2017 Rnd 1: Carlton vs Richmond - Pre-Game

[Thryleon]

It will be interesting to see what effect Nthmond list changes have, ours are a little more less predictable.

Is the loss of Vickery and the injury to Hampson while retaining the aging Maric a negative, or is that covered by the recruitment of Nankervis. It's a pity our ruck division will enter this game undermanned, we might have held an advantage but I suspect it'll be 50/50.

Prestia is a good pickup as is Caddy, but over the last few years I think they come out square given the retirements, trades and the Yarran situation.

It may be a lot closer than supporters think, I can't split them, I know a few Nthmond fans who are less than confident. They think all the media hype is a bit too bullish off the back of the obvious Dimma boosters.

I spotted Kreuzer at the local woolworths twice in the last month.  He had a trolley full of fruit and vegetables on both occasions, and was walking around with shorts a t-shirt, and thongs on.  He looked like he had been working fairly hard by the callouses on his feet over this pre season which combined with his Freo game form(in which I thought he had a particularly good match against Sandilands considering hes unlikely to beat him) speaks for where he is at and that is in rip snorting condition.

I think he will do really well this season, and as much as we consider him a "lone hand" he has adequate support from Rowe, and Casboult.  We might still have the upper hand in this ruck contest after all provided he stays relatively fit and injury free (no one is ever 100%).

The major positives from my perspective is that he had no obvious bracing on which means not only is he getting through matches fairly unscathed the recovery he is doing is allowing him to move around freely.