Crows v Blues - Big Game

[Jars458]

Hi guys, well its time for the annual Crows v Carlton game at Optus Oval.

I am very worried about this game given the Crows don't play that well at Optus as a rule.

With Kouta finding some form along with Camporeale, Carlton are a big show.

We usually find it hard to matc up on Whitnall

Further, if Clarke isn't playing then Allen will be dangerous in the rucks.

Look forward to the game in a couple of weeks.

 

[nightcrawler]

With Melbourne the week after, the boys will want this game bad. Should be a cracker, can't wait.

I think you'll have a bit to much body strength all over the park for us, but hopefully we can take a leaf out of Hawthorns book and pull an upset to get some momentum going.

 

[Abaddon]

If Carey plays, we've got a gorilla to go up against a gorilla.
Mick and Carey matchup will be interesting.

 

[Hawkers_here]

Goodwin's absence will help Carlton

 

[Thrawn]

It's great to see some traffic here once in a while. While our confidence may be up, it may not be enough to quell Adelaide's superior midfield. Expect Andrew McLeod to play a blinder, but I expect Hulme to get the job on him. We have two clear advantages that come into our favour; Allan/Koutoufides combo in the midfield and our forward set-up. Kouta is near his best form, and Allan has done very well for a guy missing all these games and coming back from a foot injury. He took 12 marks on Saturday, and clearly had an influence in our midfield. It is no surprise that he is vital for the team; he's a true ruckman and he proved that what we were missing most was a genuine ruckman that could tkaes marks, link up play and plug holes in defence. It's also great to see Allan's confidence back - he certainly surprised me that he could actually leap again!

I'd expect Smart to get the job on Kouta. But we all know what happend to Adelaide when Kouta was playing well... hopefully he can repeat his performance this time around. He won't have the spark and speed he had in 2001, but he will have the same effect - that is to inspire his teammates through example. This will either be a close match, or Adelaide will spank us. I'm expecting a close match if the boys can play well; more incentive to win because we play Melbourne the next week. Surely that will give us more confidence.

B: Norman Martyn Franchina

HB: Beaumont Thornton McKay

C: Camporealoe Koutoufides Waite

HF: Fisher Whitnall Murphy

F: Houlihan Fevola Lappin

R: Allan Fletcher Hulme

Inter: Hickmott, Livingston, Davies, French

Midfield is a little bit weaker without Ratten, but Kouta form alomost compensates for that. The keys to this game will be Whitnall, Fevola and Kouta. I don't know who from Adelaide can take on Whitnall IF he will be playing well, ditto Fevola. Fevola will be a problem for Adelaide, and I'd expect one of their defenders to pay close attention to him. He needs a bag of goals to restore his goal-kicking potencey so he can be a chance for the Coleman. I also think Thornton will be important in defense - let's see if he can maintain his form. Carey on Martyn will be a treat.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Thrawn I agree that Simpson should get some more game time in the VFL and Livingston and Hickmott are ripe to come back in but why is Lappin missing? Is he injured?

 

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by The Old Dark Navy's
Thrawn I agree that Simpson should get some more game time in the VFL and Livingston and Hickmott are ripe to come back in but why is Lappin missing? Is he injured?

That's the habit with me. I always tend to miss one player than should be there. With the addition of Hickmott, however, was at the expense of one player. Fletcher deserves his spot, and Franchina should play again to see if his game against Richmond wasn't a fluke (might do well on Ronnie Burns). If he doesn't perform, send him to the bench. I had to drop McKernan - all the others are playing better than him and with more confidence. He needs a stint in the VFL to regain confidence... because he's our most "out of form" player at the moment.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Likely Adelaide Line up

Here is my stab at the likely Adelaide line up

_F: _ 17. Scott Welsh _ 2. Wayne Carey _ 5. Ronnie Burns
HF: _ 9. Tyson Edwards _ 22. Ian Perrie _ 24. Brett Burton
C: _ 18. Graham Johncock _ 26. Mark Bickley _ 20. Tyson Stenglein
HB: _ 15. Jason Torney _ 16. Ken McGregor _ 3. Kris Massie
_B: _ 7. Nigel Smart _ 8. Nathan Bassett _ 34. Ben Hart
1R: _ Matthew Clarke _ 32. Mark Ricciuto _ 23. Andrew McLeod

Int: _ 35. Rhett Biglands _ 10. Matthew Bode _ 28. James Begley _ Chris Ladhams

Thanks for Massie he has come in leaps and bounds this year and has been inspirational off half back flank

Should be a good game. Hopefully Adelaide comes out on top.

 

[ok.crows]

Match-ups ?

B: Norman Martyn Franchina
F: Edwards, Perrie, Carey

HB: Beaumont Thornton McKay
HF: Burton, Stevens, Welsh

C: Camporealoe Koutoufides Waite
C: Stenglein, Ricciuto, Doughty

HF: Fisher Whitnall Murphy
HB: Massie, McGregor, Torney

F: Houlihan Fevola Lappin
B: Smart, Bassett, Hart

R: Allan Fletcher Hulme
R: Biglands, Bickley, McLeod

Inter: Hickmott, Livingston, Davies, French
I: Clarke, Johnc.ock, Bode, Burns

To my biased eye, the Crows have the edge in just about every position on the ground, with Kouta presenting the only real match-up problem, and also giving a nod to Murphy (but I think Torney can break even there). I think McGregor easily has the ability to match Whitnall, but I am quite sure you guys would disagree.

Blues don't look to have any good match-up for Edwards, Perrie (in current form), Burton, Stevens (assuming he plays), Biglands, Clarke or Johnco(k. That Carey bloke might present a problem too.

 

[DaveW]

Re: Match-ups ?

Originally posted by ok.crows
Franchina
Carey

Franchina gives away 16cm there! I think Beaumont would take one of the three talls.

 

[Outoftheblue]

Thanks for Massie

I thought he was OK at Carlton. Not a world-beater but a good, solid player.

 

[ok.crows]

Re: Re: Match-ups ?

Originally posted by DaveW
Franchina gives away 16cm there! I think Beaumont would take one of the three talls.

OK, so Beaumont on Carey, and Franchina on ???? Burton or Edwards?

Either way a problem one would think.

I was hoping the Blues fans would re-arrange the match-ups, as I confess I am quite unfamiliar with some of the names.

 

[Jars458]

McLeod has had knee surgery and may not play

The gap narrows.

Ok Crows - every position on the ground???? Go easy.

 

[ok.crows]

Originally posted by Jars458
McLeod has had knee surgery and may not play

The gap narrows.

Ok Crows - every position on the ground???? Go easy.

No, not every position. Just about every position. Maybe 5 that might lose 1-on-1, maybe as many as 10 by the time you get to include more-or-less break-even contests. Still gives the Crows IMO maybe 8 clear winners though, but I stress I did say "in my biased view".

The gap does indeed narrow if McLeod does not play. I suspect that many Blues fans would say there is no gap, as they are more than entitled to do.

So perhpas we might hear an opposing biased view of some Blues fan as a discussion? Maybe ? Seeing this is a discussion board after all, and it is their board.

 

[Deej]

There's no guarantee that Franchina will play, but if he does he'll spend much of the game on the bench.

Carlton aren't that good at the moment, still very much in development stages. Players you wouldn't know much about Mark are Norman, Waite, McKormick, Thornton and Fisher, all kids that are pretty decent footballers and could surprise the crows. Davies might even get back if he goes ok in the vfl next week, he's better than average for a youngster. Also I'm hoping Simpson has a blinder next week too, I've secretly got a very healthy opinion of the lad even though he's not got much of a gallop his last two.

I'd be tipping a Crow win, but it won't be the waltz that some might think.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

This should be a good game with the Blues coming back into some form. Carey v Martyn matchup would be worth going along to see. When Smart has played on Kouta we have gone well - when he hasn't Kouta has smashed us! Kenny has done a great job Whitnall in the past (so much so that big-red ko'ed Stinger off the ball in fustration). Stinger to get the Campo who is a genuine matchwinner. I' not expecting Macca to play due to his knee surgery (hope I'm wrong though)

B: Norman Martyn Franchina
F: Edwards, Carey, Burns

HB: Beaumont Thornton McKay
HF: Welsh, Perrie, Burton

C: Camporeale Koutoufides Waite
C: Stenglein, Smart, Doughty

HF: Fisher Whitnall Murphy
HB: Massie, McGregor, Torney

F: Houlihan Fevola Lappin
B: Johnc.ock, Bassett, Hart

R: Allan Fletcher Hulme
R: Biglands, Ricciuto, Bickley

I: Hickmott, Livingston, Davies, French
I: Clarke, Bode, Ladham, Gallagher

(edit: missed Ladhams, so Begley out IMO).

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Kenny has done a great job Whitnall in the past (so much so that big-red ko'ed Stinger off the ball in fustration).

Nah, you've been talking to Neil Kerley again. Stay away from hallucinogenic drugs Neil!

 

[LordLucifer]

It's nice to be optimistic but really, we will struggle to contain the Crows midfield. And if they run riot and pump it into the forward line enough times they have the players capable of kicking a winning score.

I wish I could be a little more positive about this one but I just get the feeling that Adelaide will benefit more from the weeks break than we will. Not only that, they are a top 4 contender and we are a bottom 4 near certainty, this makes it sound like a near mismatch.

Strange things can happen on the day I suppose ??

 

[Blues4Life]

Well it'll be tough but I think we'll have a decent shot at winning or atleast making a tough contest of it. Obvisously the big guns have to fire and I expect they will, but if Carlton want to win players like McKernan, Allan, Fevola, Houlihan and some of the youngsters will have to stand up and play well.

 

[ant]

Originally posted by TheSheik
It's nice to be optimistic but really, we will struggle to contain the Crows midfield. And if they run riot and pump it into the forward line enough times they have the players capable of kicking a winning score.

I wish I could be a little more positive about this one but I just get the feeling that Adelaide will benefit more from the weeks break than we will. Not only that, they are a top 4 contender and we are a bottom 4 near certainty, this makes it sound like a near mismatch.

Strange things can happen on the day I suppose ??

You are always a chance, at home, on Optus Oval.

We're not playing great footy. We have a few players coming off significant injury layoffs.

No McLeod or Goodwin, while Stevens will still be missing from our forward line.

Kouta's coming into a rich vein of form, and traditionally, we find it nigh on impossible to stop him.

And you don't feel optimistic? You should be $1.60 favourites Shiek.

 

[Blues4Life]

Originally posted by ant
You are always a chance, at home, on Optus Oval.

We're not playing great footy. We have a few players coming off significant injury layoffs.

No McLeod or Goodwin, while Stevens will still be missing from our forward line.

Kouta's coming into a rich vein of form, and traditionally, we find it nigh on impossible to stop him.

And you don't feel optimistic? You should be $1.60 favourites Shiek.

Good points, Adelaide has been in decent form without been outstanding yet and because of that and the missing key players I'd give the Blues a decent shot at home.

Kouta will have to be outstanding and Hickmott will hopefully be back and will give another option in the foward line, but it'll still be tough for the Blues.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by ant
You are always a chance, at home, on Optus Oval.

We're not playing great footy. We have a few players coming off significant injury layoffs.

No McLeod or Goodwin, while Stevens will still be missing from our forward line.

Kouta's coming into a rich vein of form, and traditionally, we find it nigh on impossible to stop him.

And you don't feel optimistic? You should be $1.60 favourites Shiek.

No doubt with Goody out & Macca in doubt there won't be much in this game. However Ant, the likes of Burton coming back into form will be a bonus. I still expect us to win IF we play to our potential, but if are not switched on Carlton will capitalise. Kouta looms as a the greatest concern. We know he is capable of just about winning games on his own. Should be a great game.

 

[ant]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
No doubt with Goody out & Macca in doubt there won't be much in this game. However Ant, the likes of Burton coming back into form will be a bonus. I still expect us to win IF we play to our potential, but if are not switched on Carlton will capitalise. Kouta looms as a the greatest concern. We know he is capable of just about winning games on his own. Should be a great game.

Yep, fully aware Kane, it's all about being swtiched on and that's where the absence of Macca and Goody may have a positive effect. No one person is going to cover those two, everyone will have to contribute.

And hopefully we actually do something instead of just saying how this is a danger game like St Kilda and Hawthorn earlier in the year! You can be sure that line will be brought up in the days leading to the game.

 

[snakebite01]

McLeod will start training next week and is expected to play so that will be a bonus for us.

Honestly, in all due respect to the Blues, we should never drop this match. Our starting midfield of Clarke, McLeod, Ricciuto, Stenglein looks too dangerous for Allan, Fletcher, Hulme and Kouta.

I also think our forward line (as Kane has named it) with Burns, Burton, Edwards and Welsh will be a bit quick for you guys if they are on song.

What does worry me is your forward line. If Whitnall, Fevola, Houlihan, McKernan and Kouta when he's down there are all on song then they will be almost impossible to contain. However, for you guys to win these guys will need to fire and as we've seen in he past they can all be a bit hot and cold.

I have a good feeling about this game for some reason but let's hope it's a good one.

Good luck Blues (but not too much )

 

[BlueMark]

Stinger ran into the back of Lance and knocked himself out.

Carlton will win