2018 Rd 17: Pre Game Pessimism: Carlton vs Hawthorn

[JonHenry]

They will open up our ridiculous zone that has more holes than a Bangkok brothel.
It’s a pity because we only need to play tight on a few of their softer players.
Gunston, Bruest and Smith will do the damage if we don’t lock them down

[blueday]

Graham will give us more, but he won't be around next year, when Pickett probably will. So persist with Pickett...who BTW missed over half the season being injured, so forgive him if he is still trying to work himself into AFL level. FYI, he is a 21yo, former pick 4 who has only played 12 games due to injury. Give him a go.

Its about the future, not this week.

Spot on, would like to see Schumacher get a run at some point, what have we to lose?

[blue4life]

They will open up our ridiculous zone that has more holes than a Bangkok brothel.
It’s a pity because we only need to play tight on a few of their softer players.
Gunston, Bruest and Smith will do the damage if we don’t lock them down

We haven't got a match for Gunston at all, at a pinch I'd try Thomas but that's pushing it a bit, he'd be way too nimble for Rowe or Jones and Marchbank isn't in great form.
Bruest is also a worry, so is Roughy.
It's very hard to see us winning.

[Professer E]

They are down a ruck,  have slow players and dare I sat it,  some aren't the most physical going around.  We're overdue for some very soft umpiring as well.

Play one on one footy, stuff zones,  just beat your man.  Thomas for Breust, LoB for smith,  Jones for Gibson.  Ed to wear Mitchell.  Dow to work off Jaegar.

Lower the eyes going forwards,  take Stratton and Spiffily out if the equation. 

[Thryleon]

We won't win because our team believes that they can't.

[ianh]

I wouldn't have thought so.

Unless in the future we plan to play 4 key defenders every week.
Or maybe only 1 forward.

What i am talking about is basically a like for like type. Doesn't effect team balance but gets games into the kids instead of blokes who are not the future.

So McKay playing instead of Casboult.
So Dow/OBrien instead of Graham/Kerridge
So Pickett instead of Lamb
etc

Can't say I see a lot of like for like about Picket for Lamb, other than that neither has been giving us much.

Heaven help us if Dow/O'Brien turn out like for like with Graham/Kerridge. 

[shawny]

Can't say I see a lot of like for like about Picket for Lamb, other than that neither has been giving us much.

Heaven help us if Dow/O'Brien turn out like for like with Graham/Kerridge.

Not a chance.

Dow will be a 200 gamer IMO.

O’Brien doesn’t seem to have the tricks of Dow but he can find the footy. And the kid is an elite runner.

And neither butcher it like graham or kerridge does.

No comparison.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Not a chance.

Dow will be a 200 gamer IMO.

O’Brien doesn’t seem to have the tricks of Dow but he can find the footy. And the kid is an elite runner.

And neither butcher it like graham or kerridge does.

No comparison.

Agree on Dow...less impressed with Obrien, his kicking skills which were rated high at U18 level have been poor at senior level and his attack
on the footy also concerns me. If you are going to pull up short on contests and be an outside player you have to get it 25-30 times a game and hit every target...
Dow attacks the ball well and his disposal by hand is generally good, needs to clean up his kicking on the run a bit but his progress has been encouraging....

[bratblue]

Dow is a Jet, you couldn't ask for much more from a first year player than what he's shown this year. SOS got that pick right.

[kruddler]

Agree on Dow...less impressed with Obrien, his kicking skills which were rated high at U18 level have been poor at senior level and his attack
on the footy also concerns me. If you are going to pull up short on contests and be an outside player you have to get it 25-30 times a game and hit every target...
Dow attacks the ball well and his disposal by hand is generally good, needs to clean up his kicking on the run a bit but his progress has been encouraging....

Foxtel did a comparison study before the saints match.

Comparing players with their peers (players of same age and position).
Dow was just above average.
Obrien was very far from and may have been -50% IIRC.

There's an argument that suggests that we are playing him because of a lack of options, and only gun players would be playing from other teams, hence the poor comparison.
That being said, whichever way you slice it, he's poor by comparison.

My opinion is at present he looks to be a foot soldier at best.