Opinion The 'Carlton related stuff that doesn't need it's own thread' thread Part 3

[JJBagger]

He dropped off this season significantly.

I actually think he'll fall off quickly - saw it at times this season, opposition players are able to run off him very easily if he doesn't get his hands on the pill first.

He injured himself against the dogs early in the year. Never got back to anywhere near his best

 

[Stamos]

He injured himself against the dogs early in the year. Never got back to anywhere near his best

Yep, clearly hurt and wasn't right for most of the year, in a year when the whole team collapsed.

But people think he's past it, a year after his dominant 2nd Brownlow?
FMD.

 

[Blue By Blood]

Lord should have his sights set on displacing Cerra. I think he's the most vulnerable. His career has just meandered the past 18 months. Right when we really needed him to take over and become that AA level mid. He's dropped way off. How he ended up so high in our B&F I'll never know.

Cerra finished 3rd in the BnF backing up a 4th place finish in 2023. Top 5 in 2 of the last 3 years. Despite us all knowing he has more talent than what he has shown he is clearly doing what the coaches want and they rate him highly as evidenced by his BnF finishes. They see the stuff we don't. We don't know what they're asking of him re his role etc. Rightly or wrongly I can't see Lord displacing him based on what we know.

I do think that with a better game plan and crisper ball movement, our mids will look a lot improved. That especially goes for a guy like Cerra who does have the better kick out of our main midfielders. Get him in a bit of space and he can use his weapons more. In congestion he falls into the trap all our mids do of just banging it on the boot. Additionally, I think he may have been a bit cautious with his running because of the hammies. Hopefully he stays clear of that and we will see the best of him.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

I'm not taking a Top 3 B&F finish in an appalling on-field year (where the coaching group also showed themselves to be largely clueless) as evidence of anything.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I'm not taking a Top 3 B&F finish in an appalling on-field year (where the coaching group also showed themselves to be largely clueless) as evidence of anything.

It's evidence that they rate him. And thus, he'll be hard to displace.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

It's evidence that they rate him. And thus, he'll be hard to displace.

The 2025 coaching group rated him. Yes there are still elements there but I am hopeful we will be 'rating' different things in 2026.

I don't dislike Cerra. I actually think given his (relative) versatility he is one that doesn't necessarily have to play pure midfield to perform a role for the team.

 

[Ezayyak]

Find it interesting we downplay the role of a coach. It is the coaching that sets up the framework of how the team will play. How forwards lead, other create space. When to overlap, how to set up on a rebound, where the players should move to. Yes, there are large parts of a match when these things don't work and the talent and effort of individuals makes the difference, but set plays and structure gets teams over the line.

See this often in Representative basketball. Particularly at VC level. Games are turned on its head in a quarter because the coach realises the first game plan isn't working and goes with another. All of a sudden they've got all the momentum scoring off set plays then breaking the opposition with individual brilliance. It's takes both. You need to cattle to be a good team, and you need a great coach who has come up with the system to take these players to win the premiership.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Cerra finished 3rd in the BnF backing up a 4th place finish in 2023. Top 5 in 2 of the last 3 years. Despite us all knowing he has more talent than what he has shown he is clearly doing what the coaches want and they rate him highly as evidenced by his BnF finishes. They see the stuff we don't. We don't know what they're asking of him re his role etc. Rightly or wrongly I can't see Lord displacing him based on what we know.

I do think that with a better game plan and crisper ball movement, our mids will look a lot improved. That especially goes for a guy like Cerra who does have the better kick out of our main midfielders. Get him in a bit of space and he can use his weapons more. In congestion he falls into the trap all our mids do of just banging it on the boot. Additionally, I think he may have been a bit cautious with his running because of the hammies. Hopefully he stays clear of that and we will see the best of him.

That is about the most glass half full version of where Cerra is at.

His kicking was atrocious in the last half of last year as his form went from unnoticed to noticeably poor.

BnF for Carlton is probably voted on by the match committee who couldn't find their own ass with both hands these days. Picking cerra as our 3rd best only highlights how shocking their judgement is.

As I say he is in his prime and should be pushing AA. I doubt he even gets a mention by anyone ever in AFL circles. He's anonymous.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

The 2025 coaching group rated him. Yes there are still elements there but I am hopeful we will be 'rating' different things in 2026.

I don't dislike Cerra. I actually think given his (relative) versatility he is one that doesn't necessarily have to play pure midfield to perform a role for the team.

I don't dislike cerra either but I reckon if you asked him if was happy with his 2025 season he'd say no way. He's got to improve to keep his spot now.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Cripps 31 and Hewett 30, are entering the tail end of their careers.

They’ve been great inside midfielders and warriors, but I think we’ll see changes if we want to be a better transition team. Changes in game plan and player roles - Cripps, Hewett, Cerra may not be the ideal combo moving forward.

Changes like Cripps spending time up forward to provide another tall target and contested strength, will give others like Lord opportunities to be rotated through the midfield.

Cripps could easily go another 5 years. Pace has never been a big strength. Those guys tend to last longer.

 

[Canyouhearthedrums]

Personally don’t want to see Kemp down back again.
Going by his story, hopefully settling up forward and to get regular games if fit & firing.

Refreshed and ready for change: Comeback Kemp's update

A big chat with Brodie Kemp about recovery, role and readiness for change in the latest Friday Feature.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Yep. Understand there is a gap back, but equally one forward without Curnow. He seems a good fool for Harry on paper, and was showing way more forward than he did back.

 

[Espio]

Yep. Understand there is a gap back, but equally one forward without Curnow. He seems a good fool for Harry on paper, and was showing way more forward than he did back

I mean I'm sure he's entertaining and Harry could use it with his mental health battles but he is there to play football.

 

[BluStreak]

I would leave Kemp as a forward. I believe that he has shown enough that he will prove to be one of our more consistent forwards. I predict him to be an average 2 goal/game forward

 

[azlou]

I would leave Kemp as a forward. I believe that he has shown enough that he will prove to be one of our more consistent forwards. I predict him to be an average 2 goal/game forward

I predict he will kick more goals than Harry if fit.
I know I’m far out on the limb but I think it’s about to click for him

 

[JustaBattler]

This is kind of a pointless argument.

You need talent, gameplan, structure, motivation, discipline, mental toughness, endurance, lack of injuries, stable management, off-field success and more.

They're ALL important.

Anyone that says x is more important than y is missing the point. This isn't a video game where you only have 5 character points to choose from.

A good club should be looking to improve and maximise in EVERY area.

A great coach won't magically transform a crap list. Off-field success doesn't make the players more talented. But that doesn't mean improvement in those areas is futile.

Within the limitations of football dept spending, we should be looking to invest and improve wherever we can.

there is no argument with the notion that a good organization seeks to improve everything all the time. I m happy to see carlton having made the biggest and most significant changes to off field management - ever, whilst at the same time managing a significant exodus of key position players. I ma happt see Carlton invesrting in running capability and expeerience in teh area wher Carlton has had clear issues - in teh foirwad ines. Maybe these ivejstments will allow the coach to have more posiotnal options and a different game style- BECAUSE HE HAS DIFFERENT PLAYERS?

 

[GoBlues!]

I ma happt see Carlton invesrting in running capability and expeerience in teh area wher Carlton has had clear issues - in teh foirwad ines. Maybe these ivejstments will allow the coach to have more posiotnal options and a different game style- BECAUSE HE HAS DIFFERENT PLAYERS?

JaB I will be happy if you invest in a spell checker before posting….

 

[Red Bull]

I'm not taking a Top 3 B&F finish in an appalling on-field year (where the coaching group also showed themselves to be largely clueless) as evidence of anything.

POTY
B&F has always been irrelevant for mine.
More often than not used by coaches as a tool to justify their decisions … rightly or wrongly.
Someone wins the B&F at wooden spoon clubs every season … so what … who cares !!
A midfield including Cripps, Cerra and Hewett doesn’t cut the mustard.
Tough clubs make tough decisions.
We live in hope …

 

[JJBagger]

POTY
B&F has always been irrelevant for mine.
More often than not used by coaches as a tool to justify their decisions … rightly or wrongly.
Someone wins the B&F at wooden spoon clubs every season … so what … who cares !!
A midfield including Cripps, Cerra and Hewett doesn’t cut the mustard.
Tough clubs make tough decisions.
We live in hope …

This is the ultimate ‘glass half empty’ take. The coaches who vote on the BnF, use it to justify their decisions. Bloody hell

 

[Red Bull]

This is the ultimate ‘glass half empty’ take. The coaches who vote on the BnF, use it to justify their decisions. Bloody hell

Only the naive would dismiss it.
Or those wearing these …

 

[BluStreak]

I predict he will kick more goals than Harry if fit.
I know I’m far out on the limb but I think it’s about to click for him

i agree, once he has confidence in his ankles, he will be a great foil for Harry. I believe they will work well together.

 

[JJBagger]

Only the naive would dismiss it.
Or those wearing these …

View attachment 2495952

I mean, you can not dismiss it, but I can also not dismiss that coaches just work for a paycheck and couldn’t care less about footy. Doesn’t mean it’s a viable theory or accusation

 

[Red Bull]

I mean, you can not dismiss it, but I can also not dismiss that coaches just work for a paycheck and couldn’t care less about footy. Doesn’t mean it’s a viable theory or accusation

Exactly,
If B&F results align with coaches strategies, then those coaches can make the case for another contract and another paycheque.
AFL is just a job for many to make as much as possible.
Always back self interest …

 

[JJBagger]

Exactly,
If B&F results align with coaches strategies, then those coaches can make the case for another contract and another paycheque.
AFL is just a job for many to make as much as possible.
Always back self interest …

Again, that’s just a bad faith accusation

 

[Red Bull]

Again, that’s just a bad faith accusation

Would have thought the Jack Silvagni affair would have driven home the realities of AFL football these days to most.
Disneyland is that way >>>

 

[JJBagger]

Would have thought the Jack Silvagni affair would have driven home the realities of AFL football these days to most.
Disneyland is that way >>>

Got nothing to do with anything I’ve talked about. Seems like you’re looking to justify rubbish opinions