Pre-Game 2021 AFL Rnd 1: Richmond vs Carlton.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Was confident we could put up a decent effort but that team selected doesnt inspire me with confidence. I guess it presents opportunity for players and you can only hope the likes of LOB can realize this is one of their last chances on the big stage.
Their backline lacks that one big defender but they play the double team vs the tall marking player better than most.
Just have to hope Richmond are too cocky, off their game and dont turn up with max effort.

[Shakin77]

Happy to see Stocker as an Emg.    Must be moving in the right direction.

Everyone getting stuck into LOB.    Hopefully we get to see a little bit of what attracted the Pies in the last trade period.

[JonDorotich]

FB - Plowman Jones Williamson
HB - Docherty Weitering Saad
C - Setterfield Cripps Murphy
HF - Fogarty McKay Newnes
FF - Fisher Silvagni Gibbons
R - Pittonet Dow Walsh
Int - SPS, LOB, Levi, Ed.

EMG - Cottrell McDonald Stocker Kennedy
(one of the emergencies to be named as the 23rd just before game time)

Despite the cameo tag, I’d have Cunningham well ahead of Newnes, LOB, Murphy & Gibbons amongst others.  And, I’d also have Stocker ahead of Newnes and LOB.

Lastly, fingers crossed SPS plays in the midfield rather being left to flail in defence!

[Gointocarlton]

Was confident we could put up a decent effort but that team selected doesnt inspire me with confidence. I guess it presents opportunity for players and you can only hope the likes of LOB can realize this is one of their last chances on the big stage.
Their backline lacks that one big defender but they play the double team vs the tall marking player better than most.
Just have to hope Richmond are too cocky, off their game and dont turn up with max effort.

LOB won't realise its his last chance, its round 1, there's his out. No urgency about his game whatsoever (to date).
Richmond won't turn up cocky, like I said in a post earlier, their season started in the praccy match v Coll. if Carlton are true to form, they will start their season round 7 or 8. There's the difference. Slow starts in games, slow starts in seasons. We need to change that (tomorrow night please).

[DJC]

1. Martin - FML
2. WTF have Kennedy and Stocker done wrong?
3. Glad Cameo Cunner was omitted
4. Who is the 23rd man ? One of the Emergencies? I'm guessing they havent named it yet as they are giving H until the last minute (OMac will come in)
5. H won't play surely
6. Love child SPS gets a gig
7. LOB - FML
8. I'm not confident we can stay within 5 goals of them

The sub is named one hour before the game starts when we have finalised the 22.

I'm pleased to see Stocker and Cottrell named as emergencies.  They must be hammering on the door of opportunity and it's got to admit them before too long.  Stocker's hardness is just what we need and who couldn't like Cottrell's goal celebration?

It's an interesting 22.  Gibbons didn't get much of a run in the pre-season games but has jumped ahead of other contenders.  Perhaps Martin's injury and Betts's lack of preparation got him the nod.  Fogarty is an interesting selection for me, laying tackles is fine but means nothing if you don't win frees and have other strings to your bow.  Hopefully, he'll prove me wrong.

I think that Oscar McDonald will be the sub, if he doesn't become a last minute inclusion in the 22.

It's good to see that the MC continues to appreciate the work Samo does, but I hope they will give him more time forward of the ball.

Go Blues - let's knock the Tiggers off their perch!

[BluePhantom]

Until we get a better system of going into our forward line we will always be also rans.
We need a lead up forward that we target. Our forward line is always so congested that we kick onto the heads of our players, it is so easy to defend.
The kick to a pack and hope a small snags it tactic might work 5% of the time. That is why we have huge numbers of inside 50's but little to show for the effort.
The other thing we need to tidy up is the manning up during play. As soon as there is a turn over there seems to be free oppo players everywhere. Defend first then attack!
One last thing that frustrates me is in general play. When they have the ball we have seem to have 2 or 3 players go to and try and tackle the guy with the ball, this leaves other oppo players free running by and allows for easy ball movement. Stay with a man!
You watch tonight how the Tiggers don't do it but we will.
It's been long enough for all of us I think, extremely happy to be proved wrong Carlton.

[PaulP]

Happy to see Stocker as an Emg.    Must be moving in the right direction.

Everyone getting stuck into LOB.    Hopefully we get to see a little bit of what attracted the Pies in the last trade period.

Agree on Stocker.

On LOB, the ironclad laws of footy fandom dictate that at any given point in time, at least one player will, by conscious or unconscious consensus, be the designated whipping boy. He was getting some good exposure and good experience (and showing a bit IMO) before Teague put an end to all that "getting games into kids" nonsense lol. I hope LOB makes it, because what he offers would be valuable to us. To my untrained eye, there is a strong Pagan influence in Teague's style. It's very simple, low possession, gaining ground by long kicks rather than handball or short kicks etc. And in this style, an AFL ready LOB would be super. There's no chance he will ever be a Hodge, but there is a chance he could be the new Bryce lol.

[LP]

Agree on Stocker.

On LOB, the ironclad laws of footy fandom dictate that at any given point in time, at least one player will, by conscious or unconscious consensus, be the designated whipping boy. He was getting some good exposure and good experience (and showing a bit IMO) before Teague put an end to all that "getting games into kids" nonsense lol. I hope LOB makes it, because what he offers would be valuable to us. To my untrained eye, there is a strong Pagan influence in Teague's style. It's very simple, low possession, gaining ground by long kicks rather than handball or short kicks etc. And in this style, an AFL ready LOB would be super. There's no chance he will ever be a Hodge, but there is a chance he could be the new Bryce lol.

I thought from limited game time LOB played OK in the pre-season runs. He got caught out of position once or twice under this new stand rule, but he wasn't alone in that regard, of course it may be that LOB is a designated sacrificial lamb under that rule, well run teams are bound to have players who are preferred/designated to stand the mark.

In my experience, fans rarely credit player improvement while hanging on to the player's past mistakes like a Wobbegong!



Did you know there is a species of shark that can climb on trees? Drop Sharks! :o

[PaulP]

I thought from limited game time LOB played OK in the pre-season runs. He got caught out of position once or twice under this new stand rule, but he wasn't alone in that regard, of course it may be that LOB is a designated sacrificial lamb under that rule, well run teams are bound to have players who are preferred/designated to stand the mark.

In my experience, fans rarely credit improvement, while hanging on to a player's past mistakes like a Wobbegong!

I didn't watch him that closely in the PS games, so I can't really comment. I think expectations have to be adjusted given that he's played no AFL football for ages, and coming up against the reigning premiers.

[kruddler]

Happy to see Stocker as an Emg.    Must be moving in the right direction.

Everyone getting stuck into LOB.    Hopefully we get to see a little bit of what attracted the Pies in the last trade period.

Re Stocker....that...and the fact 95% of the fit players not named are rookies/more recent draftees. With the exception of Cunningham.

Re lob....I take it you didn't watch the practice match against the saints?  I went into with the same hopeful optimism as you. Came out of it thinking he should never wear navy blue in the 1s again.