Pre Game -Port v Blues R2 (Sat, March 30, 5.10pm)

[cookie2]

Wonder if Faz would have been retained if Cunners wasn't injured or would he have been replaced by Poulson? Strikes me also that Cunners is a different type of player to Poulson so we have apparently tried to improve our forward pressure by bring him in.

[Thryleon]

One small little bloke ain't going to change that equation MBB....

Bad bad turnovers cost up repeatedly...fix that we'll beat anyone on our day.

Yes and No.


Insert Paul Puopolo, Hawthorn go to 4 grand finals in a row winning 3 of them (they lost one to Sydney). 

Im also reminded of the 2008 grand final.



Cyril wasn't a spectacular player in that one, but I remember he did something in that game that turned the momentum in a large way with some repeat efforts on the wing.

His stats that day:

6 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 goals, 3 tackles, 2 clangers. 

https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2016...moments-17




2015 grand final:  https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2016...ril-tackle

Look at how his teamates talk about a run down.  The look on their faces as they watch the video.  The way Hodge talks about bringing the crowd into it.

Mitch Robinson used to do a bit of this for us.  He was a tool.  Polson isnt.  He just rushes his disposal.



Remember round 23 against Adelaide?

No one cared.  This bloke tried his guts out.  A team like ours has been bottom for a long time, because efforts like this are completely disregarded unless its a gun doing it.

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/video/2018-...k-round-23

[PaulP]

Turnovers and lack of forward pressure are both huge problems, and have been for a while.

[Lods]

It sometimes only takes one small bloke to set the standard.
If that pressure is lacking it might just need those one or two pressure acts for the players around to think..."gee if that little fellow can do that maybe I need to pull my socks up."
Maybe the small player's individual efforts don't have a significant impact on the contest but it could be that those efforts are infectious and lift those around him to higher standard in terms of pressure.
The question then becomes..."Is a player worth a spot for that role?"

[Professer E]

Bring three of those ever week and the answer is yes.

It's been covered,  but another meh game from Fazzy boy and he's gone. 

[Thryleon]

It sometimes only takes one small bloke to set the standard.
If that pressure is lacking it might just need those one or two pressure acts for the players around to think..."gee if that little fellow can do that maybe I need to pull my socks up."
Maybe the small player's individual efforts don't have a significant impact on the contest but it could be that those efforts are infectious and lift those around him to higher standard in terms of pressure.
The question then becomes..."Is a player worth as spot for that role?"

Yep.

Not to mention the opposition also start wondering if they are going to get clobbered and start to doubt how easy it will go.

[WASurfer]

I've got a nagging feeling Lang is going to be another dud that Geelong have offloaded onto us (see Smedts).

And said it last year after watching plenty of games that O'Brien played.....pick 10 might be one we look back on as one that bites us on the bum down the track. Only young so have to give him a chance but some of his decision making and skill level last year was terrible yet he continually got games. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we could've had Tim Kelly on a platter at pick 10. The club was into him and genuinely thought he'd be still around the mark when our next pick (around 30ish) was up....think we took TDK with it.

Lots of for/against re Polson but just hope he doesn't turn out like Kerridge or Graham etc.....getting games because there's no one else to pick. Matthew Kennedy needs to get fit and find some form to justify trading him in as support for Cripps.

[spf]

Matthew Kennedy needs to get fit and find some form to justify trading him in as support for Cripps.

I think Setterfield has taken that role. That's the one we wanted and were surprised we could get. They rated him ahead of SPS in the draft year, very glad we got him now. kennedy looks a bit slow when I have seen him, but to be fair he hasn't had much of a run at it.

Lang will struggle to cement a place for himself, I think SPS, Walsh, Dow, and Setterfield with an improving Cunningham will make it tough. Lang and Kennedy will be fighting it out for that last place. If the aforementioned come on as expected, I can't see Kennedy or Lang as more than depth.

[Jack Burton]

I think Kennedy can be better than that, just needs to get his body right. He did play about 15 games in a very strong GWS team a couple of years ago

[Gointocarlton]

I think Setterfield has taken that role. That's the one we wanted and were surprised we could get. They rated him ahead of SPS in the draft year, very glad we got him now. kennedy looks a bit slow when I have seen him, but to be fair he hasn't had much of a run at it.

Lang will struggle to cement a place for himself, I think SPS, Walsh, Dow, and Setterfield with an improving Cunningham will make it tough. Lang and Kennedy will be fighting it out for that last place. If the aforementioned come on as expected, I can't see Kennedy or Lang as more than depth.

Depth is good. Look at the Filth. They need too find room in last nights team for Adams, Hoskin Elliot, Wells and one other (I think) that the names escapes me.