Jaded No More

That’s the rules Learn and stop doing it. It’s obvious they’re hot so why keep talking? The issue is we are getting smashed in the middle.

Seriously the lack of discipline is very disappointing

He can play footy. I don’t need him to prove it in a meaningless game and get injured.

Hunt and Smith in the same backline is a no

Remember the last time we lost a pre season game? Spoiler alert: we won a flag

Backline is a hot mess. No surprise.

Carlton doing very well.

For such a good player Trac’s set shot goal kicking is atrocious

I love this. Found our name. What a beautiful initiative.

Nothing will test our 'whole team defence' system like having most of our starting defensive lineup out of the side. If we are as good as we think we are defensively, we should be able to cover injuries as the idea is that the system works no matter who is in the side. But of course we know that is not true, and you can't replace A grade players like May or Salem with kids or C grade players and expect the same outcome. Still against Carlton I expect our midfield to be too strong (they are missing Walsh after all) and our forwards to cause them a real headache. If we can dominate the middle the backline will have more time to set up and be less under pressure.

He's always had soft tissue injury concerns. I would guess that given he played with a 6cm hamstring tear in the GF, they are just being extra cautious. A hamstring strain would only require 2 weeks anyway and it'll be 3 weeks from last week's game to round 1. Can't see him missing. Both he and Hibbo are in old man territory now. I am personally much more concerned about Salem.

He's absolutely entitled not to share what he knows, but what is the point of playing devil's advocate and making negative claims against the club if you cannot back it up? On the surface we seem to be doing very well post flag. If someone has information to the contrary, either share it and raise concerns, or say nothing.

Pffft a minor issue!

So get his brother a job in Melbourne. Jacko can buy a house, they can live together. Unless his brother is in mining, it wouldn't be too hard to pull some strings and get him settled here.

It's so weird reading Carlton fans being delusional and optimistic. My best friend is a life long Carlton member. When I asked her if she's watching tonight, so said "what for" and sent me the below GIF to represent Carlton's decade long rebuild I am looking forward to the McDonald Cup tonight. Fascinating to see how team defence holds up when half the backline is missing.

Yep my hatred for that club is separate from my respect for individual players, and my empathy towards people struggling with mental health issues. He's also a super fun players to watch.

Our entire fitness strategy the last two years has been around resilience. Doing every session. Training through and playing through niggles. It worked last year and we aren’t changing course now. Nobody playing tomorrow is not 100% or they wouldn’t be playing (see May, Salem etc). But coming off the first shortened pre season all of these players have ever experienced, we need to gain touch and fitness. Footy is a risk. If anyone is hurt they’ll take them off immediately I’m sure. But we need to get some game form back and work out any kinks in the chain before the real deal starts. Most teams are playing best available this week for a reason. It’s the final dress rehearsal with the curtains go up on 2022.

Fritta and Viney not making your round 1 side? Harsh but fair. Fritta needed to kick 7 last game he played.

2 of them are injured. 3 are sore and would have played if this was a proper game. Of course injuries happen and he may get his chance. But it’s a long way down the back for him.

Good question. Interesting that he hasn’t played either practice game and no mention of any injury. Maybe the club wasn’t happy with his fitness base so they’re pushing him to complete a longer pre season? He did come from St Kilda and said our training standards were nothing he’s ever seen before.

I reckon if we play round 1 tomorrow he and May both play. But if he’s a bit sore why risk it right?

I reckon he came off with hammy tightness last week. Absolutely not worth the risk. Same with Salem who copped a knee knock. Besides they’re obviously experimenting with the backline as it’s going to be the hardest part of the field to pick this season given the large amount of players we have pushing for selection. It’s a practice game. I hope Trac and Oliver play a half and get put on ice along with Gawn. All three hold our back to back fate in their hands.

You can only fit 6 down back. May, Lever, Salem and one of Petty/Tomlinson is a lock. Then you have two spaces to fill with Hunt, Bowey, Smith, Hibbo and Rivers. And that’s just players who we know can play their roll and do it well. It doesn’t take into account the kids who will push their case at Casey. It also doesn’t take into account that we may choose to play both Petty and Tomlinson in the same side, have May play on a medium and free Lever up even more to be third man up. I certainly see this happening depending on the opposition. Baker is going to have to show some serious improvement in his decision making and prove he’s capable of playing a defensive role before he gets a regular game ahead of any of the above mentioned guys IMO.

If he couldn’t crack a game on the wing where the competition in the side extends to a grand total of two players, how the hell will he crack a game at half back when there are about 27 players vying for a spot in defense? I can’t see him making it.

Covid happened. Up until recently parents weren’t even allowed on school grounds let alone footballers. Not to mention I don’t want one of our players missing a game because a germy little snotball gave them Covid.