Rd 18: Pre Game Premonitions: Carlton vs Brisbane

[flyboy77]

Boekhorst can consider himself a bit stiff. He hasn't been that bad. Sumner, on the other hand, probably realizes his time is up. Last week killed his career as a senior player with us.

Harry McKay is probably a bit lucky. He has been down in recent weeks. But he does now get an opportunity where at least some of the guys can kick it in his general direction. It may also be in his half more often, no matter how poor our forward football can be. That will help him. Last week he got seriously cold.

Not about luck thuogh, the kid needs to be exposed to the higher level.

Some blokes just perform better at the higher level (and there's no point me reiterating the lack of leather poisoning given the NB's recent patch of form). Cuners a prime example.... like the way he appears to be advancing.

The press talk of Harry at 200cm, when he's likely 204cm+ now (based on his own words ...).

That extra height and wingspan makes a big difference in the 4th quarter when tiredness sets in.

Having a second tall target has been a big hole for us for too long.

Crows have Tex - 195cm. Lynch - 191cm (Jac's height?), Jenkins - 200cm, McGovern - 191cm and Otten - 194cm.

Interesting that Cripps and Charlie are as tall as Tex?

Anyway, with Levi and Harry both 200cm and more - and the former an elite 1 on 1 or larger contested mark - and with both liking to crash packs etc. it's a hard match up to counter.....

With Charlie, Levi and Harry all as legitimate tall targets in the forward line that has to stretch opposition defences? Again if we get some quick ball movement in there....

Worth playing SPS as the crumbing small forward for a few weeks?

Hoping Pickett steps up next year - an elite talent but maybe not that hungry?

[Gointocarlton]

Boekhorst can consider himself a bit stiff. He hasn't been that bad. Sumner, on the other hand, probably realizes his time is up. Last week killed his career as a senior player with us.

Harry McKay is probably a bit lucky. He has been down in recent weeks. But he does now get an opportunity where at least some of the guys can kick it in his general direction. It may also be in his half more often, no matter how poor our forward football can be. That will help him. Last week he got seriously cold.

My concern is delivery into the fwd line. Sticking a two meter kid there and bombing it in like they have been doing to Casboult will ruin him IMO. Cas can look after himself because of his bulk and his elite marking skills. Harry has neither of these attributes yet so he needs to find space and run onto the footy. I hope they ease him in and constantly talk to him and instruct him (players and coaches). He has shown zero to me in the 2s to suggest he is ready to play AFL, I assume they have a plan to gently expose him to the elite level.

[LoveNavy]

Depending on the match ups, a 2 pronged tall forward target might just work. Yes this also depends on the quality of entries. But we've not had this option for, well I'm not sure how long. Here's hoping we catch the Lion's out adjusting to our structure, and kick off to an early lead.

Good luck to H. I hope he manages a couple of special moments. Moments where the defense is focused on big Levi and H puts it through the big sticks... OK, so that's debut dreaming.

This game, later in the season, has been problematic the last couple of years. No doubt hampered by our injury list and the travel. Oh and the home ground advantage. At least Robbo's not playing this time. He's pulled one out of his hat during the last two meetings.

Go Blues.

[shawny]

Don't have an easier game in our run home. Have a better team in this week and if we play close to our best should be good enough to get the points today. 

Even though I'm very happy with the years development I think its important we get more reward for effort and not a better chance then today.

Play Cats, Cheats and Hawks in Melb and Sydney and WC away. Will be rack outsiders in all other games.

A loss will mean we are back in the running for the spoon - not the place I want to be in a second year of a rebuild.

[kruddler]

The Jaksch trade effectively cost us pick 7 as Whiley is gone and Boekhorst is soon to be gone, Jones cost us pick 46.
Whether he was highly rated as a kid means nothing as we recruited him when he'd been on a senior list for two years and played 7 games for a very modest return.
It was a woeful trade which was symptomatic of our recruiting and drafting over a decade or more, which is why we now find ourselves bereft of talent in the mid age demographic.
Premiership teams need 10 or 12 players aged between 25 and 30 if history is any guide and it will be another 4 years minimum before we reach that point.

I know what the trade cost us.

My point is that Jones was a speculative nothing pick that nobody was overly pleased with, but it is paying off.

People lament the Jaksch trade, but based on %'s that was by far the better trade.

As i said, you win some, you lose some.

We got lucky with Jones. We were unlucky with Jaksch. In reality, the 2 'performances' should've been the other way around.

[laj]

My concern is delivery into the fwd line. Sticking a two meter kid there and bombing it in like they have been doing to Casboult will ruin him IMO. Cas can look after himself because of his bulk and his elite marking skills. Harry has neither of these attributes yet so he needs to find space and run onto the footy. I hope they ease him in and constantly talk to him and instruct him (players and coaches). He has shown zero to me in the 2s to suggest he is ready to play AFL, I assume they have a plan to gently expose him to the elite level.

As long as McKay and Casboult spread out  then that at least spreads the defence.

Harry McKay showed plenty earlier to suggest he should've been selected.

[blue4life]

For what it's worth we're favourite with the bookies. 

[madbluboy]

For what it's worth we're favourite with the bookies. 

Guaranteed loss.

[Gointocarlton]

As long as McKay and Casboult spread out  then that at least spreads the defence.

Harry McKay showed plenty earlier to suggest he should've been selected.

I trust your judgement as you have probably watched him live more than me. I am only going by the couple of games I have seen on TV plus whats written on here in VFL threads. That hasn't enthused me that much (ie warranting selection), I just see a young, gangly colt with heaps of potential that needs to learn the craft.

[pinot]

I trust your judgement as you have probably watched him live more than me. I am only going by the couple of games I have seen on TV plus whats written on here in VFL threads. That hasn't enthused me that much (ie warranting selection), I just see a young, gangly colt with heaps of potential that needs to learn the craft.

I think he needs a few games so he can go away over pre season and work hard where he needs to improve. This is just going to be an education but if he makes an impact all the better.