As Crashlander reminds us;

Remember:
[1] At least 3 players need to get a mention.
[2] No more than 10 votes for any one player.
[3] Give a rating of team performance. It can be anywhere from A+ to F.
[4] Votes must add up to 15.

I hope all is OK Crash!

Saturday, April 15
7.25 PM
Etihad Stadium

6 day turnaround for both teams
Both teams coming off their first win of the season.
The Suns need to travel, offset by the fact that we played in very taxing, exhausting conditions.

I'm a little worried that our rusty skills will be exposed on a dry track, something that is less of an issue in the wet.

Both teams will be pumped and eager to make it 2 in a row.

No injuries for us, that I'm aware of.

Ablett played a very good game today, going by the stats : 36 touches, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 2 goals 1.

Suns by 5 goals.

It is remiss of me to leave this one so long. Anyway, here it is!

This game is the only one on this weekend for the VFL. The rest will be on next week. As such we will certainly be on TV. Mirabile visu!
Saturday afternoon footy (1400 start) at North Port Oval (what a dump!).

Northern Blues

B: 13. C. O'Shea, 26. A. Silvagni, 70. T. Williamson
HB: 72. B. Smedts, 63. H. Macreadie, 7. D. Buckley
C: 62. B.  Boekhorst, 58. C.  Curnow, 49. D.  Armfield
HF: 51. R. Palmer, 48. K. Jaksch, 32. N. Graham
F: 14. L. Jones, 19. H. McKay, 42. J. Pickett
R: 15. A. Phillips, 60. D. Cuningham, 8. L. Russell
23rd Player: 35. M Stavrou
Int: 80. M. Korcheck, 47. C. Sheehan, 4. S. Russell, 34. J. Glass-McCasker, 55. L. Sumner, 6. G. Strachan, 1. T. Wilson, 31. P. Kerr, 56. A. Gallucci, 65. Z. Fisher, 67. C. Polson, 20. D. Stevens

This line-up looks about as strong as we can get it. However, 5 players will not play from this list: 4 will be on the bench on Sunday and 1 will be held back as an emergency.
It is good to see Phillips named. I don't know if we will play him, or for how much of the game if he does play. But that strengthens our ruck division no end.

Port Melbourne

B: 3. L. Tynan, 31. B. Mihocek, 16. D. Viojo-Rainbow
HB: 1. M. Rivett, 21. L. Cook, 18. M. Wooffindin
C: 29. C.  Cain, 11. M.  Golby, 38. D.  Iaccarino
HF: 32. B. Pearson, 23. H. Sandilands, 9. B. Hogan
F: 7. D. Conway, 6. J. Lisle, 41. R. Hogan
R: 36. L. Waddell, 4. T. O'Sullivan, 35. E. Templeton
45. J O'Brien
Int: 12. J. Tynan, 37. H. Hooper, 13. T. Gordon, 33. C. Kelso, 20. S. Dwyer, 28. R. Nahas, 10. T.Pinwill, 30. B. Murdoch

Skittles will have something to prove, but I will be surprised if he plays on the back pocket.


Development Game:
North Port at 1100 on Saturday 8th April

Northern Blues

B: 47. C. Sheehan, 18. B. Jordan, 3. K. Declase
HB: 4. S. Russell, 25. K. Keppel, 6. G. Strachan
C: 5. A.  Browne, 20. D.  Stevens, 56. A.  Gallucci
HF: 55. L. Sumner, 34. J. Glass-McCasker, 31. P. Kerr
F: 52. S. Fowler, 29. B. Casley, 67. C. Polson
R: 80. M. Korcheck, 12. Z. Ballard, 65. Z. Fisher
Int: 41. S. Glover, 53. H. Payne, 21. C. Barrett, 28. J. Collins, 68. J. Mahon, 17. S. Peet, 22. C. McCabe, 45. M. Blakey, 9. J. Corboy, 57. F. Pearce, 27. A. Milham, 78. M. Walson, 54. M. Romero

This side also looks much stronger than teams from recent years. A few of the Carlton listed players will be playing.

Port Melbourne

B: 42. T. Knowles, 8. D. Van Unen, 46. M. Tang
HB: 11. M. Golby, 27. D. Mascitti, 15. L. Osborne
C: 12. J.  Tynan, 34. S.  Valenti, 24. M.  Hayes
HF: 40. S. Clarke, 39. K. Dove, 25. T. Hobbs
F: 68. E. Hanley, 2. K. Haretuku, 61. S. De Soysa
R: 49. C. Carey, 35. E. Templeton, 66. A. Krakauer
Int: 20. S. Dwyer, 59. S. Bennett, 37. H. Hooper, 65. J. Pullan, 53. J. Gleeson, 43. A. Vella, 33. C. Kelso, 51. D. Atkins, 17. A. Urban, 44. Y. Jaffer-Williams, 58. J. Harrison, 26. N.Batsanis

Khan Haretuku in the 2nds!

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2017-04...s-werribee



The Northern Blues ended their 2017 pre-season with a 23-point win over Werribee on Sunday morning.

With 16 Carlton-listed players involved in the win, senior coach Josh Fraser analyses their performances ahead of Saturday’s VFL season opener against Port Melbourne.

63. Blaine Boekhorst
Stats vs. Werribee: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
From the coach: Blaine had good game involvement offensively with his run, and he also showed a good intent defensively. He continues to build in-game on putting his good stuff together for longer.

7. Dylan Buckley
Stats vs. Werribee: 12 disposals, 4 hard-ball gets
From the coach: He had some really clear focuses in our back six and showed some good signs of delivering. He’s finding balance between when to attack and defend, but his good stuff was encouraging: he’s trying to build form in areas we’re after.

61. David Cuningham
Stats vs. Werribee: 13 disposals, 4 clearances, 4 tackles
From the coach: It wasn’t the same impact around stoppages from previous week but he showed glimpses of his cleanness around stoppages and burst out of congestion. We like him when he’s driving forward.

56. Zac Fisher
Stats vs. Werribee: 15 disposals (7 contested), 6 hard-ball gets, 3 clearances
From the coach: His pressure was good without being outstanding. Zac is working tirelessly on detail in his game: he keeps his feet and is clean and evasive in traffic. He sets us up offensively and is certainly an exciting talent.

49. Andrew Gallucci
Stats vs. Werribee: 12 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 4 tackles, 3 goals
From the coach: Terrific performance given he’s missed so much football. He gives us a different dimension up forward, and his ability to not only apply pressure but also cap off his game via the scoreboard with three goals was great reward.

11. Jesse Glass-McCasker
Stats vs. Werribee: 4 disposals
From the coach: He’s shown some great improvement in his game, Jesse. He has worked hard on his defensive positioning and his impact on the game. He’s still working on capitalising with ball in hand but his set-up and positioning showed good growth.

48. Kristian Jaksch
Stats vs. Werribee: 12 disposals, 7 marks (5 inside 50), 4 tackles, 2 goals
From the coach: KJ is competing as well as I’ve seen him. He has been brutal in air, his decision making when it comes to leading up at the ball is getting better and he’s adding forward-50 pressure to his game. If he keeps doing that on a regular basis, he’s in really good shape.

14. Liam Jones
Stats vs. Werribee: 11 disposals, 5 marks (2 contested), 1 goal
From the coach: His contest in the air was outstanding and he applied great pressure with ball in his area, while also providing a strong contest in ruck. He’s a massive presence around the ball.

26. Sam Kerridge
Stats vs. Werribee: 23 disposals, 6 marks, 11 hard-ball gets, 1 goal
From the coach: He found enough of the ball to impact the contest as a midfielder and forward. On the whole, he worked really hard on both sides of the game. It was a strong performance.

36. Matthew Korcheck
Stats vs. Werribee: 6 disposals, 30 hitouts, 1 goal
From the coach: He gave our mids first use with his ruck work, as well as competing hard and around the ground. He’s beginning to understand patterns away from the ball - he finished with a goal and his follow-up work was impressive.

15. Harry McKay
Stats vs. Werribee: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal
From the coach: He’s still building consistency with marking and has certainly showed improvement in that area: he’s launching at more balls and working hard on leading patterns and defensively. He could and probably should have finished with three or four.

23. Rhys Palmer
Stats vs. Werribee: 23 disposals, 4 clearances, 4 tackles, 3 goals
From the coach: Rhys had a strong offensive involvement. He’s a really smart player. He constantly ran to the right positions, he was strong in the contest and had great goal sense to finish with three.


65. Cameron Polson
Stats vs. Werribee: 8 disposals, 3 inside 50s
From the coach: He’s continuing to work hard on method. His intent is quite strong, almost to the point of having to slow down and getting his method right in the moment. He had more impact as the game went on. I think he’ll be a really exciting player given time.

66. Ciaran Sheehan
Stats vs. Werribee: 10 disposals, 3 inside 50s
From the coach: His defensive positioning continues to grow, he’s making clearer decisions when he is in possession and executing most of the time. ‘Gussy’ is continuing to build an encouraging line of form.


46. Liam Sumner
Stats vs. Werribee: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s
From the coach: His work-rate and pressure around the footy was really strong. He was far more busy this week with his involvements, he had opportunities in front of goal and set others up.


12. Tom Williamson
Stats vs. Werribee: 11 disposals, 7 handball receives
From the coach: Tom was solid defensively, he made good decisions away from the footy and he’s really exciting with the way he goes forward and uses it.

Dont know if ive posted in right place im 32 been here 5 years and fallen in love with footy wondered if theirs like a social club or something to go down to games with people my 3 children are too young yet to enjoy it and be great to catch a game with some people

Practice your teeth gnashing now.

Have fun.

Hey Crash - thought I'd give you a hand old son.

Sunday April 9th, 3.20 PM
MCG

Overcast condition with a bit of a swirly wind. Been about 100 years since I've been to Arden Street.

NBs 13.10 def W'bee 9.11

Best effort from the boys I've seen thus far this year. Great that there were so many CFC listed blokes playing.

Nick Graham didn't play, so obviously today's emergency for the seniors.

3 goals: Palmer and Galucci. 2 goals:Jaksch and 1ea to Jones, McKay (though he should have had 3), Kerridge, Korcheck and Boekhorst.

Dylan Buckley serviceable as the small defender.

JGM also serviceable.

Williamson was good, like the way he reads the play. Thinks like a footballer.

Jones was good in terms of presenting, tackling and attacking the aggott, took a great contested mark - of course! Problem for Jones is that in general play when he's got the aggott some of his decisions are just terrible, has the happy knack of turning into trouble!

Harry is coming along nicely, contested well and should have had 3 goals... missed a sitter and was not allowed another due to team mate getting a free just before booting the goal - poor umpiring, obvious advantage play-on. Player with the free missed, rubbing salt into the wound - Harry understandably not impressed.

Palmer was very good and set the tone early. Has probably passed Kerridge.

Kerridge was busy but for mine is now shaded by Palmer... typically a couple of his passes by foot were shockers.

Korchek was dominant in the ruck. FA else, but was really good giving our mids first use.

Sumner must be really rusty or something... didn't do much.

Jaksch kicked a couple of good goals but also missed some sitters. Contested well and shows a much better intent, bit like Jones though once the aggott hits the deck.

Zac F. liked his game, one of the 'little shoots' to grow a little more today. Up until today he'd been busy in every game but took very little possession, today he won more possession with v good disposal. Coming along nicely. He's a player but will take time.

Cuningham 'the conundrum' ... better, more effective effort today. Still a couple too many clangers... had a kick at half forward and gave it to the opposition with a ridiculous pass to a bloke with 3 opponents! Ball ended up in 2 seconds in their forward line.

Boekhorst, best I've seen from him in a long time. Close to our best in the first half...

Polson, like Fisher, coming along nicely. Gee he's quick. Gets to contests and has v. good disposal.

Gus was also v good. When the ball was in his hands down back you just knew it would land on a team mates chest. Showed some real dash at times with damaging disposal to advantage. One of those blokes who never seems flustered and has loads of time. Close.

Galucci was a highlight for me. Easily the most dangerous small forward. Doesn't need many opportunities to hit the scoreboard. Reliable kick and really opportunistic... turned half chances into goals (kicked 3 and all rippers).

Very interesting to see how this pans out.