Straight Sets Simon

Still prefer Grundy in the team, happy Tomlinson is back in. If we are serious we win easily.

It’s no coincidence that JVR looked most lively when he didn’t have to ruck.

We need to smash Hawthorn to make a statement, dress rehearsals are over it’s time to bury a team.

Back to fourth we go.

Hawthorn are going to be a huge challenge next week.

Left is Jackson’s 2021 season and right is Grundy’s 2023 season so far. Stats don’t always tell the full story but it’s interesting.

We need to be well on top of Hawthorn at half-time. Simply has to be an early smashing.

The MCG needs the bye round.

Interesting exercise, which player are you taking - left or right?

It’s starting to look that way, if he can get through the rest of the season he could be our answer.

Madness that’s how we started the game. Great we fixed it but should never have happened in the first place.

I have a theory that the bye before finals is as much a chance to give the MCG a chance to recover. Why they allowed a Rugby Union game to be played on there during the season is a disgrace, it was so slippery out there (although Carlton didn’t seem to mind).

Spot on about one the sub was made. Do you think Grundy stays? I’m conflicted.

The worst part is the Arch rushed it, I’ve seen them take longer over out on the full decisions. Carlton we’re better most of the night, just annoying as it could cost us a home final.

I’m so conflicted about Grundy. I agree he’s a very good ruck and helped a lot on the last when we couldn’t buy a centre clearance. But he isn’t a forWard and he seemingly makes Gawn worse. But he also makes JVR better (gets worn out in the ruck) and we still need another tall forward. The only obvious out is Jordon, so it’s a tough one.

It took a while for the midfield to gel again with him, but once it did we looked better.

Out: Jordon In: Hibberd Sub: Smith We looked so much better once a Hibberd was in the backline and Smith went forward. Grundy isn’t a forward but I still like him as a second ruck because it freed JVR up, Gawn just needs to learn to work with him. Therefore, we still need that second forward option of Smith is the sub, scraping the bottom of the barrel now.

The ball was on the other side of his hand, see my screenshot.

His fingers move, only problem is the ball is on his palm side, not the finger side.

The more I look at the goal line kick it clearly wasn’t touched. His fingers move but the ball is on the other side of them so their movement has nothing to do with the ball.

It’s all about team selection, if we get it right we look so much better. Jordon should never have been in the team, Hibberd has confirmed he’s a lock for finals. I’d still have Tomlinson in there and Hibberd over one of McVee/Salem/Bowey who are all guns but Hibberd so important. Grundy isn’t a forward, he’s a ruck who rests forward which is why we need Smith down there as well and ideally another marking option if we have any. Melksham isn’t a lock anymore if he can’t take marks.

Hell of a game. Carlton can win the flag. Score review sucks. We looked 100 times better once Jordon was off, Hibberd went back and Smith forward similar to what the smart ones here (me) proposed all week because the overall balance was so much better. Grundy isn’t a forward but he’s an excellent ruck and stemmed the centre clearance bleeding in the last quarter which ultimately lost us the game.

Trip.

Good Pig.