Land of the Giants
Premiership Player
According to Nathan Schmook on the AFL website a couple of weeks ago, “Carlton has the most upside of the undefeated teams”. Yesterday afternoon, the winless Crows didn’t agree.
They might have been inspired by St. Kilda, who came within a whisker of inflicting our own first loss of the season. The Saints were always going to be a tough ask and so it proved.
For most of the match, the game plan was firm. We moved the ball forward as quickly as possible, regardless of how we got our hands on it. Well-beaten in the clearances, and a few other key stats (the free kick differential was a ridiculous 9-20 in their favour), we held it together until the last 10-12 minutes. Kingsley thought we shut up shop too early and let them back into the contest. From where I sat, it looked like we’d run out of gas. But to allow a run of six unanswered goals was unsettling.
Next Saturday, we take on the previously undefeated Blues at Marvel Stadium. Both teams are coming off six-day breaks, and will need to replace key players.
As I understand it, the AFL mandates a minimum 12-day return-to-play concussion protocol, which means Sam Taylor won’t be available this week or against Brisbane on ANZAC Day. Also, we’re almost certain to be without Stephen Coniglio, after he suffered a nasty-looking knee injury.
Here’s the likely line-up:
FB [36] Harry Perryman, [19] Nick Haynes, [39] Connor Idun
HB [6] Lachie Whitfield, [44] Jack Buckley, [7] Lachie Ash
C [10] Jacob Wehr, [22] Josh Kelly, [17] Finn Callaghan
HF [16] Brent Daniels, [26] Jake Riccardi, [14] Toby Bedford
FF [4] Toby Greene, [23] Jesse Hogan, [46] Callum M. Brown
FOL [32] Kieren Briggs, [8] Callan Ward, [12] Tom Green
IC [5] Aaron Cadman, [27] Harry Himmelberg, [28] Harvey Thomas, [33] Xavier O'Halloran
SUB [19] James Peatling
We’re lucky to have players the calibre of Ward and Haynes available as replacements, with Ward making a sooner-than-expected return through the VFL yesterday. Toby McMullin might be another consideration.
Carlton are not without their own problems, and will be missing Adam Saad and Mitch McGovern through hamstring injuries suffered against the Crows. It’s unclear what will happen with former Dockers gun Adam Cerra, who was a late withdrawal from the Crows match also with a hamstring strain. Nonetheless, the bookies have them as comfortable favourites to win.
This was always going to the match of the round and a likely sell-out. How times have changed since no-one wanted to come and watch us. I envy you Melbourne Giants!
For the rest of us, if you’re watching on TV, expect unbearable bias from the commentators.
I believe that we will win.
They might have been inspired by St. Kilda, who came within a whisker of inflicting our own first loss of the season. The Saints were always going to be a tough ask and so it proved.
For most of the match, the game plan was firm. We moved the ball forward as quickly as possible, regardless of how we got our hands on it. Well-beaten in the clearances, and a few other key stats (the free kick differential was a ridiculous 9-20 in their favour), we held it together until the last 10-12 minutes. Kingsley thought we shut up shop too early and let them back into the contest. From where I sat, it looked like we’d run out of gas. But to allow a run of six unanswered goals was unsettling.
Next Saturday, we take on the previously undefeated Blues at Marvel Stadium. Both teams are coming off six-day breaks, and will need to replace key players.
As I understand it, the AFL mandates a minimum 12-day return-to-play concussion protocol, which means Sam Taylor won’t be available this week or against Brisbane on ANZAC Day. Also, we’re almost certain to be without Stephen Coniglio, after he suffered a nasty-looking knee injury.
Here’s the likely line-up:
FB [36] Harry Perryman, [19] Nick Haynes, [39] Connor Idun
HB [6] Lachie Whitfield, [44] Jack Buckley, [7] Lachie Ash
C [10] Jacob Wehr, [22] Josh Kelly, [17] Finn Callaghan
HF [16] Brent Daniels, [26] Jake Riccardi, [14] Toby Bedford
FF [4] Toby Greene, [23] Jesse Hogan, [46] Callum M. Brown
FOL [32] Kieren Briggs, [8] Callan Ward, [12] Tom Green
IC [5] Aaron Cadman, [27] Harry Himmelberg, [28] Harvey Thomas, [33] Xavier O'Halloran
SUB [19] James Peatling
We’re lucky to have players the calibre of Ward and Haynes available as replacements, with Ward making a sooner-than-expected return through the VFL yesterday. Toby McMullin might be another consideration.
Carlton are not without their own problems, and will be missing Adam Saad and Mitch McGovern through hamstring injuries suffered against the Crows. It’s unclear what will happen with former Dockers gun Adam Cerra, who was a late withdrawal from the Crows match also with a hamstring strain. Nonetheless, the bookies have them as comfortable favourites to win.
This was always going to the match of the round and a likely sell-out. How times have changed since no-one wanted to come and watch us. I envy you Melbourne Giants!
For the rest of us, if you’re watching on TV, expect unbearable bias from the commentators.
I believe that we will win.
