2024 Practice Match Carlton vs Melbourne

[Gointocarlton]

Lots of people mentioning "intensity" ie lack of it, I dont get it. To me what stood out was that we lacked Fluency/Connection/Synergy between each line moving the ball. Chains were a rarity. That and the TO's murdered us.

[Thryleon]

I haven't heard anyone mention Cerra.  I know walsh is injured but these two have become key for our team.  Minus Kennedy wouldn't have helped either.

[shawny]

Guys relax its a practice match. They key is game time getting run into the legs and avoiding injuries.

This group knows exactly what its capable of and these nothing games are not where you put the hammer down as pushing to the limit is when you increase the chance of a soft tissue injury. You build into the season not go flat stick in a game that is meaningless.

We won alot of games in the second half of the season off pure guts, second efforts and wanting it more then out opposition. Drop the intensity even by 10% and we drop to a mid tier team at best.

The intensity will be back up once there is 4 points on the line and we will again be a hard team to beat.

[Lods]

Lots of people mentioning "intensity" ie lack of it, I dont get it. To me what stood out was that we lacked Fluency/Connection/Synergy between each line moving the ball. Chains were a rarity. That and the TO's murdered us.

That could partly be put down to key personnel missing on each line.
Weitering, Walsh the two Jacks etc

In their absence other players have to take on extra roles and burdens rather than their usual roles.

[spf]

For people complaining about our preseason game, here is something for you:
https://youtu.be/ESMx3YAXWeE?si=xj-UsoJpNtDNaXBF

When Carlton won the grand final and hopes were high. Fev kicked 8. The game also featured both the current (at the time) and future club captains.

[Lods]

After a very poor first practice Brodie Kemp was much better last night.

Would have liked to see a bit more of Billy Wilson.
Only had a few possessions in limited game time but just saw a glimpse of someone who wants to get involved.
We may have to watch that in the VFL in the short term though.

Cripps, Docherty, Cerra, Hewett, all cruised through, never much out of second gear, (way to play a practice), but still picked up 20+ so there all ready to go...
and Acres seems to have two shoulders again (even if one is heavily taped)

[shawny]

Gawn v Carlton

Boyd, Cunningham, Cincotta, Young, Pittonet, Fantasia

Look like they are deadwood to me unfortunately.

Happy to give them a full season but on that game they were woeful. Can cut Fantasia some slack but not the rest.

Did you watch all of the game? I was very impressed by Boyd and can now see clearly why Voss rates this kid so highly.

Can roost it 60 metres to a target lowered his eyes and spotted a leading forward 2-3 times and snagged a nice goal from a tight angle.

Has'nt even played 10 matches and some on here wrote him off after 2 games!

[Lods]

I like Boyd too and thought he went OK
One of our better users of the ball.
Probably pencilled in as a lock-down small defender (back pocket), but with the ability to start a chain with accurate and penetrative kicking.
But he could play in a few spots...wing, even defensive small forward.
That was a good kick for goal.
Gives a good effort and is improving.

[Lods]

Just looking at the match stats and it was mostly fairly even, but they confirm what we probably already knew....

We were Ok with stoppages around the ground...but centre clearances were nearly two to one in their favour.
And the other issue was the inside 50's were heavily in their favour, and when we did get the ball in there, our efficiency was very poor in comparison.
We got the ball, we used it poorly.

Their effort and intensity was far superior.
They wanted it more.
They out tackled us 47/60
And the 1% were 28/45 in their favour

[Baggers]

Yep, understand it's only a pre season game and none of us really know what the coaching group was wanting from the past two hitouts. Also understand we were missing some important players, so you can only comment on what we saw last night.

Without internal knowledge, knee-jerk reactions, assumptions and attempting to use a crystal ball... just commenting on what I saw... It was somewhat nostalgic; how we were a couple of years back. In the first half I thought we were flat and taking the p155. Second half we saw moments of 'us' but the Go Dee would quickly take control of the game again and hit the scoreboard.
Absent from last nights game in large chunks was pressure, hunger and hunting.

Some individual general observations:
Kempy improved from his first half (couldn't have been worse!) and attacked the game more; initiated and took risks.
Young just doesn't seem to have any authority in his game.
Pitto ineffectual.
Cunners at sea in heat, makes too many mistakes and fails to impose himself. When outside and with time, great skills.
Fantasia, showed moments of sublime judgement and skill.
Does O Hollands take possession enough? Works incredibly hard to get to contests and tackle and harass but do we need more?

Really liked: H as second ruck, did well and marked around the ground as well... and is quick over the grass for a big fella. One of our best.
Doc, worked hard and was... well... Doc.
Saady, along with H, one of our best.
Acres, works hard up and down the ground and hurts the opposition with his possessions.
Billy W, liked his cameo, looked like he belonged out there.
Hewett, reliable and solid.
Binns was lively.
TDK, coming along nicely.
Crippa and Cerra, important.

IF (speculating the bleeding obvious) we bring much of the same against BrisVegas, they'll feast on us.
IF (again speculating) we treated this game as an experiment and to gain 'feedback,' get some match time into blokes, try a few things, etc. ...we may just get a surprise with the turnaround in the 'real' stuff next week.