2016 - Rnd 1 Carlton vs Richmond

[DJC]

So what are you saying, the Coach cant get them up for the task?

The coach has to have the cattle and, at the moment, we are one key position bull short of a herd.

I'm sure Bolton has something in place but he's a coach, not a miracle worker.

[BluePhantom]

The coach has to have the cattle and, at the moment, we are one key position bull short of a herd.

I'm sure Bolton has something in place but he's a coach, not a miracle worker.

The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is. 

[DJC]

The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is. 

I'm still leaning towards a win 

[townsendcalling]

When Walker came back last year he finished off with 4,4, 1, 2 goals. Everitt kicked 31 for the year. Kerridge and Wright are goal kickers. Our mids need to get amongst the goals, be responsible for 4-5.  Just need to spread the love and take our chances. There are goals there if we deliver properly.

[Jofo]

When Walker came back last year he finished off with 4,4, 1, 2 goals. Everitt kicked 31 for the year. Kerridge and Wright are goal kickers. Our mids need to get amongst the goals, be responsible for 4-5.  Just need to spread the love and take our chances. There are goals there if we deliver properly.

Hopefully, Casboult has been foxing in the NAB Cup too. ????

[ElwoodBlues1]

Maric unlikely to play which is a real bonus IMO...Kruezer usually doesnt like the strong bodie type ruckman and i reckon he can dominate Hampson, Vickery and Griffiths and give us first use...

If we cant be competitive this week vs a weak Tigers team then its going to be a long year...

[flyboy77]

Maric unlikely to play which is a real bonus IMO...Kruezer usually doesnt like the strong bodie type ruckman and i reckon he can dominate Hampson, Vickery and Griffiths and give us first use...

If we cant be competitive this week vs a weak Tigers team then its going to be a long year...

EB1. Games are invariably won, or lost, in the midfield. Our mids, without Smurf (and Gibbs going at 20% - 40%), matched it with the much vaunted Sydney midfield, we'll more than cover the Tigers mids.....even without factoring in their mids out eg Conce, Grigg and Edwards has to be iffy even if he plays?

Thereafter, our forwards will get plenty of chances just need to take them and kick straight. If so, we'll win comfortably.

Who knows when GA tickets go on sale?

[shawny]

EB1. Games are invariably won, or lost, in the midfield. Our mids, without Smurf (and Gibbs going at 20% - 40%), matched it with the much vaunted Sydney midfield, we'll more than cover the Tigers mids.....even without factoring in their mids out eg Conce, Grigg and Edwards has to be iffy even if he plays?

Thereafter, our forwards will get plenty of chances just need to take them and kick straight. If so, we'll win comfortably.[/b]

Who knows when GA tickets go on sale?

Surely your joking.....win comfortably?

We have the worst forward line the comp bar none. That's a fact. We have a midfield that is IMO is very competitive against most but lacks depth in comparison to the top team midfields. The defence is lacking key tall posts and Jamo and Rowe while serviceable are not world beaters. And any good quality small forward usually rips us a new one.

But what ive seen and heard we are on the right path to improve but this will take time and I don't think we will get close to any team this year except Cheats, loins and maybe saints and demons.

Tigers by 45 sadly 

I hope I'm wrong but unless Cas plays a blinder, Walks winds back the clock and our mids kick 6-7 plus goals between them I don't think we will get close.

[Brettie]

Yep - unless our mids can hit the scoreboard constantly.....we're absolutely forked......

Worst forward line in living memory......

[Thryleon]

I think we can expect about 8 (total) goals from the following players:

Levi
Jones (if he plays)
Kreuzer
Wright
Everitt
Walker

None of them are world beaters, but they can all kick a goal in the right situations.  If we get first use, they will get more opportunities which should lead to goals.

From there, its just a matter of whether or not we can get others to chime in with a couple as well.  If we can get one or more from the following players (not every week, but a mix of them):

Cripps
Gibbs
Tuohy
Murphy
Simpson
Docherty
Byrne
Kerridge
Murphy
Thomas

Then we can score enough to win games.  Its all about how well we use the footy.  If we are in last seasons form we wont win many, but last season we were clearly underdone and ill prepared for a full season.  We seem to be in better overall condition but the real stuff is just about to start and things might change...  Who knows.  A bit of luck will be needed too obviously.  Richmond are the most overated team in the AFL bar North Melbourne, and are missing 2 players who are barometers for whether or not they win games.  Combine that with the fragility they frequently remind everyone of having, and the fact that they have a soft backend to the season, they will come good later but are ripe for the picking this week.

Blues by 10 points.  We wont win easy, but Im confident we can and will win.