After tonight's less-than-convincing win over North Melbourne, we go to 7-1-5. Although we're still mid table and playing a fairly average brand of footy, finals are definitely on the cards and we probably need to win 2 of our last 4. It starts on Sunday with Carlton at the Gabba.
We will go into this game on a 6 day break against Carlton's 9 days. However, the Blues had some (minimal) travel and an extremely hot night in Darwin, where they comfortably took down the Suns. It's a shame this game isn't two days later, as September footy for the Blues would be as foreign as a Polar Bear in the Sahara.
Carlton has experienced a rollercoaster of a year so far this year. They had one hand on their neck and very nearly choked against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium despite earlier holding a huge lead. They then did choke and lost to ladder-leaders Port Adelaide thanks to a Robbie Gray miracle. And how on earth did they lose to Hawthorn after that start? Then came Jack Newnes whom controversially (although spectacularly... credit where it's due) snatched the Blues a win over Fremantle in Perth.
Luckily for the Blues, our form is by no means better. In fact, despite the ladder, it's probably worse. The Blues are still mathematically in the finals hunt and when you couple our recent form, last year's game (which we were probably lucky to win) and Carlton's better albiet inconsistent form this year, this game is the definition of a danger game.
Carlton's biggest area of improvement this year has been their defence; Weitering is in All Australian contention, Docherty hasn't broken down and intercept players like Setterfield are starting to contribute. Their forward line also looks considerably more dynamic with Jack Martin at the feet of some good aerial forwards in Casboult and McKay.
And what will the Pies bring? Who knows.
LAST TIME THEY MET
In Round 8, 2019, Collingwood won 16.10.106 to 13.9.87.
The game was tight all day; 3 points up at quarter time, tied at half time and five points down at three quarter time.
Collingwood kicked the first two goals of the last quarter before Carlton kicked three straight goals within four minutes. Mitch McGovern's third goal half way through the final quarter put the Blues up by 10 points, and things were looking very shaky. The Pies were able to steady the ship, turn the tide and eventually kicked away with 5 late unanswered goals.
Patrick Cripps quite simply carried the Blues. He was by far Carlton's best player with 35 disposals, 7 tackles, a goal and a mammoth 14 clearances. Marc Murphy had 30 touches and a goal.
Brodie Grundy had 2 goals and 48 hit-outs to go with his 25 disposals, claiming complete dominance over Matthew Kreuzer.
Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom finished the game with 34 disposals.
Tom Phillips likewise had 34 touches to go with his 2 goals in what would have to be his career-best performance, with a game-high 646 metres gained.
Callum Brown had 21 touches to go with his 2 goals in arguably his best game of the year (or his career?).
MATCH UPS
Grundy won't face Kreuzer this time around, as he hasn't been seen since his Round 1 injury. He will instead get his first opportunity against Pittonet, whom had a modest return against Witts last Friday.
There's a chance that Quaynor will come back in after his shin incident.
Casboult vs. Roughead
McKay vs. Moore
Betts vs. Quaynor
Fisher vs. Noble
Murphy vs. Crisp
Gibbons vs. Madgen
Martin vs. Maynard
CHANGES
Sidebottom is heading home to Victoria to become a dad. Good luck, Steele.
Quaynor will likely be ready for a return and deserves to regain his spot.
Mihocek will return from concussion.
Only one of Cameron and Cox can play. Both were pretty bad tonight but Cox's last quarter, and the fact he's clearly a confidence player, earns him the nod IMO.
Stephenson is hopefully back in the good books.
This one I'm not sure about yet. Over the weekend, Bucks indicated that DeGoey may make an early return (at some stage) with a glove on. He's supposedly very fit, but the finger is obviously still a risk, so it will be interesting to see where he lines up if and when he plays. Does he play midfield to prevent finger damage when marking on the lead? Can he tackle if playing mid? JUST PLAY HIM!
IN: Quaynor, Rantall, Mihocek, Stephenson
OUT: Varcoe, Sidebottom, Cameron, Appleby
If they pull the trigger on DeGoey early, Thomas goes out.
TIP
Head says Carlton, but heart says Collingwood by 2.
We will go into this game on a 6 day break against Carlton's 9 days. However, the Blues had some (minimal) travel and an extremely hot night in Darwin, where they comfortably took down the Suns. It's a shame this game isn't two days later, as September footy for the Blues would be as foreign as a Polar Bear in the Sahara.
Carlton has experienced a rollercoaster of a year so far this year. They had one hand on their neck and very nearly choked against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium despite earlier holding a huge lead. They then did choke and lost to ladder-leaders Port Adelaide thanks to a Robbie Gray miracle. And how on earth did they lose to Hawthorn after that start? Then came Jack Newnes whom controversially (although spectacularly... credit where it's due) snatched the Blues a win over Fremantle in Perth.
Luckily for the Blues, our form is by no means better. In fact, despite the ladder, it's probably worse. The Blues are still mathematically in the finals hunt and when you couple our recent form, last year's game (which we were probably lucky to win) and Carlton's better albiet inconsistent form this year, this game is the definition of a danger game.
Carlton's biggest area of improvement this year has been their defence; Weitering is in All Australian contention, Docherty hasn't broken down and intercept players like Setterfield are starting to contribute. Their forward line also looks considerably more dynamic with Jack Martin at the feet of some good aerial forwards in Casboult and McKay.
And what will the Pies bring? Who knows.
LAST TIME THEY MET
In Round 8, 2019, Collingwood won 16.10.106 to 13.9.87.
The game was tight all day; 3 points up at quarter time, tied at half time and five points down at three quarter time.
Collingwood kicked the first two goals of the last quarter before Carlton kicked three straight goals within four minutes. Mitch McGovern's third goal half way through the final quarter put the Blues up by 10 points, and things were looking very shaky. The Pies were able to steady the ship, turn the tide and eventually kicked away with 5 late unanswered goals.
Patrick Cripps quite simply carried the Blues. He was by far Carlton's best player with 35 disposals, 7 tackles, a goal and a mammoth 14 clearances. Marc Murphy had 30 touches and a goal.
Brodie Grundy had 2 goals and 48 hit-outs to go with his 25 disposals, claiming complete dominance over Matthew Kreuzer.
Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom finished the game with 34 disposals.
Tom Phillips likewise had 34 touches to go with his 2 goals in what would have to be his career-best performance, with a game-high 646 metres gained.
Callum Brown had 21 touches to go with his 2 goals in arguably his best game of the year (or his career?).
MATCH UPS
Grundy won't face Kreuzer this time around, as he hasn't been seen since his Round 1 injury. He will instead get his first opportunity against Pittonet, whom had a modest return against Witts last Friday.
There's a chance that Quaynor will come back in after his shin incident.
Casboult vs. Roughead
McKay vs. Moore
Betts vs. Quaynor
Fisher vs. Noble
Murphy vs. Crisp
Gibbons vs. Madgen
Martin vs. Maynard
CHANGES
Sidebottom is heading home to Victoria to become a dad. Good luck, Steele.
Quaynor will likely be ready for a return and deserves to regain his spot.
Mihocek will return from concussion.
Only one of Cameron and Cox can play. Both were pretty bad tonight but Cox's last quarter, and the fact he's clearly a confidence player, earns him the nod IMO.
Stephenson is hopefully back in the good books.
This one I'm not sure about yet. Over the weekend, Bucks indicated that DeGoey may make an early return (at some stage) with a glove on. He's supposedly very fit, but the finger is obviously still a risk, so it will be interesting to see where he lines up if and when he plays. Does he play midfield to prevent finger damage when marking on the lead? Can he tackle if playing mid? JUST PLAY HIM!
IN: Quaynor, Rantall, Mihocek, Stephenson
OUT: Varcoe, Sidebottom, Cameron, Appleby
If they pull the trigger on DeGoey early, Thomas goes out.
TIP
Head says Carlton, but heart says Collingwood by 2.
Last edited:
), Varcoe, apples, Cameron
