Carlton Vs Sydney

[TheMase]

Here Blues2001. The official debate thread

Now debate away.

But be nice, I have a feeling you blues outnumber our swans, probably 3 to 1 lol (at least).

 

[Blues2001]

I don't think that we will lose by as much as 45 points. However, I have no feelings of confidence about my team either. We look rusty, slow and our disposal shocking. The swans had more of the general play against the Lions but lacked that killer edge. You looked a lot better than us though.

Can we turn it around? Maybe. Whitnall has to play for us to be a chance. We are at Optus, which isn't the fortress it used to be for us but we play better there than we do at Colonial.

Even without Kouta I would have thought that our midfield was better than Sydney's. However, they are in such terrible form at the moment that it wouldn't surpise me if the Swans dominated this aspect. We won't have Hulme or Freeborn back this week so we must rely on pretty much the same bunch that played so terribly last week. Surely Campo and Ratten won't get smashed two weeks in a row? Allan really needs to stand up as well. Sydney are without Jason Ball and you would think that this would play into his hands. You would have thought the same last week though but Knobel ended up giving him a bath in the ruck contests.I have faith in the defence to do a good job this week, I just hope that the midfield can get some supply from Allan and actually start to hit some targets. I would say that Beaumont or Manton would start on Hall. Though don't be surprised if Whitnall starts off in defence, should he play.

Given that we are playing without much intensity at the moment and that our midfield is so out of form, I am tipping the Swans by 7 points. But a blues win wouldn't surprise as we have been known to lift when we have played terribly the week before and copped a caning in the media for it.

Mase:
What chance is plugger playing?

Will Goodes play mostly in the forward line?

I thought Seymour would be played in the twos this week...?

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by Blues2001


Can we turn it around? Maybe. Whitnall has to play for us to be a chance. We are at Optus, which isn't the fortress it used to be for us but we play better there than we do at Colonial.

Even without Kouta I would have thought that our midfield was better than Sydney's. However, they are in such terrible form at the moment that it wouldn't surpise me if the Swans dominated this aspect. We won't have Hulme or Freeborn back this week so we must rely on pretty much the same bunch that played so terribly last week. Surely Campo and Ratten won't get smashed two weeks in a row? Allan really needs to stand up as well. Sydney are without Jason Ball and you would think that this would play into his hands. You would have thought the same last week though but Knobel ended up giving him a bath in the ruck contests.I have faith in the defence to do a good job this week, I just hope that the midfield can get some supply from Allan and actually start to hit some targets. I would say that Beaumont or Manton would start on Hall. Though don't be surprised if Whitnall starts off in defence, should he play.

Given that we are playing without much intensity at the moment and that our midfield is so out of form, I am tipping the Swans by 7 points. But a blues win wouldn't surprise as we have been known to lift when we have played terribly the week before and copped a caning in the media for it.

Mase:
What chance is plugger playing?

Will Goodes play mostly in the forward line?

I thought Seymour would be played in the twos this week...?

We went through periods in the lions game, and played well below what we are capable of.
The second quarter was quite good for us, and if we can play anything like that we will win easily I believe.

Sydney has young Ricky Mott in the ruck. He only played his first game of AFL last week, but looks to have a future. He is a very strong lad, and will certainly put up a contest for Allen. On Sunday he got 38 hitouts to MacDonalds 30.
For a debut against a fairly good AFL ruckman, thats amazing.

Lockett apparently is out this weekend. But I think if anything this would play into Sydney's hands. Hall will now have the forward line to himself, so he could easily kick a bag.
Because Goodes wont spend all the time in the ruck with Mott going in there, he will spend a lot of time up forward with O'Loughlin playing a half forward role. I would think that Stevens will play again, and if he can play like he did in the Wizard cup, then we have yet another forward option.

In defence, I believe Seymour will be back. He was a fairly late withdrawal last weekend, and should be back, as he has played most of the preseason, so is match fit.

In the midfield we are fairly strong. We have Paul Williams, Paul Kelly, Mattheew Nicks, Ben Matthews, Daryn Cresswell, Nic Fosdike, Jude Bolton, Tadgh Kennelly, Jared Crouch, and many others that can slot into the midfield.

Should be interesting how both teams play though!

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

One thing counting in the Blues favour is history

At Princes Park the record is 74-20 in your favour- impressive

and overall, for everytime the Swans have beaten Carlton, Carlton have beaten the Swans 2 and a half times.

Impressive statistics to say the least.

On tomoorow's game :

Whitnall comes back, even if he is half fit he will cause our somewhat undermanned defence plenty of problems.

We could be fixated on Whitnall, which could give the dangerous Matty Lappin all the opportunity he needs. Fevola also is nothing if not unpredictable...

It will start in the midfield, Porter / McKernan will have their hands full trying to out-tap Mott / Goodes / Doyle. But its what will happen when the ball hits the ground that is interesting.

Expect a fascinating battle between Ratten and Cresswell.

Also I expect (hope ?) that Crouch will do a good tag-job on Camporeale.

Bradley will have a rotation of minders, could be Kelly, could be O'Loughlin, could be any number of players. He might be old but the Swans just cannot afford to give him any spavce - his disposal is just too good.

Up forward, well you guys will be busy. Hall is obviously our focal point and with the Balding Bowral Hobby Farmer D ) out of the way, he will have space in which to lead.

Don't be too fixated with Hall though ! - We have a young and very talented CHF by the name of Scott Stevens as well - watch him closely.

Nick Daffy and Amon Buchanan will add crumbimg power to the Swans forward line too.

It will be closer that many pessimistic Blues fans think

We look the better sorted and certainly fitter side. howvere the Blues are a proud club playing at their home ground - and, unlike the Swannies, Carlton know how to win a footy game

In the end, superior mental toughness could be the difference.

Carlton by 17

cheers

 

[Blues2001]

Originally posted by Bloodstained Angel
It will start in the midfield, Porter

We wish....

 

[Bee]

Last week I unashamedly pick St Kilda to beat Carlton, it broke my little Navy Blue heart to do so, but I knew Carlton were not at their best and a St Kilda win was likely.

This week though I feel more confident. Mainly because the game is at the OO, Lance is back and it is unheard of for Ratters and Campo to be beaten two weeks in a row (well it is, isn't?)

I would feel a lot better though if "Pup" was also back.

Matty Allan had a shocker last week, but he wasn't the only one and unlike a few smartarse opposition fans, I am not about to judge Mckernan on his first game.

I just can't see all those players that were down last week, playing that badly again tomorrow. And I have a feeling Lappin is about to break lose and cause havoc around the goals.

Barry Hall will probably be the main focus. Not sure who will get the job on him, maybe Mants. I'll be surprised if Whitnall plays the whole game back there.

Anyway, I'll pick Carlton to win by at least 3 goals.

 

[PiesPremiers3]

I cant believe Lindsay Smith wasnt selected, and hes isnt even an emergency? He bagged 10 goals in the reserves last week, and Carlton are playing against arguably the best backline in the comp, why isnt he in?
This will be a low scoring tight game, i think carlton will get over the line, 2 goals.
Lookout for young trent sporn on debut, tall, quick backman with very good foot skills.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I though Smith was an emergency PP?

I agree about Sporn, I wasn't convinced in the Wizard Cup about his claims but when I watched him at the Gabba against Brisbane, I thought he was fantastic in holding Mal Michael. He will be some player sooner or later.