FlashInThePan

Yeah, the votes really should be normalised for the number of games played but hey, it has always been done like this and Macrae was a really good player across the series. In the end we have the medals that count and Trac’s grand final as well as Max’s prelim will go down as 2 of the best anyone has played. I’ve gotta say, I’m feeling pretty happy about what the boys have achieved.

I’m just going to post he one message that sums it all up for me

OH MY GOD, WE ARE PLAYING A GRAND FINAL IN 2 DAYS!!!!!! Sorry, just had to get that off my chest…as you were

I have no idea what is on Cerra’s mind but I am happy to debate the quality Of the Carlton list. it seems to me they have spent a massive whack of their salary cap on running half backs. Possibly the easiest position to draft for and makes absolutely no sense. How do you fit in Saad, Williams, Docherty, Newman? Honestly, how do you recruit that many developed defenders and still not be able to defend?? Adding Jack Martin for big coin was another strange choice and their high draft picks besides Walsh are looking very questionable. Both Dow and Petrovski-seton seem to be a fail either in skill or development and it is hard to say what is going on with Cripps. I’m guessing he is carrying an injury and may get back to his old form but for what they must have given him to stay, he has better. There are pieces that look good, like Mackay, Walsh and Wietering, but otherwise the list looks like a dogs breakfast to me.

No need to develop you’re own Archie Smith type. He will be on the trade table this year since he can’t get a game with Brisbane 😉

Unfortunately, until this year, I think what they were saying was true. He was our very own Tom Mitchell. Racking up big numbers and doing some amazing things with his hands but really not damaging the opposition that much. It started really improving last year, when he began taking a few extra steps before disposing of it, an earlier poster mentioned the reported conversation with Burgo. This year he has taken it to a whole new level, his kicking has been a huge part of it but also the decisions he makes are just so much more team oriented. The midfield is so much more of a unit now than it was, they really seem to know where each other is going to be and they trust each other so much more. Clarry is an absolute star, and yes, he started from a high base but there has definitely been a slow burn culminating in what we are seeing this year.

I really need to ask the question. When was the last time Hannan played 2 good games in a row? I don’t think he even played 2 good quarters in a row when he played for us.

I think we are fine, our age profile is great across the board. Petty can absolutely be the next May in a couple of years and Lever is only around 25. I’m wrapped about this, TMac is a key pillar in our forward line and, as a few have said, this is almost certainly a win/win giving him some certainty and us some salary cap smoothing.

Yeah, I couldn’t resist making the point but the original poster is quite right, at least in principal, the deal virtually always gets done

Josh Dunkley?

Also, if he is looking for $700k then perhaps Carlton is the only team dysfunctional enough to pay it. He is a talented kid but seriously? What is this, his 3rd or 4th year? He is hardly the kind of elite game changer you’d give that kind of coin to. Maybe in a couple of years, but not at this point.

How could Cerra seriously be looking at a without a coach or a CEO, or a football program for that matter? They can’t even have that much room in their cap given what they are reportedly giving mid range players like Martin and Williams. Not to mention Mackay and Cripps.

I can’t agree with this. At least half the time Beveridge out coaches himself. His strange insistence on flexibility and playing people out of position has put a random element into many games, often to the bulldogs detriment. Grand finals are usually pretty simple affairs, won and lost in the ability to dish out and handle pressure. Their midfield is all we need to worry about, not their coaching. They bat deep and they can definitely bring the heat. I’m backing us to soak it up and return it with interest. We already have the blueprint for how to stop their run and gun game. We lost round 19 in forward half stoppages (their forward half). We leaked 7 goals that way. We have made mistakes this year, no doubt, I haven’t seen us make the same mistake twice though. This is going to be a high pressure game but it is unlikely that tactical coaching is going to have a big effect. Both us and the doggies showed our respective opponents what unrelenting pressure looks like this week. In 2 weeks it will be an arm wrestle to see who cracks first. I’m shaking off the old MFCSS, I believe in this group, I know what they will bring. The question mark is on whether the doggies can match us. Good luck with that doggies

It’s only reasonable that she move out for a couple of weeks

I think your point was addressed in the original post. There is home ground and then there is Kardinia park. It’s shape and weather make it a very difficult place for visiting teams. Add to that the normal HG advantage that it is virtually impossible for visiting fans to get tickets and you have a crowd factor very like Adelaide and Optus. The post you are responding to was spot on. That advantage seems to contribute heavily to their home and away result. You can tell because their finals record tells a very different story. Either the home ground is a big factor or the game style doesn’t stack up under pressure. Nothing else explains the discrepancy. Regardless, we are going to tear this crew a new one.

He barely needs to duck, he's only about 5 foot tall. Other players are encouraged to use their natural traits to win, why can't little guys do the same?

i have a horrible feeling this thread is going to coax Dr D out of the woodwork to produce yet another factual prediction of doom and gloom. I believe his last one, based on his ability to know more about football than any other numbskull on demonland, had us dropping from 1st to finish 5th and feeling grateful to be in the 8 at all. My skills as a budding Nostrodamus have Dr D predicting we exit the finals in straight sets 😜

No, no crowds

To me, this is an absolute dead rubber. We have the double chance regardless and we are going to be playing interstate regardless. We’ve proven we can beat anyone in the top eight, there is nothing more to prove, we’re ready. The only thing in front of us is confidence and form going into the finals. I think we’ll get it done and I think BB and TMac Will start to click. Come on Dees, let’s get this done and move on to the big stage.

I actually think Smith has real potential. He is not in contention for May's spot, he is competing for Hibbo's. I don't have a strong feeling either way but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he gets another shot at it this week. He has amazing closing speed, I saw a couple of incidents where he had given his player seemingly too much space but then closed it down and got the spoil. He needs more game time to work on his positioning and settle with the others. For me Sparrow for Viney is a no brainer. Sparrow looks lost out there, I suspect he will eventually pull it all together but there is no way we can take him into a final series. If TMac is back then it should be for Milkshake who really just picks and chooses when to go too often. My other question mark is around JJ at the moment. He just isn't playing with the same energy and flair that he was earlier in the season.

How good is it to be taken seriously by opposition supporters?! They are actually afraid of us. This is weird, I could get used to it though?

while I was browsing some stats from the game I came across Harrison Petty, how was this for defensive numbers?! 8 intercept marks 12 possessions 91% disposal efficiency 8 1%ers he is really starting to get the job done

You can use your phone or tablet and cast it to your tv using chromecast or apple tv

Fixed it for you ?

I'm a bit bored today so I will engage with this a little longer... You are attempting to present as fact, or self evident and obvious, a poorly formed opinion based on absolutely nothing except perhaps your own pessimism. I would characterise the responses you are seeing here as not so much people being defensive, as calling bull$#it on your statements. There is considerably more evidence to support us making the top 4 than there is that we will get knocked down to 5th. To support your negative statement you provide the startling piece of evidence that you typed your opinions into the ladder predictor and got back the expected answer. You then jump into those of us who disagree by accusing us of not being impartial. Pot, Kettle, Black...