AFL Rd 7 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs West Coast

[ElwoodBlues1]

I wouldnt be reading too much into this game and just take the win and percentage, there was WAFL quality opposition on the park and we did what we had to do.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Next week might be a good chance to take a scalp against a top side. We play Brisbane at home and it looks like Zorko and Rich both picked up strained leg muscles which will keep them out. Touch wood, our injury list is small and we didn’t pick up any new injuries. We just need to find some small defenders to sit on Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner.

Are you saying we should have stocked up on a few small defenders?....

[shawny]

Yes this big win was against a very unmanned team but carlton teams in the past have still made hard work of games like this so to win like this is still a positive. The better teams crush weak opposition and that’s exactly what we did. It was the kill I think this group of players needed to have.

Let’s hope this builds belief and confidence in the group and we really kick off from here

Apart from our big name players I was very impressed with Cincotta. Tackles with intent and I see a bit of pies Maynard in him and not just the haircut.
Acres ran his ar5e off and actually broke lines which is the player we have been crying for.

Next weeks game will tell us a lot about where we are placed.

[LordLucifer]

Very very happy with the percentage boosting win because our ladder position desperately needed it.

However, we turned the ball over at some very strange times in the match and more times than not under no pressure at all. Had we done that stuff against one of the better teams we would have been given a serious touch-up.

Cincotta & Kemp showed that they have a future in our backline, they are straight ahead no-nonsense sort of players. I can't see them ever being bona-fide A-Graders but they don't have to be. Put those two in with young Cowan and let them all grow together, I think we honestly have something of substance with the the three of them.

Whilst I'm no Pittonet fan, he was pretty good whenever the ball was above his waist, if it ever falls below that level he is next to useless. TDK may be younger and more agile but it showed tonight that Pitto is going to be the preferred option and Tom will be on the trade table.

Curnow had a day out and it was a shame he couldn't get his 10th but that the way it goes. Harry should have kicked another couple but he seems well out of sorts at the moment. It was pretty obvious that we don't have anyone else in the forwardline we can rely on and this is going to be a huge issue for the rest of the season unless someone has a mid-season transformation into Jezza, Fev, Eddie or Sticks. 

I thought Cerra & Docherty were good all game & Hollands just keeps doing the basics really well.

Silvagni did bugger all for most of the match as did Cripps. Honey kicked a nice goal and gave off that smart pass to Silvagni but that was about it. Fisher continues to try the impossible and always gets himself into trouble, Walsh hit an Eagles player on the chest by foot more times than I have ever seem him do, hope that is a one-off.

Overall, we comprehensively beat a team we were expected to (and they gave everything they had for 3/4 too) but it doesn't erase or make up for the past two losses which were pathetic & insipid.   

Lions next Friday night is going to another litmus test.

[pinot]

If our tall forwards get tied down and struggle to get on score sheet I have very little faith in our small forwards picking up the slack tbh.

[LP]

I thought Durdin was much better tonight, got up the ground, got involved, it makes a difference.

[ElwoodBlues1]

I thought Durdin was much better tonight, got up the ground, got involved, it makes a difference.

Agree.. think he enjoyed the open spaces and his kicking was good to players on the lead. Playing a bit higher might suit him better..

[Mav]

Are you saying we should have stocked up on a few small defenders?....

No, you didn’t read my post properly. We need small defenders to sit on Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner. About the only thing Stocker can sit on is the pine. If you saw the Saints v Port game, can you tell me who he played on? I watched it closely and I’m pretty sure he was a loose/zone defender. As he was against us (if he was playing on Durdin, maybe you can explain why they were never shoulder to shoulder). But I’m sure that sort of observation conflicts with your need to show he would have been a lockdown defender for us.

Looks like we now have Doc, Saad, Newman, Cowan, Kemp, Gov, Cincotta and Boyd available. The trick is to give the task of shutting down Cameron and Rayner to the right guys. Of course, Saad would be able to play man on man with Charlie, but do we lose too much rebound from him?

[shawny]

No, you didn’t read my post properly. We need small defenders to sit on Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner. About the only thing Stocker can sit on is the pine. If you saw the Saints v Port game, can you tell me who he played on? I watched it closely and I’m pretty sure he was a loose/zone defender. As he was against us (if he was playing on Durdin, maybe you can explain why they were never shoulder to shoulder). But I’m sure that sort of observation conflicts with your need to show he would have been a lockdown defender for us.

Looks like we now have Doc, Saad, Newman, Cowan, Kemp, Gov, Cincotta and Boyd available. The trick is to give the task of shutting down Cameron and Rayner to the right guys. Of course, Saad would be able to play man on man with Charlie, but do we lose too much rebound from him?

Not sure why you keep making Stocker out to be a dud. Yes he looks to have a fitness base that is lacking but he is a tough run straight at the man defender that like him or not has impressed Ross Lyon enough to play him every week. Saints sit 2nd on the ladder and he has played every week in an Important position - the kid is no dud

In regards to this weeks game Rayner will probably get Newman but Cameron is a much harder match up and cameron is impossible to stop
If he gets enough looks and the only hope is to reduce the entries by controlling the game up the field. If Cameron gets enough looks he will carve you up.

[ElwoodBlues1]

No, you didn’t read my post properly. We need small defenders to sit on Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner. About the only thing Stocker can sit on is the pine. If you saw the Saints v Port game, can you tell me who he played on? I watched it closely and I’m pretty sure he was a loose/zone defender. As he was against us (if he was playing on Durdin, maybe you can explain why they were never shoulder to shoulder). But I’m sure that sort of observation conflicts with your need to show he would have been a lockdown defender for us.

Looks like we now have Doc, Saad, Newman, Cowan, Kemp, Gov, Cincotta and Boyd available. The trick is to give the task of shutting down Cameron and Rayner to the right guys. Of course, Saad would be able to play man on man with Charlie, but do we lose too much rebound from him?

re: Saad...No 1 job for any defender is to defend and stop their man getting the ball, you would sacrifice any rebound to stop Cameron .I think Durdin had 6-7 possies vs the Saints and was unsighted, Stocker could have been sat in the bar at the MCG and wouldnt have had to worry about him. He was better up the ground tonight running and kicking into the forward 50 early but still managed only 10 possies in an avalanche win which wasnt great and is probably lucky Honey is in the team and will get dropped before him for Motlop next week.
Rayner isnt a small forward imo, he would have to be 6'2 and around 90kg and plays a bit like Zurhaar or Rohan and will need a more substantial player on him who can handle him in the air as well as be able to outmuscle him.
Lincoln McCarthy is another smaller/mid type forward but again his forte is marking and will need a competent player in the air.