OK, that's how you fit in Dow Cerra and Walsh; a "dead rubber".

I reckon its a full dress rehearsal for Finals, and down playing the significance of this game is not what we should be doing.

I reckon we play our best team, pending injury ofcourse, to get use to playing with each other as the No 1 choice Finals team.

I'm only hearing supporters calling for Cripps and Docherty to be rested before the rest, and nothing from the club. I can't see Cripps wanting a rest, and same with Doc. They would be thinking they get their rest next week, but that's based on no news on injury.

Cuningham has been busy doing a lot of good work behind the scenes that gets unnoticed, and even his position may be precarious, but not more than Dow's, Fisher's and will be interesting if Fog is recalled. Personally, I don't think he will be.

I'm most curious about the ruck position. We all have our theories, but I'm curious if Vossy sticks with his mantra of 2 bonafide rucks. Finals is about inches and 1%ers, and not giving the opposition any advantage where possible.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I'd consider giving Saad a spell - he's looked pretty sore at times but kept soldiering on - moving Fisher to his spot and giving Boyd the full game.

On the question of who misses out if we have a full list minus Williams for finals, I'm afraid I would have to nominate Hollands. Brilliant kid, but does get ragdolled a bit, and that's going to intensify in September. As long as Walsh is close to 100% I think Ollie has to make way.

What some of us have been saying for awhile. Give the boy continuity and he will come good.

Do not drop him.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

GWS are going to be fresh after the bye.

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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

we have to give these injured lads a run this weekend. cerra, walsh, gov etc ... we saw how rusty harry was. their legs will need the run.

i would rest cripps, doc saad or anyone else who's hampered to the point where a one week bye won't freshen them up. i shouldn't imagine outside of cripps that's anyone tho. if cripps has done some rib cartilage he'll probably be hampered the whole finals series if he doesn't get that under control, and a 2 week break of only running will go a long way towards that


whoever said it's a dress rehearsal for finals is a little off imo ... why would we go hard as we can, and give their coaching staff clues to unlocking us a week later when it really, properly counts?

hold your cards tight this weekend go through the motions and come out and annihilate them in september.

That's one after all are available.

Who else is omitted from the above scenario when Cripps and Docherty and perhaps Saad come back in and you have to make a choice between Boyd and Fisher?

Dont worry about the Pitto-SOS choice and frothing over it, because Vossy will make that call.

I can't see Cuningham being dropped for Fogarty. Both provide huge 1%ers and defensive attributes, but Cuningham has the speed and class to hit targets, especially on the expanses of the G

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That's easy to say, for a dead rubber, but there will come a time, maybe even this Sunday, but definitely week 1 of Finals, when Cripps and Docherty are back based on Farmer's team.

I'm just being realistic that if all are fit, except obviously Williams, Dow wont be playing, nor will Fogarty or Fisher and good chance Hollands misses out too to mke way for Doc or Walsh on a wing.

Its nothing against Dow's progress, which we've all been impressed with, and me since round 1, as I posted, after watching his first 3 games in the Ressies I saw live. Impressed me with his strength in each game. The defensive side of his game is non existent, and he can't mind an opponent.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That was me. We will see.

I dont think we should be worried about everyone else's game and focus on fine tuning ours. That's what we've done for the last 9 wins. We have Walsh Cerra McGovern Kenendy SOS and Boys all on the side lines for a long time and they need to adjust and like I said tune in. I fear no one except, a little concerned facing the Lions at the Gabba. Lions were my pick for a Flag at the start of the year, with Dunkley, Gunston, Ashcroft and Fletcher joining an aalready strong team.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

If I was GWS, thinking that they’ll probably be playing Carlton in the first week of the finals and looking at the way Cripp’s ribs are strapped up. I’d be planning to belt him in the ribs at every opportunity this weekend to make sure he’s still sore for the first week of the finals even with a week off.

Cripps is the only one I’d definitely be resting this week, the rest comes down to form and availability.

If any or Cerra, Kennedy, Walsh or McGovern are fully fit this weekend they should all be selected, even if only as sub.

Ed, Cuningham and Marchbank being the most likely to give way.

If I was Docherty, I wouldn't want the rest. He needs a game to redeem himself.
I thought he was very poor on Saturday. Back to the old school Carlton Cripps/Docherty leadership model of scungeing kicks off everyone else. He has an amazing ability of sucking the momentum out of our team when we're on a roll by calling for backwards kicks, ignoring better options to give the ball to or calling for the cheap disposal when someone else has done the hard work and then turning it over.
As I've said before, he's not a midfielder but when he plays there, he needs to do better than chasing cheap disposals. 5 contested possessions and 1 clearance is nowhere near good enough. Especially when the captain is sitting on the bottom of packs with half a mattress tied around his waist.
He needs to go back to the wing but I'd be tempted to play Hollands instead so Doc had better pull a rabbit out because he's playing himself out of our best 22 IMHO.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

This is where it's gutting that we've dropped out of the VFL race. Would have been very handy to have the option to give players a run in the 2s this weekend, & maybe the one after. Not to be though

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#DonTheStash

you don't reckon doc can drop back on a half back flank and man up and rebound? i guess in boyd's old role where fisher is now?


i still think that's where his best footy is. but he has been poor more often than not this season. noticeably poor.

dow has been good. but cerra and walsh are a cut above, maybe two.

the best i can see for dow is sub for the finals if those other two are healthy

He's playing himself out of your 22 BV.

Docs played a great midfield role over the last month, and I have'nt heard you criticise him when he has played well, but when the stats don't show enough, he's not a midfielder, he's a wingman.

Good thing for you Cerra and Walsh will release Doc from the midfield role, but I tell you what, if we need to mix it up in the midfield come finals, Doc will be one of the first back in that spot for good reason, not the bad. He has been in good form. One week and he's nearly out of your Best 22.

We came back from 41 points down. It was a team effort. Some of the defensive efforts by some players was really poor, but saying Doc is playing himself our of "our" best 22 is a bit rich imo.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

You'd have to have a good look at who is available for sub before committing to Dow.
It may be a choice between Kennedy Fogarty Fisher Curnow Motlop Cuningham Hollands and even SOS and Marchbank to consider too.

And if Pitto plays first ruck (which is Vossy's preference) and TDK 2nd ruck in a GF, and everyone who takes the field is fit, would you have Dow or SOS as sub in a GF?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Carlton mania is live and well.

I just got off a phone call with some interesting tidbits I will share:

After the game on Saturday, Voss asked everyone to leave the rooms and called in all the players, including VFL, to join the AFL team that played and won against the Suns, to sing the song together.

Vossy's take home message is "Winning is not about making Finals, its a lot lot more than that", alluding to Holy Grail, not just this year but beyond, and both teams are building and will have opportunity at this club.

We will not see the best of Pittonet this year, and he will be playing with his knee not 100%. Wont get worse and wont get better. His role in the team is to hurt,wear out, fall on, jump into the monster ruckmen (as he did Gawn and Witts) paving the way for TDK to jump all over them as happened last year in round 1 vs Tigers, and it is working. Vossy loves Pitto and TDK combo.

Cripps wants to play vs GWS but has bruised rib cartilage a couple weeks rest would allow to heel. Only one who may be rested. The rest are all fine to go and continue the momentum.

Cripps and Pitto the only ones who might be rested, but doubt Pitto will be rested.

Dow's manager has an offer from the club but knows he will still be behind the current midfield group next year, so he's not taking up the offer and likely to.

Walsh Cerra Gov Cherry ripe.

Not sure why SOS came off half way through 2nd quarter in reserves. Cuningham wasn't injured when he was subbed out.

Bottom line is winning form and continuing the momentum is important.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

100%

Cripps has sore ribs (Broken?) and Docherty Saad Newman & Pittonet have hardly trained for weeks. Would not surprise me to rest a few next week. Cripps is always better fresh and we need him for finals. We have players that can step up this week and will want to push their case for finals. Effort won't be an issue

I am more interested in getting game time into Walsh Cerra McGovern McKay Silvagni etc before finals

I'm not anywhere near as analytic as BV and some others - but from the eye test gee Doch seems to just dump kick it, like a LOT.

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

RIP Charlie Kirk (was/were)