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Game Day Match Simulation - Carlton v St Kilda Sat 22nd Feb 11.00am @ Princes Park

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They play different roles
See below - exactly as what was to be put forward for our reasoning at draft time as BW was seen as a midfielder. Point of difference at that.
We should have drafted C.Simpson otherwise.
Can we just get Billy into the midfield ffs....it's why we recruited him, and potentially gives it a point of difference. We picked up Charleson and Carroll as halfbacks this year (and possibly even Duffy), so surely it's time to get him in the guts. Interrupted year for him in 2024 with injury and illness, but with a full preseason now behind him....

"On Billy Wilson's acquisition:



 
See below - exactly as what was to be put forward for our reasoning at draft time as BW was seen as a midfielder. Point of difference at that.
We should have drafted C.Simpson otherwise.

I wanted Simpson too, but that's another discussion

At this stage I don't see Wilson being ready to step in, in any capacity until he finds consistency at VFL level
 
See below - exactly as what was to be put forward for our reasoning at draft time as BW was seen as a midfielder. Point of difference at that.
We should have drafted C.Simpson otherwise.
100% agree....baffling.

And just as baffling - if we wanted a running half back flanker, why did we select Ollie as a high draft pick and try to re-engineer him as a defender, rather than draft someone like Josh Weddle?
 
100% agree....baffling.

And just as baffling - if we wanted a running half back flanker, why did we select Ollie as a high draft pick and try to re-engineer him as a defender, rather than draft someone like Josh Weddle?
Think wingmen were wanted and we (over)loaded with OH & Binns (+ Acres in the off-season). Maybe OH goes back to the wing and is improved from his stint down back. Thought he was initially earmarked for an inside role down the track.

Though Weddle can play pretty much everywhere, so wing and HBF could have been deployed.
 
Hard take on this game, some good and not so good moments.

Cowan looks really good, fit and strong. Think we see him come of age and really cover for the loss of Newman.

Motlop, same from him, he looks like a footballer now, fit and strong. Looks easily our number one small forward.

Hollands had a hot and cold game. Will obviously look better with more commitment on the loose ball. Outside is his role, hands not good enough for an inside role. Too two touch. I think he will get going as a defender but may not jump out of the blocks. Looks stronger and looks fit.

Cerra we didn't use him a lot and he didn't play with a great deal of intensity, butchered it by foot. Take nothing away from his game at all.

Williams looked to get to the right spots a lot but the ball just didn't come to him. Looks fit. Think in the real games we will see him step up more.

Smith looked good and grew into the game. Will need to take the carouling out of his game and chase the ball carrier a bit more directly and harder, feel his pressure, chasing and tackling will be a key focus as with his speed he needs to be the one bringing a lot of pressure. In the past we would have never developed this, current side and culture it will happen. He looks terrific with ball in hand and looks a natural footballer. Terrible news about his knee.

Fogarty touched the ball a bit and as often did not dispose of it well.

Cripps looks the best he has ever looked and dominated early.

Cottrell playing behind the ball was one of the better games I have seen him play.

McKay looks in good shape, had a good moment until it became clear he was the only marking option up forward and they got numbers in front of him. This tactically will need to change for us. This is why we need Moir and Kemp in the forward line.

McGovern didn't do anything much and that's fine, we know he can play.

Acres set for another big year.

DeKoning played a lot as a forward and a bit in the ruck. Tactics against him look clear, to not let him jump and to wrestle him. He needs to learn to work around this to either get the jump or to draw a free kick. This is where Matthew Kreuzer will need to step in.

Fantasia looks fit but did not really blow me away. I don't think he's a lock in the side, he's borderline. Late in the game he came on a bit which was a good sign.

Docherty to me looks better in defence. I think he has to go back and be part time on the ball. There or wing. Lord and Walsh to come into the onball group and Docherty out for mine.

Durdin nothing to note here.

Weitering in second gear and just playing a neat game,

Binns got a lot of it but his ball use needs to be more damaging.

Haynes didn't impress but I know he can play. I want to see him stronger in the contests. Lets wait for the real stuff.

Pittonet actually looked fitter and to be moving better than I have seen from him. Thought he was ok. Lets keep him out of the forward line though.

Hewett looks as good as he ever has. Fit and moving well.

Lemmy didn't get near it. Will be surprised if he makes it as an AFL player.

L Camporeale puts himself in some good spots, just reads the game as an outside player and handles the ball well.

Carroll impresses me. He's got pace and his attack on the ball is really strong. He's one to wait and watch, I think we have found an AFL footballer here. Could see him getting games this year.

Young hot and cold.

O'Keefe competes well, didn't get to see him handle the ball much but he rucks pretty well.

Saad in good shape.

Lord to me looked really impressive. Came on late, rucks did their best to avoid him early then he started to find it. I'm impressed with his kicking. He's got a little burst speed but his ability to find a team mate with a good clean handball under all circumstances is really impressive. Need to get Docherty out of there and Lord in. He also racked up tackes as well as touches and got a lot of it on the outside. We are mad if we don't have him higher in the pecking order. Gets it on the outside as well. Rocks in our heads if he is not in the side round 1.

Moir was in and out of the game but clearly reads the game like a forward and has some sound skills. I've seen him better at ground level though, I want to see him better committed to the ground ball and really put his head over it.

Nothing else to really mention. Skills looked rusty, kicking into our forward half was poor and we lacked overhead targets going forward. A lot of handballs hitting grass. Hardly any midfield rotations will need to change come round one as well. Plenty of key players missed IMO and some just not really trying which is just what you get.
 
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My quick take
Cerra - looked primed for a big year - barely got out of second gear but looked back to his best
Hewett - looked faster and was super clean as always
Fogarty - stamped his own papers - really can't see a role for him
Motlop - looks physically transformed and played like it.
Moir - on second watching he did more than I first thought but I think Kemp would be in front of him right now
TDK - awesome - should ruck solo or the majority of the year.
Smith - looked great with the ball but didn't get a heap of it and looks very light - hopefully the 12 months off can build him up and won't impact his evasiveness.
Hollands Brothers - Elijah looked good but may have been because everyone else was knackered when he came on - we need him to step up so hopefully it was a true account. Ollie - I liked at half back - made a few errors but offered plenty of bounce.
Carroll - showed why he was taken so late - at times looked really good but was a liability with ball in hand - hopefully has a good year in the VFL and pushes for a spot in 2026.
Haynes - explained why we got him - nothing brilliant but solid and reliable. Will compliment McGovern & Weitering well.
Docherty - hopefully ends his time on the ball, Honestly I could see him missing games this year if the likes of Binns and O HOllands take their chances.
 
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He was very impressive. But still think he is going to find it hard to find a place in this team unless he can displace Hewett in 2025 which is probably unlikely. Not a fan of having Cripps/Hewett/Lord at CBAs together. Trading Kennedy away was the smart move and although Lord is probably a bit more dyanmic than Kennedy the improvement in our ability to spread from stoppage should come from the likes of Smith, E.Hollands and Cerra returning to the midfield, rather than the addition of another inside contested player.
Hewett can play back as well as a shutdown guy. If rotated off the bench then it is fine. Players don't play the whole game in the midfield anymore
 
Can we just get Billy into the midfield ffs....it's why we recruited him, and potentially gives it a point of difference. We picked up Charleson and Carroll as halfbacks this year (and possibly even Duffy), so surely it's time to get him in the guts. Interrupted year for him in 2024 with injury and illness, but with a full preseason now behind him....

"On Billy Wilson's acquisition:



Agree entirely. I’ve seen a bit of Billy (played down this way). Has all the tools plus explosive speed.

Play him on ball the entire season in the VFL. Develop him as a mid. Have him track Cripps, Walsh & Cerra throughout training sessions.

If he can progress like I think he can, we will have that mid with speed we are crying out for.

Also like your call re Elijah stepping up and playing more mid minutes in Jagga’s absence. I said this when Smith went down. He would have to improve on his time on ball last year however, as he was pretty ordinary (which he recognised in an interview preseason).

Motlop is worth a try sporadically at CB’s, and I see he has set up there a few times over the summer. Looks so much fitter this year.
 
Agree entirely. I’ve seen a bit of Billy (played down this way). Has all the tools plus explosive speed.

Play him on ball the entire season in the VFL. Develop him as a mid. Have him track Cripps, Walsh & Cerra throughout training sessions.

If he can progress like I think he can, we will have that mid with speed we are crying out for.

Also like your call re Elijah stepping up and playing more mid minutes in Jagga’s absence. I said this when Smith went down. He would have to improve on his time on ball last year however, as he was pretty ordinary (which he recognised in an interview preseason).

Motlop is worth a try sporadically at CB’s, and I see he has set up there a few times over the summer. Looks so much fitter this year.
Like the prospect of Wilson playing on ball in ‘25.

We have been hit hard with injury. The departure of Bam Bam and Jack C. reduces our midfield depth. Jagga’s injury for mine brings Cooper Lord in to the top 23 further reducing the Ressies mid field options. Wilson’s future as an AFL player is likely behind the ball, but a season of mid time won’t do him any harm. We have plenty of half back options in the squad, with the Irish boys likely to appear back there along with Carroll and Charleson in their formative years.

Would absolutely need minutes in defence to remain familiar with structures should a spot open up, but a tough kid who should be up to decent midfield time at the lower level.
 

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Agree entirely. I’ve seen a bit of Billy (played down this way). Has all the tools plus explosive speed.

Play him on ball the entire season in the VFL. Develop him as a mid. Have him track Cripps, Walsh & Cerra throughout training sessions.

If he can progress like I think he can, we will have that mid with speed we are crying out for.

Also like your call re Elijah stepping up and playing more mid minutes in Jagga’s absence. I said this when Smith went down. He would have to improve on his time on ball last year however, as he was pretty ordinary (which he recognised in an interview preseason).

Motlop is worth a try sporadically at CB’s, and I see he has set up there a few times over the summer. Looks so much fitter this year.

In furious Agreement with the above.

Step up in Speed and ball use needed. (Newman out and Jagga’s expected midfield pt-of-diff now gone, need to inject these traits. )

IMO we won’t keep up with the fast sides and get to Top 4 if we don’t.

Wilson, Lord; mid-Cameos from Motlop Williams,… Elijah ? And M. Carroll looked quick

Golden Opp next 2 weeks (GWS practice, and R1/Tigers) to jam these guys into these roles, give them some acclimatisation in the roles, and hopefully see something that can be of help in the weeks ahead, starting R2Hawks
 
And me....

If a fit Kemp isn't playing in round 1, after preparing and training to prove himself as a forward, all summer, then you can be certain the kid will be wishing he made the move and left last year - and will be putting the wheels in motion to do so at the end of this year.

If he doesn't cement a spot, in a position of need as a 3rd tall, it might just mean he isn't good enough

Making a move to another club, like Dow did, doesn't mean he will succeed
 

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Game Day Match Simulation - Carlton v St Kilda Sat 22nd Feb 11.00am @ Princes Park

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