AFL Rd 21 2023 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs St. Kilda

[pertz]

Excluding fans and outsiders, does anybody on the inside really think games will be "easy!"

Looking at the AFL, all games are hard, the difference between the top and the bottom is not even 5%, we should know that better than most!

Spot on LP..just look at the results from last round. All the favourites that were a bit off, lost.

[Lods]

At the moment we have quite a few teams contesting a limited number of finals spots.
Without looking closely at the draw I suspect that over the next couple of weeks some of these side will drop off when it becomes mathematically impossible for them to make final.
That may lead to some teams lacking in intensity in the final rounds and those games may be a little easier...
but for a team still in contention approach those games with that attitude at your peril

[LP]

Spot on LP..just look at the results from last round. All the favourites that were a bit off, lost.

The hardest part of playing AFL, the big difference between AFL and the next lower level, is mindset.

You have to be instantaneously brutal, cold and unrelenting in your process, if you aren't then efficiency leaves the building and you look like a chump. In AFL, it has always been blink and you're dead!

A lot of fans carry on about skills, there isn't a poorly skill player in the AFL, they are all good beyond what fans realise. The problem with execution of skills come from mindset, not from a lack of capability.

[LP]

So I'm hearing Gov with a hamstring, is that an opportunity for Sam Durdin to be the next man in, or will Young come in?

[pertz]

Yeah just heard that on SEN. Depends if King is in I reckon. If King plays, play Young if not Durdin.

[rocky]

Is the change in how we are playing the game taking it's toll?

[kruddler]

Is the change in how we are playing the game taking it's toll?

Its a long(er) season this year. I reckon we'll see a bit more of these 'niggles' taking its toll.

Just get him right for finals.

[Gointocarlton]

Is the change in how we are playing the game taking it's toll?

How many hammies? Walsh, Cerra, Gov, are there any others?
Seriously, our luck winning games with injuries to key players has to run out surely.

[Lods]

Is the change in how we are playing the game taking it's toll?

Possibly, it's a high pressure game we play.
Players are expected to chase, and chase, and chase some more.
Some of the running that some of our guys are doing is next level stuff.
Hollands gave an example of that last week with and end to end run.

To play that style of game you have to be pretty well conditioned, otherwise it's not sustainable.
Are we at that level that we can maintain it for another 4+ matches?
That will be seen.
But we're committed to playing that way.
There's no turning back now, and no luxury of a game against a significantly weaker opponent.

We can look at the players who will come back with some optimism.
The ones we'll lose, and the length of time we'll lose them for, is the big unknown.

[rocky]

IN
Ed Curnow,
Jaxon Binns,
Josh Honey,
Sam Durdin,
Zac Fisher

OUT
Adam Cerra (Injured),
Mitch McGovern (Injured)