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PREGAME: Rd 02 vs North Melbourne

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  On 16/03/2025 at 20:50, titan_uranus said:

To my eye Greene didn’t go ballistic because Howes went off, he went ballistic because they moved him more into the midfield.

At any rate he killed Howes all day in the forward line.

I don’t think 12 disposals and two goals against Howes is killing him, Green is a fantastic player and Howes is still learning. IMO he’s becoming the new whipping boy much as AJ is becoming a fan favourite. It will be interesting to see how the FD react. Only forced changes this week I’d suggest unless someone really played well for Casey. May and Turner come in if fit. 
 

    • Like 1
     

    Yeah I can see Spargo coming back into the side once he dominates a VFL game.

    As for Fritsch, the guy’s clearly in career worst form. He’s managed just 2 goals in his last 4 games with back to back goals-less games. Why are we using a 50-60 goal a year player as either a high half forward or a defensive forward (not sure what role exactly)? He desperately needs a 3 or 4 goal game for his confidence.

    Edited by Bring-Back-Powell

    • Like 7
      On 16/03/2025 at 20:50, titan_uranus said:

    To my eye Greene didn’t go ballistic because Howes went off, he went ballistic because they moved him more into the midfield.

    At any rate he killed Howes all day in the forward line.

    He still spent 63% time in forward half. I'm not suggesting Howes had a good game, but Steven May out meant we only had Howes as the only ideal match up due to his speed and height.

    Rivers was on him down back in the last and still gave him way too much leg rope for my liking for such an experienced player.

     
      On 16/03/2025 at 10:57, Slartibartfast said:

    I know this will be howled down but TMac is too good to not have in the 22. If May comes back I’d be moving Petty forward. AJ was poor in the ruck against Brown and JvR is much better. Jeffo has no intensity and I’d prefer Turner and Petty to AJ and Jeffo. 
    If Spargs is ready he’s a class above Hendo. 
    Wont happen, but that’s my take. 

    Tmac was brilliant, agreed. 

    • Like 4

    Upon further reflection

    IN: Langford (full game), Turner

    OUT: Howes, Johnson (susp)

    Rivers to defence until McVee returns

    SUB: Spargo

    Edited by adonski

    • Like 2

      On 16/03/2025 at 18:30, dazzledavey36 said:

    Not really.

    Howes had the job on Toby Greene and soon as he got subbed out Greene went ballistic in the last quarter having 11 disposals and kicked 1.1

    Speaks more volume on Rivers who was incredibly poor defensively on him in that last quarter then anything, especially to allow him to have that kind of impact the way that he did.

    Greene played midfield in the last quarter. Our mids failed to track him. Maybe Rivers missed a hand over, but the bigger problem with Riv is his kicking. The rest of our backs went at 100% or in the 80s. He went at 63%.

    I called it in the second or third quarter, Greene was going to be the difference because we didn't have a match up for him.

    • Like 2
    • Sad 1
      On 16/03/2025 at 12:09, deanox said:

    I know I'll get howled down but I'd play JVR as the forward/ruck if AJ is out. 

    Despite the risk of injury, getting in the ruck helps JVR get involved in the play, hands on the ball, in the contest. When he is struggling up forward I think a stint in the rucks helps him work into the game.

    It’s interesting that all summer we begged for JVR to play solely up forward with no back up ruck duties that would interfere. He’s them given that luxury and subsequently plays a very average game. 

    The counter argument is that he was on Sam Taylor who’s the number 1 key defender in the league.

    • Like 3
      On 16/03/2025 at 22:10, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    It’s interesting that all summer we begged for JVR to play solely up forward with no back up ruck duties that would interfere. He’s them given that luxury and subsequently plays a very average game. 

    The counter argument is that he was on Sam Taylor who’s the number 1 key defender in the league.

    Even if he didn’t have Sam Taylor as his opponent, we shouldn’t be drawing conclusions based on one game. If we want to see JVR play without rucking (I do), then we need to see it for 4+ weeks.

    • Like 10
     
      On 16/03/2025 at 22:10, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    It’s interesting that all summer we begged for JVR to play solely up forward with no back up ruck duties that would interfere. He’s them given that luxury and subsequently plays a very average game. 

    The counter argument is that he was on Sam Taylor who’s the number 1 key defender in the league.

    I don't think he was out there yesterday - May would've loved those conditions.

     

    • Like 1
    • Love 1

    If supporters think that the coaches are going to throw out everything they've trained for in pre-season after one game... rocks... head etc. Rivers will not meekly return to the backline. Petty will not be catapulted into a key forward position. Fritsch will not be playing out of the goal square. Jefferson will not be dropped!

    • Like 7
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      On 16/03/2025 at 10:57, Slartibartfast said:

    I know this will be howled down but TMac is too good to not have in the 22. If May comes back I’d be moving Petty forward. AJ was poor in the ruck against Brown and JvR is much better. Jeffo has no intensity and I’d prefer Turner and Petty to AJ and Jeffo. 
    If Spargs is ready he’s a class above Hendo. 
    Wont happen, but that’s my take. 

    Petty was awesome down back and should not be moved 

    • Like 8

    Need Spargo to come in for Chandler I reckon, Fritta also on thin ice even though I love the guy he hasn't been great.

    • Shocked 1
      On 16/03/2025 at 09:03, Maldonboy38 said:

    OUT: AJ suspended, Howes too many pressure errors

    IN: Turner, Langford.

    Henderson to sub

    Chandler holds his spot, goes to sub when Kozzie returns.

    I agree with this, and I really loved Henderson btw he was pretty exciting and rated him more than Chandler.  Would rather see Spargo and Kozzie in for both of them but Henderson was good I think he fits well in there.

    Would have preferred Turner kicking that late goal than AJ, but I do like AJ for ruck and the mongrel he brings he is decent.

    Both him and Max need to practice their kicking please.


      On 16/03/2025 at 08:37, mandeelorian said:

    I think the wind and the kickers are more to blame than JVR.

    They weren't ideal conditions for big guys, but I don't think the kicking was as bad as it's been.  Actually pretty good for us.  That set up for Jeffo's second was awesome.

    JVR did run under the ball a lot IMO, or maybe was out positioned.  He is still young but needs to improve on it to be the target we all dream of.

      On 16/03/2025 at 22:38, Demons11 said:

    Petty was awesome down back and should not be moved 

    Petty and TMac were both great, we're so lucky to have them. 

    • Like 11
    • Love 1
      On 16/03/2025 at 22:42, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    Think goody said may be back this week

    with this said May be back this week.

      On 16/03/2025 at 22:31, waynewussell said:

    If supporters think that the coaches are going to throw out everything they've trained for in pre-season after one game... rocks... head etc. Rivers will not meekly return to the backline. Petty will not be catapulted into a key forward position. Fritsch will not be playing out of the goal square. Jefferson will not be dropped!

    Turner should be available and Jefferson or Johnson would have to be dropped to get him in.

    Howes getting tactically subbed out shows how poorly the coaches felt of his game. We would have taken off a key forward had he been doing well, so I could easily see Rivers move back this week.

    And surely TMac proved he is in our best side. He was excellent yesterday.

    • Like 2
      On 16/03/2025 at 23:04, Fat Tony said:

    Howes getting tactically subbed out shows how poorly the coaches felt of his game. We would have taken off a key forward had he been doing well, so I could easily see Rivers move back this week.

    Howes getting subbed off was also part of the juggle required to introduce Langford to the midfield.

    • Like 1

      On 16/03/2025 at 23:22, waynewussell said:

    Howes getting subbed off was also part of the juggle required to introduce Langford to the midfield.

    I think he will get dropped this week.

    Tmac and Petty were so good in defence with Lever, we need May but damn they all played well, love having Tmac and Petty back there.

    • Like 13

    When we play at Docklands, we should play Fritsch or Petracca as our deepest forward. This means we should go with another runner.

    • Like 2
     
      On 16/03/2025 at 10:57, Slartibartfast said:

    I know this will be howled down but TMac is too good to not have in the 22. If May comes back I’d be moving Petty forward. AJ was poor in the ruck against Brown and JvR is much better. Jeffo has no intensity and I’d prefer Turner and Petty to AJ and Jeffo. 
    If Spargs is ready he’s a class above Hendo. 
    Wont happen, but that’s my take. 

    I'm on the Petty is a forward bandwagon with you and I'm staying there.  He is the best contested mark out of all the players we've tried up forward in the past few seasons, and that makes him a big point of difference.  TMac had a great season last year, and I think the backline of May, Lever and TMac should be continued this season.

    JVR, Petty and one of Jeffo or Turner, along with Fritsch (staying much closer to goal than he did yesterday) and the smalls rotating through is our best look I think.

    • Like 3

    Patrick Cripps is Carlton's best midfielder. Voss plays him as a back-up ruckman. The football world shakes its collective head.

    JvR is our best big forward. Goody has been forced to play him as back-up ruckman the past two years.

    We now have four players on our list (if you include Fullerton and Verrall) who can give Max a chop-out.

    DL'ers who name a team sans one of those four are asking Goodwin to 'do a Voss'.

    AJ stays in my team.

    • Like 2

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