AFL Rd 5 2022 Post Game Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[LP]

The Terrier got Charlie back on the park and in career best form.  How many folk here were convinced that Charlie would never play again?

Russell deserves a contract extension just for his work with Charlie.

Imagine how good we'll be when Russell has the squad at peak fitness for the pointy end of the season.

I partly agree, but I do not get the team's apparent flatness in such extended bursts, it may not be so much physical but a mental fitness that is lacking.

Are we already looking a bit fatigued at Rnd. 5, even if it's only mental fatigue?

I won't be overly focussed on physical fitness, because in reality if Charlie hangs on to two F50 chest marks after half time and kicks straight we probably win comfortably. He got into those positions and his opponents could not go with him, so he can't be unfit, but doing the hard work then dropping the baby mark is perhaps a concentration / pressure issue. Fwiw, I think BigH dropped one as well that caused a turnover goal. They both seem to be unable to relax into the mark after having done all the hard work.

We still have a couple of kids who stand waiting for the football to come to them, it's cost us several goals over the last couple of weeks and probably adds up to a 5 or 6 goal turnaround over two games.

I think we cannot get Gov back soon enough, he brings a competency and calmness, I bet some of you didn't expect anyone to be writing that by Rnd 5!

Also, I'm a Weiters booster but he's going a bit over the top with the punching, when he is so well clear of his opponents and head and shoulders above others in contest he could clearly mark the ball and thus change some momentum. I've noticed two weeks in a row he changes from punching to marking late in games, but he'd be better off to do this dynamically for four quarters rather than in a formulaic manner which I think makes him too predictable. When he sees the opposition roving his punches he should start marking the ball more often and utilising the fact the opponents are then out of position.