AFL Rd 22 2022 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Melbourne

[laj]

Cripps won't Play, I reckon TDK will come in, games have started

Is now.

[Gointocarlton]

Is now.

Indeed and I am both shocked and not surprised if that makes sense. Shocked they even listened and admitted they got it wrong. Not surprised as I thought from day 1 that the wording from the prosecution (Cripps chose to bump), which was the basis of the sanction, was pure speculation as opposed to fact.

[townsendcalling]

The mood in the 'four walls' now suddenly changes. It's the sort of mood swing that could carry onto the ground tomorrow night. Stranger things have happened.

[Thryleon]

Yep psychology is amazing.

It shows our boys aren't mentally tough enough to deliver a flag yet, but this could turn us back to the team we were first half of the year.

They haven't been the same since weitering broke down and now that might change.

[PaulP]

Whilst I appreciate the good news regarding Cripps may deliver a bit of a boost (from a starting 18 perspective and also from an "against the odds" perspective), I'm not sure it will make much difference to the result. Cripps has been in patchy form lately, as has the whole team. Unless he and the boys play a game for the ages, I expect the Demons to win comfortably.

I hope the club doesn't use this against Voss, when they do an end of season review.

[LP]

I really do not understand where this perspective that "Cripps form is patchy" comes from?

It's a bit like labelling Kouta inconsistent because he wasn't BoG every game. I get that fans want the stars to shine, but sometimes 2nd BoG or getting some AFLCA votes is all that you can hope for.

If Cripps form is patchy, the same fans must think it's time to drop Charlie and BigH! :o

[PaulP]

I never called for anyone to be dropped. But the form of the whole team, including Cripps, McKay and Curnow, has dropped in recent weeks. This is revealed in the optics, in the numbers, in W/L column, in the media reporting, in post match press conferences, in the Jim Park votes on here...........

[Thryleon]

Cripps last 6 weeks has been a bit eyebrow raising if you go looking through his stats.

Hitting the scoreboard half the time on average, and fewer average disposals per game, along with a higher handball to kick ratio than usual.  This might be a deliberate move away from relying on him too heavily which might be something that we discussed, or it might simply be because Kennedy and Hewett were doing a bit more at the coalface inside.

If i were to wager based on his form line, I would say that he was in good condition until the first GWS game, and then he picked up a niggle. 

Interestingly enough, it was about the time we started rucking him that he started showing a dip in output.

[Lods]

Players get judged a lot by their own standards.
When a champion isn't as influential as he can be that's what's often meant by patchy.

Some even get judged by their potential.
Curnow is a player who can turn a game with a short burst of brilliance.
But I don't think we've ever seen the 'complete' game from him.
I look forward to it.
But in recent weeks he's been patchy...often missing for large parts of the game.

Now of course, a lot of that 'patchiness' is also due to team support and opposition strategy.

[Lods]

If i were to wager based on his form line, I would say that he was in good condition until the first GWS game, and then he picked up a niggle. 

Interestingly enough, it was about the time we started rucking him that he started showing a dip in output.

I think he's carrying an injury. I think it's back related.

A lot of his possessions since the middle of the year have been under increased pressure as well...So even though he's still getting his hands on the ball even short handballs have missed the mark.