Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[teddy-hopkins]

Agree with this, and I think George Hewett's form has made the tough decision even harder to make but IMO if we want to move forward as a side George probably ends up playing VFL or at best rotates off the bench

It's nothing against George. He had a great season. His only problem is if Cripps and Cerra are also with him in the midfield we have no pace in there. So we either win the clearance or get burned on the outside. Motlop did really well in the midfield against ess. Made us look a lot sharper.

 

[Kernafides]

It's nothing against George. He had a great season. His only problem is if Cripps and Cerra are also with him in the midfield we have no pace in there. So we either win the clearance or get burned on the outside. Motlop did really well in the midfield against ess. Made us look a lot sharper.

As it stands id have George over Cerra every day of the week. Cerra occasionally has a nice game but I can't recall a game where I've said gee Cez was amazing today. Whereas I said that about George plenty of times last year.

 

[BluStreak]

I have no idea who will be in for Rnd1

I believe that we will start with the same old group as last season.

 

[GoBlues!]

I have no idea who will be in for Rnd1

I believe that we will start with the same old group as last season.

Putting aside Docherty, Fantasia, Curnow, TDK, JSOS who have retired or left the club, the inclusion of Ainsworth, Hayward, Florent, Chesser, and return of Newman, Kemp and Jagga…..then yes we will start with the same old group as last year.

 

[BluStreak]

Putting aside Docherty, Fantasia, Curnow, TDK, JSOS who have retired or left the club, the inclusion of Ainsworth, Hayward, Florent, Chesser, and return of Newman, Kemp and Jagga…..then yes we will start with the same old group as last year.

I was referring to the mids which the conversation was about

 

[GoBlues!]

I was referring to the mids which the conversation was about

My bad, thought you were referring to the whole team.

On the mids, I think if were talking about improving transition and ball movement into the forward line it’s going to require some changes to players, roles and game style.

Taking one of Cripps, Hewett or Cerra out and replacing with more outside run along with other changes on the wing and half forward line will make a huge difference.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

My bad, thought you were referring to the whole team.

On the mids, I think if were talking about improving transition and ball movement into the forward line it’s going to require some changes to players, roles and game style.

Taking one of Cripps, Hewett or Cerra out and replacing with more outside run along with other changes on the wing and half forward line will make a huge difference.

we need to lose our inhibitions and alliance to ‘our guy’ but what’s clear is that a midfield of Cripps, George & Cerra is unsustainable in modern football.. My view is George has the least upside of those 3 so if one needs to be sacrificed it should be hom

 

[BluStreak]

we need to lose our inhibitions and alliance to ‘our guy’ but what’s clear is that a midfield of Cripps, George & Cerra is unsustainable in modern football.. My view is George has the least upside of those 3 so if one needs to be sacrificed it should be hom

I see Cerra as the unproven player for mid, but I would rather that Cripps and George play less minutes in the same mid lineup.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

I see Cerra as the unproven player for mid, but I would rather that Cripps and George play less minutes in the same mid lineup.

I think Cerra is a different player to George, classier and more damaging.. the only advantage George has is his ability to lock down a player should we need it.

 

[BluStreak]

I think Cerra is a different player to George, classier and more damaging.. the only advantage George has is his ability to lock down a player should we need it.

He is a different player but he has not done enough to displace George.

 

[Coona Blues]

I think Cerra is a different player to George, classier and more damaging.. the only advantage George has is his ability to lock down a player should we need it.

He is a different player but he has not done enough to displace George.

There has been a bit of to and fro on here over who should make way for the “new breed”. It looks like there is a consensus we must change up the group.

I do not want to pontificate over who should make way. The bottom line is that we have to alter the mix and/or the roles. Both of the players along with Crippa are quality best team players in their own right. A couple/few other clubs have altered their mix and moved on some excellent players with the express purpose of modernising their mix around the ball.

The over riding factor I see is that we have a handful of young players capable of contributing in the middle and changing up the mix over the next couple of years. The balancing act of giving the kids game time and satisfying the incumbent group is going to be fascinating. Clearly Walshy gets added as an integral member to complicate the balance further.

We can’t/shouldn’t disrespect the senior group, but Jagga, Lord and likely Ben Campo play a huge part in our future. Hybrids like Ison, Moir and (possibly) Elijah will need reasonable development opportunities.

I am unsure of the mindset of our senior types, but there seems to be an opportunity to “cash” at least one in for trade bounty with Tassie looming and other clubs possibly needing a smattering of mature inside grunt.

 

[GoBlues!]

I think of the three, Crippa has more flexibility than Hewett and Cerra in that he can play effectively in a second position, up forward imo.

I can see value in Crippa spending longer spells up forward - he provides a second tall target and difficult matchup in an area of need, could help extend Crippas playing career, and importantly opens up opportunities to rotate other players through.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I’m not sure I can agree with some of the commentary around Cerra.
For one, he’s been played across half back, wing and half forward - so our coaches feel he is versatile and I’m sure like Hewett, if he was played solely midfield, we would have seen more ‘better’ games.
I feel some are being harsh, as he has been struggling to get his body right. Walsh included!
Fingers crossed both now have their bodies right, and our coaches let them do what they do best!!!

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Newman Weitering Cowan
Florent Dean O Hollands
Chesser Hewett Acres
Ainsworth McKay Hayward
Evans O'Keeffe Cripps
Reidy Lord Walsh

Smith Cerra Williams Moir L Young

Emer: Haynes McGovern Motlop Ison

 

[The Bighouse]

From the team at Zero Hanger

Selecting every AFL team’s best 23 for 2026: Carlton Blues

Set to look much different this year, do the Blues have the personnel to get back to September?

www.zerohanger.com

 

[Soapy V]

So hard to make a call on Rd 1 with pre season about to ramp up and practice matches to come

I really don't care who plays as long as we are improving and I see real hope. There has been significant change to our list and we will see many new names comes Rd One.

What I do want to see is:

1. Change in game style and philosophy
2. Improvement in our Young group (1-4 year players) so that they will earn spots and influence games
3. A truly unified group that gives 100% every week


To do this it will take a change in our coaching methods and overall culture/standards of club. I really hope this happens

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

So hard to make a call on Rd 1 with pre season about to ramp up and practice matches to come

I really don't care who plays as long as we are improving and I see real hope. There has been significant change to our list and we will see many new names comes Rd One.

What I do want to see is:

1. Change in game style and philosophy
2. Improvement in our Young group (1-4 year players) so that they will earn spots and influence games
3. A truly unified group that gives 100% every week


To do this it will take a change in our coaching methods and overall culture/standards of club. I really hope this happens

I agree. We have to wait for the preseason games. Also, nothing short of 100% effort can be tolerated.

We lost a 100% effort key defender, a conditional star full forward, and a ruckman who was all effort, until money turned his head.

If we can find the effort in our additions,.we haven't lost anything. We have to hope that Walsh is not compromised by free agent offers, or our season could sink fast.

It seems unthinkable not to be playing the likes of Cowan, Carroll or Moir after their late season form last year, but we have experienced replacements for what they do.

Cowan is Newman's direct replacement. Florent promises to keep Carroll out. Hayward might keep Moir out.

Then you wonder whether Ainsworth keeps Motlop or Evans out. Competition for spots is huge.

If Kemp is ready, he is probably our 2nd KPF, with O'Keeffe or Lewis Young, a resting second ruck.

It's about structuring up right for me.

The right amount of tall defenders who can defend one on one. To that end, I'd take Phillips as an SSP, and leave Young fighting for a resting ruck spot. If Dean can stand up as a 1st year KPF, more power to him, but I'm not placing that expectation on him.

So 2 tall defenders, one kicking general, 1 interceptor and 2 runners with pace. The 1 on the bench can be another tall/interceptor. We can't go in too slow again.

 

[DirtyLeeds]

I reckon that this is the third time I've done this team.......

Def: (7) Weiters, Newman, Cowan, Florent, Dean, Haynes, Carrol

Mids (9, one ruck) Reidy, Walsh, Cerra, George, Jagga, Lord, Chesser, O Hollands, Williams

Fwd (7) H, Hayward, Ainsworth, Cripps, Kemp, Evans, Moir

Emerg: McGov, Motlop, Cotters, Lij, Pitto, Saad, Ison

 

[Coona Blues]

I reckon that this is the third time I've done this team.......

Def: (7) Weiters, Newman, Cowan, Florent, Dean, Haynes, Carrol

Mids (9, one ruck) Reidy, Walsh, Cerra, George, Jagga, Lord, Chesser, O Hollands, Williams

Fwd (7) H, Hayward, Ainsworth, Cripps, Kemp, Evans, Moir

Emerg: McGov, Motlop, Cotters, Lij, Pitto, Saad, Ison

Really liking the names there.

Think the oversight is around the rucks. Not sure if Reidy usurps Pitto, a but moot for me. However, with H as the prime forward target, he won’t spend much, or any time rucking. Pretty sure O’Keeffe is a starter to support Pitto or Reidy, not liking the prospect of a Pittonet/Reidy combo. Lewis Young a chance for that role, but I reckon there is more of an eye to the future now.

 

[lopezz]

Newman, Weitering, Dean
Saad, Haynes, Florent
Chesser, Hewett, Smith
Hayward, McKay, Ainsworth
Evans, Kemp, Williams
Reidy, Cripps, Walsh

Cowan, Hollands, O'Keeffe, Moir, Cerra

Lord, McGovern, Pittonet, Ison, Motlop, Lij

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Obviously, injuries & availability are going to dictate a fair amount with who is selected against Sydney, with a few interesting questions..

Will Harry Dean be ready, and will we throw him straight in knowing the pressure that will be on our defensive line to contain Curnow. I suspect not, and if will play against Richmond.

Will the inclusion of Florent to our half back line, squeeze Saad out or does he find a new role.

Chesser or Acres fight out for a wing spot, with Ollie on the other.

Jagga obviously plays, but what role.. I have always thought having him play across half back like Sheezel and Nick Daicos did in their first year would be the best way to introduce him to AFL.

Pitto I think starts #1, but who is he paired with, with my very limited knowledge of Reidy it feels like playing him and Pitto together would not work, so does that mean HOK plays to assist, or do we find a role for Lewis Young

33

Lewis Young

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

197.9

3star

D

4.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

1.0

1star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

26.0

1star

D

14.4

4star

K

8.2

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

2.0

4star

MG

181.6

3star

.

Hayward, Williams, Ainsworth, Moir, Motlop - how do we get these guys to play in a way that supports Harry.

The wraps on Ison are huge, does he get a shot early?

 

[Blue__Balls]

I think Cerra is a different player to George, classier and more damaging.. the only advantage George has is his ability to lock down a player should we need it.

You're forgetting the ability to play his role to a very high standard week in, week out, pretty much without fail. For a "very good" midfielder, Cerra is still chasing consistency.

The other factor in this discussion around adding "outside speed" is which players will make the outside speed the most effective and damaging.

Cerra may be nominally more damaging by foot than George, but George has a wonderful ability to win the ball, slip into some space behind the contest and then find a short target by hand or foot. From a centre bounce, we've only got a couple of players there, so it's more likely to be a barnstorming Cripps or breakaway Walsh that Hewett is hitting up. But in general play, which accounts for a hell of a lot more of the stoppages, it's going to be guys like Chesser, Williams, Ainsworth, Evans and Moir holding some width as the outlet.

For all Cerra's ability to hit a couple of really tidy 40m passes each game (let's be honest, he's not carving teams up), it might be that the better combination is Hewett mopping up while Cripps attracts a double team, and feeding the outside runners and distributors.

 

[The Bighouse]

HUN with their team. Really don’t like McGovern down back & can’t see Fog getting a look in over other forward options..

 

[Soapy V]

Really liking the names there.

Think the oversight is around the rucks. Not sure if Reidy usurps Pitto, a but moot for me. However, with H as the prime forward target, he won’t spend much, or any time rucking. Pretty sure O’Keeffe is a starter to support Pitto or Reidy, not liking the prospect of a Pittonet/Reidy combo. Lewis Young a chance for that role, but I reckon there is more of an eye to the future now.

I want to see more run from defence and outside

I really hope we see names like Wilson, Charleson, Jagga, Ison, Chesser, Florent all step up and become regular high level contributors. They have what we need


PS Been a few comments from people internally that Matt Duffy is showing a lot of improvement and could be a real smokey in 2026 as a KPD

 

[Blue__Balls]

I want to see more tun from defence and outside

I really hope we see names like Wilson, Charleson, Jagga, Ison, Chesser, Florent all step up and become regular high level contributors. They have what we need


PS Been a few comments from people internally that Matt Duffy is showing a lot of improvement and could be a real smokey in 2026 as a KPD

Jeez, wouldn't that be a godsend! A Cat B Hail Mary coming from the clouds to lock down a key position post in an area of genuine need. Could see a lockdown role being a good way to introduce him to the senior side - just a real simple, old school, beat your man kinda gig. The Irish lands tend to have pretty unconventional but tidy disposal once they get used to the oval ball, so if he's at least reliable by hand and foot then that might be enough.

Biggest worry would just be that inexperienced brainfades and misjudgments on the last line of defence can and will lead directly to goals. Nothing against him individually, but those sorts of mistakes would have to be of greater concern with an international convert than a home grown Australian player. Hopefully he's been a quick study and picked it all up fairly quickly.