Yeah Dow is a concern for me too. He's just not progressing enough for mine.
He was good in close, but 11 disposals with 70% game time when the ball is in our forward half. That's 5 kicks. They wre all good disposals too. Unlucky with a couple umpire calls too.

I don't think he will be ready for the big time this year. The game he did well in was the Effendruggies game but that was a praccy game with no focus on defense.
Needs to get more practice in the VFL, if there's a better replacement.

I don't know if you recall, but in the last few weeks I didn't see one poster who thought Willo was any use in the AFL. He hardly uses the left peg some posters are obsessed with. He was dropped for a reason.

Williamson had 5 possessions against Pies, 2 kicks 80% game time. He had 12 disposals in 81% game time vs Tigers. Amongst those stats are clangers too. Below standard. Below Dow's standard.

Williamson, I use to struggle to see what everyone was raving about, other than living in hope. Just to see a couple long passes? If we do. We need more than that from a HB or Wingman.

I prefer to keep Dow if Williamson is the alternative. I hope there's no reason to bring Williamson this year. There's better players in the waiting for mine.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

... and needs a better game sense too.... for AFL level.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I'd like to see that, because leaving Dow to his own devices seems to be a waste.

He has to show something because players like Martin and Fisher will be back, and I'm sure the MC will want to see players like Stocker, Cuningham, to a lesser degree Kennedy, and then there's Philp, Honey and Durdin who are going to get a look in too this year. Setterfield will come in for Cottrell.

I'm not being hard on Dow, Have a guess whose spot the abovementioned will be eyeing, ditto the MC.

I'm afraid time is not on Dow's side to make the Fwd - Mid role his own in 2021.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

What's the option if Pittonet does a hammy in the first 5 minutes?
Levi isn't setting the world on fire but if you take him out, you need top replace him with similar. Harry is good on the lead but he doesn't stand under the high ball and make a contest like Casboult. Levi to stay or McDonald to replace him IMHO.
If you want Stocker or Kennedy in, they should come in for Dow IMO.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Levi as sub

_________________
░L░I░N░K░I░N░B░I░O ░

Many good midfielders have been taught the craft tagging older better players.
A good test for him will be tagging a younger better player.

Agree 100% with this.
It would be good to know what kind of a role the coaches are asking him to play.
Whatever it is, it seems less effective than having SPS running out of defence.

I would keep Dow in for a bit longer. I think he is trying too hard. Had a few bad fumbles in close with a hot pill. He almost needs a few free/soft possessions to get his confidence up. He has the elite dash and movement once he gets it, there is no doubt about that. I have heard he hangs with Cripps and Walsh at the club, I think if he can keep learning off these two, especially on the field, eventually things will turn for him. This weekend could be massive for him. If we can get on top of the Gold Coast early, maybe he will get some easy ball and that will be huge for him. It's a tough run after this weekend from memory, so he needs to cash in now.

I think this is a good point.
Is he being asked to mind a player at stoppages?
Or is he simply not as good as Cripps and Walsh at reading the drop of the ball and the mechanics in he centre square?
One thing he has shown this year is a hardness in close. He has taken some decent body blows in close and not squibbed nor gone to ground in a ball of pain.
He is trying and showing the hardness required. Just needs a touch of luck I reckon.

I see the same thing with him, he's hard at it, has great explosiveness and "usually" bullet like hands.
This is why I reckon he needs a run-with role for a few weeks, to build up confidence and learn the craft from better players.
The coaches should just tell him, follow this bloke and tackle, tackle, tackle and if you get the pill, don't do anything fancy, just try and hit a target. Preferably by hand and in close, but if you see a long option and you think you can hit them, go for it.
And then reiterate, tackle, tackle, tackle and do the one percenters.

Is there room for taggers still?

Yep!!!
And I reckon the coaches have noticed it as well
I don't think he'll be dropped
For mine:
OUT: Murphy Cas (Murphy sub)
IN: OMac, Stocker

_________________
If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Yes there is and we have one of the best in Ed Curnow. Don't need another one, especially one who couldn't tackle his grandfather. Drop Dow - "touch of luck" ??? - try "touch of ball" - and bring in Setterfield and Stocker and move Levi to the bench or 23

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/89935 ... Q4MzMwMAS2




Good initiative by the club. There should have been more of this over the years

_________________
#DonTheStash

Sounds great! Is it walking distance from Carrara?

Yes - if you started before round one.

_________________
Princes Park - always was, always will be.

If you are holding your breath for Dow to come good you are like Houdini drowning upside down in that glass water tank. I can buy a better spud at Coles.

You were doing great until "and Dow"

I wonder who might come in if Saad doesn't play? Maybe move Williams to half back and Setterfield on the ball. Cottrell remains on the wing.

_________________
In the Truth there is no news, and in the News there is no truth.

No. Not since the raft of rule changes to remove them from the game.

They can’t fight through blocks. They can’t even put an arm across these days.

It’s a pointless tactic.

_________________
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.