2018 Rd 2: Post Game Prattle: Carlton vs Gold Coast

[cookie2]

We may need to get used to it. And as a long time carlton supporter it kills me to say that.

I was mentally exhausted after attending yesterday's game and it left me with zero expectations, except bad ones, for this year. I can't see the point of wasting any further time in analysing such a steaming pile of excrement. It fell below the threshold worthy of that imo. A long year ahead of us.

[BluePhantom]

We may need to get used to it. And as a long time carlton supporter it kills me to say that.

As a long time Carlton supporter Barbs, I am used to it.
We are just making up numbers in an 18 team competition.

[townsendcalling]

The membership department must be tearing their hair out. There were massive queues outside the membership tent yesterday and a win would have seen the momentum push even further vs Collingwood. 

[Gointocarlton]

Mark Porter would have been a positive!

Ill see you a Mark Porter and raise you an Adrian Deluca.

[Gointocarlton]

"When big men play well, others follow" Bolton's own words, and yet he played Levi as our ruck! I'm betting it may never happen again!

I'm pinning my hopes on the fact that BB and the MC didn't pick a ruckman to cover Kruze because they didn't have one. That is, Lobbe, Phillips and anyone else around the 200cm were not available and H would get slaughtered (literally) Please tell me that's the case. Its the only thing that will get me through the week. We look like we cant beat an egg at the moment, but we are playing the Filth and anything can happen. I'm no medico but I would doubt Kruze will play this week or any other week for while. He looked shot rnd 1, groins don't heal in a week or two.

[Vivian]

Is setanta still playing local leagues? Maybe he could play ruck and dabble in the forward line.

[kruddler]

Byrne butchers the footy at times when he panics, SPS won the ball ok but undercooks the footy leaving his teammates picking up half volleys, Murphy's disposal was horrific and more likely to hit a low flying plane than another player.
Thomas does use the ball ok but at his age doesnt get enough of it and Weitering these days is a shadow of the player he was in his first year when he did use the ball well, he is now slow timid and often under pressure when he kicks the ball... an example was when forward he had open space and could run further but didnt have the confidence and kicked the ball too early when he could have been more creative...

- Byrne is a poor replacement for Docherty. He will fly the flag, but he struggles to have a positive effect on the game.
- SPS is getting a little hard done by. Yes, some passes fell short yesterday, but if you are going to miss, miss short. A few of his teammates had the opposite problem and booted it over our heads to an uncontested opposition mark. SPS, is growing into the player we hope, give him a break.
- Murphy didn't have a great game, but when a lot of his game nowadays is getting the ball on the outside, and we don't have a ruckman playing, and you don't have a forward to kick too, he did ok.
- Thomas tries his guts out every game. Without fail he will get a big smother or tap on or some insignificant 1%er that inspires the team. Without his effort, i'd hate to think what the scoreline looks like each week.
- Weitering seems to be hot topic at the moment. I was the one who thrust him into the spotlight for all the 'wrong reasons', that have turned out to be true. So much so that they are even worse than i suggested was possible. He just needs to be dropped. Simple. I don't care if the opposition have 7 key forwards, you can't play him in this form at the moment. At this rate, he might match Tom Mitchells R1 disposal efforts by the time the season is over.

[Barbs]

As a long time Carlton supporter Barbs, I am used to it.
We are just making up numbers in an 18 team competition.

That you have had to become used to it really saddens me.

How I miss the days of watching Carlton taking the field and being full of hope that they would crush the opposition with amazing displays of skills, strength and determination. In the past when I yelled at the tv it was because Kouta just took a huge mark, Rhys Jones was picking a fight (and winning) or Sticks was kicking goals with the ugliest kicks you'd ever see. I used to have a few beers to celebrate a great win which included grand finals. Yesterday I spent most of the match yelling at the tv like it would somehow encourage players to run harder (or at all), to stop kicking long to congested areas, to display basic skills most VFL players can muster or simply revert back to tactics like good old fashioned manning up instead of guarding a zone or whatever we call it now. Now its like I have to work through a 6 pack just make being a supporter for 3 hours bearable.

Next week has me really worried. On current form Collingwood are going to run out big winners and that must still kill any true blue-blooded Carlton.

I foresee us going into our defensive shells again and still losing. I don't know whether its Bolton's game plan to always have numbers back when we have the ball and then have everyone converge down the line instead of spreading or if the players are just not following instructions and running off hard enough. But it has to stop.

I'll offer my 2 cents (which is typically what my opinions are worth) on player selections - drop O'Shea, Mullet, Polson and maybe Lamb. Given the pies also don't play a tall forward line this might be the time to let Weiters have a development spell in the VFL too. Ins - Kreuzer (hopefully), Silvagni, Kerridge, Kennedy and Mckay. Yes I'd bring Mckay and Kreuzer. Charlie's mobility and run affords us the luxury of playing another 2 tall forwards and its necessary to stretch the opposition defence that way because neither Casboult or Mckay are enough on their own. If Special K doesn't come up I'd probably bring in Kerr or TDK too. If Byrne is out with an injury I'd also bring in Graham and let Garlett do the half back running.

I never thought I'd advocate for Kerridge and Graham to come in, but its probably the best option we have right now. I'm all for developing the young players, but having some stronger bodies and experience to be competitive against Collingwood is a priority. (sadly, we would still be running out with a young inexperienced team)

[jeza]

You could maybe bring in Graham or Kerridge but definitely not both. Too similar / slow / average kicks.

Hopefully Kennedy and Kreuzer are back and settles the team down a bit.

Dow might have a spell.

[Barbs]

You could maybe bring in Graham or Kerridge but definitely not both. Too similar / slow / average kicks.

Hopefully Kennedy and Kreuzer are back and settles the team down a bit.

Dow might have a spell.

Not ideal, but better than Polson, O'Shea and Mullet.

Its also worrying that we're pinning our hopes on Kennedy - he turns 21 this week and has only 20 games under his belt (including about 20 minutes with us). I do think he'll work out but he is still developing.