Preview 2026 Rd 9 Carlton vs Brisbane Friday 8th May 7:30PM AEST @ Gabba

[ctwenty1]

I actually think Cripps, Harry and Weitering are the ones coasting through on reputation at the moment.
Walsh is having patches of good footy but he also goes missing when teams get run ons against us.

Cerra seems a bit of a pile on in here, he’s been ok since he came back in without setting it on fire.
Hayward is a victim of Vossy’s high half forwards having to run half marathons each week and Saad was ok-ish last week, certainly not worth being dropped.

Voss is going to be sacked soon anyway so it will be interesting if he drops a senior player or two as a message on the way out the door.

reckon that dropping the 2025 BnF was one message

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

We need to stop ****ing with the vfl team. The afl squad made their bed they need to lay in it now. No changes unless injured or rested.

They are playing for senior games, regardless of the senior team's form. Ask any of them and they will passionately tell you they want to play. Richmond and Essendon aren't hiding deserving young players.

The VFL supports the AFL, and last season we looked better when we introduced youth. We just have to drop the right players.

 

[The Blue Weirdo]

Wilson in particular is clearly playing with confidence...which he desperately needs.

Flew for and took.a great mark early, played on a couple of times in traffic to bring the ball inside. Good signs.

Still not playing like he feels he really belongs.

In our AFL team...where does Billy belong?

Love to see him breakout, but he looks more like an outside mid than a defender, don't think he's a wingman.
Can we fit him in the side as a pure midfielder?

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

In our AFL team...where does Billy belong?

Love to see him breakout, but he looks more like an outside mid than a defender, don't think he's a wingman.
Can we fit him in the side as a pure midfielder?

It's not like there is much downside in finding out.

I'd certainly play him at HB ahead of Hollands and would make sense on most levels to play him ahead of Saad

 

[Jatz]

They are playing for senior games, regardless of the senior team's form. Ask any of them and they will passionately tell you they want to play. Richmond and Essendon aren't hiding deserving young players.

The VFL supports the AFL, and last season we looked better when we introduced youth. We just have to drop the right players.

Do you think that changes later in the season? If the VFL side is fighting for finals and our season is well and truly cooked (I mean, even more cooked), I’m not against prioritising the VFL.

 

[GoBlues!]

Cripps to start in the middle but swap with a half forward and play CHF after the bounce.

McKay to give Pitt a chop out in the ruck.

Stop playing Reidy pls.

Cripps isn’t as big of a liability as some of us are making out - but his role needs to be redesigned to account for his deficiencies.

Spot on Cringle. Reidy and Pitto in the same team feels like a very slow lumbering combo.

I would drop Reidy and play McKay in the ruck to support Pitto. It will free up Harry and help him to get into the game.

 

[dangertroy]

It's not like there is much downside in finding out.

I'd certainly play him at HB ahead of Hollands and would make sense on most levels to play him ahead of Saad

I’ve got no issue with him replacing Hollands in the side - Ollie needs a break. We’ve all been bemoaning his stalled development over the past two years, but he must have been going through a pretty difficult time personally watching his brother struggle. Give him some time in the VFL with less pressure, or even just some time off.

The downside is what would we actually find out about Wilson right now? I think he’s got a lot of potential as a running player with good skills. But we’re playing with no structure or system. He will be running the ball with no options ahead of him to kick to. Or having to kick it to a contest because no one is creating space. Or being coached to get right in close and then getting tackled the second he receives the ball. Soon we’re writing him off as another player who hasn’t developed - another turn over merchant with poor skills.

I want us to play him to find out if he’s up to level, but right now we’re not setting him up for success.

 

[Cutter66]

Spot on Cringle. Reidy and Pitto in the same team feels like a very slow lumbering combo.

I would drop Reidy and play McKay in the ruck to support Pitto. It will free up Harry and help him to get into the game.

Bring Hewett back in and him and Cripps swap from HF/FP to Centre. Agree Harry, relieve Pitto in the ruck.

 

[The Fantom]

I’d drop Pitto and give Reidy a run in the ruck, with McKay as back up. Being Derksen and play him forward and he at least shows some mongrul.

Young, Moir and Ison (not this week), should all play in the same team at some point as they can at least hit the scoreboard.

We’re too tall and slow in defence.

Haywood should be dropped as he’s done nothing.

Acres should replace cots. Wilson for Hollands.

I know I’ll cop flack about Pitto but I’ve never rated him, 202cm and can’t mark the ball, doesn’t get high possesions and is slower than a snail.

 

[David Sylvian]

The only way we win is if we can play so badly it changes their entire gameplan and destroys their skills/confidence. Seen it happen in most sports at most levels.
Most of the ones I play/played strangely enough.
Off to every place of worship, bother every type of deity to get this done, (plus the usual blood sacrifices)

 

[teddy-hopkins]

In: VFL team
Out: AFL team

Including the coach.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Billy Wilson's stats in the VFL have been huge. How is this kid not getting a game?

Obviously hard to break into an AFL team going as well as ours.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

I don’t see it - he's not great overhead, terrible by hand, not a great kick for goal - he must have incredible upside I can’t see.

HOK was in better form last year. I think he'll be ok in the long run - he's just way out of form. Which makes the decisions (plural) to promote him to the AFL team even more bizarre.

7 disposals in the AFL.
8 VFL
7 VFL
3 AFL
7 AFL
11 VFL

His stats aren't really screaming "in form".

 

[Benaly28]

This game is about Brisbane and how much they want to win by.They have a knack of just cruising through games but you get the feeling they’d want a percentage boost.

 

[BlueLocke]

This game is about Brisbane and how much they want to win by.They have a knack of just cruising through games but you get the feeling they’d want a percentage boost.

Think Fagan will want them hungry for this one. Zac Bailey might also see this as an opportunity to boost that FA value.

 

[Blue since 72]

Tbh I'm struggling to give a shit about ins and outs because it wont make an iota of difference
until the game style is changed significantly and even then do we have the cattle to start winning.

Regardless of attitudes and don't get me wrong guys like Weitering and Harry should be ashamed of themselves with the insipid football they're dishing up but in terms of fade outs it pretty much starts and ends with the midfield.

Even after Voss has tinkered with different players we still get the same result, the midfield cannot fight out a game for four quarters.

Logically you would look at the common denominators as to why the same thing happens week after week: ie game plan and personnel.

Same personnel (Cripps Cerra, Walsh and George until recently), same game style but with increasingly fatiguing bodies allowing the game to open up and bar Walsh leaving the other three chasing tail. If you play a zone defense and pretty much everyone does then you only need one player out of position on turnover and the kick mark kick mark game will open you up every day of the week.

The evidence is pretty clear:

Voss may feel hamstrung given the prime mids at his disposal and given he has started using different players to help out yet the results stay the same, but be bolder. Cripps is not a sacred cow and I certainly don't subscribe to the "he's the captain you can't drop the captain" load of bullshit.

The end game at this point shouldn't be about wins at all, that ship has sailed but it should be about finding a way of playing that is sustainable for the whole game and finding players who can do that because at this point the coach seems to enjoy getting punched in the face week after week yet still doing the same thing week after week.

It's too late for Voss to save his job but there is still time for the players and supporters to start enjoying footy again.

 

[SpiritOfCarlton]

Can someone please provide an answer I can give?

 

[Bamboo Harvester]

Reidy out, Derksen in. Reidy should ONLY be used purely as a back up, break glass etc. Not AFL standard. Harry then becomes a genuine forward/ruck - Derksen the second marking option up forward.

Lewy Young back in for Harold. Play the stopping role so Weiters has no excuses being given the intercept role.

Billy in for Hollands - been awful, no harm giving him a run in the magoo's.

George in for Cripps - give him a 'breather' for a week or two.

Moir in for Cowan - not like for like, but ffs, give him a decent run at it.

Not that it really matters - deck chairs on the titanic and all that....

 

[Revenant1995]

Can someone please provide an answer I can give?

German club is OK, but you have to book. Woolongabba hotel is also OK, and if you're early enough, can get a table. But plenty of other options all within a couple of minutes walk. Not sure of 'Carlton' options, but you'll usually find a good mix at most...

 

[Michael Jezz]

Billy Wilson's stats in the VFL have been huge. How is this kid not getting a game?

Defense lacking
2 way run lacking
Below standard in most facets when we dont have the ball
I would still play him

 

[Sideshow Mark]

Any word on Dean or Cowan? Both were mentioned as having injuries at the end of the game.

 

[TwiggleyFanClub]

Brisbane: "We're gonna need a bigger whiteboard"

 

[TrueQldBlue]

For the FIRST TIME EVER I won't be going to watch our team play up here....
It's hard enough on TV...
No thanks....

 

[jj1978]

I had a dream that Voss does a Primus in this game.

 

[haveago]

Brisbane going to need a second whiteboard for the “weakness” column.

In the classic words of Kamahl........ Why are people SO CRUEL.

 

[haveago]

MG. I'm taking my young fella. I'm really not keen, but he's super keen to go. DOH.
I fear that this will by far be the ugliest this year.
I hate the Gabba and hate Brisbane Supporters up here. They all have no idea about footy and walk around like their sh!t doesn't stink...
Preying for severe thunderstorms all evening and the game gets cancelled.........

Maybe they could run some cane toad races there then? The rain really brings em out.

Thoroughly entertaining if you have had half a dozen xxxx, a few shots of Bundy and a booky nearby.

Sadly, I too, the eternal optimist is completely bereft of any hope and might even consider switching over to the NO NECK game if it becomes too painful. Or more likely, unwatched episodes of My Name is Earl.....That always cheers me up.