Carlton vs Brisbane Practice Match

[Sexybronco]

Some of us are a little (greatly) concerned after the practice games.
Others are a "wait until the proper stuff starts" type of supporter.
I've always been in the latter camp.
There's nothing wrong with either train of thought...it's just different.

I remember when we used to win, or go very well, in the pre-seasons only to fall in a heap once the season proper started.
It's chalk and cheese.
Have  a look at the results in some of the other practice games and tell me that's a true indication of the relative strengths of some sides.

We won't know which way it goes until the first shots are fired in 'anger'....and for me that's the main difference between practice games and regular season games.
There's no anger., no intensity and very little pressure in these games.
It will increase dramatically when 4 points are on the line.
Some clubs will thrive under those conditions, others will falter.
That's when we'll be able to see where we really stand.

Agree Lods, we have no choice but to wait for the real stull as on exposed form we have nothing to be excited about. I'll be at round one but am much less optimistic after our recent showings....hope to Christ we put on a good show.

[flyboy77]

I think we saw clearly that Kreuzer is either underdone or suffering post procedure issues....

The guy simply doesn't take marks around the ground any more....

Work out of the middle defensively was atrocious - so atrocious that I would consider it was by design.

[JonDorotich]

Some of us are a little (greatly) concerned after the practice games.
Others are a "wait until the proper stuff starts" type of supporter.
I've always been in the latter camp.
There's nothing wrong with either train of thought...it's just different.

I remember when we used to win, or go very well, in the pre-seasons only to fall in a heap once the season proper started.
It's chalk and cheese.
Have  a look at the results in some of the other practice games and tell me that's a true indication of the relative strengths of some sides.

We won't know which way it goes until the first shots are fired in 'anger'....and for me that's the main difference between practice games and regular season games.
There's no anger., no intensity and very little pressure in these games.
It will increase dramatically when 4 points are on the line.
Some clubs will thrive under those conditions, others will falter.
That's when we'll be able to see where we really stand.

Our success or otherwise this season will come down to whether players like McKay, McGovern, Williamson, Cunningham, Dow, SPS, Fischer, Setterfield, Stocker, DeKoning etc can materially step up from last year and provide some x factor that adds to the return of Docherty and the addition of Martin. If that group can't step up to the level, we'll be once again left to rely on hard workers like Plowman, Gibbons, Simpson, E Curnow, Newnes, Casboult et al and in that case, we should all expect to be bottom four again.

We need breakout years from so many, so this year is a real roll of the dice. Fingers crossed it all comes together

[kruddler]

I think we saw clearly that Kreuzer is either underdone or suffering post procedure issues....

The guy simply doesn't take marks around the ground any more....

Work out of the middle defensively was atrocious - so atrocious that I would consider it was by design.

 
 
 I've been a bit worried about Kreuzer for a couple years now.

TBH, he simply isn't good enough. Injuries have ruined him.
His best is still quite good, but he is never allowed to perform at his best.

In an ideal world, TDK would replace him by seasons end.

[capcom]

Piss poor that Teague doesn't front the media but instead send out his lieutenants....

Nothing short of pathetic IMO.  He MUST get on the front foot from the get go.  He will incur my wrath really quickly if he doesn't.  That's his freakin' job, practice match or not !!!

[Gointocarlton]

They're injured...that's a soft  excuse from Amos.  Don't play or come off.  They were rubbish and need a drastic form turnaround in the next fortnight. The whole club does.

The defensive positioning, ability to keep their feet,  and inability to win one on ones was poor and isn't going to be rectified overnight. 

Spot on

[Gointocarlton]

Some of us are a little (greatly) concerned after the practice games.
Others are a "wait until the proper stuff starts" type of supporter.
I've always been in the latter camp.
There's nothing wrong with either train of thought...it's just different.

I remember when we used to win, or go very well, in the pre-seasons only to fall in a heap once the season proper started.
It's chalk and cheese.
Have  a look at the results in some of the other practice games and tell me that's a true indication of the relative strengths of some sides.

We won't know which way it goes until the first shots are fired in 'anger'....and for me that's the main difference between practice games and regular season games.
There's no anger., no intensity and very little pressure in these games.
It will increase dramatically when 4 points are on the line.
Some clubs will thrive under those conditions, others will falter.
That's when we'll be able to see where we really stand.

But Lods, there was not even a glimpse (to me) that we can fight when the 4 points are up for grabs. Read my post carefully, we are making the same mistakes over and over and over. Not being able to compete for 4 qtrs is a real worry. For example, Setterfield had a bread and butter shot from from around 30m out directly in front at the Royal Parade end. He sprayed it badly. This is an end where they train this week in week out and have shot after shot. You tell me there is no intensity or pressure in these games and yet he simply misses. Just plain UNACCEPTABLE. Excuses keep getting made year after year, I am effin sick of it. I say again, Its not the loss per se', its the way we lost, same as every other loss for the last 5 years. If we were trying something totally different and we lost, I would get it. But it was a full dress rehearsel for round 1, David Teagues words pre,match on FOX not mine. Well if thats the dress rehearsal, we're forked.

[ElwoodBlues1]

I've been a bit worried about Kreuzer for a couple years now.

TBH, he simply isn't good enough. Injuries have ruined him.
His best is still quite good, but he is never allowed to perform at his best.

In an ideal world, TDK would replace him by seasons end.

I'd play TDK this week in place of McKay, we need more firepower down forward and Kreuzer needs phasing out...
Pittonet is still a bit raw but is probably better suited to meatheads like Soldo...

[Gointocarlton]

I'd play TDK this week in place of McKay, we need more firepower down forward and Kreuzer needs phasing out...
Pittonet is still a bit raw but is probably better suited to meatheads like Soldo...

Can't bring underdone players in for rnd 1, they will be passengers like Gov and Marchy were last night. TDK has at least had a hit or two in the Marsh series so yeah, play him. Harry needs to build fitness in the 2s and prove his groins are up to some semblance of AFL standard. SPS is in the same boat. As for some of the other ordinary performers last night, not sure what to do about them.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Can't bring underdone players in for rnd 1, they will be passengers like Gov and Marchy were last night. TDK has at least had a hit or two in the Marsh series so yeah, play him. Harry needs to build fitness in the 2s and prove his groins are up to some semblance of AFL standard. SPS is in the same boat. As for some of the other ordinary performers last night, not sure what to do about them.

McGovern should be playing twos, doesnt help our delivery is poor but he just doesnt get to enough contests....but you cant drop him given we have McKay and C. Curnow out and just have to hope he can lift on the bigger stage.
Marchbank is at the crossroads, cant see him playing vs Richmond given he lacks match fitness and their mobile forward line.
Like to see him play 3-4 games in the NB's and prove he can stay on the park, we all know he can play but how long can you carry players who are not able to stay fit?