2024 Practice Match Carlton vs Melbourne

[laj]

And now a calf

That could be cramp. Dunno. I went to bed at 3/4 time with an early start tomorrow.

[Gointocarlton]

Looked a bit proppy at the end of the game.
That's going to be the issue....but we knew that.

Looked like cramp

[madbluboy]

Still 35 degrees hopefully just cramps.

[pinot]

Gawn v Carlton

Boyd, Cunningham, Cincotta, Young, Pittonet, Fantasia

Look like they are deadwood to me unfortunately.

Happy to give them a full season but on that game they were woeful. Can cut Fantasia some slack but not the rest.

[pinot]

Who was the genius that gave Pittonet a four year deal

[Lods]

I thought De Koning did OK.
The new rule is going to suit Gawn down to the ground and he'll be a real force
Tom got the ball a couple of times where things he tried didn't quite come off but he battled really well. He was getting hands to the ball.

I think what we look for in these practice games is who is doing something a bit different.
Have they added another string to their bow.
I can see some improvement in Tom...(Gawn rates him too).

Against that we look for areas where a player hasn't picked up.
Harry's kicking is the easy target, but gee he's been good in general play, and has shown he can do a bit of relief rucking.

Thing that concerns me just a little is I don't see too many others who look a lot different to their 2023 form

...but now for the real stuff.

[pinot]

My Rd 1 team based on the past two games.

B: Docherty  Kemp  Newman
HB: Billy      Gov      Saad
C:  Acres  Cripps    Hollands
HF: Fogarty  McKay  Binns
F:  Fantasia  Charlie  Motlop
R: TDK  Hewett  Cerra
IC: Cottrell,  Big Durds, Kennedy, Moir

[ElwoodBlues1]

Yeah when Gawn went off for an extended rest. Watching H and Schache in the ruck hurt my eyes.

Agree...Jack Silvagni would look like Big Nick rucking against Harry and Schache.

[tonyo]

Don't forget, after the way they finished last season, and the very forgettable summer they have had, Melbourne had a bit to prove tonight.  When you're trying to show your members all is well so they'll sign up again, I am sure you go a bit harder.

It was clear they played with a much higher intensity than us, but I don't think that's a true reflection of where both sides are at.  A few of our players were in second gear (maybe 38 degrees was the main reason).

Having said that, I think our chances of rolling Brisbane next week are pretty limited.  If we can win 2 of our first three, I will be more than happy.

[Blue Moon]

It was only a practice match but it was concerning. If we don't play with intensity we will be back where we were before the second half of the season. I think we have the potential to go all the way but we have to turn up to play. We will know more next week.