The rolling round by round preview and discussion thread *Round 11*

[Mat0369]

Everyone is writing the Blues off already. Ratten is backing Bower and Russell to cover the injuries to Duigan, Laidler and Jamo.  A fit Kreuzer in the team will make a difference.

[Colliwobblers]

Only the fools are writing them off :)

Great team when the defence gets sorted out it is almost as classy as the midfield with all the boys up and going.

Really think Yarran and Russell will have great seasons add to them they have a couple of great key defenders a good run with man and throw in Scotland and Carrots and they don't have too much too worry about down back.

Kroooze will be great he just has to be average anyway with that midfield it doesn't often matter who wins the hitouts there is enough class around to get the pill anyway but think he will go better than average.

Betts looks dangerous, fwd line is solid enough

Top 4 - ambitious but it is for every club, I reckon 2nd to 6th but i'd bet 4th behin Hawks - Cats - Pies

[TheMailman]

I'm not writing them off

They've had some 10-11 years to get their team sorted out from the bottom. Any steps down for them would be a huge setback

Fortunately, they only look to go up. A good preseason really would of done it for them but I guess it adds a small amount of guessing.

Top 4 should be their aim, top 3 maybe

[Mat0369]

I am watching the round 1 replay now. Carlton had Simon White playing on Jack Riewoldt. Henderson is an automatic upgrade over White. The backline has a few injuries right now with Laidler, Jamison and Duigan out. Jamison missed a lot of time last season. Russell and Bower are the forgotten men. Russell finished 2nd in the 2010 best and fairest. Last year an injury forced him out of the team and the form of Duigan and Laidler kept him out. Bower a couple of years ago was playing on guys like Franklin and Brown and holding his own. His body let him down. If he can hold up for 6 weeks he will be a valuable depth player.

After what happened with Carlton winning the pre season comp a few years ago and where they finished, I don't take much from it other then how the younger guys play. The health of Waite is a bit of a worry. He always finds a way to get injured. If he can play the entire season they should be ok. There were times last season they just needed someone who could take a contested mark. Kreuzer/Hampson could also be that man.

[bunyip]

If they can stay healthy they will be a problem. They probably have the depth to cover most players, but they wouldn't want any more long termers. It's so important to get off to a good start.

[jezzablue]

we'll be fine guys (i hope!!!)
ive taken the nab series with a grain of salt!!
even last week when we lost to north we only slumped for 20 minutes or so...and ratts didnt react at all...keeping judd in a forward pocket etc...swinging gibbs, murphy, simpson, etc through the middle to get a few touches and runs...
our midfield is primed, and thats were it will be won or lost...

yes richmond played well, but from what i can see they pretty much fielded and placed their full strength team...apart frome deledio in the first few games.
unlike the blues who always ran out with about a dozen of our first 22 in each game. half strength at best at any time.

would be nice going into the season opener with that winning feeling...bt that in itself wont win or lose the game for us.

go blues!!!

[truBLUE]

Wouldn't write us off yet ,might have to tweak a little in def , but still a top 4 side imo ,time for some others to step up ect bower,russell maybe even a chance for players such as watson ,but we be ok  ;)

[Colliwobblers]

Do you think Bower can hold a spot in the team after the injured guys come back, I'm pretty sure Russell will but not sure Bower will play much after the others return although he is almost a certain starter now is he not?

[Mat0369]

Bower was in the 22 at the start of last year. Henderson now has his spot in the backline. Bower is battling for a spot in the best 22 along with Thornton, Henderson and Laidler. You would say that Laidler and Henderson are certain starters when fit. This means Bower is in a competition with Thornton for the last spot. Thornton would be ahead of him for the fact he can play forward and back and is more versatile. This is why Ratten brought up in a recent article they had been working on Bowers versatility.

Jamison has never really been able to put together a full season which helps Bower out. If he plays well enough to hold his spot and Thornton is stuggling they could drop Thornton and use Henderson as a swing man.

[Master Q]

We are the navy Blues...

[truBLUE]

We are the navy Blues...

+1  nice game by the boys woo hoo

[Mat0369]

I was very happy with last nights effort. Undermanned, playing like crap and to still win by 44 points was great. There was one major problem I noticed last night and it cost Carlton quite a few goals. When Richmond won a clearance they were able to run and spread way to easily. The midfielders and backs were not chasing their men hard enough leading to open Richmond players all over the place forward of the ball. The defensive midfield pressure needs to increase otherwise when they play a team like Hawthorn they will get slaughtered. Missed tackles and angles of pursuit (on the man and ball) is something else which cost Carlton quite a few easy goals. Hopefully it is still rust and the pressure and tackling improves.

Players who impressed last night:
Kreuzer- Absolute gun. Watching the game live it looked like he dominated the hitouts (3 or 4 in a row to advantage in the second quarter) and around the ground. When I looked at the stats and it said he only had 15 hit outs I thought that can't be right. Follow up work was spectacular all night and he put pressure on at ground level

Carrazzo- Butchers the ball on occasions but he was able to help do a tagging job in the middle (held Cotchin in check when he moved onto him) while racking up the ball himself

Murphy- Racked up the stats after a quite first quarter. Hit targets by hand and foot and was in the top 5 players on the ground.

Simpson- Outstanding from start to finish. Highlight had to be the run through the middle and the pinpoint pass to Armfield running into goal.

Curnow- Got caught holding the ball a couple of times but was critical in congestion and helping ease the clearance load on Judd

Henderson- Played very well one out with Jack Riewoldt. Beat him in most one on one contests like he did last year when he played on him. Is critical to our backline success with Jamison often injured

Kane Lucas- Came on as a sub and kicked a critical goal. Should start on the field next week. 5 possessions and 2 goals in the last quarter is a great effort.

Hampson- Contested marking was fantastic. Took some big grabs or brought it to ground. Both he and Waite also dropped some marks they should have taken but both looked great (other then Waites report) in patches and will be critical to the Blues structure

Yarran- Took the game on and got caught a couple of times. Also put the team on his back when he kicked that amazing goal.

Gibbs- Solid game all night and kept Deledio quiet

Laidler- To get up and play after the injury in the pre season is an effort in itself. He was able to run off his man and kill contests or mark the ball. Great effort all around.

Disappointments:

Russell- Out of position on Cotchin when he went forward far to many times. Did not win much of the ball himself. One of the main offenders when getting caught not chasing his man when Richmond would run forward. Will probably end up the sub next week

Scotland- For a player of his ability he seemed slugish (fell over when he would normally keep his feet). Expect more from a player of his ability.

Waite- Listed mainly because he found a way to get reported less then 2 minutes into the season. Hopefully he gets off

Defensive running- Defenders and midfielders let there men get away from them way to easily. Richmond players peeled off their men far to easily and has to improve

Decision making- Blues set up for the switch and had loose men on one side of the field. Players would boot it down the line to a 2 on one and then get caught out. Happened far to many times.

Tackles- Richmond players were able to break far to many tackles or were sucking up 2 Carlton players and then giving the cheap handpass over the top to the open man. This has to do with angles of pursuit

Unable to kill contests- The ball is coming in and players either ran over the ball or just missed it completely. Happened a couple of times which resulted in easy goals.

[Cicjose]

Yeah Waite apparently took 88 seconds to get reported.

not sure if that is a record

http://www.bigpondsport.com/even-269-gamers-can-snap/tabid/91/newsid/86223/default.aspx

Stray thoughts

- Jarrad Waite's achievement in being reported 88 seconds into the new season must surely be a record, even for Waite.

- Mark Neeld's admission that he was not surprised by Melbourne's capitulation against Brisbane hasn't received the attention it deserves. The public may have underestimated the magnitude of the task facing the Demons' new football department.

- The hype around Bulldogs first-gamer Clay Smith was warranted. Thirteen touches and four goals in three quarters was a very handy debut.

- Gold Coast could easily have crumbled after an appalling first quarter against Adelaide. In a step forward from 2011, they didn't. It's not yet clear if they're better than GWS, though.

[Mat0369]

Yeah Waite apparently took 88 seconds to get reported.

not sure if that is a record

http://www.bigpondsport.com/even-269-gamers-can-snap/tabid/91/newsid/86223/default.aspx

Stray thoughts

- Jarrad Waite's achievement in being reported 88 seconds into the new season must surely be a record, even for Waite.

- Mark Neeld's admission that he was not surprised by Melbourne's capitulation against Brisbane hasn't received the attention it deserves. The public may have underestimated the magnitude of the task facing the Demons' new football department.

- The hype around Bulldogs first-gamer Clay Smith was warranted. Thirteen touches and four goals in three quarters was a very handy debut.

- Gold Coast could easily have crumbled after an appalling first quarter against Adelaide. In a step forward from 2011, they didn't. It's not yet clear if they're better than GWS, though.

I remember looking at the clock after he was reported and it was 1.30. What is worse is that I have him in my SC team. He is a gun when he is fit and not getting reported so when crap like this happens it just frustrates me. Carlton desperately need his contested marking up forward.

Melbourne losing that game was a disgrace. They had so much go on during the week that they had to come out and win. The older players had to try and stamp their influence on the game (Moloney, Jamar, Green, Davey) to help the young guys out. They might not be in the leadership group but they still need to be leaders on the field for the club.

Still gutted I picked Ledger over him when I was looking at Clay Smith all pre season.

I watched that game and GC had some very nice patches. They impressed in stages (Bennell, Hall and Matera linked up a few times perfectly through the middle resulting in goals is one that comes straight to mind) and can play some dangerous football.

[Mat0369]

Brisbane Lions at the Gabba this week. Will be an interesting match up after they smashed Melbourne. Personally I think Duigan and Jamison should spend another week at VFL level. It will be a short turnaround for them if they do play and an interstate trip. Since Carlton are playing Collingwood next week the best option would be to give these two guys another run in the twos and get them primed to play next week.

Hudson and Leuenberger in the ruck against Kreuzer and Hampson will be a good match up. The midfield battle will also be great to watch. The depleted Lions forward line helps out Carltons undermanned defense.