AFL Rd 18 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[Gointocarlton]

When you do an ACL, you can still walk in a straight line.  It's moving sideways is the problem.  I thought it looked like the knee was stiffening up as he walked across the ground.  We will only know after the scan tomorrow.

I strained my medial many moons ago, finished off the game limping all be it. Once I cooled down, I couldn't straighten my leg and could barely walk. It was diagnosed later as a grade 3 strain, was very ordinary for 3-4 weeks, then the pain settled and I could walk ok, didn't start running again for 6 or 7 weeks from memory. Lets be clear, I was no where near the fitness of AFL level players, not on the same planet.

[Gointocarlton]

Jack was best on ground, Tom was in the top half a dozen.

Credit where credit is due, Tom and Jack where bloody mighty yesterday. Jack brought the expected Silvagni effort and aggression was well as hitting the scoreboard. Tommy D made Lycett look silly.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Eb this is where stats tell part of a story but watching the game is where you judge a players value from. TDK was an influence at important moments and overall was a great contributor and give him 2-3 years and he will very much be in the Gawn mold of footballer.

Will be a loss if we cant retain him but unfortunately the market dictates his worth which for the moment is skewed towards what he is very likely to become in a few years time.

Pit is a back up ruckman at best IMO and not a first ruck and as i said i would prefer to play 2 mobile part time rucks then Pit as we look so much slower when Pit in rucking and lose a player around the ground as well.

Shawny...Im not as sold on TDK like everyone else and certainly not prepared to pay big dollars based on down the track promise.
I see Melb and Freo with Grundy and Jackson and then look at Geelong last year and Collingwood this season and think why does any club need to be paying ruckman a fortune
I will watch the game probably tomorrow and check out the ruck battles but I just see ruckman as minor pieces on the chess board and would prefer we spent our money elsewhere. 

[laj]

Jack played most of the game as a key forward, and he excelled in that role.  Tom played most of the game as a ruckman, and he excelled in that role.

We often struggle to find a regular role for Jack. Having one in McKay's place will really help him.

[laj]

Shawny...Im not as sold on TDK like everyone else and certainly not prepared to pay big dollars based on down the track promise.
I see Melb and Freo with Grundy and Jackson and then look at Geelong last year and Collingwood this season and think why does any club need to be paying ruckman a fortune
I will watch the game probably tomorrow and check out the ruck battles but I just see ruckman as minor pieces on the chess board and would prefer we spent our money elsewhere.

Ruckmen need to be very good around the ground too, like Gawn the other night. Then they are worth a decent dollar. Other than that someone like Pittonet does the job.

Whateley reckons Grundy won't be at Melbourne next year. Interesting to see if he is right. Was the all-time dumb decision to go there in the first place. Two first rucks don't often work unless they can proficiently play forward too, as they'll be spending alot of time there. Even in the old days of Nicholls and Jones they were both very good up forward. In the days of unlimited interchange you could play 2 first rucks and just change them off the bench. Not now. The was a reason Kreuzer and Casboult were a good combination. Kreuzer did a good job gathering touches around the ground and could kick a goal if needed. Casboult was a forward ruck, who, despite his limitations, often hit the scoreboard, wrong part of it at times, but turned out quite a proficient ruckman as well together with his handy marking around the ground. Soon as Kreuzer played with Phillips his game went to crap near every time.

[shawny]

Shawny...Im not as sold on TDK like everyone else and certainly not prepared to pay big dollars based on down the track promise.
I see Melb and Freo with Grundy and Jackson and then look at Geelong last year and Collingwood this season and think why does any club need to be paying ruckman a fortune
I will watch the game probably tomorrow and check out the ruck battles but I just see ruckman as minor pieces on the chess board and would prefer we spent our money elsewhere. 

I don’t disagree with any of that. My point is there is no comparison between Pitt and TDK.

What TDK is worth is another discussion but I do understand why TDK is getting the big offers while Pitt committed to 4 years on average coin.  It’s pretty obvious imo.

[LP]

I don’t disagree with any of that. My point is there is no comparison between Pitt and TDK.

What TDK is worth is another discussion but I do understand why TDK is getting the big offers while Pitt committed to 4 years on average coin.  It’s pretty obvious imo.

Not sure what fans have against TDK, some hate that he's attracting big coin, others hate that he is often competing with a Silvagni for a spot in the match day squad.

I think it's unfair to compare Pitto and TDK, very very different players, Pitto is more like Lycett last night, TDK is more Gawn / Jackson like. I don't understand how fans don't see the difference and how they compliment each other, and of course there will be games when we should only play one or the other with a SoJ or Young backup.

On the stats, there are empty stats and then there are quality stats, I don't care how some want to negatively spin his stats TDK was in quality overload last night!

Only having Pitto makes us much too easy to plan against in my opinion, it pigeon holes our team tactically, a lot the fan debate argues like there is a definitive right or wrong way when it's nothing of the sort, it's horses for courses. Make the wrong choice on biggest day of the year and a squad that has the either / or like Melbourne or even more options like Geelong can ruin your day!

[PaulP]

Nice post LP. I generally agree.

[madbluboy]

Our pressure won the game yesterdayand really it's been the difference for the last 4 weeks. TDK showed he belonged out there with 6 tackles.

[crashlander]

Ruckmen need to be very good around the ground too, like Gawn the other night. Then they are worth a decent dollar. Other than that someone like Pittonet does the job.

Whateley reckons Grundy won't be at Melbourne next year. Interesting to see if he is right. Was the all-time dumb decision to go there in the first place. Two first rucks don't often work unless they can proficiently play forward too, as they'll be spending alot of time there. Even in the old days of Nicholls and Jones they were both very good up forward. In the days of unlimited interchange you could play 2 first rucks and just change them off the bench. Not now. The was a reason Kreuzer and Casboult were a good combination. Kreuzer did a good job gathering touches around the ground and could kick a goal if needed. Casboult was a forward ruck, who, despite his limitations, often hit the scoreboard, wrong part of it at times, but turned out quite a proficient ruckman as well together with his handy marking around the ground. Soon as Kreuzer played with Phillips his game went to crap near every time.

Marc doesn't get a lot of marks, or possessions generally, but he usually makes it difficult for his opponent to get them. The sort of guy he struggles with around the ground is a guy lime English, who is pretty damned mobile for a big man. But, even then, Pitto gives a contest.
Pitto's strength is his strength in the ruck contest, and his ability to aim his taps pretty well.