Binmans PA

Carlton beat practically the same side by 5 points and despite only losing one game by less than a kick still have a worse percentage than us.

Almost like we're targeting the next two games and not tonight's game against a cellar dweller, injury depleted opponent. Thanks for that pick up. Completely agree too. Three of their five goals came from TMac turnovers from memory, but yeah, TMac isn't coming out of this team. I want to like this and laugh at it. Excellent prediction. What do you have for us next round? The AFL ap said Windsor was injured. Can anyone confirm this?

I'm not sure I agree with this mate, but why can we not continue with Howes, Woey, WIndsor and Laurie? I thought Woey struggled for most of the night and the jury is still out in general, but his intercept late in the game shows that he is slotting nicely into the back half and where he is supposed to be. High pressure early, he struggled, but let's give him some time. More VFL footy isn't going to improve that. He needs more AFL exposure and who would you play in place of Salem and Bowser? We need that extra small. For me it's Woey for now. As for Windsor and Howes, they've been brilliant this season and did their jobs tonight. Jury is out on Laurie too, but he was very handy when he came on. Is it a lack of experience thing you're worried about?

We did what we needed to and won by 7 goals. With Lever allowed to play on a small, he was hugely influential all match with 15 intercepts and 26 touches. Crazy stats. He was best afield for mine. Disco Turner was fantastic. Not only did he hit the scoreboard, but he presented really well. Kudos @binman. Pretty sure you called this. Anyway, I hope Disco gets real confidence out of that game and takes on the Geelong and Carlton defences now. You could see his first set shot was quite tentative, but once he got the gimme in the square to open his account, his looked confident in his other two set shots, which were really excellent kicks. Especially his second goal. Kozzy's front half pressure and unpredictability is so, so important. He's becoming a top 5 most important player for what he brings to our forward half, occasional midfield bursts and the way we want to set up on slingshot. I thought the trajectory of the game was interesting too. We conceded territory and had them kicking long into our crowded D50 for much of the first quarter and looked dangerous on the slingshot, which is exactly how we want to play this year. Concede territory if we can't get a clean, cutting centre clearance and play counter like Collingwood last year and Geelong for however many seasons. The problem with the first quarter is we fumbled and failed to switch the ball when we were often set up for the switch and had some potential scoring chains break down through taking the wrong options in tight and on those angled kicks. In the second quarter, we refused to switch the ball (I think our first switch for the game incredibly came in the last quarter) and tried to play fast and took the wrong options or failed to execute the right kicks or handballs. This fast play has McQualter's fingerprints all over it, although maybe it's Goody? Many have been crying out for more offence, well, this is how you get it, but you have to execute. And yes we do have the players to do it, because look at the second half. Our aim is to slingshot straight away with angled kicks or handball releases off half back, but as we all saw, we kept picking the wrong options. I think with time (hopefully at the back end of this season), we'll get this balance right and it will become more instinctive and if we do, look out. With the second half, we started hitting targets and stopped fumbling and our 'potential' scoring chains turned into scores. It can be a relatively simple game when you hit targets and play quickly. I do really think we need to utilise the switch way more than we do. An incisive switch opens up teams in the modern game. We didn't set up for it against Brisbane because we were knackered, but in this game we often set up for it, but didn't look to switch at all. If we're going to be a serious contender this year, we need to add this move to our arsenal. Anyway, all we needed to do tonight was win comfortably and despite the first half scoreline, we did. Huge fortnight coming up. If Geelong beat Carlton and we go 2 zip over the next 2, we'll be a game and percentage ahead of Carlton, who if you listened to the media or their supporters already have the flag in the bag. I suspect Geelong will account for them and Geelong may well be the bigger threat this year. One final point, whilst he struggled, the 1 centre ruck contest Petty attended was really fascinating. He halved the tap and then his follow up work at ground level was something I didn't think he had in him. Super nimble and explosive. He almost created a score out of it too. I hope we alternate Petty and JVR in the 2nd ruck position from now on, because it means JVR isn't as knackered when he's forward, and gives us a bit of unpredictability with three different rucks. Plus, it gets Petty into the game if he's having a quiet one. Same with JVR. Onwards, go redlegs.

Ridiculous call this early.

Doesn't really matter, we've got Casey facilities, so having a base that is in or near the heartland is symbolic more than anything.

You are the most bizarre poster, PF.

Petty's that good he gets two guernseys. Pretty good. I guess that means he's staying. :P

Handy with Geelong and Carlton coming up that McAdam looks likely to play in those fixtures. I'd say that's what they targeted for his return from a ways out. I think with him fit, he's going to add a real potency to our forward half and push real pressure for spots.

I disagree. If Kozzy plays, his pace makes our front half a completely different proposition.

When was she employed? Because it's clear they started filming it last year.

It's a very impressive feature from the club. That's the sort of content many of us have been crying out for. Great access, really good coverage from a filmmaking perspective. Be great to get these sort of features regularly. Not once a season type thing.

How do you know this?

Petty will come good if he gets some continuity at senior level this year. Simple as that.

Lack of height? He's 194cm, the same height as Charlie Curnow and Taylor Walker...

Like my boy in 2021. Just have to get him to stop singing that bloody Blues theme song and his latest trick, shouting "go Blues" out the window... 🤦 Congrats mate.

Now for Petty...

Or just sell him on a defensive position within our system.

Nah, what's he saying? How dare he proffer that fitness has anything to do with the result. Why doesn't he just come out and say we're loading?! Bloody excuse maker.

And fitness/conditioning.

Petty is clearly trying to make up for an interrupted pre season, which isn't helping his form. As he gets more match fitness across the year, providing he doesn't get injured again, I expect him to start owning the forward 50.

I hate it. But the Blues song does sound like a very, very dull children's song.

I'd be very surprised if Viney, Oliver and Petracca have an equally worse game together ever again. And that's where it was lost last night. In the midfield.

It has to be an anomaly given it literally hasn't happened since 2020.

I'm not sure I've seen it mentioned in this thread yet, but not having Kozzy for the way we defend and try to turn the ball over or maintain territory, cannot be overstated enough. Our forward system relies on his explosive pace.