The next 2 weeks

[Clay Davis]

One of the most overblown loads of crap in the entire AFL is the difference that the size of a ground makes. Do you know how much longer Subi is than the MCG? Ten freakin' metres. Just over half of a useless chip kick. And what difference does the width of the wings make? Everybody knows that any team who doesn't suck uses the corridor.

It isn't crap. A bigger ground makes it harder to zone, harder to flood. A smaller ground makes it harder to find space.

It's not the length of the kick, it's how much you have to run over the course of the day.

Sydney play their ground very well. The zone has been less effective against us at home than it has been away, precisely because of the size of Subi.

 

[westy1]

call me over optimistic but i can see no reason why we cant win this week
carlton are over rated and hevent done anything to deserve the plaudits they are getting from the vic -centric press,(other than tank).
i noticed in his post match press conference ratten, was taking some consolation from getting within a kick of the hawks(who arent really on song).and staying with them ,instead of expressing disappoinment for loosing,all i could think was ,what a loser.
either that or he doesnt rate his side as highly as the press does
us on the other hand are on a roll,confidence is high and is growing
bring on the tankers

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

It isn't crap. A bigger ground makes it harder to zone, harder to flood. A smaller ground makes it harder to find space.

It's not the length of the kick, it's how much you have to run over the course of the day.

Sydney play their ground very well. The zone has been less effective against us at home than it has been away, precisely because of the size of Subi.

The way people talk about it, you'd think Subi stretched as far as the eye could see. The wings are way narrower than most grounds and the length is slightly longer. Ten metres does not make a difference to how far you run in a game significant enough to effect... well, anything.

Point taken about zoning but again, the differences in size of each ground are not significant enough to make any degree of discernable difference to the overall effectiveness of a zone defence and furthermore the outcome of a game. A ground with wings 20m wider will mean that each man in a five man wide zone will need to mind an extra two metres either side of him. Hence why I still think it's overblown crap.

 

[purplepassion82]

It's quite interesting to look at our fixture now. We have the following and what i think could be our win/loss factor (barring injuries and a little bit of luck)

Carlton - Away - Loss
Hawthorn - Home - Loss
N Melb - Away - Win ?
Richmond - Home - Win
PAD - Away - Loss
Geelong - Home - Loss
Collingwood - Away - Loss
Carlton - Home - Win or Loss (no idea)
Adelaide - Away - Win?
Brisbane - Home - Win
West Coast - Home - Win
Doggies - Away - Loss
Pad - Home - Win?
Melbourne - Away - Win
Ess - Home - Win ?
Geelong - Away - Loss

Being a bit generous here i know, but if we play the way we did with sydney for 4 qtrs and w/c for 2 quarters, then we could very well be 11 wins and sneak into the eight.... but then again any more injuries and we could be 2 wins for the entire season. I am the eternal optimist and like to think we could have a fairly good run home. In time too we will get getting guys like Mayne, Headland (hopefully) back and Ballantyne to debut.

Also I aint no fitness guru, but I have read that it can take teams a few rounds to get to peak fitness and I am sure in the last two games we have run them out very well. The change in game style certainly helps but if it's quite warm on the gold coast, then Carlton could tire out faster?

 

[Clay Davis]

It's quite interesting to look at our fixture now. We have the following and what i think could be our win/loss factor (barring injuries and a little bit of luck)

Carlton - Away - Loss
Hawthorn - Home - Loss
N Melb - Away - Win ?
Richmond - Home - Win
PAD - Away - Loss
Geelong - Home - Loss
Collingwood - Away - Loss
Carlton - Home - Win or Loss (no idea)
Adelaide - Away - Win?
Brisbane - Home - Win
West Coast - Home - Win
Doggies - Away - Loss
Pad - Home - Win?
Melbourne - Away - Win
Ess - Home - Win ?
Geelong - Away - Loss

Being a bit generous here i know, but if we play the way we did with sydney for 4 qtrs and w/c for 2 quarters, then we could very well be 11 wins and sneak into the eight.... but then again any more injuries and we could be 2 wins for the entire season. I am the eternal optimist and like to think we could have a fairly good run home. In time too we will get getting guys like Mayne, Headland (hopefully) back and Ballantyne to debut.

Also I aint no fitness guru, but I have read that it can take teams a few rounds to get to peak fitness and I am sure in the last two games we have run them out very well. The change in game style certainly helps but if it's quite warm on the gold coast, then Carlton could tire out faster?

I think it's far more sensible to extrapolate how well we've played on average these past six weeks, rather than thinking we can play as well as our best.

That'd put us at a win and a half around every six weeks, averaging out to around 6-7 wins all up, like last year.

So long as we don't lose a whole bunch of games in a row and remain competitive, I'll be OK with that.

 

[Belnakor]

if we play like we did against Sydney and West Coast 2nd half, i would think we'd win all home games cept against Geelong, and possibly snatch the Melbourne, North Melbourne and Collingwood games. (we tend to do pretty well against Collingwood)... but the likely hood of playing like that every week, and our opposition allowing us to is very low. I think 6-7 wins, maybe 4-5.

 

[Lach72]

Hawthorn could be vulnerable here.

But can't see us winning that many, to be honest

 

[Rob]

carlton are sooo overrated its not funny,theres no reason why we cant win this if we play the way we did against sydney and the 2nd half of the weasle game

Well.....Carlton do have a far better midfield than both the Swans and Weags. But their forward line is nothing special if McPhalin can towel up Fevola again and their backline is average.

Being at a neutral venue is good for us as well. Can only say thanks to the Tankers for being so generous to us by giving us that opportunity.

 

[yakamoto]

Carrara is 160m x 134m, Subi 175m x 122m - for what it's worth. Don't know what the actual areas are. Which is more relevant to zoning - length or area? You wouldn't think the differences would be significant.

 

[Frigate]

I tried pencilling in games last year and gave up when we lost to Melbourne. Think I will take it week by week.

I will be tipping Carlton to beat us, but if we manage to beat Carlton then.... nah keeping it week by week

 

[silverscope]

The game will go one of two ways me thinks:

1. We play like we did against Sydney and the second half against WC and we are in with a chance or atleast get close.

2. We "zone" and get smashed and play crap boring football.


As long as its the first i don't mind what the result is.

 

[theGav56]

My wife thinks more length slows delivery into the forward zone, and conversely, shorter length (sic), it comes quicker.

 

[Frigate]

My wife thinks more length slows delivery into the forward zone, and conversely, shorter length (sic), it comes quicker.

I hope you are talking about football.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

I hope you are talking about football.

ROFL

you'd hope so, otherwise i'd be a bit put off with 4 men on the interchange bench anxious to get on

 

[Boppo]

call me over optimistic but i can see no reason why we cant win this week
carlton are over rated and hevent done anything to deserve the plaudits they are getting from the vic -centric press,(other than tank).
i noticed in his post match press conference ratten, was taking some consolation from getting within a kick of the hawks(who arent really on song).and staying with them ,instead of expressing disappoinment for loosing,all i could think was ,what a loser.
either that or he doesnt rate his side as highly as the press does
us on the other hand are on a roll,confidence is high and is growing
bring on the tankers

I think Ratten is a good coach. Down to earth.

 

[Freodoc]

The game will go one of two ways me thinks:

1. We play like we did against Sydney and the second half against WC and we are in with a chance or atleast get close.

2. We "zone" and get smashed and play crap boring football.


As long as its the first i don't mind what the result is.

Agree 100%