AFL Rd 2 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong

[bratblue]

By the way, Cowan & Hollands are two of the best pick-ups we have made in some years.

Since Dow and O'brien. ( Roll eyes)

[LP]

Fans tend to focus on only certain aspects of the creative stuff and the finishing. But the other side to the creative stuff is what we see Ed and Ollie doing over the first couple of weeks, especially Ed last night.

When you see those turnovers it's easy to focus on the tackler or the one who spoils, but the truth is the Cats got disrupted because blokes like Ed and Hollands did the hard running to close off exit avenues. This type of creative defence can't be under-estimated in value.

Further, the return of Durdin allowed more run across the full game time from Owies, Motlop and Fisher, so we get a compounding effect. Ed and Hollands prepared to work, and the others remaining fresh enough to genuinely assist.

[Thryleon]

Fans tend to focus on only certain aspects of the creative stuff and the finishing. But the other side to the creative stuff is what we see Ed and Ollie doing over the first couple of weeks, especially Ed last night.

When you see those turnovers it's easy to focus on the tackler or the one who spoils, but the truth is the Cats got disrupted because blokes like Ed and Hollands did the hard running to close of exit avenues. This type of creative defence can't be under-estimated in value.

Further, the return of Durdin allowed more run across the full game time from Owies, Motlop and Fisher, so we get a compounding effect. Ed and Hollands prepared to work, and the others remaining fresh enough to genuinely assist.

Acres pushed back really hard, and he had a VERY good game last night.

Owies and Durdin work really hard.  Owies the better finisher, but very vanilla (nothing wrong with that).  Durdin way more mercurial, faster and capable of applying more panic pressure. 

They are the better two small forwards at the moment, but it was telling how the forward line lost organisation without JSOS out there speaking of intangibles. 

Also, plus 1 to the coaches for finally dropping Curnow behind the ball in the last few minutes.

[ElwoodBlues1]

he acknowledged that and said they will look different in 4 weeks time and again at the end of the year. I heard him talk about the coming season during the PS and he stated they would need to be different to 22 otherwise they will get knocked over. They do have some fair key personnel missing so they can't play structurally they way they would have planned for in the PS, the two losses show that. Apart from his coaches box antics/theatrics, he is one of the football people I like listening to when interviewed. Astute, measured but ruthless (just like he played).

Dirty, arrogant and without humility are the words that come to my mind when talking the Kray brothers...

[LP]

Also, plus 1 to the coaches for finally dropping Curnow behind the ball in the last few minutes.

Probably, but in reality it was Scott's moves that freed up Charlie and McKay to become better options. The Cats rolled the dice and it allowed Charlie and McKay some more freedom.

As bizarre as this may seem, I think Ratugolea was perhaps the best defender on the ground last night, I was a bit shocked to see he only took three marks.

Agree about SoJ, his fate is not as cut and dry as many want to think, but he is in that zone. It will be interesting to see what balance Voss can strike, because last night's setup took a much bigger toll on our Mids than Rnd 1, we are lucky we have the extended break. I suspect we will find one of Durdin, Owies or Motlop out to make way for the return of Walsh and Hewett, with one other player and Pitto likely to become part of the starting 22 which might impact SoJ.

[LP]

Both us and Collingwood have knocked them over with the same game plan and he hadn't been able to find the answers apart from saying it's all ok.

Well we've said before, age does weary them, no matter how long you think you can get away with it age will eventually catch up.

The few they have lost and have out make a huge difference, at the moment they are significantly different to last season.

But at this stage I'm not so bullish about their future, I can't see some of the younger ones bridging the skills / strength gap, they have talent but the physicality the Cats are losing through natural attrition isn't something you can learn. Tuohy, Rowan, Smith, Figjam, Hawkins, Stanley, C.Guthrie, they are all looking a bit old and weary. As I stated last year, they relied on superior skills to retain the footy, and I doubted they could do it long enough to win a flag, but they proved me wrong, this year they are less skilled and older, it's an even bigger problem for them!

[Gointocarlton]

Watching the replay of second half Fish was better than how I saw him at the game. Lots of pressure play, yes some silly errors - how TF do we kick into the man on the mark!? - but overall better.

JSOS looked a little sore at one stage - he is important to us and needs to be given some slack. Kid does not stop and keeps at it.

Was concerned we’d run out of legs in the last but they rallied. Was nervous until final 30 seconds, not good for the heart, these games.

With disappointment and close losses, comes learning, resilience and hardened resolve. There was a difference last night and even last week, to end of last year - slight but it’s there ??

So SOS stays in, Fishers stays in? Who goes out for Walsh and George then? Difficult isn't it.

[PaulP]

Since Dow and O'brien. ( Roll eyes)

bratblue, you've been a little quiet these past few months. Tutto bene ?

[LoveNavy]

Gov was a major reason behind our success in the first half of season 2022. He has a rare combination of intercept marking, run and adventurous kicking which can open up opposition forward presses. Sure, his marking is rusty at the moment and his decision-making is questionable at times, but both will improve with games under the belt after having little match practice in the preseason. Getting high quality exits out of D50 against a pressure team like the Tigers is pretty much down to Saad and Gov.

Saad was superb. Gov was solid and as you say provided quality d50 exits.

IIRC around a year ago Gov was similar in that he "missed it by that much" (best Maxwell Smart voice). Some of us questioned his eyesight. Eyesight, timing, reaction speed, match/fitness, form. I know not. If that resolves and he can stay fit. He's an important piece of the puzzle.

[bratblue]

bratblue, you've been a little quiet these past few months. Tutto bene ?

I hibernate during the off season, generally don't come back here until winter. Nice to see my sparing partner is still around.