Autopsy 2024 Round 1 Blues hold on in yet another heartstopper

[NavySteel]

Remember when Bolton blazed off Doc and showboated a couple of seasons ago?

Pepperidge farm remembers… it will also remember Bolton ******* the bed last night with 30s to go to win the game…

We keep receipts…

 

[skadoosh]

Anyone else recall this Acres tackle on Grimes? Grimes tries to shrug the tackle off, does a spin, then drops the ball. Play on.
Laughable.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Good thing we didn't drop Owies...

 

[Zlatan]

Good thing we didn't drop Owies...

Probably cemented his spot for the North game. Orazio, Durdin will be dropped before he is with Motlop coming back in imo

 

[Blue1980]

He wasn’t robbed a goal. He should’ve been pinged for holding the ball. It’s this sort of dumb s**t that results in you being like Nick Riewoldt with no flags at the end of your career as opposed to Tom Hawkins with 3 flags.

Suggesting that one action cost Riewoldt that flag or any flag is really stretching it.

But it was dumb by Charlie, felt like him and Harry had swapped brains.

 

[Pixelshooter]

Seems a little bizarre that we're 2-0 and there's a bunch of sides yet to play a game.

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

The entire backline was poor last night McGovern and Saad aside...and even they had numerous moments.

Young is easy pickings. Was good last week and his direct opponent last night had little influence on the game.

the midfield and forward line were poor defensively too - it starts in our forward line.... no heat from any of the small/mid forwards.

 

[thylacine60]

Have seen a ton of commentary on socials/bigfooty from opposition about our 'wins'. These people can dress it however it pleases to help them feel better.

These are the facts: We are 2-0 after two brutal games missing 6/7 best 22 players. We now have 15 days off. Marchbank, Weitering, Motlop, and hopefully Martin and Walsh will return over the next fortnight.

We need to go 11-9 from here on to make finals. 14-6 to secure top 4.

We are primed for a tilt at the flag. Let's go.

you forgot we're wearing sunglasses..........

 

[gab213]

Suggesting that one action cost Riewoldt that flag or any flag is really stretching it.

But it was dumb by Charlie, felt like him and Harry had swapped brains.

I feel that with a player such as Charlie who plays on instinct, you will always get the odd dumb thing. It's far outweighed by the amazing things he does at other times. It's all part of Charlie being Charlie. It's why we get excited every time he gets near the ball, anything could happen.

 

[Neese]

Que Cerra Cerra

The Italian commentary was awesome. Can we have that instead of channel 7 for the whole match?

 

[Blue__Balls]

I'm so happy to have won our first two games - it makes the upcoming weekend so much more relaxing and enjoyable.

Now the team can have a rest and bring back more players - if and only if, they are fully fit.
What a great position to be in as a club

So who can come in?
EHollands, Martin, Motlop and Marchbank?
Give Weitering another week if there's any doubts.

The hard question is who to omit? Most likely Fantasia, but after that it's really hard.

Cuningham in the gun for Hollands. He hasn't been poor, but hasn't been spectacular - depends how much Vossy likes Eli, we could make the swap straight away, or give it another 1-2 weeks to see if Cunners can work into the season a bit more, and to make Eli really earn the spot with good VFL form.

Think Fantasia will make way for Motlop. Expectations for Raz aren't super high, thought he was passable as a role player in the first week but struggled to have an impact (offensively or defensively) this week. For a bloke who hasn't played a good block of footy in a long while, those two games with a short break to start the season might have just been too big an ask. He'll get more opportunities throughout the year, but unless he really takes his chances I can see him yoyo-ing a bit based on injuries to others.

Kennedy the most likely to come out for Martin. He's played the first two rounds almost solely as a forward - 6 CBAs in opening round, and only 3 in R1. Hollands in for Cunners can cover those CBAs for us and Martin can play 100% forward as another marking and crumbing option.

I think if Marchbank comes in now, it kind of has to be at the expense of Kemp, or we restructure a bit and drop a smaller defender (Boyd?). Young keeps his spot until Weiters is back, by virtue of being the only genuine KPP-size option we've fielded down there.

I'd also look at dropping Durdin to the ressies after a very brief sub cameo. No criticism, just not sure he fits back in right away and he could stand to have a few full VFL games to build some form. Owies is the one for him to displace, and while Matt had a few less than stellar moments (not alone), he did chip in a couple of goals. If Durdin can force Owies out then we're in a good spot.

Marchbank, Young*, McGovern
Saad, Williams, Newman
Hollands, Cripps, Acres
De Koning, Cerra, Hewett
Owies, Hollands, Motlop
Martin, McKay, Curnow
I/C: Fogarty, Carroll, Cottrell, Boyd**
Sub: Kemp** or Kennedy***

*Young the placeholder unless Weitering gets up. Straight swap if so.
**Boyd or Kemp for the final bench spot, the other a consideration for SUB.
***Kennedy a valid SUB option too - coverage for a mid or forward and maybe a more suitable option against a fairly mid-driven NM side.

The wildcard is then Walsh - unfortunately it's probably just a straight swap for Carroll, and maybe Jack goes back to being the sub for us. If we want to ease Walshy in a bit, could also look at Olli Hollands coming out, though I'd hate to do it the same week his brother gets selected.

 

[Coops93]

One big + about last night, and last week, was Carroll.

He suddenly looks much stronger, and suddenly so much cleaner. He's taken a huge leap compared to last yr or yrs prior. Him coming good is huge.

 

[Neese]

On the bright side, I would rather he learn that lesson at the start of the season and not finals and luckily it didn’t cost us the game. Hopefully the whole team take note.

Harsh on Charlie, he copped a sprigging in the face. That's go to hurt.

 

[Coops93]

An underrated big moment was Cripps big tackle in the last qtr. It was looking like a near sure goal for Richmond until Cripps laid that crunching hit.

 

[Sector 7G]

One big + about last night, and last week, was Carroll.

He suddenly looks much stronger, and suddenly so much cleaner. He's taken a huge leap compared to last yr or yrs prior. Him coming good is huge.

Can stand up in a tackle and get the ball off. A bit of Crippa rubbing off

 

[My Hat]

I feel that with a player such as Charlie who plays on instinct, you will always get the odd dumb thing. It's far outweighed by the amazing things he does at other times. It's all part of Charlie being Charlie. It's why we get excited every time he gets near the ball, anything could happen.

That's been true of Charlie to this point, but now that he's taking on more of a leadership role he really needs to get those moments out of his game. Can't have a situation where the team is expected to make sensible decisions in moments like those but excuses are made for a leader.

On the other hand, he did cop a boot to the face in the first quarter, which is the sort of thing that can rattle anyone. So I'm willing to give him a pass on this occasion, but expecting to see improvement in this area over the rest of the season.

 

[Sector 7G]

Cuningham in the gun for Hollands. He hasn't been poor, but hasn't been spectacular - depends how much Vossy likes Eli, we could make the swap straight away, or give it another 1-2 weeks to see if Cunners can work into the season a bit more, and to make Eli really earn the spot with good VFL form.

Think Fantasia will make way for Motlop. Expectations for Raz aren't super high, thought he was passable as a role player in the first week but struggled to have an impact (offensively or defensively) this week. For a bloke who hasn't played a good block of footy in a long while, those two games with a short break to start the season might have just been too big an ask. He'll get more opportunities throughout the year, but unless he really takes his chances I can see him yoyo-ing a bit based on injuries to others.

Kennedy the most likely to come out for Martin. He's played the first two rounds almost solely as a forward - 6 CBAs in opening round, and only 3 in R1. Hollands in for Cunners can cover those CBAs for us and Martin can play 100% forward as another marking and crumbing option.

I think if Marchbank comes in now, it kind of has to be at the expense of Kemp, or we restructure a bit and drop a smaller defender (Boyd?). Young keeps his spot until Weiters is back, by virtue of being the only genuine KPP-size option we've fielded down there.

I'd also look at dropping Durdin to the ressies after a very brief sub cameo. No criticism, just not sure he fits back in right away and he could stand to have a few full VFL games to build some form. Owies is the one for him to displace, and while Matt had a few less than stellar moments (not alone), he did chip in a couple of goals. If Durdin can force Owies out then we're in a good spot.

Marchbank, Young*, McGovern
Saad, Williams, Newman
Hollands, Cripps, Acres
De Koning, Cerra, Hewett
Owies, Hollands, Motlop
Martin, McKay, Curnow
I/C: Fogarty, Carroll, Cottrell, Boyd**
Sub: Kemp** or Kennedy***

*Young the placeholder unless Weitering gets up. Straight swap if so.
**Boyd or Kemp for the final bench spot, the other a consideration for SUB.
***Kennedy a valid SUB option too - coverage for a mid or forward and maybe a more suitable option against a fairly mid-driven NM side.

The wildcard is then Walsh - unfortunately it's probably just a straight swap for Carroll, and maybe Jack goes back to being the sub for us. If we want to ease Walshy in a bit, could also look at Olli Hollands coming out, though I'd hate to do it the same week his brother gets selected.

Motlop and Hollands wont have played footy for a month. They need to come back through the 2s

 

[Blue Pulse]

The Italian commentary was awesome. Can we have that instead of channel 7 for the whole match?

It would make more sense, even if you don't understand Italian

 

[agro]

Larkey is reaping the benefits that Fev did with us... they only decent target in a poor performing team that nails his chances more often than not. Let's see what happens if we double team him (which we should). And Stephenson and the Zurhaar don't have their typical games of the year against us.

I'm relieved no Goldstein (although Clarko may not have played him) as he's always been great against us. Their list has transformed significantly the last 2 seasons that I can hardly recognise it.... and with that the unknown is something they can use as a strength, couple with Clarkos tactical brain.

Unfortunately we’re still at a level where those teams looking for a win will be viewing playing us as their Grand Final and they’ll throw the kitchen sink at us - especially with Clarkson as their coach - we still haven’t got to the stage where teams fear and respect us and play us in “self preservation mode”.

 

[skadoosh]

How nice of Grimes to elbow Kennedy in the head - play on!

 

[dumb]

Cardiac Carlton

Let's make it 7 against north?

 

[thylacine60]

Remember when Bolton blazed off Doc and showboated a couple of seasons ago?

Pepperidge farm remembers… it will also remember Bolton ******* the bed last night with 30s to go to win the game…

We keep receipts…

yep, game losing fumble was for doc........

 

[thylacine60]

Anyone else recall this Acres tackle on Grimes? Grimes tries to shrug the tackle off, does a spin, then drops the ball. Play on.
Laughable.

bloody hell, red hot - but will say I'm struggling to recall a game that had less umpire interference - was like watching nfl - let it go umpy!!

 

[thylacine60]

If you brought me paperwork at the start of the year saying we’d have two wins under a goal against Brisbane at the Gabba and our bogey side Richmond I would’ve signed on the dotted line.

McGovern was great tonight and I think Cripps was clearly best on ground. DeKoning’s star is rising and I’m loving it

`nice work, froggy.......

 

[CCurnow3picks]

No, I haven't, I was just saying that I hope that they are 100% ready before we play them. It wouldn't at all bother me if they both waited another week. I'm especially wary where Martin is concerned.

Fair enough - in Russell we trust