Review Round 18, 2025 - Carlton vs. Brisbane Lions

[notliondown]

I love Oscar but I agree, he is looking very sore, he approached a lot of ruck contests last night very gingerly especially early I thought. Got a little better as the night went on but his tap work certainly didn’t.

Yeah you are both right... Oscar looked almost timid at times. But to be fair I watched Starce pull up half a step before a big contest too once or twice last night after he got a knock. It would be impossible to come back into full contact sport and not question the outcome of every hit once you get seriously injured.

Having said that though, I think our rucks are and have been a point of concern for a while. Oscar even at his best could be beaten by an opponent before even setting foot on the field.

The club searching for options makes a lot of sense really.

 

[Section 5]

Broke the 100 mark so that is good even if it was against Carlton
Kicked reasonably accurate when it mattered being 15.8 to 3/4 time.
Also good to see the goals spread around with 11 individual goal scorers.

Interesting that no player registered just a behind, without actually registering a goal also.

 

[notliondown]

Thin on lockdown defenders I would suggest. Starcevich is a risk moving forward too. We have defensive players to come in but none that can really do the role Answerth has.

On thinking about it, I reckon Brain will get a recall. He'd be the closest we have to a direct replacement and has a bit of experience to go with it.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Morris is making quite a habit of the reaching over style of marking. It is a rare skill and difficult to defend.

 

[LoganMorrisFan]

Big O's game is a tough watch on replay. pretty sad to be honest. He's been a fantastic bash and crash ruck but his body just isn't up to it anymore

 

[Tom14]

Big O's game is a tough watch on replay. pretty sad to be honest. He's been a fantastic bash and crash ruck but his body just isn't up to it anymore

Looked like he was trying to high step through cement when chasing a loose ball

I did think he looked better as the game went on though, so might have been rust.

 

[Son of Superboot]

Logan took the mark of the year in a pack of four players ( third quarter I think). Reply showed clearly first hands on the ball and controlled it. Umpire didn’t pay it.

Its like every week now Morris fly's in a pack, clunks it and brings it to ground and the umpires deny him. He dealt with it well on "Roaming Brian", even paying respect to BT by calling him Brian,

 

[Happy_Neale]

On thinking about it, I reckon Brain will get a recall. He'd be the closest we have to a direct replacement and has a bit of experience to go with it.

Was clearly not good enough defensively last year so would need to improve that if he hasn’t already.

 

[Elixuh]

It was big O's first game back and we were playing two rucks. Not saying things look great, but its hard to tell based on one game.

 

[On the quiet]

Tough blow losing Noah — and Payne too — both key pillars in our backline.

But it opens the door for Kiddy and Doedee to step in, with enough runway to build chemistry leading into finals.

Gardiner looked solid when he came on, a reminder that our defensive depth is in good shape.

Might even give us a different look down back — something opposition teams won’t have time to figure out.

Glass half full.

So disappointed for Noah, as he has been playing well, but I suppose with Starc back that small/medium lock down role can be filled. I agree provides an opportunity for Kiddy.

Curnow's first three marks up the ground against Lester, could be an indication of a weakness against the stronger teams with 3 KPF, so whilst Lester stays, I would have Gardiner as the tall lockdown.

What stood out for me (and yes Carlton have some injuries), is that Lions bottom 6 to 8 players (not easy to determine), are a class above the Blues bottom 6 to 8 players.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

26

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

has managed to do the impossible. He's both an amazing player, and a shit player rolled into one. He will do something amazing, then he will slam the ball on the post. He will run past 3 guys, then take on an extra guy and get tackled. I don't know if i should be annoyed by this or impressed, but i feel like Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

26

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

has become our most annoying player, because you know he will do something amazing, and about 5 minutes later, he will screw things up as well

 

[ZoBlitz]

Yeah happy to give Oscar a pass on his return as it might be more rust than anything. I think the big test will be how his body backs up after that.

 

[Pride of lions]

Thin on lockdown defenders I would suggest. Starcevich is a risk moving forward too. We have defensive players to come in but none that can really do the role Answerth has.

I think Connor McKenna would be the best replacement. Quick and strong and has done the job before.

 

[Ceebee]

Hard game to give votes , so many good players .

 

[luthor]

I feel for the umpires on that one. You've got a fraction of a second to determine whether the guy fourth in line managed to get hands to the ball first somehow, against all odds, while looking on from the side where the ball looks to be passing through/behind multiple sets of hands. It's understandable to be wrong, because it was so unlikely and 95% of the time they'd have been right - but then the commentators pile on and make it a thing.

Valid point but I do think that because Logan is not a "name" (yet), the umpires probably don't appreciate how good he is and tend to "when in doubt.....cross the arms and ball it up"

As has been pointed out elsewhere in this thread this is not the first time he's been dudded this season.

And was he really fourth in line?

 

[dlanod]

Valid point but I do think that because Logan is not a "name" (yet), the umpires probably don't appreciate how good he is and tend to "when in doubt.....cross the arms and ball it up"

As has been pointed out elsewhere in this thread this is not the first time he's been dudded this season.

And was he really fourth in line?

Sorry - fifth in line. Rayner, McGovern and O'Farrell who were defending the two of them, and Carroll coming in from the side to spoil.

 

[morsie]

Bit nervous about getting a tongue bath from all the commentators

 

[Nuggo]

Feel for Noah, tough business this AFL is. Hopefully he can get back to the same form.

We are certainly now playing a high energy brand of footy. Wonder if we were saving it for the end of H&A leading into finals ie to taxing to do all year. In any case going to love watching the rest of the games this year.

With concerns regarding Big O and Starce, we will know after a couple of more rounds how they are really travelling. Think they will be ok. Good thing there is time for adjustments prior to finals.

 

[Lazza16]

Its like every week now Morris fly's in a pack, clunks it and brings it to ground and the umpires deny him. He dealt with it well on "Roaming Brian", even paying respect to BT by calling him Brian,

Ump #10 had a shocker....Swann can't get there quick enough imo.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Said last week that moving Dunkley out of the midfield damaged our defense. Last night showed why he should not be played out of the midfield.

 

[Cockliff38]

Said last week that moving Dunkley out of the midfield damaged our defense. Last night showed why he should not be played out of the midfield.

It seemed like they were trying to manage him last week before consecutive weeks of taking on Cripps, Bont and Rowell.

 

[BuntonRules]

If the Saints sign DeKoning for the reputed $1.7 they are fools. Last night showed again, when the chips are down, he does not step up. Not what you want in a marquee player.

 

[p4p1]

I feel for the umpires on that one. You've got a fraction of a second to determine whether the guy fourth in line managed to get hands to the ball first somehow, against all odds, while looking on from the side where the ball looks to be passing through/behind multiple sets of hands. It's understandable to be wrong, because it was so unlikely and 95% of the time they'd have been right - but then the commentators pile on and make it a thing.

Normally they pay them even if someone got hands to it first. Happens all the time in packs on the when you watch the replays, someone’s fingers just brush it and the mark is paid. As it should be IMO, in a pack the only time it shouldn’t be paid is when the ball has changed trajectory because someone has touched it. Otherwise it is just too hard to umpire.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Bailey offered a week for his bump on Haynes. Surely we appeal

 

[Son of Superboot]

Bailey offered a week for his bump on Haynes. Surely we appeal

And what about Haynes body-slam on Charlie after he kicked his first goal?