Bully's Boys 2023

[Bully]

What's up with Carlton? On paper easily top 4, great blend of inside mids & outside players, an All Australian spine, 2 Coleman medalists. I honestly reckon Vossy was the wrong call, starting Hewett sub, Walsh on the bench, can't help but think a reset is needed.

[Bully]

Just a tad under par, 2392 and lost all my league matches. Some big scores so I'm guessing some teams fully upgraded. Think I'm well behind the eightball at this stage.

Anyhow, there's not a lot on offer as far as rookies are concerned so I'm back on the mid pricers. I think Atkins still underpriced by 100k-150k and could be very handy as a swingman.

My Oliver replacement will be Laird, that's not a terrible outcome given I wanted him prior to the hammie and it frees up some cash.

Next week I'll look at Wardlaw, could be trading up from Roberts or freeing up some cash by trading Phillipou, not sure yet. All depends on bye numbers.

[Mat0369]

What's up with Carlton? On paper easily top 4, great blend of inside mids & outside players, an All Australian spine, 2 Coleman medalists. I honestly reckon Vossy was the wrong call, starting Hewett sub, Walsh on the bench, can't help but think a reset is needed.

He isn't a good coach, I felt Brad Scott was the best option of the second chance head coaches that were available at the time and stand by that. Even last year when we were winning they had glaring issues within games. They would dominate the opposition for a half and look like the best team in the comp and then let them back in to almost lose the game. The game plan was built around smashing teams at the contest and hope our key position forwards would take contested grabs. Teams would figure it out, double team our key forwards and we had no answer. The disposal wasn't good enough from the mids to pinpoint guys and we would get smashed in transition

We had a huge hole on the wings which we actually fixed this off-season, but our mids aren't winning the ball in the middle at the rate they were last year and teams can spread easily because they don't have the leg pace outside of the contest. The last few weeks we started playing Cerra more off HB and that seemed to be working as he was able to get easier ball and use his foot skills to help set up attacks. Docherty was playing more a half forward/mid role rather than coming off the back of the square and getting caught in no mans land where is isn't able to intercept and counter attack. He has been our best two way mid when he is in there and rotates through with Walsh as the extra at the contest.

Today was mind boggling, we played Ed Curnow in a forward tagging role on Daicos which forced Docherty back and Cerra into more of a CB role. Ed was not up to it at all and was losing Daicos, Cerra didn't look great at the CB's with the Pies out muscling him and Docherty was coming off the back of the square and unable to impact the CB's with how easily Collingwood were moving the ball. We then subbed Hollands off at HT who has been pretty good most of the year, is a running machine and other than the stupid 50 had been solid all day to bring on Hewett. We should have been subbing Curnow off at HT but Voss wanted to persist with the tag which had looked fairly ineffective through the first half.  The numbers for the other two look alright, but they impact the game more  when they switch positions.

Add in guys like Gov who was thrown forward to help curb Moore (probably because he didn't have a matchup on the other end and wasn't intercepting with the way Collingwood were moving the ball). I am not a fan of Lewis Young, I think he is good depth and that's about it. Kemp showed more in the two games he played this year but was relegated back to the VFL and they continue to play Young. Saad is a bit of a boot and hope player and players are able to get by him far too easily when he has elite leg speed. Pitto is a plodder that has a good HTA rate (which he should with our contested mids) but TDK is a better player and should be in the 22 ahead of him. I can keep going and it seems to be a running theme for a while with the club

[Bully]

Great posting Matt, I really feel for Carlton supporters, I want them to do well given their recruiting and drafting has generally been top shelf but every year they seem to underachieve. Reminds me a bit of Richmond just prior to the dynasty years, we didn't change the coach but had to radically adjust the gameplan. I think something similar is needed.

[Bully]

Macrae very likely to get DPP, Gawn, Walsh & Petracce still line ball at this stage.

[Ringo]

Looking good then.

[arbel]

Great posting Matt, I really feel for Carlton supporters, I want them to do well given their recruiting and drafting has generally been top shelf but every year they seem to underachieve. Reminds me a bit of Richmond just prior to the dynasty years, we didn't change the coach but had to radically adjust the gameplan. I think something similar is needed.

Yeah on paper they should be winning more games. Have a good spread of players across the lines.
They need to make finals this year to show for it

[Bully]

Just a par week with 2287, rookies blowing up left, right and centre. I can certainly sense I will struggle to fully upgrade, my cash generation is non existent. Mills will help but he's a month away.

This week it's Cripps/Ratugolea/Van Rooyen out for Ford/Merrett/Ridley. I like these trades for value, Ridley extreme value and could match a player like Lloyd. Not top 6 but good for 100 as a best case scenario.

Merrett still good value for his output, I'm happy with the midfield now and there's still room for Oliver in round 15.

I'm certain I'll have no injury trades even if I get a full deck, this season has been grueling to be honest, cash very hard and rookies too hot & cold.

Fyfe will come in next week, I'll see if I can find 80k and upgrade Sharp, beyond that I have no idea. Not keen on Steele, Sinclair maybe worth a look.

[arbel]

Yeah rookies this year are near impossible to pick and seems like there is almost no one coming through.
Think Ford is a good choice will be good for money making as long as he holds his spot which he should.
Merrett and Ridley good prices for what capable of.
I'm unsure on Fyfe ... Serong and Brayshaw well past him in the mids and as a fwd can't see him dominating games.
His price is insanely low though so understand the choice

[Bully]

Yeah rookies this year are near impossible to pick and seems like there is almost no one coming through.
Think Ford is a good choice will be good for money making as long as he holds his spot which he should.
Merrett and Ridley good prices for what capable of.
I'm unsure on Fyfe ... Serong and Brayshaw well past him in the mids and as a fwd can't see him dominating games.
His price is insanely low though so understand the choice

With only 8 trades left I may have to field Fyfe at M8 or F6, that reality is coming home to roost. Oliver is a must, that will cost 2 trades, so I'm down to 6 trades & 3 upgrades required. I'm stuffed in all likelihood but nevermind, it's been a tough year.

[Bully]

Laird cited and facing a week on the sidelines, my Oliver trade looking disastrous. Not sure I can get 18 on the field, boy this season sucks.

[arbel]

Laird cited and facing a week on the sidelines, my Oliver trade looking disastrous. Not sure I can get 18 on the field, boy this season sucks.

Ouch only 8 trades thats tough. Has been one of those years.

Yeah sucks with Laird, all my opponents this week, none have him ...
This sling tackle thing is weird. Understand protect the head but Neale barely hit his head, got straight up and no concussion???
It was barely a sling but more momentum, hope they fight it but yeah I'm same boat. Need some of those dropped players to return to get to 18

[Bully]

The word on the street is that Cripps will play this week, that's a bit of good news in a week of carnage. Merrett on hold for now, Ridley in for Rats.

Just for a quick survey lads, Cincotta versus Wardlaw, who do you pick if both are available?

[arbel]

The word on the street is that Cripps will play this week, that's a bit of good news in a week of carnage. Merrett on hold for now, Ridley in for Rats.

Just for a quick survey lads, Cincotta versus Wardlaw, who do you pick if both are available?

Wait to see when teams are named. Carlton has a few injuries and if Cincotta doesn't get named odds are he won't for a while.
Wardlaw is the flip side of this. Currently in the team but once their injured players are back does he hold?

[Mat0369]

Wardlaw. The Carlton HBF's are like playing Russian Roulette, you never know which one will fire.