2016 - Rnd 1 Carlton vs Richmond

[flyboy77]

I have odds of  5.6 for the win (less than 39 points).

Happy with that.....

[ItsOurTime]

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

Levi
Jones (if he plays)
Kreuzer
Wright
Everitt
Walker

We've had no one who can reliably kick multiple goals per week since Fev. Walker is the closest and even he kicked 1 goals or less in a third of his games.

It's a big call then for 2 of them to kick multiple goals each week and the rest also getting on the scoreboard.

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.

Early on, we're going to need a number of big individual efforts to drag the team along IMO. Which may be enough to snag a win but the focus needs to be on getting the players playing a game now that will win us flags, even if it means losses now.

[LP]

It's so hard to judge the efforts of older players from the NAB Cup, most of them cruise through pre-season mostly keen on avoiding injury. As a result young blokes look better than they otherwise should and old blokes generally look poorer for their efforts.

We definitely start as underdogs, but are injuries taking a toll on 9thmond?

[PaulP]

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.

Unfortunately I would have to agree. I don't know about your winning margin though.

Certainly had no trouble kicking goals circa 09,10,11.

[shadesy]

Lol @ Jones kicking a goal.

[PassIt2Carrots]

None of them are world beaters, but they can all kick a goal in the right situations. 

I could probably kick a goal in the right situation as well.

[Thryleon]

I could probably kick a goal in the right situation as well.

Thats what im hoping for.

We wont win by dominating the key forward posts, it will happen by using the ball well which will set up scoring situations.

Lol @ Jones kicking a goal.

Believe it or not, he has averaged one per game in his afl career and is on 7 in 9 matches with us in what was a wooden spoon year.

[flyboy77]

Lack of midfield depth?

Hmmm. How many does any one team play at any one time?

Murphy
Crippa
Gibbs
Curnow
Graham
Kerridge
Wright
Boekhurst
Thomas
Cuningham
Tutt
Whiley
Sumner
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/af...0bba0a6000

[Gointocarlton]

Thats what im hoping for.

We wont win by dominating the key forward posts, it will happen by using the ball well which will set up scoring situations.

Believe it or not, he has averaged one per game in his afl career and is on 7 in 9 matches with us in what was a wooden spoon year.

From an outsider looking in, it seems Jones's issues are between the ears (ie confidence). Some blokes who are normally mild mannered cross that white line and go feral turning into Superman. Liam Jones seems to cross the white line and go from Clark Kent to Bashful (from Snow White and Seven Dwarfs).

[Bear]

Believe it or not, he has averaged one per game in his afl career and is on 7 in 9 matches with us in what was a wooden spoon year.

Which goes to show that you can make a case for just about anything!

I like the idea of Jones playing, surely he can compete for us and perhaps slot a goal or two. But we know in reality he ends up having little impact in any facet of the game, he looks like a goose and we all get depressed watching him play... It's just not worth it.