Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[JustOneTime]

Here is my team. Players who are decent but dont fit a role have to be left out if Carlton are to learn anything about success in the modern game. Fog/Lord/McGovern don't have a role except as last option backup or in case of the talented Lord backup for Cerra/Hewett/Cripps. Their selection is always short thinking only.

All are decent contributors but there is no role for them and if you play them you cost moving on to players you need to help the side progress. All of Mcgovern, fogarty, C Lord or Ben C are blocking player types we need. Young fits this category as well. Kemp another.

McGovern, Kemp and Young - no one knows what's best for them and where they fit. Shouldn't be on our list unless you are happy with the current Carlton plight. How best to explain it: No one will second guess Dean or second guess Weitering as defenders. You don't second guess Starcevich, or payne or lester; so it isnt about big names its about role and mental profile.

Dean Weitering* Florent
Saad *** Williams

Ollie Cripps Walsh
Pittonet Hewett Smith

Hayward McKay Ainsworth
Byrne Kemp O'Keefe

Cowan Elijah H (not mid - needs to be wide) Carroll, Lord (for Cerra), ?

Weitering doesnt play so we are in the shit.
All of Young/Derkson/Haynes are not right for second key defender. Haynes is an interceptor 3rd tall if you want to get the best out of him.

 

[Bagger24]

Reckon there’s 4 spots up for grabs in the 23 19 of them locked in by the looks of it

Dean weitering Newman/cowan/boyd

Florent young Williams

Acres/chesser/carrol Cripps Ollie

Ainsworth Kemp Hayward

Byrne/fog/evans H Moir

Pitt Hewett Walsh



Lord lij Jagga saad reidy/dersken

If Newman or Cowan are ready they play if not Boyd plays until their 100% match fit

If Carrol is ready I reckon he gets the nod on the wing if not I’d have chesser ahead of acres to try something different

Small forward will be most interesting. Gut says only one can play and they’ll go with Fogarty because of his tackling but would
Love to see us blood Byrne-has a bit of Ballantyne/ginni in him and will stir up the opposition

Only room for one of Derksen/Reidy would love to see us trial Derksen up forward tonight alongside Harry and kemp

There’s no way weiters misses against Charlie, he’ll pad himself up if he needs to to play.

Go blues

 

[BluStreak]

Reidy is young developing ruck.
Given the 1 match sim I have viewed, I liked what I saw.
There is the 'agro' which we are crying out for.
There was the tap on for Byrne to goal.
He was not afraid to crash a pack and nor did he allow his team mates to stand alone.
Will he play 1st ruck this season probably not. I think Pitto will barring injury.

 

[djholmes]

B: Cowan-----------------Dean------------Newman

H: Boyd-----------------Weitering-----------Saad

C: Acres-----------------Cripps------------Florent

H: Williams-------------McGovern----------Hayward

F: Ainsworth-------------McKay-------------Evans

Foll: Pittonet, Walsh, Smith

Bench: Reidy, Hewett, O.Hollands, Cerra, Kemp

 

[BJuddy]

B: Cowan---Weitering---Derkson

H: Williams---Dean---Saad

C: Florent---Cripps---O.Hollands

H: E.Hollands---Kemp---Hayward

F: Ainsworth---McKay---Evans

Foll: Pitto---Walsh---Smith

Bench: Reidy---Hewett---Chesser---Lord---Gov

 

[marcmurphy3]

B: Saad Weitering Dean
HB: Williams Young Florent
C: Chesser Cripps O.Hollands
HF: E.Hollands Kemp Jagga
F: Ainsworth McKay Hayward
OB: Pitonett Walsh Hewett
IC: McGovern Lord Evans Moir Reidy

Assuming Newman, Acres, Cowan, Carroll are unavailable.

Boyd, Byrne, Derkson unlucky

 

[DirtyLeeds]

Def.....Weiters, Derks, Young H, Florent, Saad, Ollie H, Williams
Mids....Pitto, Crippa, Walsh, JAGGA, Lij, Lord, George, Chesser, Reidy
Fwds....H, Hayward, Kemp, Moir, Ainsworth, Frankie, Byrne

Emerg: Boyd, McGov, HOK,L. Young, Newy

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

Playing list has seemingly turned a corner...or at least navigated a chicane.

Question is has the MC?

 

[bluemahogany]

Playing list has seemingly turned a corner...or at least navigated a chicane.

Question is has the MC?

Still fully expect to see Acres named on the wing and Motlop forward pocket.

 

[TENACIOUS]

B: Newman - Weitering - Derksen

H: Florent - Dean - Williams

C: Chesser - Cripps - O.Hollands

H: Ainsworth - Kemp - Hayward

F: Byrne - McKay - Evans

Foll: Pittonet - Walsh - Smith

Bench: Reidy - Hewett - Lord - Boyd - E.Hollands

Unlucky (Emergency): Lewis Young

33

Lewis Young

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

197.9

3star

D

4.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

1.0

1star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

26.0

1star

D

14.4

4star

K

8.2

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

2.0

4star

MG

181.6

3star

- Flynn Young - Moir

 

[Cringle]

B: Newman - Weitering - Derksen

H: Florent - Dean - Williams

C: Chesser - Cripps - O.Hollands

H: Ainsworth - Kemp - Hayward

F: Byrne - McKay - Evans

Foll: Pittonet - Walsh - Smith

Bench: Reidy - Hewett - Lord - Boyd - Moir

Unlucky (Emergency): Lewis Young - Flynn Young - E.Hollands

Sorry - E Hollands emergency?

 

[TENACIOUS]

Sorry - E Hollands emergency?

No Moir

 

[SurreyBlue]

R0 team:

Boyd Weitering Young
Williams Derksen Florent
Chesser Cripps OHollands
EHollands Kemp Hayward
Moir McKay Ainsworth
Pittonet Walsh Smith
Hewett Lord Newman Evans Reid

 

[ESKIE]

R0 team:

Boyd Weitering Young
Williams Derksen Florent
Chesser Cripps OHollands
EHollands Kemp Hayward
Moir McKay Ainsworth
Pittonet Walsh Smith
Hewett Lord Newman Evans Reid

No Dean or E Hollands?

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

For mine Young and Derksen ahead of Dean based on pre-season form. Obviously his time will come quickly though.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

Saad, Weitering, Boyd
Florent, Young, Dercksen
Hollands, Hewett, Hollands
Evans, McKay, Hayward
Ainsworth, Kemp, Williams

Pittonet, Cripps, Walsh

Smith, Lord, O'Keefe, Byrne, ?

 

[Dooky]

As much as I like Reidy, do we really need to be playing a second ruck? H / Young can chop out for Pitto and instead we add another to the mid rotation or or outside runner?

 

[JJBagger]

For mine Young and Derksen ahead of Dean based on pre-season form. Obviously his time will come quickly though.

I think Dean has to play. Natural footballer that looks completely at the level. He will only get better the longer the season goes

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Boyd Weitering Dean
Williams Derkson Florent
Hollands Walsh Chesser
Elijah McKay Ainsworth
Hayward Kemp Evans

Pittonet Cripps Jagger

McGovern Hewett Lord Moir O’Keefe/Reidy

Saad Byrne Young

Cowan? Fogarty Acres? Wilson?BenCampo LucasCampo Newman Haynes? Charleson Carroll? Monahan Young Cottrell?

Motlop O’Farrell

 

[SurreyBlue]

As much as I like Reidy, do we really need to be playing a second ruck? H / Young can chop out for Pitto and instead we add another to the mid rotation or or outside runner?

I believe this will the 50/50 decision. Only consideration is us risking Harry in the ruck with the new rules and also having him out of the forward line for some time. I believe this will be the general discussion and decision.

 

[DZ4]

As much as I like Reidy, do we really need to be playing a second ruck? H / Young can chop out for Pitto and instead we add another to the mid rotation or or outside runner?

Don’t want to see Harry rucking. We are already thin up forward as it is. Not to mention the injury risk.

It’s a shame O’Keefe hasn’t kicked on the way we thought he would as he is perfect for the role.

Pittonet/Reidy combo is asking for trouble imo. Both are slow with little ability up forward. In a game that’s getting faster and faster it’s not going to work.

Pitto/Young to start the year.

 

[Dooky]

I believe this will the 50/50 decision. Only consideration is us risking Harry in the ruck with the new rules and also having him out of the forward line for some time. I believe this will be the general discussion and decision.

Agree and maybe its not H and Young doesn't play anyway. Cripps?

The new rule will take time to adjust to and for now it feels like you only need a body in there...

 

[marcmurphy3]

I think Dean has to play. Natural footballer that looks completely at the level. He will only get better the longer the season goes

Yep. We do need to have some development focus. Our backline looks super old atm. Get games into Dean.

Plus he is a more natural 3rd tall option then the other 2. Weitering, Derkson, Young is to big.

 

[Dooky]

Don’t want to see Harry rucking. We are already thin up forward as it is. Not to mention the injury risk.

It’s a shame O’Keefe hasn’t kicked on the way we thought he would as he is perfect for the role.

Pittonet/Reidy combo is asking for trouble imo. Both are slow with little ability up forward. In a game that’s getting faster and faster it’s not going to work.

Pitto/Young to start the year.

I'm also not sure Young is best 23...Weiters / Derksen / Dean / Gov feels about right?

 

[DZ4]

I'm also not sure Young is best 23...Weiters / Derksen / Dean / Gov feels about right?

I would play Young or O’Keefe up forward…

I don’t rate them ahead of Kemp but I’m a structure guy. Think Kempy will get found out on the second tall when the real stuff starts. Could be a mismatch on the third tall and then Hayward gets the fourth which is much more favourable.

Young and O’Keefe for all their flaws demand respect from a defender for their height alone.

Will be interesting to see what structure they go with. Anything may work with the new rules.