Opinion Has this Carlton list already peaked?

[GC2015]

Been an issue for a while. Disappointing for Cincotta who showed some really good signs in 2024. Curnow's sounds like just a clean out so hopefully his prep shouldn't be disrupted by a significant amount

That's fair. Weitering had his issues early in season 2024 and they still managed to qualify for the finals. I guess the real question is whether the Blues can make the next step into the top 4. They're obviously good enough to finish 5-8th, but can they take the next step into the top 4 before the window closes?

 

[Fadge]

That's fair. Weitering had his issues early in season 2024 and they still managed to qualify for the finals. I guess the real question is whether the Blues can make the next step into the top 4. They're obviously good enough to finish 5-8th, but can they take the next step into the top 4 before the window closes?

What window?

 

[Mr Meow]

That's fair. Weitering had his issues early in season 2024 and they still managed to qualify for the finals. I guess the real question is whether the Blues can make the next step into the top 4. They're obviously good enough to finish 5-8th, but can they take the next step into the top 4 before the window closes?

They're currently good enough for top 4. Bridging that last gap can require a few missing pieces.

Geelong 2017-2020 were a good-ish team but had serious flaws - especially in terms of the forward mix and runners. SDK, Cameron, Smith, Holmes and Stengle addressed most of them ready for 2022 before the large core of older players started declining. It allowed Blicavs and Atkins to move into midfield to add depth and accountability there, which refreshed Selwood and Dangerfield for a finals assault.

Collingwood 2023 got the help they needed in midfield from Mitchell and up forward with McStay + Hill. Of course there's no flag without N.Daicos turning into a star as quickly as he did. All important through the year and at stages in at least one of those close finals.

Brisbane 2024: comparing it to their 2022 finals series for instance, Dunkley and Ashcroft made a big difference. Indirectly it allowed Zorko to be an All Australian half back once Coleman went down. Lohman, Morris and Fletcher chipped in at important moments as well.

All of the above additions allowed the sides to be better balanced, have more weapons and make important positional rotations to existing players. Have the Blues recruited the players that will do the same to address their current weaknesses? It doesn't seem obvious yet. Their supporters will be able to answer that better.

 

[THE_GUN]

Carlton will be top 4 in 2025

They are also in the 'window' for the next 5/6 years to win a flag
They just have to try to keep the team together as their is already cap pressure and things are just going to get worse in the next 2-3 years

Good luck to them they have been on the bottom a very long time and there is a generation of carlton supporters that have seen no success

 

[Robertio]

Carlton will be top 4 in 2025

They are also in the 'window' for the next 5/6 years to win a flag
They just have to try to keep the team together as their is already cap pressure and things are just going to get worse in the next 2-3 years

Good luck to them they have been on the bottom a very long time and there is a generation of carlton supporters that have seen no success

Post of the year.

 

[Fadge]

Post of the year.

Another Richmond supporter empathising with Carlton.

It's cute.

 

[Robertio]

Another Richmond supporter empathising with Carlton.

It's cute.

They seem very intelligent supporters.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

Collingwood, Fremantle, Gold Coast and potentially Adelaide (thinking an easier draw) will all go past Carlton.

Is this an out of season April fools joke?

 

[Melvin]

Is this an out of season April fools joke?

more commonly known as a joke

 

[carlton_99]

The Carlton supporters were asked to post their best forward line in the Carlton/Collingwood thread, and this is what they came up with:

I know you like to misrepresent the truth but I was the only Carlton supporter involved in that discussion. I was asked to send my forward 7 and I provided that one. I don't speak for Carlton supporters and as a best 23 is completely subjective I would expect it to vary across Carlton fans.

(We were scoffed at for daring to suggest McInnes would be a starting forward at Carlton, but even he is averaging 0.95 goals a game, with half of them either subbed in or out).

The facts are you said that Reef McInnes, Finn Macrae and Ned Long would all be getting a game every week for Carlton. When asked who of the players that get a regular game for Carlton would they be in ahead of you failed to provide an answer. And you wonder why we "scoffed" at you

 

[RedsThirdLeg]

There's so much dumb in this its hard to know where to start

At the beginning……is always a good place….

 

[Mr Meow]

Mate, you've fallen for them again....

The Carlton supporters were asked to post their best forward line in the Carlton/Collingwood thread, and this is what they came up with:

E. Hollands - McKay - Silvagni
Williams - Curnow - Fogarty
Bench - Motlop

5 players who kicked 47 goals between them.in 2024, and they've lost a player who kicked 33 alone. One of those players is returning from a knee reco and averaging 0.75 goals a game. (We were scoffed at for daring to suggest McInnes would be a starting forward at Carlton, but even he is averaging 0.95 goals a game, with half of them either subbed in or out). Curnow to miss a chunk of the pre season with his knee.

The backline's not much better, with a midfield of Cripps (superstar), Walsh (who knows), Cerra (can he get on the park?), Hewett (honest and reliable) and Smith (will be a star but what will he produce in his first year?).

They did nothing to improve their list in the off season from a team that has gone 12, 13, 13 wins a season across the past 3 seasons, whilst the teams around them on the ladder have materially improved their lists.

They'll be no better than a mid table team, and God help them if they lose any of Cripps, Weitering, Curnow or TDK for any extended period of time...

The thing is you don't have to be a tremendously elite side to crack top 4. You can have a few holes or flaws.

Hinkley's Port sides are an example. Geelong has done it with poor forward lines some years or limited midfields in others. Melbourne 2022-2023 after that midfield/defence returned to "very good" rather than "unstoppable" like the back end of 2021. Their flaws saw them exposed in the end but they were still finishing top 4.

An elite top end should be carrying a team to finals and Carlton are basically achieving that. There's still some promise elsewhere but it's the rest of the team that a) need to be healthy and b) simply have to step up. Do that and they can finish top 4 but I question whether they have a truly elite coach or the full set of puzzle pieces to go a step further.

 

[Mr Meow]

When you tell us which players Reef McInnes, Fin Macrae and Ned Long would be playing ahead of in Carlton's best 22 I'll respond in kind.

Facts are you've spent years s*** canning Owies and Kennedy telling us they're terrible and now they've been traded apparently they're irreplaceable

Could really be summed up in one word...

Take the bullshit to the banter thread. This one is for actual discussion.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Take the bullshit to the banter thread. This one is for actual discussion.

Thanks for the advice, but I don't see how that post was anything but regular discussion.

Fadge has stated our list has peaked as a finals contender/mid table team.

He's also stated those 3 Collingwood players would be playing in Carlton's best 22 in 2025.

If he wants to cry foul that people won't respond to his posts properly then perhaps he should answer the questions we had re the ridiculous claims he's previously made here.

I'm more than happy to discuss Carltons list And whether we regressed in the off season or not, but how is one meant to do so when we have a poster continuously throwing out hyperbolic statements and then refusing to provide any further information/answer questions others we had as a result.

 

[Worm4]

I know you like to misrepresent the truth but I was the only Carlton supporter involved in that discussion. I was asked to send my forward 7 and I provided that one. I don't speak for Carlton supporters and as a best 23 is completely subjective I would expect it to vary across Carlton fans.

The facts are you said that Reef McInnes, Finn Macrae and Ned Long would all be getting a game every week for Carlton. When asked who of the players that get a regular game for Carlton would they be in ahead of you failed to provide an answer. And you wonder why we "scoffed" at you

Yes, passes off information as fact, and then proceeds to forget minor important details with the response.

 

[Mr Meow]

Thanks for the advice, but I don't see how that post was anything but regular discussion.

Fadge has stated our list has peaked as a finals contender/mid table team.

He's also stated those 3 Collingwood players would be playing in Carlton's best 22 in 2025.

If he wants to cry foul that people won't respond to his posts properly then perhaps he should answer the questions we had re the ridiculous claims he's previously made here.

I'm more than happy to discuss Carltons list And whether we regressed in the off season or not, but how is one meant to do so when we have a poster continuously throwing out hyperbolic statements and then refusing to provide any further information/answer questions others we had as a result.

You often say things like there's no point discussing Carlton with trolls but still you'd rather drag the toilet water in from that thread - "but you said this other thing over there!!!" - rather than address the balanced points made over the last 24h.

That to me suggests you're just in it for the antagonistic back and forth rather than genuinely wanting to discuss footy.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

You often say things like there's no point discussing Carlton with trolls but still you'd rather drag the toilet water in from that thread - "but you said this other thing over there!!!" - rather than address the balanced points made over the last 24h.

That to me suggests you're just in it for the antagonistic back and forth rather than genuinely wanting to discuss footy.

I'm happy to discuss Carltons list with anyone who isn't a renowned troll.

I never shy away from questions about Carltons list build or chances of success in 2025, but when you've got a poster posting tripe there's no point in entertaining it.

As I said, if hes happy telling us who in Carltons best 22 would be replaced by Long, McInnes and Macrae id be more than happy to continue the discussion.

Until then all we'll see him talk about is our sub par forward line and lack of scoring power despite leading the comp in points scored up until round 21 this year and finishing 4th overall despite our calamitous form to finish the season.

 

[Mr Meow]

I'm happy to discuss Carltons list with anyone who isn't a renowned troll.

I never shy away from questions about Carltons list build or chances of success in 2025, but when you've got a poster posting tripe there's no point in entertaining it.

As I said, if hes happy telling us who in Carltons best 22 would be replaced by Long, McInnes and Macrae id be more than happy to continue the discussion.

Until then all we'll see him talk about is our sub par forward line and lack of scoring power despite leading the comp in points scored up until round 21 this year and finishing 4th overall despite our calamitous form to finish the season.

Fair enough, I just question the point of these very personal Fadge-offs in threads that aren't the banter one.

It took us Geelong supporters a while but we eventually shepherded Meteoric Rising and Cleansweeper into the banter thread so it wouldn't pollute every single Geelong thread. You'll still find MR in there rambling away between bingo sessions.

I thought my posts were quite well balanced and was hoping for constructive Carlton supporter feedback. But you guys just can't help yourself with the Fadge wars.

 

[Mr Meow]

Case in point is Arr0w , stuck in his laugh emoji cycle and troll agenda instead of discussing football.

Anyone who pays attention can see that he barely even attempts football discussion on the main board.

 

[Arr0w]

Case in point is Arr0w , stuck in his laugh emoji cycle and troll agenda instead of discussing football.

I just find it amusing you preaching an unbiased, balanced stance

Play on though

 

[Mr Meow]

I just find it amusing you preaching an unbiased, balanced stance

Play on though

Respond to my football points in this thread or go troll in your banter play pen. Once again you'd rather attack or belittle others instead of talking about football.

If you think my points about Carlton in this thread are biased, unbalanced or unreasonable then surely you can explain how.

 

[THE_GUN]

Case in point is Arr0w , stuck in his laugh emoji cycle and troll agenda instead of discussing football.

Anyone who pays attention can see that he barely even attempts football discussion on the main board.

Laugh emoji's are interesting

* Is he laughing at your posts like what a load of *****
Or
* Does he agree with your post and finds it funny ?

 

[Mr Meow]

They're currently good enough for top 4. Bridging that last gap can require a few missing pieces.

Geelong 2017-2020 were a good-ish team but had serious flaws - especially in terms of the forward mix and runners. SDK, Cameron, Smith, Holmes and Stengle addressed most of them ready for 2022 before the large core of older players started declining. It allowed Blicavs and Atkins to move into midfield to add depth and accountability there, which refreshed Selwood and Dangerfield for a finals assault.

Collingwood 2023 got the help they needed in midfield from Mitchell and up forward with McStay + Hill. Of course there's no flag without N.Daicos turning into a star as quickly as he did. All important through the year and at stages in at least one of those close finals.

Brisbane 2024: comparing it to their 2022 finals series for instance, Dunkley and Ashcroft made a big difference. Indirectly it allowed Zorko to be an All Australian half back once Coleman went down. Lohman, Morris and Fletcher chipped in at important moments as well.

All of the above additions allowed the sides to be better balanced, have more weapons and make important positional rotations to existing players. Have the Blues recruited the players that will do the same to address their current weaknesses? It doesn't seem obvious yet. Their supporters will be able to answer that better.

The thing is you don't have to be a tremendously elite side to crack top 4. You can have a few holes or flaws.

Hinkley's Port sides are an example. Geelong has done it with poor forward lines some years or limited midfields in others. Melbourne 2022-2023 after that midfield/defence returned to "very good" rather than "unstoppable" like the back end of 2021. Their flaws saw them exposed in the end but they were still finishing top 4.

An elite top end should be carrying a team to finals and Carlton are basically achieving that. There's still some promise elsewhere but it's the rest of the team that a) need to be healthy and b) simply have to step up. Do that and they can finish top 4 but I question whether they have a truly elite coach or the full set of puzzle pieces to go a step further.

Arr0w these are the football discussion points. Agree or disagree and why? Or stuck laugh reacting and calling people unbalanced without anything to back it up?

 

[Arr0w]

Respond my football points in this thread or go troll in your banter play pen. Once again you'd rather attack or belittle others instead of talking about football.

If you think my points about Carlton in this thread are biased, unbalanced or unreasonable then surely you can explain how.

Not attacking or belittling anyone, just sharing my thoughts, after you tagged me

Play on

 

[Mr Meow]

Laugh emoji's are interesting

* Is he laughing at your posts like what a load of *****
Or
* Does he agree with your post and finds it funny ?

*Disliking being called out for chasing antagonistic troll fests instead of actually discussing the football points raised.