AFL Rd 18 2023 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[Baggers]

Ah, the life of a Carlton supporter.

3 week ago we were sacking half our list and the coach wasn't too far away either.
Now we are expecting to win against a team who hasn't lost in over 3 months.

Ya gotta laugh.

With respect, I don't think that is entirely accurate, K.

Only a very few called for a major cull/coach replacement. I think most of us realise that there will be a moderate cull, nothing major, at year's end. And the cull will only be those whose bodies just aren't up to it and those few who just aren't coming along after having been given plenty of opportunity. And I don't recall anyone on this forum calling for Vossy's sacking.

The biggest questions being asked, very reasonably, were around leadership and discipline.

[rocky]

I'd love to know what they talked about when they had the BBQ at Ed Curnow's place after the Essendon debacle.

Maybe they said something along the lines of "hey, you now what. If we had've kicked 16.6 instead of 6.16 we would've won that game, easy"
Next 3 games
18.12
17.10
14.14

[Lods]

I think what was being said was that the coach and players needed to win a few games or the pressure would increase.

Well... ;D
It's not rocket science.
Ask Stewie Dew

[madbluboy]

The suns have the same amount of wins as us lol.

[DJC]

With respect, I don't think that is entirely accurate, K.

Only a very few called for a major cull/coach replacement. I think most of us realise that there will be a moderate cull, nothing major, at year's end. And the cull will only be those whose bodies just aren't up to it and those few who just aren't coming along after having been given plenty of opportunity. And I don't recall anyone on this forum calling for Vossy's sacking.

The biggest questions being asked, very reasonably, were around leadership and discipline.

Even the most one-eyed supporter would agree that a few of the players on the field during our slump aren’t yet truly competitive at AFL level.  Replacing them, or fast-tracking their development, is required to ensure finishing in the eight.

With the exception of our rucks, the combination we’re putting on the park now is stronger and better balanced than the team we went with in the first half of the season.  Kemp, Martin, Cuningham and Fogarty have added run, defensive pressure, better ball use, a deeper midfield and contributed to a more fluent forward line.

The makeshift ruck has also had a positive impact with the mids really stepping up.  Young becomes an extra defender when he’s not rucking and Silvagni is popping up all over the ground to good effect.  However, I don’t think that will be sustainable against the likes of Melbourne, Brisbane and Collingwood.  It should work against Port though.

Port’s winning streak has dispelled any thoughts that they’re flaky away from home but I think that we will benefit from home ground advantage.

Hinkley will be flat out trying to work out how to counter the “new” Carlton and I’m expecting a tougher contest.  Provided we bring the same energy and attack on the ball and opposition, we should make it four wins in a row.

[LP]

The biggest questions being asked, very reasonably, were around leadership and discipline.

Personally, to me the biggest issue this season has been fitness and game continuity, that is a transient problem.

Long term I think we still have player development issues, the jury is out on players like Hollands, Cowan, etc., until we see them in Season 2 and beyond, after their 2nd or 3rd pre-season.

Port have much bigger heavier bodies than the lightweights we've been playing against for the last few weeks, and they will try to use some of those bodies to place a toll on Cripps, Cerra and Walsh. I wouldn't want to rely on roving to a losing ruck this week!

If he pulls up OK Sam Durdin might come straight in if McGovern is out, Durdin stepped back into VFL like he hadn't missed a beat.

[Micky0]

I think we’ll win.

I think we have good momentum, we’re playing at home, should have had a nice rest after the last game and good to go.

As above, agree on fitness. The boys seem to move faster, better, quicker now than a month and two ago. Is that the loading they’ve been getting from the fitness team, have they got it balanced and right now?

It will tell the story for the remainder of the season - win and we’re on track, lose just by a bit and I worry we will capitulate for the rest of the season but think we won’t,  but lose badly and i think that’ll be us done for 2023.

[kruddler]

With respect, I don't think that is entirely accurate, K.

Only a very few called for a major cull/coach replacement. I think most of us realise that there will be a moderate cull, nothing major, at year's end. And the cull will only be those whose bodies just aren't up to it and those few who just aren't coming along after having been given plenty of opportunity. And I don't recall anyone on this forum calling for Vossy's sacking.

The biggest questions being asked, very reasonably, were around leadership and discipline.

It wasn't limited to our little pond here mate.

Plenty of talkback radio and media beat up on the topic.

[RiverRat]

The boys seem to move faster, better, quicker now than a month and two ago. Is that the loading they’ve been getting from the fitness team, have they got it balanced and right now?

I suspect it has more to do with team selection with the inclusion of decisive 'chase, tackle and pressure' types in preference to the players who tend to merely 'chase' in the same general direction as opponents and only seriously accelerate if/when they think they have a chance of catching up or applying physical pressure.

[Gointocarlton]

With respect, I don't think that is entirely accurate, K.

Only a very few called for a major cull/coach replacement. I think most of us realise that there will be a moderate cull, nothing major, at year's end. And the cull will only be those whose bodies just aren't up to it and those few who just aren't coming along after having been given plenty of opportunity. And I don't recall anyone on this forum calling for Vossy's sacking.

The biggest questions being asked, very reasonably, were around leadership and discipline.

A list cull is still very much requird Baggers, nothing has changed on that score.