of the game, the pressure on both sides mids was immense and that contributed. .. Even Judd and Swan were a bit fumbly, Collingwood's superior structure meant they had more support on occasions though. ..

 

[Blue since 72]

If Gibbs was cleaner of hands then he might have hurt Pendlebury the other way. .. I can remember a few minor fumbles that meant Gibbs lost clean runs through the midfield. .. I don't think it was entirely the tagging duties that took him out of the game, the pressure on both sides mids was immense and that contributed. .. Even Judd and Swan were a bit fumbly, Collingwood's superior structure meant they had more support on occasions though. ..

Yeah there were alot of fumbles on both sides, I guess due to conditions (duey?) and pressure however if you're told prior to the match that you'll be minding someone it becomes very hard during the game to be both defensive and attacking with great effectiveness on both counts.

His first job was to slow down Pendlebury so his attacking game automatically takes a back seat. I just don't see it as the most effective use of Gibbs.

 

[40yearBLUE]

I know what oxy moron means just didn't think you were serious. It was just a throw away line. Not the part that i know more than you but the last line.

you need to get a life mate. anyway can we get back to the topic. I'm bored of this convo.

Not enough to know its only one word So far you have not done much to change the first impressions but based on the level of your English skills, your footy knowledge is far superior

So back on topic, there should be at least 9 changes this week:

Out: Betts, Collins, JR, Watson, Hammer, Carrots, Duigan, Laidler and Walker
In: Levi, Ellard, Lucas, Joseph, Kerr, Mclean, White, Hendo and Bowser.

That should make all BF posters more than happy shouldnt it?

And Gibbs and Murph, you are on notice. If you dont have 35 possies and hit the scoreboard you will both be in the Ants the week after.

 

[jessCFC]

If only the forwards could take some marks... we'd be doing better and people wouldn't have already written us off this week.

 

[Sublime]

does anyone of you blue supporters know how hendo has been going in the magoos? really rate this young key forward.what are his chances of getting a run this friday nite?

Coming back from injury, might get a game this week.

Personally i'd trade him in for a similar priced forward or one of the higher rated rookies before their price gets too high.

 

[HARKER]

Carlton*
Paul Bower (ankle) - test
Ryan Houlihan (calf) - 2-3 weeks
Matthew Kreuzer (knee) - 2-3 weeks
Luke Mitchell (shoulder) - indefinite
Setanta O'hAilpin (ankle) -test


Clearly Austin did not break his arm on the weekend.

 

[TrueBlue05]

Coming back from injury, might get a game this week.

Personally i'd trade him in for a similar priced forward or one of the higher rated rookies before their price gets too high.

He's only 21! if that! hes on the right track to become a superstar full forward!

 

[TrueBlue05]

Carlton*
Paul Bower (ankle) - test
Ryan Houlihan (calf) - 2-3 weeks
Matthew Kreuzer (knee) - 2-3 weeks
Luke Mitchell (shoulder) - indefinite
Setanta O'hAilpin (ankle) -test


Clearly Austin did not break his arm on the weekend.

I don't think thats been updated yet, I recall seeing this a week ago.

 

[HARKER]

I don't think thats been updated yet, I recall seeing this a week ago.

Released today at 3.38p.m.
It will be good to see Kreuzer get to "test"

It may just make me , just a little.

 

[Goughy]

Released today at 3.38p.m.
It will be good to see Kreuzer get to "test"

It may just make me , just a little.

This is actually a list from the 8/4/11. That's what the asterix means after the Carlton heading

 

[Aphrodite]

In the mix: R4

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/111481/default.aspx

CARLTON
The Blues are in the enviable position of having some real pressure for senior spots exerted by those playing for the Bullants in the VFL. Paul Bower, Lachie Henderson and Brock McLean are all working back into match fitness following injuries with Bower and Henderson the most likely to earn call-ups to face the Bombers. Kane Lucas, David Ellard and Aaron Joseph are also pushing hard.


ESSENDON
The Bombers might have the luxury of playing three ruckmen against Carlton on Saturday if David Hille comes back from a hip injury, but that will depend on how the 29-year-old trains this week. Henry Slattery will be available for selection after a broken thumb and could come straight back into the side to play on one of Carlton’s small forwards, while Kyle Reimers, following a best-on-ground performance for Bendigo Bombers in the VFL, will also be in contention for his first game of the season.


http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/111481/default.aspx

 

[HARKER]

This is actually a list from the 8/4/11. That's what the asterix means after the Carlton heading

Thanks for the advice.

Let me make the appropriate amendments then:

Paul Bower (ankle) - Good to tear Essendon a new one this week.
Ryan Houlihan (calf) - 1-12 weeks dependant on how Collins is going.
Matthew Kreuzer (knee) - 1-2 weeks.
Luke Mitchell (shoulder) - Is he even at Carlton. Send out the search party.
Setanta O'hAilpin (ankle) - Test: Kicking, Marking, Spelling and Junior Mathematics.

 

[Faz 2000]

I agree whole-heartedly.

We'll have the ruck division to back ourselves at the back end of this season and we should start having others worry about us, rather than the other way around.

I do though think that after all the "free Gibbs" calls we had and for all the talk of setting him free through the centre, and then seeing him tag Pendlebury may have been a little disappointing to some.
Had have we won it would have been a stroke of genius, of course.

Why invest in/have a ruck division if you're not gonna back it to win the hitout? If you're focusing on Watson completely, then you're guaranteed to be second to the ball. He's a fantastic player, he'll get his share of clearances... but we need to make sure we do, too.

Re: Gibbs on Pendles last week - that was a mistake. Collingwood can do better without Pendles than we can without Gibbs. Not saying Gibbs > Pendles, but he's more important to Carlton than Pendles is to Collingwood. We can't afford a 1-for-1 tag-fest there. Collingwood's superior depth means they're better equipped to deal with that.

 

[TrueBlue05]

In the mix: R4

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/111481/default.aspx

CARLTON
The Blues are in the enviable position of having some real pressure for senior spots exerted by those playing for the Bullants in the VFL. Paul Bower, Lachie Henderson and Brock McLean are all working back into match fitness following injuries with Bower and Henderson the most likely to earn call-ups to face the Bombers. Kane Lucas, David Ellard and Aaron Joseph are also pushing hard.


ESSENDON
The Bombers might have the luxury of playing three ruckmen against Carlton on Saturday if David Hille comes back from a hip injury, but that will depend on how the 29-year-old trains this week. Henry Slattery will be available for selection after a broken thumb and could come straight back into the side to play on one of Carlton’s small forwards, while Kyle Reimers, following a best-on-ground performance for Bendigo Bombers in the VFL, will also be in contention for his first game of the season.


http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/111481/default.aspx

3 ruckmen? I think thats a bit stupid!

 

[Blue since 72]

He's only 21! if that! hes on the right track to become a superstar full forward!

Don't panic, we're not selling Hendo off just yet. He was replying to a more than likely dream team query.

 

[40yearBLUE]

3 ruckmen? I think thats a bit stupid!

I dont know about that.

Just imagine for a moment if Hammer was killing it in the forward line, klunking hsi marks and nailing his kicks and getting 2-3 goals a week and say 10 hit outs, and Knockers continues to be dominant at hit outs to advantage and serviceable around the ground and suddenly Kruze is available. In that scenario I could see us picking all 3.

If Hille and Bellchamber are rucking then expect Ryder to be at full forward. It can work. It would stretch our "short" backline again.

 

[Macca18]

Just popped over to read the expert pre-game analysis of the biggest turncoat on Bigfooty, parrot - only to be quite disappointed about the complete lack of posts.

Then it finally dawned on me... Carlton actually lost last week so unfortunately we probably won't have the absolute pleasure of reading anything from our feathered friend until the next Blues victory. There is usually a complete parrot hiatus after every Carlton loss. lol.

Had the parrot been here I'm sure it would be something along the lines of -

"Carlton have the superior talent advantage in every area of the ground and should win this game very easily."

"Our young KPP are the best in the league and aren't far away from reaching their full potential."

"Carlton's midfield is far superior. In fact Essendon do not have a midfield."

"I am completely delighted with Chris Yarran. He is by far the most talented player to come out of the 2008 draft. Carlton would of most certainly overlooked Michael Hurley had he still been available at pick 6 for Yarran."

"If Carlton play to their full potential we'll win this by 70 points. lol. "

 

[The Toad]

Just popped over to read the expert pre-game analysis of the biggest turncoat on Bigfooty, parrot - only to be quite disappointed about the complete lack of posts.

"

Please explain??

 

[Macca18]

Please explain??

Oh... aren't you aware?

The birdbrain was once a Geelong supporter, not too many years ago either. Certainly has an interesting past.

 

[mickelboy182]

Oh... aren't you aware?

The birdbrain was once a Geelong supporter, not too many years ago either. Certainly has an interesting past.

You might be thinking of Celtic_Pride there mate... Also an idiot of the highest order.

 

[The Toad]

You might be thinking of Celtic_Pride there mate... Also an idiot of the highest order.

That's what I was thinking. Parrot has been Un-listed since I started on BF.