DeeSpencer

Howes' height is irrelevant, he's a flanker, could be 180cm for all it matters. Salo absolutely should be full time (or close to it) mid. Can maybe take a half back rotation when they want to give Riv a go on ball or can do 10% forward alongside Sparrow and Tracc more forward when Clarry is back. We need skill and balance in the midfield. Oliver doesn't provide that. And Salo needs the challenge. He's lost a yard of pace and is better off in close to the contest and then playing a sweeper midfield role. Howes is a project that may ultimately not be ready this year. He's still so skinny and iffy at the contest. But it's his speed, endurance and skills that we need to invest in at half back or cover with someone else with fresh legs.

Perhaps my favourite little thing; Gawn rediscovering how to handball! After bashing everything on the boot for 2 years he was dishing clever handballs to runners which is far more useful. He moved really well

FB: McVee May Tomlinson HB: Rivers Lever Bowey C; Windsor Salem Langdon HF: Billings JVR ANB FF: Chandler Fritsch Laurie Foll: Gawn Petracca Viney Int: Howes Sparrow ???? ???? S:???? Oliver: not yet for me Key forward: Schache, Fulllarton or none? Small forward: K Brown, Woey, Tholstrup, AMW? My guess is Woey as sub because we are yet to debut someone as sub under Goody if I recall correctly. Woey can also play wing, on ball, forward so we have versatility. Sydney are too good a structural side to not play one of the talls although they probably get an early night if they don’t deliver. No idea if Fullarton did enough today. Small forward (if Clarry isn’t picked in the midfield), Kynan Brown? Tholstrup? Or is it AMW time?

Hard to know how much was Carlton being woeful. And how much was quality ball movement and excellent defensive intent. Gawn, Viney, Tracc dominated the first half. Salo was exactly what our midfield needed. Windsor’s goals were excellent he just needs to take safer options in general play, doesn’t have to lace it every kick. Rivers was very much back on and alongside Bowey and Lever were excellent across half back. Tomlinson and Howes improved and did enough to book their places for round O at least. Forward pressure and zone was excellent, we’ll miss Kossie so much tho. Did Schache do enough? Certainly not as a key forward

Not sure we’ll get more answers but aside from injuries and best players I would love to know: - How much did T Mc, Jeffo and Kolt play, surely at least one of them is on the extended bench tonight for late cover - Fullarton? Minutes and form? Anyway, seems a strong hit out by Casey given they weren’t loaded with senior talent. No doubt Clarry helped!

No announcement, but a report during last nights game suggested the long term view is still the main priority. Everything from the club has suggested a slow approach

McAdam is no chance given he’s still doing laps at training. Similarly Spargo seems ruled out If Oliver is ineligible as it seems he will be then Kynan Brown has to be the favourite to start given he’s in the 23, but after that AMW is in with a chance if he’s fit and healthy.

Tholstrup, Jefferson, McDonald weren’t part of the main group of the captains run so clearly the emergencies for tonight, they might pull them out early to cover.

Scorps for the flag!

Not sure if we’re better off with little to no social coverage or the embarrassing nicknames and fanboying of Carlton Reserves

Did his hammy on the 26th so it’s nearly 5 weeks, will be just about 6 weeks by round 0. Maybe it was a 6 week hammy not an 8 week hammy? If he plays 3/4’s or so tomorrow that’s probably enough to declare him match fit.

Preseason results are unpredictable, gamble responsibly etc etc but Carlton $1.80 is tremendous value

Come back tomorrow

Total fire ban and predictions from authorities that it’s one of the biggest fire risk days in years

A 6:40pm start is crazy, will still be mid 30’s and possibly smoke haze, play the main game at 9:30am, play the vfl in the evening

If he makes it through a half or so tomorrow and looks even remotely fit and capable I’d expect Fullarton to be given the chance for round 0 or at least round 1. He’s not much different to Schache but at least has a bit of mobility on the ground and seemingly more confidence

The quality of cheap depth key forwards across the league is terrible. The Hawks backed the truck up for Mabior Chol for instance. That said, we didn’t even trial anyone over summer looking for an Anthony Caminiti type. Brisbane pounced in the Gunston deal on Brandon Ryan who I like. Clubs do find gems at times. Heck I’d probably rather have Mykelti Lefau! Our list management philosophy for the 3rd ruck/5th key forward in recent years has seemingly been ‘meh, whatever just get whoever you can’. Schache’s time now to prove that he’s at least worth a go.

FB: McVee May Tomlinson HB: Rivers Lever Bowey C; Langdon Salem Windsor HF: Billings JVR Pickett FF: Chandler Schache Fritsch Foll: Gawn Petracca Viney Int: Howes Sparrow ANB Laurie S: K Brown FB: Hore T Mc HB: Adams C: Woey HF: AMW Fullarton Tholstrup FF: Sestan Jefferson Foll: Verrall Oliver Int: KFW Big opportunities for Howes and Laurie to nail their spots. T Mc, Fullarton, Woey all chances to push their case returning from injuries in the VFL game as well as Clarry obviously.

FB: McVee May ???? HB: Rivers Lever Bowey C; Langdon Salem Windsor HF: Billings Petracca Spargo FF: Fritsch JVR Chandler Foll: Gawn Viney Sparrow Int: ANB, Woey (half back), Oliver/Laurie?, ???? S: ???? Plenty of question marks. Didn't like the look of Tomlinson or Howes down back, would see if a tall puts their name up and try Woey on a back flank. Midfield it's a matter if Clarry gets the approval or is made to wait. 2nd ruck/key forward is a big problem.

Gavrilo Princip vs Brayden Maynard. Similarities?

Are we sure Fullarton is still out until April? He seems to be advancing fairly quickly with talk he’d play some minutes on Wednesday? He could be a chance for round 1 or 2 (17 or 23 March). The other question is are we sure Verrall can’t play round 0? No expectations he’d play more than about 50% game time (30% ruck, 20% forward) but is he an option?

Apparently played well in todays scratch match. Could well be this years Bedford. Goody and co just haven’t been able to convince young fringe players to stay. They’ve been given contracts, opportunity and the chance to go to good clubs in a great city, but it’s disappointing. I don’t have any issues with the way guys weren’t picked for certain games. You can’t do selection via hindsight. JJ got a good run in 2022 and didn’t really do anything to suggest he had to stick in the side permanently last year. I have some issue that players weren’t convinced to stay with others moved out to accomodate them. And I guess in JJ’s case I’m not over the moon about Hunter taking his spot and being no better.

Harmes was done at Melb. Dunstan done in the afl before he even came to us. It would’ve been nice to keep JJ because he’s still a young improving player but would you really be feeling great about our midfield depth if JJ was still on the list? Loading up on small/medium forwards in which way? Laurie was pre the flag and I suspect bought in because Spargo and ANB were struggling in 19/20. I wouldn’t give up on Bill as a midfielder just yet Howes was picked as a versatile wing/flanker which is still a need. AMW is cat B so doesn’t count. Sestan was a late gamble. Tholstrup spent plenty of time on ball in the under 18 carnival. He’s about as close to a midfielder as you can get without being a midfielder just yet. But if the available mids are one paced, small or unskilled would you prefer them to a mid/forward who’s going to start forward? Im not thrilled by the lack of turnover of list spots. And it’s crazy that Gus retires the day or so after the SSP deadline. Whilst it’s not optimal from a depth perspective I’m actually excited that Salem, Billings, Laurie, Pickett, Rivers etc will get midfield opportunities.

Phil Davis also thought he was fit to play in the 2019 grand final! The Giants are actually a great example of a super team that won nothing and have now retooled with arguably less overall talent but a team that’s in a great position to challenge again in the next few years.

Nothing, we were the ones that signed him on a long term deal knowing he could be done at any moment. Medical retirement should mean Gus is taken care of by the league and not salary cap. The only other thing we should’ve got / should get is access to a replacement player by the SSP. It’s crazy to have the deadline last week and Gus announced now. Provision should be made for medical retirements before the first bounce of the season proper.