I'm really concerned about Windsor, he's gone from being in the starting 18 to barely getting a touch at Casey. He had 1 touch yesterday. That's like me at high school. Really not a fun place to be. I hope he gets his form back soon.

For this week, I'd give TMac, May or Petty the job on Curnow. I'd be dropping Lever for Petty if he's fit. One of them is the future of the backline and I dont think its Rick.

Carlton share our issue with kicking for goal and have some good small forwards, so I'd definitely be bringing Howes back in too.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but I can't see Fritta having 2 vote getting games in a row so bringing in a Sharp as a bit of a burst player might be useful in the arsenal as sub. I wouldn't mind Culley getting a go for Sparrow. I also liked the idea of Rivers playing that role (can take a mark and kick long), so maybe Sestan into the backline if fit.

20 hours ago, Dee-tonator said:

Even Goodwin must surely see that TMac is currently an asset and Lever a liability.

Love is blind

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

IN: May, Howes

OUT: Sparrow, Windsor

Tholstrup the sub. Petty will probably need another week.

Like your ins Werridee however I would keep Windsor and give Lever a rest. He seems to me to be playing sore and can't move so he has a good rest with no game at Casey also. May for Lever with Rivers taking Sparrow's role (mid/fwd) and Howes taking Rivers role down back. Reckon we keep the kids playing until they are to sore to get up and also give Petty an extra week to get fully fit and healthy

Like I others I fully expect Spargo to get Sparrow’s spot. But I don’t want it to happen.

I’d prefer Laurie, Culley or even Billings gets a turn, or even Howes in and Rivers up the field more. I just don’t see a world where Spargo meaningfully contributes to any successful 2026 season we have.

20 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

OUT: Tholstrup, plugger Mac, Sparrow

IN: May, Petty, Mentha

boo boo boo

Saturday Night Blockbuster. Winner can either stay in 12th position or soar to 12th position.

Now that we're officially in a rebuild according to Goody I reckon we'll start to see some youngsters who've been in good form in VFL like Verrall and Mentha get a taste of senior footy.

Try the steak!

Is it worth paying the $27 admission to go to this game?

50 minutes ago, D Rev said:

I'm really concerned about Windsor, he's gone from being in the starting 18 to barely getting a touch at Casey. He had 1 touch yesterday. That's like me at high school. Really not a fun place to be. I hope he gets his form back soon.

I am not worried, and you shouldn't be either.

He's had a lot of ongoing issues with the foot infection, and he's struggled playing half back.

His spoil in the goal square yesterday showed his elite speed, and in time he will slot back onto his rightful position as a mid, and dominate. His first season was not a fluke, it was a consistently excellent showing from a very talented kid.

He needs a good pre-season. Interrupted pre-seasons when you are in years 1-5 of your career are incredibly difficult to overcome.

Lindsay started so well, and we can see he's struggling now, having missed half the pre-season. It's a credit to himself that he's done so well off such an interrupted campaign. In contrast, Langford who completed a full pre-season is hitting better and better form.

Judd and Kolt are in a similar boat with missed pre-seasons, and Kentfield would have probably played senior footy by now if he didn't spend most of pre-season in hospital.

Lots of us were worried about Bowey last year, who was never the same after that nasty shoulder injury in round 0. Look at him now!

Windsor needs to spend the upcoming pre-season working with the mids, both inside and outside. I would like to see him, Langford and Lindsay given more midfield minutes for the remainder of the year, just as we did with Kosi last year. Kosi is now an elite midfielder, having spent a full summer working on that role... and yes I recognise what a freakish talent Kosi is and I am not suggesting Windsor will be that, but he'll be a good player.

I found it interesting we were favs to beat Blues at 1.65 prior to playing North. Now 1.56

4 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

I found it interesting we were favs to beat Blues at 1.65 prior to playing North. Now 1.56

They probably found out that we're loading

Judging from the comments there are going to be a lot of people losing their [censored] when the teams come out on thursday night

Petty has always been picked when available and he will 100% come in

9 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Judging from the comments there are going to be a lot of people losing their [censored] when the teams come out on thursday night

Petty has always been picked when available and he will 100% come in

shouldn't be playing for the rest of the year, second one this year of a few in his career so far he can just play a half at casey every week no need to risk him he will be important next year down back

3 hours ago, D Rev said:

Carlton share our issue with kicking for goal and have some good small forwards, so I'd definitely be bringing Howes back in too.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but I can't see Fritta having 2 vote getting games in a row so bringing in a Sharp as a bit of a burst player might be useful in the arsenal as sub. I wouldn't mind Culley getting a go for Sparrow. I also liked the idea of Rivers playing that role (can take a mark and kick long), so maybe Sestan into the backline if fit.

I thought the consensus in the footy media was the opposite to this.

46 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Judging from the comments there are going to be a lot of people losing their [censored] when the teams come out on thursday night

Petty has always been picked when available and he will 100% come in

I tend to agree, but it's hard to see who comes out, especially as May will most definitely come back into the side.

Fritta had a good game, which makes it even harder to find him a spot up forward, Tmac had a good game down back, and it will be a crying shame to drop Turner/Jeffo/JVR who are all growing in confidence and need the exposure.

Then you also have Howes who played exceptionally well at Casey, and showed good form prior to his concussion.

My gut says Tmac will go out for May (unjustified by any measure, because Tmac was excellent), and Petty will either get an extra week off to recover, or he will replace one of JVR/Jeffo, which would be a mistake IMO.

The other option is to play a very tall forward mix with all 3 of JVR, Petty and Jeffo, but with rain predicted, that seem silly. Also makes us too easy to rebound against. This mix only work if one of Fritta or Melksham don't play, and clearly that's not happening unless they are injured.

IMHO Lever is the one who is in pretty average form, and deserves to be dropped. Disco can play his intercept role, and May and Petty can play the lockdown roles. Can't see that happening tho.

Tmac should not be dropped again, he's great, one of our best back there easily I'd feel much better knowing he and Disco were back there together on a regular basis...much more consistent and reliable than our other two rock star defenders...not knocking them, but surely this is how others see it too.

This never gets old

Gee I hope it's not that exciting and close. Not sure my old heart will take it.

One way or another Selection will be informative.

23 hours ago, dees189227 said:

First time we may go in as favourites

We were favourites against Norf.

1 hour ago, Clintosaurus said:

This never gets old

Hunt and Gus 😭

Personally, Id take Macca in the team over May. IMO Macca has preformed better this year and deserves the spot. Surprisingly he is actually younger than May!

Don't get me wrong, I want both in the team this week, I am just surprised how many on here have Macca as one of there chosen outs.

Petty should be playing down back too IMO, so its very tight down back for talls.

Lever looks banged up bigtime and neither Jake or the team are achieving anything by us playing him at the moment, I'd give him a decent break from all levels of footy.

May to FF something I wouldn't mind us experimenting with. He's a great mark, aggressive and elite kick for a bigman. It could fail spectacularly but I for one would love to see some drastic experimentation in the finals 6 weeks. This season is dead after all.

Something Like this:

FB. Howes Petty Disco

HB. Bowey Macca Mcvee

In May, Howes, Laurie

Out Lever, Sparrow, Tholstrup

1 hour ago, Clintosaurus said:

This never gets old

The ROAR was fantastic... would have lifted the roof had there been one 😀

2 hours ago, Young Angus said:

Tmac should not be dropped again, he's great, one of our best back there easily I'd feel much better knowing he and Disco were back there together on a regular basis...much more consistent and reliable than our other two rock star defenders...not knocking them, but surely this is how others see it too.

Lever for all his Bluff and Bluster SHOULD be dropped, lacking mobility and a tad slow he should be rested or dropped ( I dont give a fat rats clacker) but he is the obvious one. Tholstrup is another Bluff and Bluster player and apart from a "Fluke" goal did little else. Lindsay is looking tired, Windsor did nothing so I reckon there it is!

Like any trauma, nothing will ever heal what happened in the 2023 semi final. But a win next weekend, kicking Carlton while they're down, would certainly help put a smile on my face.