My argument (and associated angst) is that the aforementioned match sims, training, practice games are necessary. What is necessary about representative football in 2026? It's just a money making exercise for the players and networks.

The players have enough hit-outs.

When I did my trainer course last year it was quite strict on the handling of any suspected neck or spinal injury. You have to assume the worst, and if that means cradling a player's head for 45 mins while you wait for an ambulance then hopefully you're as comfy as you can be.

If Weiters is out for an extended period then I think we've probably witnessed the death of SOO......again.

Unlike the NRL, State of Origin just isn't important to fans.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Latest suggests we should brace ourselves

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/02/14/ ... n-victoria





100% agree.

The loads are managed to the minute Doc. The club s&c department have a scheduled amount of playing time and physical stress they want into the players prior to the season commencement and State of Origin doesn't change it. If Weitering didn't play last night, he would have played Wednesday night where the risk of injury is just as high. There may well be enough hitouts but SOO changes the schedule, it doesn't add any extra playing time to it.
If the players want it and are driving it, I'm in favour. I just enjoyed watching footy again and to see players like Daicos, Butters, Rowell, Bont etc combining at centre bounces was as slick as you'll see.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1954941

Carlton FC
@CarltonFC
“First and foremost, we're grateful Jacob is okay and cleared of any major injury - it's a positive outcome given the circumstances."

Weiters has been discharged from hospital and will return to Melbourne today: he'll undergo further assessment in the coming days.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

“It is a fantastic career achievement that both Jacob and Patrick can hold deer to them for the remainder of their careers.”

That sounds extremely kinky but who am I to judge…?

It’s got to slow them down though.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Thank the footy gods... this is very un-carlton. Must be a cover up!

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Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

So no broken bones?

Any mention of his shoulder is conspicuously missing from the updates.

The next update will start……..“Upon further assessment………”

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I'm shocked to be sitting here

Very pleasing update. Much better than I was expecting. My interpretation of the release though is that he will miss some weeks.

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We are on our way back...

That’s where my mind went too. Do you think we’ve lost trust in the club?

FWIW, I haven’t given a shit about SoO since about 1987. The AFL media’s attempts to artificially confect a rivalry is cringe. I’m not completely opposed to some kind of all-star game, but I could also live without one. Like most people these days, I care about my team more than the game itself.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

IMHO we are well within our rights to be skeptical of the club with injury reporting. Especially this time of year to key players.

The update and graphic both say cleared of serious injury but leave room re the chest concern.

Be tough to then say oh sorry we didn’t notice the bung shoulder.

Can’t completely rule it out though I guess

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We are on our way back...