Witts out for the year.

No Rowell or Day.

All other GC rucks injured.

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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

Given their lack of ruck resources, I wonder if they drop Levi and bring in Gov, and just back Pitto to play 90% game time in the ruck. Levi has been pretty horrible.

I recall our game against Port last year.
From memory Lycett was suspended or injured and we all thought Pittonet would have a day out.
Ladhams came in and played ruck. He had 21 possessions, 5 score involvements and 4 clearances. Pittonet had 3 possessions for the day with only 1 effective disposal to his credit. He was given an absolute bath.

Injuries to opposition quality players are an opportunity (Witts is a gun IMHO) but it's also up to our player to step up. Pitto failed dismally when given this opportunity last year. Let's hope he learned a lesson and stamps his authority on the contest.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I agree BV haven’t really been impressed with Pitto this year beaten by Nank in first round beaten comprehensively by Grundy and ok against Freo
Should dominate on Saturday but complete domination by Grundy last Thursday night against Brisbane and Brisbane still won the match and were competitive in the clearances shows it takes a bit more than just getting tap outs

Massive danger game when we come up against Gold Coast early in the season:

Round 4, 2019 - Gold Coast by 2
Round 2, 2018 - Gold Coast by 34
Round 4, 2017 - Gold Coast by 26
Round 3, 2016 - Gold Coast by 54

Thankfully past performance does no guarantee future results.

Show up from the bounce like last week and get the job done. 2-2 is on the offering and all of a sudden we’re back to even win-loss record and in the season up to our eyeballs. Go 1-3 with Port and Lions next up and we’ll be chasing tail all year. No more drinking the bath water after a solitary win. Come out with a hard edge like last week. This mob is young and a bit undermanned but well drilled and will beat us if we’re not prepared to do all the physical stuff. Big test as Verbs mentioned we don’t have a great recent record against these guys, especially early season when they are up and about

Yep I feel very much the same about this game as I did Freo. Opponent has injuries & we are expected to win.

Which makes me nervous

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#DonTheStash

The players now have the blueprint laid out for them. They saw on Sunday what can be achieved when the intensity, aggression and effort are at a high level. They should be excited by the possibility of what can be achieved if that becomes their minimum output .

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/89903 ... jJBNB5uumU

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I'm not convinced that Gold Coast are "up and about". That's like saying we're up and about.

Hit them hard, stop King and we'll get the job done.

Hot dry evening, hope our fitness lasts 4 quarters, if it's close at 3/4 time I'll be nervous.

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I think it would be good to introduce another mid/running type.

Despite some data showing that our small forwards are providing good support the one down fall is that they rarely get a run in the midfield.

Murphy - days are probably over getting a run in the midfield, I'd be concerned with his defensive game.
Eddie - forward only
Fogarty - has had a few stints
Gibbons - same as Fogarty

Kennedy/Stocker/Cunningham can play forward but also provide good midfield options.

The forecast for Sat night is very warm, need more two way runners. Cant expect Walsh, Cripps, Ed & Dow to attend all stoppages.

The game is so quick and I think we are short of another 1 or 2 runners.

Setterfield & LOB are another two who could be considered.

I don’t reckon we’ll make many (if any) changes this week though.

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

I think Murphy, Fogarty and Gibbons can and should all do stints through the midfield.
As well as SPS, and of course Williams sharing the prime mid roles with Cripps, Ed, Walsh and Dow.
Although Casboult is out of form I think he is required to enable Harry to do what he did. Casboult structurally. Eddie likewise required but more tactically.
I think we are more chance to beat them in the air than to run them off their feet.
Although, we’d better be prepared for a more slippery ball than we’re used to with the humidity up there...

Danger game LOL

..agree, I understand why MM is out of the middle.. ..but he's a rover, and it's the middle where he's the best at what he can do.. ....and we need to run as many as we can through the middle, especially with reduced rotations.. ....and we have little experience there too..

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Only if he is allowed to run around onto his left foot. Otherwise gang tackled and holding the ball. Embarrassing it was in the first 2 games. Until he learns to use his right foot he stays in the magoos.

This makes me think, should we play a tall side and play a high possession style game kicking to the talls?
Plus I'd really like to see Dow tagging Anderson, this could be a great match up and provide a lot of answers.

The risk is we go in too slow.
I'd bring in Kennedy or Stocker or Setters for Levi.
Pitto won't be getting worked over.

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True, but it could also be a risk to play a 1 on 1 fast ground game against a side that "could" be said to have better or the same quality ground players with home advantage.
I just think back to all of those time when teams like the Kangas had the height advantage and used to flog us in the air, it's worth a thought anyway.

I’m also intrigued about giving Dow a tagging role, or at least a super-accountable role, on a prolific midfielder.
This could well teach him more about how to get to the ball more often and with more effect. Could be good...