AFL Rd 3 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs North Melbourne

[crashlander]

It was good to see Fantasia get involved when he was subbed on.  His ball use was good and he was very quick to choose the right option.

He gave away a goal with a poor pass, but he did get involved. He seems to lost a year or two since his 'heyday'. To be honest, I'm glad he kicked his 1st goal for us. It was the sort of shot he used to make. But I think he's bound for the VFL when Motlop is back and firing. I was expecting Motlop to play, to be honest. Martin also has Fantasia well covered.

Durdin didn't have much impact when he came on last week but I think it would be good to alternate him and Fantasia as the sub for the next couple of games.  They both have the ability to make the most from limited opportunities.

Corey's 2 goals were nice, but he really didn't have a lot of influence. 4 possessions in 3 quarters isn't a huge reward.
Fantasia had 7 possessions in the last quarter.

Twenty-one goals from eleven individual goal kickers is a nice spread; nine from key forwards, six from small forwards, and six from midfielders.  We just needed De Koning and a defender or two to score and it would have been perfect.  Yes, we were only playing North but I think they'll upset a few teams before the season is done.

North have talent. The AFL saw to that. Their midfield is going to be good in the next few years. Xerri is a decent ruckman and their game style is dangerous. Still, I'm glad we beat them so thoroughly. It was our largest score against North since 1988!

How good is it to have Weiters back?  He was a bit rusty to start with but our defence is way more solid with Weiters leading the way ... and flying the flag with a bit of menace; Larkey may be a bit more circumspect when we meet them again.

Jacob is the keystone to our defence. Looking at the 2's, both Young and Kemp were OK, but both made some shocking errors (Kemp mostly by foot) and their 15 m passing game just doesn't do it for me. However, at least one of them will come in next week.

Marchy was very shaky early one but he settled down and was playing quite well when Boyd landed on his head.  A bit of a loose cannon is Boydy and he needs to learn to just take out opposition players  :

Marchbank was very lucky to have played, to be honest. This was his first serious hitout for the year and it showed. However, he was pretty unlucky to be concussed. Shows just how injury prone he is, alas.
As for Boyd, he made some shocking errors, but he did a couple of 2nd efforts that were stunningly good. His kicking, when on, was great (but it wasn't always on). Still, if he takes out a few opposition players, instead of ours, he'll keep his spot.
Cincotta showed another side to his game in the VFL: he played as a mid and did a good job. So Boyd has to keep playing well.
Billy Wilson could eventually replace Boyd, as he has real run and dash. But he isn't great in the air (or wasn't yesterday).

Vossy was excellent with young Ollie in the post match presser.  He really is a natural communicator and doesn't try too hard.

I didn't see it.

A good win but none of the teams we've beaten have won a game yet.  Next week will be more of a challenge.

We have yet to win on the Adelaide Oval.

[Blue Moon]

McKay was very strong, Charlie was a threat, E.Hollands looks a player and Weitering was excellent as always. Our midfield is so dangerous out of the middle.  TDK is getting very consistent in the ruck. Our disposal and decision making is still a problem at time but they appear to have faith in the system they are playing so mistakes will happen when you are backing yourself in. Defence is solid and the forward are starting to get some continuity. We have four or five out injured and four or five who could probably hold their spot in the side so our depth is looking good. Still not playing our best at the moment but we are playing better than what we were doing this time last year. We want to be playing our best at the end of the season.

[Gointocarlton]

Not doing enough for mine - give Binns a go

Binns has the body of a 13 year old, he will get smashed to pieces at AFL senior level, that's why he hasn't got a game yet IMO. Not a hope in hell he gets a game ahead of Cotts.

[DJC]

He gave away a goal with a poor pass, but he did get involved. He seems to lost a year or two since his 'heyday'. To be honest, I'm glad he kicked his 1st goal for us. It was the sort of shot he used to make. But I think he's bound for the VFL when Motlop is back and firing. I was expecting Motlop to play, to be honest. Martin also has Fantasia well covered.
Corey's 2 goals were nice, but he really didn't have a lot of influence. 4 possessions in 3 quarters isn't a huge reward.
Fantasia had 7 possessions in the last quarter.

Fantasia’s poor pass was fairly typical of a bloke not quite up to the pace and pressure of the game, but I think he’ll get better.  Slotting that goal, which was his bread and butter, should help his confidence.

His pass to Owies, when he was well within range, was an important team first moment.

Owies and Durdin certainly made the most of their opportunities, and that’s all you can ask for from your small forwards (defensive work inside the forward 50 being a given).

I think our first choice medium/small forwards will be Martin, Motlop and Owies.  Fantasia and Durdin will be depth players and subs.  Ten games each out of Fantasia and Durdin will be a reasonable outcome.  Of course, Fantasia, at this stage, is a short term option and Durdin should be given a season or two to develop his craft.  Fantasia’s footy smarts and leadership are also considerations.

As bad as Fantasia’s goal-yielding pass was, McGovern’s was significantly worse.

[DJC]

Binns has the body of a 13 year old, he will get smashed to pieces at AFL senior level, that's why he hasn't got a game yet IMO. Not a hope in hell he gets a game ahead of Cotts.

I’m not sure that VFL is much softer than AFL and I think that Binnsy would be fine if he got a game.  The thing is that he’s not competing with Cotters for a spot in the team.  He’s got to displace one of the Hollands brothers or Fogarty.

[LordLucifer]

Had to work Friday & Saturday so wasn't home at all, had to get a room on the road for the night.

Watched the second half of the match drinking a schooner of Tooheys Old & scoffing a chicken parmy at the Argyle Hotel in Moss Vale (southern highlands).

There was a fair bit to like about this game but felt we should have won by a lot more, North are rubbish. One of my close buddies from school is a died in the wool Kangas fan and all he could sook up about was how they got reamed by the umpires. Was he watching the same game as me ??

Elijah Hollands showed some glimpses of what he has to offer, hope he keeps going with it.

Cerra looks at odds to me, uncharacteristically poor.

Curnow plays in bursts, it would be interesting to see what he could do if he went like that for a whole game, he'd probably kick 15-20.

Did TDK really lower his colours to that blonk Xerri ??

I have serious concerns about Fantasia's longterm viabilty, whilst others seem to like what he does, I'm not impressed at all. I'm also not enjoying Kennedy's output at present either, seems to making some poor decisions at crucial times, he's better than that.   

Thought Weitering showed great leadership when he went in & grabbed Larkey and yanked him off the wrestling maul on the ground and then as they were all breaking up, he pointed the finger at Larkey with an angry face and said something obviously along the lines of "pull your screwing head in mate".

We still need a few more players with some aggro, we are getting rid of the Von Trapps's but not quick enough IMO. 



   

[crashlander]

There was a fair bit to like about this game but felt we should have won by a lot more, North are rubbish. One of my close buddies from school is a died in the wool Kangas fan and all he could sook up about was how they got reamed by the umpires. Was he watching the same game as me ??

We had a lot more frees than North did, even if North's first 3 goals came due to frees. They were very undisciplined: they were trying to play like Clarkson and don't know how to do it yet, so there were 50 metre penalties and turnover frees a plenty. 34 frees to 21, and some of theirs were pretty lucky.

Curnow plays in bursts, it would be interesting to see what he could do if he went like that for a whole game, he'd probably kick 15-20.

Did TDK really lower his colours to that blonk Xerri ??

Xerri did a very good job against a guy who has been in career best form. Tom was a better alround player, getting kicks and marks around the ground, but Xerri was the reason they had so many clearances. I reckon Tom won on points, or I wouldn't have given him votes, but Xerri impressed me. I don't think he is as good as Goldstein, so trading Goldstein to the Drug Cheats strikes me as stupid, but that is another tale.

Thought Weitering showed great leadership when he went in & grabbed Larkey and yanked him off the wrestling maul on the ground and then as they were all breaking up, he pointed the finger at Larkey with an angry face and said something obviously along the lines of "pull your screwing head in mate".

We still need a few more players with some aggro, we are getting rid of the Von Trapps's but not quick enough IMO.     

Fair enough. I was impressed by Weitering's cool head, to be honest. Larkey (and no small number of his team mates) had lost the plot and were close to getting reported, (I wonder whose influence that is?) but Weitering was strong and firm and intelligent.

[LordLucifer]

Fair enough. I was impressed by Weitering's cool head, to be honest. Larkey (and no small number of his team mates) had lost the plot and were close to getting reported, (I wonder whose influence that is?) but Weitering was strong and firm and intelligent.

My point exactly !!

We need more players like him.

[DJC]

Blake Acres did his best to rectify his lack of out of bounds on the full kicks this season but just couldn't pull it off 

I didn't have him in my best players but he still made a valuable contribution.

[madbluboy]

Blake Acres did his best to rectify his lack of out of bounds on the full kicks this season but just couldn't pull it off 

I didn't have him in my best players but he still made a valuable contribution.

Voss was tearing strips off him, the fact ACres was smiling seemed to infuriate him more.