Which of the top team's are you most/least worried about?

[grizzlym]

On Carlton, I went to the game last night and am convinced as long as we dont make it a running race, we will be fine. Waite will trouble us a little in the air if he is allowed to run and jump at the ball but he is also very agile on the lead. Close down the space in their forward line and slow down the ball movement into their 50 and they look a far worse team.

Don't be fooled too much by the game last night, Brisbane stopped pressuring them by half time and allowed Carlton to run in waves down the field. I doubt that will happen against us.

Carlton were very good out of the centre and it is the one area they will really be able to expose us if their rucks get on top.

Brisbane's midfield defensive pressure was non-existent. They also looked all at sea marking space, leaving gaping holes for Carlton to waltz through.

 

[Hodgepodge]

West Coast and Geelong for their big key forwards.

Carlton also worry me because they're a very good team, but we seem to have the players to counter their gameplan.

 

[eldorado]

Brisbane were cactus. A 5 day break for a team who just played their first game in quite warm conditions was not fair.

 

[heh]

Everyone worries me, I am a nervous supporter. LOL
Though there has been a tendency in the past to lose games we were favourites to win, yet win the hard ones... so I feel relatively justified.

I won't believe we can beat Geelong until we actually do it.

Despite our win against Collingwood, I will not go into the next game against them fully confident. They seemed to still have us out-classed at certain times.

West Coast, especially at home, I am always nervous about.
Freo if they keep their stars in this year, will also have me on the edge of my seat.

I am with those not too confident we can keep our streak up against the Blues. The last game I watched us against them, the only thing that kept them from getting the biccies was a couple of fumbles and a couple of missed goals. They were right in it, and it just takes them stepping up a little on the day, which as much as it pains me to say it, I think they are fully capable of doing it.

The others, I haven't really paid enough attention to lately to have fully developed fear of.. but there is always a niggle or three there.

 

[Roby]

If we make the GF, West Coast less so, otherwise West Coast and Geelong about the same when you take into account if we are to play them in Perth. But I don't think Hawks will finish outside top 2 this year.

Collingwood just below at the moment, and Carlton need to be taken into consideration. They don't appear to have much of a weakness either.

I guess we will find out a lot more on Monday.

 

[Brant]

West Coast and Geelong for their big key forwards.

Carlton also worry me because they're a very good team, but we seem to have the players to counter their gameplan.

As silly as you may think it, I really don't rate the Geelong 'power forwards' nearly as highly as I do Collingwood's or WCE's. Hawkins had a good 6 weeks last season but IMO he is streets away from Cloke. And I don't rate Pods in the same league as Kennedy; maybe above Darling at this stage, but only in goal kicking, not creativity or defensive pressure. More so than Geelong's power forwards I worry about their midfield & their defensive unit.

Eagles are one injury away from being bottom half of the 8; lose Nic-Nat, Cox, Priddis, Glass or Kennedy & they fall away quickly. Obviously they will win most games at home so will always be in the mix, but so should we win most games at home.





Carlton... They still got a team do they? I thought they were a demonstration team just used on Thursdays as a curtain raiser to a weekend of footy...

 

[Choota]

Of last years top 5, Geelong worry me the most because we haven't beaten them in 3 years. Carlton worry me the least because they haven't beat us in even longer. Collingwood are an excellent side and West Coast have weapons that we could struggle with in the ruck and up forward.

 

[FatHawk]

Each of the top 5 teams has their own weaknesses and therefore some teams have a capacity to trouble more than others. In our case power forwards and perhaps ruckmen seem to worry us more than any other positions.

Of the top 5 our least concern would be Carlton. They only have Waite and the two smalls that don't tend to trouble us.

WCE, Collingwood & Geelong all dangerous power forwards to require Clarko to push extra number back. However Collingwood and Geelong have the runs on the board and play the G as a home ground so they would have to be our biggest concerns on their day.

Geelong wins out for me as they have won enough against us to suggest they are our biggest concern of the lot. I may reassess after Monday as Ottens and Ling are no longer there to menace us.

Saying all of the above if Carlton hadn't of traded Kennedy for Judd I would be saying Carlton would be our biggest worry. Amazing how that extra big man changes the dynamics

Saying all of the above if Carlton hadn't of traded Kennedy for Judd I would be saying Carlton would be our biggest worry. Amazing how that extra big man changes the dynamics

 

[J0NNY B]

Brisbane's midfield defensive pressure was non-existent. They also looked all at sea marking space, leaving gaping holes for Carlton to waltz through.

Maybe the lack of recovery Brisbane had explains their poor defensive efforts and made Carltank look a fraction better than they are. Still Carltank have some weapons that will trouble most teams this year. If we are good enough to make top 4, would not want to play them in round 1 or 2 of finals (as they will be playing their gf).

 

[kolchak]

West Coast and Geelong for their big key forwards.

Carlton also worry me because they're a very good team, but we seem to have the players to counter their gameplan.

Carlton have struggled against sides that could press well. It's been a key factor in our recent dominance.

 

[Taskmaster]

I dont really understand the hype about Carlton. Have they beaten anyone yet? Bris and Rich, Geez thats massive. Watch the Pies make a mess of them next Fri night. We will then see the pretenders they really are.

I mean the have won one final in the last 3 years and that was against Ess who were just making up the numbers!

They are no where near the likes of Geel, Coll, Haw.

 

[Brant]

I dont really understand the hype about Carlton. Have they beaten anyone yet? Bris and Rich, Geez thats massive. Watch the Pies make a mess of them next Fri night. We will then see the pretenders they really are.

I mean the have won one final in the last 3 years and that was against Ess who were just making up the numbers!

They are no where near the likes of Geel, Coll, Haw.

Similarly those purple idiots...

OK, I accept that Ross Lyon brings some defensive hardness with his coaching style, but bringing recent St Kilda coach to break a "loser culture"... Really?

Fremantle's one achievement to date is "not being the eagles" & so much of their supporter base came from the "I hate west coast but want to follow a WA team" crowd... Their challenging for a flag would say far more about the state of the game t that time than it would about the performance of their team that year.

* As it happens, they are 7 goals down at half time against Sydney...

 

[jpzhawk]

Freo 6 goals down in the 3rd. Proving once again they are pretenders and are no threat to any of the contenders outside of Subiaco.

 

[kolchak]

So to all the posters in this thread that are not worried about Carlton. They just thrashed the pies who supposedly had the wood on them, it means jack, They are a different team and the way the game in general is heading now, it better suits their style more. Will be hard to beat.

 

[Agent Smith]

So to all the posters in this thread that are not worried about Carlton. They just thrashed the pies who supposedly had the wood on them, it means jack, They are a different team and the way the game in general is heading now, it better suits their style more. Will be hard to beat.

Most annoying is the fact they've just cheapened our win against Collingwood.

 

[Bardo State]

I have no trouble admitting I was wrong about Carlton. They are looking deadly through the middle and look to have developed a very solid defensive unit. I still think we match up against them well and would back us in to beat them however.

 

[kolchak]

Most annoying is the fact they've just cheapened our win against Collingwood.

I tipped the blues by over 40 tonight and also said to a work mate that betts would kick 6 goals which would be followed by a BF thread of how betts game was better than rioli's, you know it will happen

 

[sohsam]

I have no trouble admitting I was wrong about Carlton. They are looking deadly through the middle and look to have developed a very solid defensive unit. I still think we match up against them well and would back us in to beat them however.

I did say that after last week's game, when you've got waite/jamiesen back and a middfield of judd/simpson/karrazo/..., they are looking good, so much pace to burn too.

 

[kolchak]

I have no trouble admitting I was wrong about Carlton. They are looking deadly through the middle and look to have developed a very solid defensive unit. I still think we match up against them well and would back us in to beat them however.

I've always thought they have trouble with teams that press well hawks pies saint, but the press is going out of fashion this year. I don't think we match up that well at all, it's been our game plan which has made wins look easy. Not saying we can't beat them though

 

[Agent Smith]

I tipped the blues by over 40 tonight and also said to a work mate that betts would kick 6 goals which would be followed by a BF thread of how betts game was better than rioli's, you know it will happen

I can smell the waft of blues arrogance in the air already. Unfortunately, it won't clear until early September...

 

[KOLOKOTRONIS]

Make no mistake about it, they are definitely the team to be mindful of. I hate everything Carlton stand for, from their supporters, to their club and the way they even dare to think that they are in our league. Wish them nothing but pain, we built that stand at PP and they always tried to f uck us over. They still deserve another 10 years of pain. A couple of injuries to key personnel and they are doomed. If their Captain, second best defender (Gilham), and a couple link men were missing they would struggle.


KOLOKOTRONIS

 

[Roby]

Most annoying is the fact they've just cheapened our win against Collingwood.

Not really. We may have contributed already to Collingwood's demise. Losing Rnd 1 would've dented their confidence. Especially since we had 8 players out.

On top of that, tonight The Pies lost Reid and Ball very early on. Massively integral players for them. Carlton on the other hand had pretty much a full side, Walker is probably the only one who will come in for them.

If you take that into consideration it's probably about the same.

 

[Ilovethehawks]

GEELONG.

Hawthorn vs Carlton will be a great game, but its still Geelong for mine.

 

[jpzhawk]

For mine it's still Geelong aswell. We have'nt been able to beat them in the last 3 years. Yes we've come close, had them on the ropes and should have drilled them a few times but they still managed to beat us.
At least we have beaten the Pies, Eagles and Blues.
Carlton are a good team, quick and exciting but i still think we match up well and have their measeure. Can't wait to play them as they have improved even more. Will be a big test for us.

 

[Rioli2Gunstall]

I can smell the waft of blues arrogance in the air already. Unfortunately, it won't clear until early September...

Hoping late August like last year.