03-27-2023, 02:19 AM
Late to the party but was over there last week and at the game on Thursday night! Wow....the noise was deafening from a very pro-Carlton crowd. Cameron nearly got them over the line and we couldn't get a match up for him in the end....but everyone else lifted in that last quarter when we were under the hammer. Our 3rd quarter was as exciting as some of those early games last year...and against quality opposition too.
A few observations...apologies if covered elsewhere in this thread:
1. The TDK/Pittonet combination needs to stay, barring injury. They worked well together and TDK going forward at times will test a lot of backlines. It also frees up Silvagni to roam the forward line as a mobile 3rd forward without the added pressure of then having to ruck at times.
2. I was sceptical about playing the 4 smalls....Durdin, Motlop, Fisher and Owies....but they all chipped in and hit the scoreboard. Motlop was really good early on and goes in hard. Great to have Durdin back and Owies was clinical in front of goals. They combined for 6 goals.
3. Like most, wasn't sure about Ed getting games this year but his last quarter was huge when the pressure was on.
4. Acres was average at best last week, but geez he played well and took some good contested marks. The combination of him and Hollands looks really promising. I was sitting on the wing about 20 rows from the fence and Holland's running was impressive....he was everywhere in the first quarter.
5. In 2 games, Cowan looks more reliable by foot and more composed than Plowman already. Hard to see Plowman coming back in any time soon.
6. Our backline is really building nicely. Saad is elite and has proved that first round pick was well worth giving up to get him.
Hypothetical question.....if both Hewett AND Walsh were fit this week, who would be the unlucky 2 players going out? McGovern was ordinary again at times on Thursday night, but structurally he's important down back so I doubt he'd go out for one of them unless they think Docherty can play as the third tall defender and not go through the midfield. And I wouldn't be rushing Jack Martin back anytime soon either.
A few observations...apologies if covered elsewhere in this thread:
1. The TDK/Pittonet combination needs to stay, barring injury. They worked well together and TDK going forward at times will test a lot of backlines. It also frees up Silvagni to roam the forward line as a mobile 3rd forward without the added pressure of then having to ruck at times.
2. I was sceptical about playing the 4 smalls....Durdin, Motlop, Fisher and Owies....but they all chipped in and hit the scoreboard. Motlop was really good early on and goes in hard. Great to have Durdin back and Owies was clinical in front of goals. They combined for 6 goals.
3. Like most, wasn't sure about Ed getting games this year but his last quarter was huge when the pressure was on.
4. Acres was average at best last week, but geez he played well and took some good contested marks. The combination of him and Hollands looks really promising. I was sitting on the wing about 20 rows from the fence and Holland's running was impressive....he was everywhere in the first quarter.
5. In 2 games, Cowan looks more reliable by foot and more composed than Plowman already. Hard to see Plowman coming back in any time soon.
6. Our backline is really building nicely. Saad is elite and has proved that first round pick was well worth giving up to get him.
Hypothetical question.....if both Hewett AND Walsh were fit this week, who would be the unlucky 2 players going out? McGovern was ordinary again at times on Thursday night, but structurally he's important down back so I doubt he'd go out for one of them unless they think Docherty can play as the third tall defender and not go through the midfield. And I wouldn't be rushing Jack Martin back anytime soon either.