JLT 2018: Carlton vs St Kilda at Ikon on Wednesday

[PaulP]

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Hell, Setanta and his little helpers gave teams all sorts of grief because it we were so small and would run off/around/through their 'excess' key defenders when played against us. I think the game is heading a little bit towards the way we played it then, with Richmond being the obvious point of reference.

;D

[Lods]

I understand the point you're trying to make Kruddler.
In some respects we may be the victim of more of our defenders exceeding expectations than anticipated.
We drafted/ traded in a lot with the expectation that not all picks would be successful, and we've probably done better than expected.
So what will happen?

If Kruddler is right there will be games Weitering will miss because of no effective match-up.
My expectation is Weitering will play every game unless he's injured.
And it will be because he is the best option in the coaches eyes.
A coaching group worth its salt wouldn't play a player just because he was the number one draft pick...would they?
You would expect (hope)not.

[LP]

I cannot recall, but wasn't Weitering in the leagues top intercept marks in his first season if not even leading, then we played him forward! :

[kruddler]

I understand the point you're trying to make Kruddler.
In some respects we may be the victim of more of our defenders exceeding expectations than anticipated.
We drafted/ traded in a lot with the expectation that not all picks would be successful, and we've probably done better than expected.
So what will happen?

If Kruddler is right there will be games Weitering will miss because of no effective match-up.
My expectation is Weitering will play every game unless he's injured.
And it will be because he is the best option in the coaches eyes.
A coaching group worth its salt wouldn't play a player just because he was the number one draft pick...would they?
You would expect (hope)not.

My prediction is that he'll play every game too.
My gut tells me that it may not be in the best interests to do so.
Unfortunately, history tells me that they will certainly play #1 picks for benefits that have nothing to do with game day performance.

I hope that we have learned from our mistakes. Nobody is automatically gifted games and we pick teams to match the opposition and win.

[PaulP]

It seems almost perverse that our back line is such that we could contemplate omitting a player of Weeters' caliber.

The media will be onto it very quickly.

[Gointocarlton]

I cannot recall, but wasn't Weitering in the leagues top intercept marks in his first season if not even leading, then we played him forward! :

Given time to develop, Weitering will make Rance look like a hack. Macca saying on SEN that he will spend most of his time in defence was music to my ears. I would hope he spends all his time in defence.

[Gointocarlton]

It seems almost perverse that our back line is such that we could contemplate omitting a player of Weeters' caliber.

The media will be onto it very quickly.

Rest easy Paul, it aint gonna happen.

[PaulP]

Given time to develop, Weitering will make Rance look like a hack. Macca saying on SEN that he will spend most of his time in defence was music to my ears. I would hope he spends all his time in defence.

Rest easy Paul, it aint gonna happen.

Just as an aside, when he takes breaks from defence, I wonder if the club would consider playing him on ball, right in the guts ? He can't use his marking ability, but all his other attributes would be very handy - big, strong, good footy brain, good distributor, good reader of the play, clean hands..........

Just a small left field thought.

[townsendcalling]

I still saw a little too much sideways movement and indecisiveness from players at HB or on the wing whilst trying to thrust fwd. Players need to look for the player running past and go bang. You cant stop and prop every time to access the options, its what stifles our game IMO

That’s why I was disappointed that SPS didn’t play. I think we made him play ‘unnaturally’ through stop and prop when his natural instinct is to take the game on.  He might very well be the surprise packet of 2018.

[ElwoodBlues1]

My prediction is that he'll play every game too.
My gut tells me that it may not be in the best interests to do so.
Unfortunately, history tells me that they will certainly play #1 picks for benefits that have nothing to do with game day performance.

I hope that we have learned from our mistakes. Nobody is automatically gifted games and we pick teams to match the opposition and win.

I agree on both highlighted points, more attention to selection needs to be made and we now have a wider group of decent players to choose from.
Weitering is a very good footballer who made a great start to his career but I think since his return from that bad shoulder injury he has been more tentative and avoids
potential heavy contact. Have no doubt he will overcome this issue but at the moment I would be handpicking his opponents rather than having him as an automatic CHB, FB etc and just having him take whoever plays those KP slots for the opposition.
He doesnt play with freedom or urgency anymore and isnt the attacking rebounder he was, I think he enjoyed the spell up forward but it didnt do much for his football and I'd prefer he played down back...