Carlton v Brisbane - Preview

[parrot]

I'm really impressed with our depth this year. Even with Kruezer, Waite, and Bower unavailable, there's still red hot competition for spots. We seem to be able to cover most spots when injuries happen. It's a sign of a very good list. Just need to get out of this mini-form slump, and we'll be set for a very good year. Just have to win this one and win it big.

 

[parrot]

Not sure our midfield lacked any ball getting ability. What it has lacked in recent weeks is quality delivery into the forward 50 and accountability. These are also the two things that have been the biggest weakness in Grigg's game and the reason he hasn't been in the team, it would add a lot to the team if he's fixed these areas up.

It's a bit bewildering how we have got so much of the ball and still managed to lose the last 2 games against very middle of-the-road opposition. I reckon our general confidence levels have been down. For some reason they've been moving the ball indirectly, trying to play it safe, rather than cutting straight through the corridor and taking a few risks, like we did when we were in good form. Interestingly, when we started to play some fast direct footy late in the last game, we piled on the goals pretty easily. As soon as we do the slow, safe, indirect, along-the-boundary stuff (e.g. like Failurewood do), we fall apart.

 

[FRUMPY]

Love the ins of Hampson and Grigg for the first time this year. Hammer to play a bit up forward and hopefully can clunk a few good grabs. Hopefully grigga can cement a spot. Have always liked the way he goes about it. If he ever gets through a preseason unscathed, would celary be in our best 18.

With bower going down, would think gibbsy will go back to half back line. Murph's inclusion should hopefully offset this. He has been a bit quiet the last few weeks and needs to get back to hitting the scoreboard. Cant wait till gibbsy gets back to playing more on-ball and releases murph to play more hff where he normally kicks 1-2 a game.

Walker to take brennan when he goes fwd and what a contest it could be. too athletes going head to head.

Hendo to play chf and hopefully get a few goals and big irish to get back to fowm. Big keys are betts, garlett and yarran hitting the scoreboard. Yarran needs to get a bit more of the ball, and eddie to kick stright early. Waite has been our best fwd of late so need goals from irish and helpers

Can see this being a 6-8 goal win.

 

[GoBlues!]

IMO Hadley has been one of our best the last two weeks and he has been dropped, not sure i agree.

Welcome back Hammer and Robbo, two critical players who now need to hold their own and stay in the team for the rest of the season!!!

Poor Lucas!!

Hammer for Kreuzer, Irish for Waite, Bower unfortunately injured and Murphy back are understandable ins/outs.

But why drop Lucas and Hadley (an inside mid). I didn't think they played that bad in the last game and certainly were not the main offenders for the poor disposals and turnovers that cost us the game.

 

[blues4flag]

IMO Hadley has been one of our best the last two weeks and he has been dropped, not sure i agree.

Thought he was very good against North but didn't get near it in the first half last week.

 

[gbatman]

Thornton is in purely because Bower is out and Austin is not fit or in good enough form. He's a back up, and he is being used as such in such circumstances.

 

[Sin City]

It's a bit bewildering how we have got so much of the ball and still managed to lose the last 2 games against very middle of-the-road opposition. I reckon our general confidence levels have been down. For some reason they've been moving the ball indirectly, trying to play it safe, rather than cutting straight through the corridor and taking a few risks, like we did when we were in good form. Interestingly, when we started to play some fast direct footy late in the last game, we piled on the goals pretty easily. As soon as we do the slow, safe, indirect, along-the-boundary stuff (e.g. like Failurewood do), we fall apart.

Going by Rattens comments during the week I'd say this has been addressed.

 

[parrot]

Thornton is in purely because Bower is out and Austin is not fit or in good enough form. He's a back up, and he is being used as such in such circumstances.

Think you're right. As much as I want Thornton to be part of our team, he looks more and more like a player on the outer to me. Didn't exactly get a glowing endorsement from the coach last Monday. Just not sure what's wrong with the guy. He used to be a very good defender. He needs a huge game.

 

[GoBlues!]

Going by Rattens comments during the week I'd say this has been addressed.

The main problems in the last couple of games has been our poor disposal and skill errors. Bringing Murphy in is a welcome inclusion and will improve the team in this area.

But I can't see that bringing Robbo and Grigg in and with Lucas and Hadley out, will necessarily improve the quality of our disposals.

 

[Silvagnis]

Robinson and Grigg aren't poorer kicks than Barlow.

Not everyone can kick like Yarran and Gibbs.

B. Joseph, Jamison, Armfield
HB. Russell, Thornton, Walker
C. Simpson, Gibbs, Scotland
HF. Carrazzo, Henderson, Garlett
F. Yarran, O’hAilpin, Betts
R. Jacobs, Judd, Murphy

INT. Hampson, Houlihan, Robinson, Grigg

Since Houlihan, Yarran, Bets and Garlett are in that squad, there's a great chance that we might see Robinson and Grigg in the midfield this week.

It would be great to see these two given that responsibility and handed more time in the middle.

They're the types who could bump and harass anyone who goes near Judd, Murphy, etc.

That plus Ratten's comments might explain the omission of Lucas who isn't that type of player and a manchild like Morabito/Martin.

Gibbs might go head to head with Brennan who is arguably their best match winner selected this week.

That could make for an entertaining match up.

 

[Sin City]

The main problems in the last couple of games has been our poor disposal and skill errors. Bringing Murphy in is a welcome inclusion and will improve the team in this area.

But I can't see that bringing Robbo and Grigg in and with Lucas and Hadley out, will necessarily improve the quality of our disposals.

The reason for that is the opposition have realised they can stop us or slow us down by getting huge numbers in the corridor and our forward line and we've allowed them to do it. It means there's no room to use the corridor and no space for the forwards. As soon as the ball is turned over the opposition has had numbers to run the ball up the ground and an open forward line to kick the ball into. Ratten has said we'll be using a more defensive game plan this week which will force the opposition to be more accountable and allow the game to be played on our terms a bit more.

 

[gbatman]

Think you're right. As much as I want Thornton to be part of our team, he looks more and more like a player on the outer to me. Didn't exactly get a glowing endorsement from the coach last Monday. Just not sure what's wrong with the guy. He used to be a very good defender. He needs a huge game.

The team is getting better, we have raised the bar and when a poor sides improves to be a fairly good side then all of a sudden the regulars who are not up to it really stand out. Wasn't long ago Fisher and Wiggins were regulars but have since been superseded. I feel Hadley will go the same way as these two and Thornton eventually when the others are fit or someone else puts their hands up.

 

[The Exorcist]

One week without football and it feels like the off-season to me.
May take some prompting to get back into it

Still managed to loss a cricket match during the "off season"

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Honestly, if we don't smash the Lions tonight - given our inclusions ... we may as well start tanking.

 

[Malifice]

We need this win.

Toush few weeks leading into the finals.

 

[Stamos]

Geez Lucas is stiff, but I don't mind the inclusions. We just have to win this game, but then, I said that about the previous 2 games.

 

[parrot]

Agree. Lucas seems to have done everything right. Perhaps they just wanted to give Grigg a run. Not sure. Doubt he'll be out of the side for long though.

 

[Stamos]

Should have brought Grigg in and dropped Scotland instead.

 

[GoBlues!]

Honestly, if we don't smash the Lions tonight - given our inclusions ... we may as well start tanking.

On balance, apart from Murphy, not sure our inclusions will make that much difference given our outs:

Kreuzer>>Hampson
Bower>>Grigg
Waite>O'hAilpin
Lucas>=Robbo
Murphy>>>Hadley

We've played shite the last couple of games and the whole team has to improve.

 

[Juddbemetron]

No late changes to either side.

 

[Blue Bawls]

Did Lucas start the Fev rumour? Can't see any other reason that Grigg or Robbo would come in ahead of him.