Wickzki
Definitely Sam MacLure.
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2010
- Posts
- 29,467
- Reaction score
- 76,896
- Location
- Not the media
- AFL Club
- Carlton
- Other Teams
- Ophidians Old Boys, Blazers, MCFC
Note: Work in Progress
LAST TIME WE MET
Round 19, 2018 @ Metricon Stadium
Carlton 12.7.79 d. Gold Coast 5.14.44
Brownlow Votes: 3. P. Cripps 2. M. Murphy 1. S. Petrevski-Seton
Gold Coast started well leading the first quarter 3.3.21 to 1.2.8. However, the game changed when David Swallow who had had 9 early possessions was concussed late in the first quarter and ruled out for the remainder of the game. It may well have been the only time last year that an opposition player was forced out of the game early when many of our games the opposite had happened. This halted the Sun's momentum and the Blues very quickly asserted our dominance on the game. The Suns kicked just a single goal in the middle quarters to our 9.
The win was famous for our “green shoots” playing some of their best football as a collective all year. SPS was brilliant, Dow was superb and had one of the goals of the season, Kennedy, Marchbank, Weitering, and others all had good games.
However, both teams have changed dramatically since then so the result is unlikely to be meaningful.
Carlton Form
We lost the first two games of our season against Richmond and Port Adelaide. We were highly competitive in both matches but not quite good enough to overcome the premiership fancy in Richmond or Port in Adelaide.
The first half of the Swans game has demonstrated the worst of what we’ve seen over the last few years. A lot of mental errors outnumbered at the contest, poor foot skills, etc. We were very predictable in the forward half with the opposition finding us out. However, Cripps, McKay, Walsh and several others demonstrated that they are in the upper echelon with regards to talent. To their credit, the Swans could have opened the floodgates and the Blues were able to hold on to trail by 3 goals at the main change.
The second half saw more of the same. Far too many skill errors, being unable to get the ball back from the Swans. The Swans were especially dominant but were unable to put the scoreboard pressure on the Blues that they should have. It very easily could have been an eight-plus goal game instead it remained a five-goal game until we kicked two goals in the final minute.
The last quarter saw us waste a metric shit load of opportunities. We had our chances to win the game but poor skill and a wretched zone that sees a number of the goals we concede every week as a direct result of its ineptitude prove costly. An iffy free kick to Heeney iced the game for the Swans. If only McKay got a fraction of those down the other end he’d be fast-tracked to the Coleman. Another winnable game turned into another honorable loss.
Gold Coast Form
The Suns who many anticipated would be the easy beats of the competition have opened the season showing that the losses of their leadership group have been overstated. However, they did face two teams many experts expected to finish in the bottom 4-6 on the ladder in St. Kilda and Fremantle.
Their 1-point loss to St. Kilda in round one was a real eye opener especially since the Saints proceeded to beat * the following week somewhat more convincingly. Brayden Fiorini was the standout player for the Gold Coast with 30 possessions and 6 tackles while he was supported by Alex Sexton in attack (4 goals), Jarrod Witts (44 hitouts, 13 disposals), Charlie Ballard and Touk Miller (both with 24 disposals) and Wil Powell (23 disposals).
For all intents and purposes, the Gold Coast victory over Fremantle should have been much more significant than the three points that it was. To say that they were inaccurate is putting it mildly. They kicked 7.19 for the match but it was the third quarter that was their most embarrassing. After leading by 3 points at halftime they trailed by 9 points at three-quarter time despite having three more scoring shots. This is because they kicked 0.8 for the quarter compared to Freo’s 3.2. Thankfully they turned it around in the fourth quarter kicking 3.3 to 1.3 to win by 3 points but it should never have been so tight. Jarrod Harbrow, David Swallow, and the Jacks – Bowes, and Martin – were the heroes for the Suns with Alex Sexton again hitting the scoreboard with 4 goals.
[Comment on Dogs Vs Suns]
Where the Game Will Be Won
Both teams enter this matchup with confidence in their ability to win the game. Although both teams have their absolute standout players such as Cripps for Carlton and Swallow for the Suns both teams bat relatively deeper than you would imagine. That is to say that both teams rely on complete team performance to win the game rather than their stars being match winners.
The Suns will be hoping that Alex Sexton will continue his hot start and that he is joined on the scoreboard by the likes of 2 Meter Peter. Limiting their success will go a long way to a successful day for the Blues.
Gold Coast will be hoping that Witts can monster Carlton in the ruck. Hopefully, we’ll have Kreuzer back in the side who will be able to cause Witts issues around the ground as I firmly believe Witts outmatches Phillips in almost every category with the two having somewhat similar strengths.
Carlton will be hoping that the forward line marking prowess of McKay and McGovern give the Suns lesser known key defenders a headache.
The Suns have a surprisingly deep midfield even having lost Lyons somewhat salaciously to their regional rivals. It’s important for Carlton’s chances that our second level midfielders (Walsh, Dow, Petrevski-Seton, Fisher) stand up and lessen the load on Cripps. Even with the veterans that the Suns have added they carry enough youngsters in their lineup themselves that the usual reason of being too young won’t really apply this week. Like last year this needs to be a game where the green shoots put on a display of what they will do consistently in the future.
KEY MATCHUPS
Liam Jones Vs Peter Wright
Peter Wright has the type of physical attributes that will give our backline a headache. This is especially the case if he is on his game. He’s still young and inconsistent but he is beginning to come into his own. We don’t really have a great match up on him so we’ll be relying on Jones’s athleticism to keep him in the matchup.
Nic Newman Vs Alex Sexton
Alex Sexton has started the season on fire. Two bags of four goals in each of the first two rounds. He’s becoming a small-to-medium sized headache for opposition defences. He’s the same height as Newman so I anticipate Nic getting the first crack on him. It’ll be a fun matchup that could be pivotal to the final outcome of the game.
Phillips/Kreuzer Vs Jarrod Witts
Don’t sleep on Jarrod Witts. He is among the top handful of rucks in the game today. I believe that he would be a media darling if he played for a Melbourne team. He’s the type who has worked his tail off to get every ounce of potential out of him.
Gold Coast Players to Watch
[Insert a few things about their young players]
Hopeful Key Ins/Outs:
Carlton: Kreuzer for Lobbe, Fasolo for Polson, Kennedy for Gibbons
Prediction
If we work as hard as we have over the past few weeks then we should win a really fun game of football. If the boys take their foot off of the pedal and struggle to maintain the consistency then the game could be a flashback to the Lions game up at the GABBA last year where they ran us off of our feet.
I’m trying to be optimistic this year and since moving to the Gold Coast I’ve only seen our team lose once. I don’t believe that it will happen for a second time. Blues by two goals.
