DeeSpencer

He came in unfit. Was played every game from round 1 to over mid year. Was bought back in and did nothing. Showed absolutely no aptitude to get to the right spots when in the ruck, just ran his own race in there. And made no progress as a forward when all he needed to do to keep his spot was provide the occasional contest in the right areas. Gawn had a stinker last night for sure. And Grundy is looking fitter thanks to a year in the MFC program and us looking after his fitness. It was the perfect conditions for a ruck who's great strength is ground ball follow ups. The ball was on the deck most of the night. Good for him. Moving Grundy on rather than throwing him back in to the team cold in to a final and then persisting with a bad combination was the right thing to do and reflects well on us.

Wrong conditions for the new game plan. But the devastating thing is Bowey goes down and we lose our best kicker. Salem has to fold back so we lose our best midfield kick. There goes the new game plan. We seem so light on for the required athletes up forward both tall and small. You got to have guys who if they are tall they compete as talls. If they are small they have speed. ANB and Sparrow at least bring the size, speed and endurance to compete across half forward. Not all is lost. We were great for 3/4s defensively and the awful conditions cost us so many potential scores. But the bad habits with guys trying to do too much is just a killer. Handball, handball, baulk if you can, get a free runner and kick. Simple link play. Not desperation kicks off one step or trying to take on 7 tacklers And where is the footy smarts for blocking, being spot on with our standing the mark all those little things that don’t show up on stats sheets?

Moving Salem was vital, for both Salo and the midfield balance, after which if not Howes there really isn’t anyone else right now. I’m not sure Howes is ready to be a permanent fixture, iffy at the contest and doesn’t get enough of it. But he has huge upside so I can see why they want to get games in to him. Unless we go slower with Hore I don’t know what our next best option is for half back. Woey, Tholstrup, Billings, Hunter?

So Clarry comes in for Pickett and no doubt pushes Tracc and Sparrow forward more. Nice little 5 man rotation with Salem and Viney. I still think Woey’s versatility makes him the right choice for sub. Only selection decisions left might be what to do with the struggling talls at each end but I’m guessing status quo unless Fullarton or T Mc really look the goods at training and in the invisible vfl game last week.

Exactly. People have their head in the sand if they think everything is suddenly fixed. I have no interested in speculation even if we were allowed to on here, it’s not helpful. But go back and read comments and reporting from October until Feb and as you said it’s about more than footy. From purely a footy reason I’d love him playing but he’s also had very little training so will be rusty and inexperienced in the new game plan. Another week or two training or in the VFL might actually be good for him too from an injury prevention and game plan point of view.

He’s been playing fairly deep the last two weeks which has impacted his disposal totals, with Laurie, ANB and Billings in the side. Our best possible side probably has McAdam, Pickett and Kossie all moving deep which does put Chandler’s role in jeopardy, but also would allow him to move around.

Oliver is a statistically proven poor kick and he’s undoubtedly a ball hunting player more than a receiving. He does provide quality run and defensive effort, but he’s more of what we have. At his best he helps up play like 2021 finals, but what we need to adapt our game plan is Salem. Salem skirts the pack, sees angles, uses the ball in a different way. That’s what our midfield needs. With or without Clarry.

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.