AFL Rd 9 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Melbourne

[Gointocarlton]

Team for tomorrow looks better than it has for a while, but it is still short of class:

B:  Lachie Young  Sam Durdin  Harry Lemmey
HB:  Billy Wilson  Dom Akuei  Brodie Kemp
C:  Ollie Hollands  Jaxon Binns  Tom Phillips
HF:  Ned Cahill  Rob Monahan  Ashton Moir
F: Liam McMahon  Luke Nelson  Alex Mirkov
R: Hudson O'Keefe  Jack Carroll Zavier Maher
Int:  Darcy Hogg  Wil White  Michael Lewis  B Lambert  Heath Ramshaw

Em:  Archie Stevens  Kristian Ferranato  Jess Gedi  Hayden Gill  C Verrel  L Prout  Blake Kuipers  Jack Lefroy

Alex Mirkov has really struggled since his return and is obviously a long way off the pace at the moment. On the other hand, he needs time on ground to get some form and fitness back.
Dom Akuei looks a long way off the pace. he has gone backwards and won't be on the list next year. Spots will be wanted, and he doesn't have the intensity to make it.
I'd be tempted to play Durdin next week for Young, if he gets through this game. he knows how to use his body, which Young doesn't.
Kemp also has a chance to impress: there is a spot there if he does the right thing.
I like what I see from Rob Monahan, but he is a long way off at the moment, especially in the key forward spot. He does have the pace and the intensity to make it.

Young just seems plain timid and frightened to go near the ball (ie scared or knows he'll make a blue). There was one passage of play where he flat out looked at the ball and didn't pick it up thinking another Carlton player would (might have been Cottrell maybe?). He was clearly closer to the footy and should have attacked it and ran off with it, instead, he filled his shorts.