Pre Game Prognostications: AFL 2020 Rd 18: Carlton vs Brisbane

[Wet Willie]

The shame of it all is that we have had the same number of drafts to sort this out and match them...

[ElwoodBlues1]

The shame of it all is that we have had the same number of drafts to sort this out and match them...

Richmond were 9thmond for a long time and only got it together when they had the trinity draft of Caddy, Prestia, Nankervis and
a new bold game plan where they went with multiple pressure small forwards and that was out of necessity as they didnt have another key forward of note to support Reiwoldt. They had that rock solid rebounding defense though to underpin the new game plan and the players they recruited were in the main decently skilled and capable contested players even the smaller lighter framed ones. Dusty Martin went to a new level as a catalyst player and Hardwick now looks like the next Clarko....but it all took time and planning.

[kruddler]

The clubs with depth are the ones who have handled the covid shortbreak game season well...Richmond are the classic example of being able to swing in like for like players, rest players and now we are seeing the likes of Edwards, Astbury returning they only look stronger. Even with Soldo gone they have a readymade quality replacement in Nankervis to take over.
We dont have the depth of talent and dont even have a designated best 22, you get best systems when you get depth and only then do you have successful systems because more players are capable of playing the roles in that system.
If we had lost our Astbury in Weitering and our Edwards in Martin for any length of time we would have been hammered most weeks as we dont have the cover...

We forget though....
we've been without (what was) our #1 ruckman all year - Kreuzer.
we've been without our #1 key forward all year - Curnow
we lost a guaranteed starter for the entire year - Newman

There are others.

But for those 3, we covered them brilliantly.
Pittonet and TDK both stepped up and forced Kreuzers retirement.
We've had our struggles up forward but Harry and Casboult have held down our key roles and dominated games (and gone missing in others)
Newman (and Daisy's delisting) was covered by Simmo, Doc and the (re)emergence of Willo.

The difference between us and tigers besides overall depth is.....we didn't get any of those players back!

[Pratty]

Its a hard balance, isnt it? 

Play all the kids in the guts, all the time, and you get what happenned to Bolton - lose games, kids get smashed and lose confidence, no one wins. 

Play the senior guys in the guts, and the kids dont get an exposure - you see Cunners getting frostbite sitting on a flank for games on end, you see youngsters come in and play on a flank or in a pocket (where they havent played in the 2s) and they fail, along with not getting any exposure to the heat and a chance to learn and develop

Of course, the good sides make it look easy.  We just need to get that balance right

Yep it's definitely a balancing act for sure. Dow has had knee issues this season anyway. 2021 is his time after a hopefully strong preseason like the rest of the list.

If we're after Jack Graham, Zach Merrett and Zac Williams (to play midfield) I'm all for it for sure but wonder of the fate of the younger group of mids we have.

[JonDorotich]

We forget though....
we've been without (what was) our #1 ruckman all year - Kreuzer.
we've been without our #1 key forward all year - Curnow
we lost a guaranteed starter for the entire year - Newman

There are others.

But for those 3, we covered them brilliantly.
Pittonet and TDK both stepped up and forced Kreuzers retirement.
We've had our struggles up forward but Harry and Casboult have held down our key roles and dominated games (and gone missing in others)
Newman (and Daisy's delisting) was covered by Simmo, Doc and the (re)emergence of Willo.

The difference between us and tigers besides overall depth is.....we didn't get any of those players back!

Whilst others celebrate it, I shudder at the thought of Jones, Newman and Plowman in our defence at the one time. If we go into 2021 thinking that’s a good idea get ready for a finish no higher than 14th.

[cookie2]

If we can significantly improve our midfield and get our fwd set up better organised then a huge amount of pressure will come off our defence.

[laj]

Ins: Matthew Kennedy, Jack Martin, Marc Pittonet, Cameron Polson
Outs: Sam Docherty (calf), Zac Fisher (shoulder), Will Setterfield (calf), Lochie O'Brien

[Baggers]

Unbelievable... Cuningham & McGovern keep their places while there are a couple of emergencies who will at least have a red hot crack and do their best to play 4 qtrs. Rewarding mediocrity, again.

McGovern, Casboult, Pittonet, McKay and TDK doing forward line and rucking duties! Murphy under and injury cloud along with Crippa. Good to see Martin return and Kennedy given another chance... coupla good tacklers with a bit of snarl.

[rocky]

Don't see the point in playing the Pitt, but the other 3 inclusions are pretty much, meh, whatever.

[Gointocarlton]

Don't see the point in playing the Pitt, but the other 3 inclusions are pretty much, meh, whatever.

Farewell game for Polson.