titan_uranus

Pretty sure there won't be any more Thursday night matches in the remainder of the fixture (which I think is due to be released this week or next?). (Edit: plus we've already had two 5-day breaks which I believe is the maximum allowed for a side under the current CBA) But we do have the following options for prime time: Round 16 away vs Brisbane (we're on the Saturday night at home to North the week prior) Round 18 home vs Essendon Round 19 away vs Fremantle Round 20 home vs GWS Round 22 home vs Port Round 24 home vs Collingwood We've had four Thursday nights, ANZAC Eve and King's Birthday to Round 15, but no Friday nights, so I'd like to think that, given we'll be doing OK at the time they release the remaining fixture, we might be in line for a few more prime time matches from that slate. Agree otherwise though that whilst the 5-day break this week is difficult, it hopefully won't hit as hard as the one leading into the Brisbane game did given the previous weeks.

Agree re Freo. They are dangerous and have played very well against us over the last few years. Not ideal to have them twice this year but such is the way the fixture works. It also doesn’t take into account fixturing - particularly in assessing it at Round 8. So whilst Sydney and Geelong are top 6, Sydney has played 5 of the top 10 but Geelong has only played 2. It also of course doesn’t take into account injuries. I continue to believe Carlton’s defensive profile is impacted by the absences of Saad and McGovern, not sure they account for them being bottom 5 defensively but they would be better with the injured players back.

Sorry, so you did. I think they said last night that the last three premiers were in the “window” at Round 8. I’d imagine that this years grand finalists will be at least top 6 in both, and likely higher in defence. I’d be hesitant to say top 3-4 though as I can see a world where we hover at the 4-6 mark for points for, which would suit us pretty well if we keep doing what we’re doing on defence.

It’s even more basic than this. It’s just plotting points for (the horizontal axis) and points against (the vertical axis). That’s all. All they are saying is that premiers tend to be in the top 6 for both stats. Which, as you say, is hardly surprising!

True, but they have far and away the best record against the rest of the finals contenders so that has to stand them in good stead.

Probably time to acknowledge Sydney in the top tier. 7-1 and 147%, have beaten the sides sitting 3rd, 4th and 5th, plus 9th and 10th.

Z Guthrie good but Holmes their best by far.

Isn’t this the point? This list should be doing better than it is. Hence why Beveridge is under pressure?

Bevo has to be in trouble. Their list cannot be producing as poor football as they’re producing. Confusing selection, confusing messaging, it’s all a bit of a shambles. Meanwhile the 8 might almost be set? Collingwood in for Essendon might be the only change. GC, Dogs and St Kilda don’t look good enough, whilst I’m not sure Adelaide or Brisbane will win enough to claw their way past a side other than Essendon (Port? Freo?).

Unreasonably negative. Lever’s form isn’t just down to how much opponents respect him. You’re giving him next to no credit for his positioning, zoning, reading of the play, his strength in marking contests, even his willingness to be involved in offence. His form is largely his to own.

Looking forward to @WheeloRatings’s stats update but some I’ve noticed: 1. We had 7 of the top 9 pressure act players, with Clarry leading the way. 2. It’s either an ongoing tactic or injuries but we’re resting our mids in-game a lot more this year. Gawn 83% TOG, Trac 79%, Oliver and Viney 77%. All feel lower to me compared to previous years. 3. Doesn’t matter how quiet you keep Trac, he makes things happen - yet again, game high score involvements with 9.

It certainly sounded like a loud and very pro-Melbourne crowd. 51,795 puts it as our 5th biggest H&A crowd against them. The top 4 were all day games - I suspect we lost a few Geelong supporters to the night time slot.

It’s been sustainable for 3 years. But whilst I agree with you that we need to ensure we can score, last night wasn’t really a reflection of a game plan which can’t score. We had easy shot on goal after easy shot on goal and fluffed them. It’s not a situation of what we saw at our worst in 2022-23 when we were either not generating shots or only generating dirty or low percentage shots.

If anyone’s in contention surely they get pulled at 3QT. But seriously, is this not something the AFL and VFL can work on? Is it unavoidable to have Casey play on a Sunday when Melbourne plays the following Thursday?

Sure. Presumably so did our 3 extra days rest. Maybe Bowey, Salem or Melksham would have too?

If you set 2021 as the standard you will be disappointed. That season was elite. Do you think we are a contender in 2023 or not?

Fake side. They will get found out soon enough.

Not back from where? And what more do you think we need to do to get “there”? You don’t think we’re a contender?

We’ll have a plan fitness-wise, given the 5-day break. Billings and Laurie the two spots that don’t appear solid right now. Chandler deserves to stay on previous weeks.

6 - Lever 5 - Gawn 4 - May 3 - Petty 2 - Langdon 1 - Oliver

Mids were beaten? We won CPs by 3 and clearances by 1. Their major ball winners were half backs (Holmes and Z Guthrie).

Unbelievable win. Devastated I couldn’t be there. It’s been noted but Goodwin got it spot on tonight. The control of the ball and the defence of the corridor threw their ball movement right off. When we bring that level of pressure (13 tackles inside 50 to 2), and set up that well defensively, even the best sides struggle to score against us. And xScore shows that our misses were far more diabolical than theirs, so we should have been further in front for most of the game. Petty reminded us why he’s so talented. That sort of marking changes us. Thought Sparrow played much better, as did Viney. And if Windsor isn’t AA this week, we should all riot. We’re going to be up against it next week on a 5 day break after that game but even if we’d lost, we are clearly in the flag race this year. Get around us, if you’re not already.

Jordon’s had 9 touches, Bedford 6.

A win gets us a game clear in the top 4, takes a big scalp, and hopefully gives us good confidence for next week and a tricky month ahead. A loss sees us slip behind the top sides, will have Demonland baying for blood, and will be extra frustrating given it’s Geelong.

Carlton have been really good at winning close ones recently but have lost three in a row. Walsh got left behind by Daicos. He’ll be filthy. Expect him to come out red hot next week.