Absolutely, targeting us as the think we can be beaten.

This is Teague’s biggest game as coach. Coming off an emotional win and having an opposition effectively saying our best will be better than yours. Can he get the mindset right?

I've watched GC a few times now and if we approach our forward 50 entries like we did against Freo, then Ballard will take about 150 marks. Seems an excellent reader of the play and a fantastic mark. In general, GC's pressure was excellent for just over a half, they really rushed the Tiges on many occasions but they tired as others have mentioned. Richmond dominated the first quarter but GC's defence soaked up the heat pretty well and didn't get blown away and managed to snag a couple of goals on their rare attacks going forward.

Rankine had very little impact, nor did King, but both looked threatening when it was in their area. I'm worried the height and marking ability of King & Day might test Weiters and Jones. Lukosius was excellent as their main distributor from half back with numerous long, accurate kicks. I'd be tempted to have someone sit on him in that tagging, defensive forward role and try to stifle that. Harbrow's return might make that less effective. Witts was good and he'll be a challenge for TDK if he's alone, assuming Pitto doesn't come back in. Anderson played the best game I've seen him play, looks a very solid player.

There's no doubt GC will be tired with the short turn-around between games, coupled with the style of game they play. If we can absorb their pressure and not get blown away early, I suspect we'll wear them down in the end.

They have been using Lukosius in the back half a lot this year and tried getting the ball in his hands. Much like us with Doc. He is an excellent user and decision maker Lukosius. Need to try and negate his influence.

Yep, they looked spent in the second half.

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#DonTheStash

They'll be spent but pissed off after last night and another loss. They'll throw everything at us and are capable of blowing us away if we come out lazy and switched off. Play 4 quarters (possibly 3) and we've got it.

This in particular.
We set up too deep and allow the defence to form a wall behind us. Week after week we allow the opposition sweeper to take a world record uncontested marks. It is utterly stupid and has cost us dearly.
Against the Dogs and Geelong we actually ran the footy a LOT. The entries were deeper and there were tall forwards marking the footy. Of late we have reverted to the long down the line style, forgetting how we dominated early games. Add to that the shallow F50 entries and you have a recipe for less marks inside fifty and spills are too far out for the crumbers to walk into goal. I think we miss Cunningham taking ground.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

We played long when we were good against the Eagles too. As soon as we started kicking to 50-60m our it was game over

https://footymaths.blogspot.com/

Footy maths says Carlton in a 53% chance to make the 8 post last weeks win against Freo.

Therefore, this game against the GC could be our most important of the season.

CB

Available for this week
David Cuningham - Calf: "He has trained well in the last 4-5 days. He's a really good chance to play."
Jack Martin - Calf: "He's not a certainty, but we feel he's a good chance to play this week."
Marc Pittonet - Finger: "We think he'll be available to play."

Unavailable
Mitch McGovern - Hamstring: "He got a little bit tight in training last week so we've had to pull him back. He won't be out there for 2-3 weeks."

Done for the year
Ben Silvagni - Shoulder: "Undergoing surgery, unavailable for the rest of the season."
Jack Silvagni - Knee (ITB)
Charlie Curnow - Knee
Brodie Kemp - Knee
Matthew Kreuzer - Foot
Nic Newman - Knee

They also mentioned that Kennedy was a test for later in the week and that Marchbank was putting together a few good games.

I think this year shows that we do have depth.

Our best forward (Curnow), Our first ruck (Kruze), our 3rd tall defender (Marchy), our 3rd tall fwd (Sos), one of Harry or McGovern (2nd best forward), a first choice HBF (Newman), two of our best kids (Dow/Fish), have been out just about all year for one reason or another. Plus various other one week injuries. And yet we have held up pretty well, with only Moore showing he wasn't quite up to the level.

As compared to Pies who have to play Cameron, Reid, Madgen, Dunn etc in their team. Or Bombers, who have to play Townsend, McKernan, Stewart, Clarke etc

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Go Blues

I really like our indigenous round jumper this year!


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Good onya for putting that out there.

Uou better believe it we have depth; albeit young.
We will be better than GWS, with a comparable list...after we get Williams and Kelly onboard next season.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Its equal best.

Sons bought one themselves.
Speaks for itself

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Forecast is for 33 degrees and 75% humidity at 9.30pm according to Whateley. Expect a slippery cake of soap. Can't go with Pittonet, TDK and Levi you wouldn't think. In those conditions I say Kennedy plays too.

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"I had to eat"

Have to pick a running team. Hot and humid

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Go Blues

gold coast off a 4 day break. We really should win this

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#DonTheStash

Onya horse.

We have played well in the last 2 wet and slippery encounters vs Wegirls and Freo in Perth .
That will hold us in good stead against GCS in Darwin.

Too many things going our way for this game, including an extra 2 days rest to their 4 day break.

With a reduction of players on the injury list, pressure for spots is mounting by the day.

Witts played 4 days ago, so I don't worry about TDK fading if he is retained.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The highlights of Polson on the club website is probably setting us for his selection this round.

I think Polson will be selected before Dow based on that.

Polson has been named as an energency and is consistently been in the bst players for the ressies.

I like what I saw in the highlights package as well as his form in the preseason game.

For me, its Cottreels spot in the backline, but he did so well on the wing in the last quarter vs Freo, he may be selected there again, and Polson takes a BP role on Rankine???

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We have a lot of good running players.

I think the slippery conditions will make it a slog like last week so I think a good balance of inside "slow" Players, like Ed and Kennedy may be handy for the inside work.

Conditions not going to be conducive for overhead marking.

Wonder if the MC select Pittonet to play and if so, they decide to keep TDK continue with his momentum and improvement.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

This game is soooo important on soooo many levels.

I really enjoyed the inside work the old fellas did last game.

We have to win. Have to.

6 wins 6 losses, and finals a possibility will give the kids energy and more desire than usual.

Go full on from the get go and we should run over them ... but don't take anything for granted.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue