My 2 cents on the two ruck debate is I have no issue playing two rucks, as long as we have the right two rucks to play.

Young is not a good ruck, not a good key defender and not a good key forward.
He's serviceable and had one of his best if not best games last week against a side with a defence only marginally better than the Eagles.
If Young was a better ruck then it would only make sense to have TDK up forwards rotating through the middle with him.
But then the other issue is, unlike Adelaide we have shown time and time again that Charlie and Harry both get in each others way let alone adding a 3rd tall in the mix.

Then there is the argument for Pitto, while he is a better ruck than Young he's pretty much no good anywhere else on the ground.
If only we had a functioning forward line like Adelaide we could have TDK up forwards (which I would like to see him smoke his brother again BTW).

So that leaves the other option of Harry pinch hitting in the ruck and like having Cripps in the ruck, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
I am not a fan of Harry in the ruck unless they plan on keeping both he and TDK on the ground for 100min, the forward line needs two talls at all times.

But in saying all this, I do like the way our smalls are going about it, giving us run, x-factor, scoring goals and defensive pressure in the F50.
It's the part of the game we have been missing and require to keep up with the other top teams.
In the end, Harry gives us a lot more than Young and I don't think we'd be gifting him a game considering he was out injured.
Plus I think the Geelong defence will towel Young up if I'm to be honest.

So if we replaced Young for Harry, I would feel sorry for Young but that would be the logical decision to bring Harry back in.

So true, on all accounts.
He is depth, and may play a role against a tall opposition we can't cover.
We are short of tall forwards and defenders in reserve. Don't you know it..

Young may have been the reason others scored so many goals. He was involved in the first 3 of the game when the game was hot. He kicked one, and assisted in another.

He's great depth. That's why I like him. Last week he played like a couple games I saw him in preseason. He was unsociable, and tough.

What about that front running shepherd he laid running from the goal line to oncoming traffic, face first freeing Williams to goal . That was everything he hasn't been.

Amazing things happen. And this year may just be the amazing one we thought 2023 might be... our version of Hawks 2008, or Dogs 2016, when it wasn't expected.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

This week will be a good rehearsal for the big dance. Young or no Young.
Cats have a tall defence, unless SDK rucks again.
Looks like Stanley and Blicavs did ruck work last week.

Cats are not going to allow TDK to dominate the ruck, and will get physical with him.
The Cats will remember the younger DeKoning copping 100 lashes from the older, Tom.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Totally agree. Thankfully they have shown something last 2 weeks.
I think the delivery has improved too. Maybe because the leading has improved?

I love all the smalls to be on fire every week. Not pick and choose. That's a huge part of the game plan.
Cats defenders have bigger bodies and hope our smalls find space and open up the lanes for Harry and Charlie, and they continue kicking goals.

I feel too many smalls might add to the problem. This week is their real test. Lets find out if they are flat track bullies or the real deal.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Not enough love for Silvagni in the Kangas post match thread....
Doing his role to perfection each week, even our losses....
Fingers crossed he continues regardless of who he gets.

Go Blues

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

THIS is finally coming into the game for our players... White did this too... Free up players for that 'next' disposal and suddenly that disposal is damaging or even better, a score.

Go Blues

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

I think it's a bit of both, better delivery and more space to lead because down the ground we're actually hitting targets.
I also think having the mids finally kicking goals is the most important aspect, it makes us less predictable.
The real test this week is if those same players can hit targets when under a lot more pressure.

Hawks ran their usual small brigade last week with 1 tall and lost.
I think if we have Harry and Charlie kicking them and the smalls play like last week, we're in for a chance.
Their bigger bodies will be on tall alert if both of them start off hitting the goals early, opening the doors for the smalls.

For me the game will be won in the middle again, through clearances, clean disposals from defensive transition and targeted delivery into F50.
Blocking, knocking the ball to advantage, running in waves, forward handballs and hitting targets by foot are all a must this week.

Where are the changes FFS.

Maybe there isn't any?

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░L░I░N░K░I░N░B░I░O ░

I'd double that. Chaos ball rather than aerial dump kicks down the line.[/quote]

We must continue to look for targets in the forward 50, and there's room for chaos ball. I actually dont mind chaos ball if Harry or Charlie are not in an advantageous position, like 2 defenders, or just standing and not leading.[/quote]

Not that into the chaos ball 50 entry. But there is that bit between behind the circle to 40m out form out goal where attacking is hard and it gets too easy to take the early long kick which is usually picked off. I would prefer us not to dump it but keep the ball moving with short kicks, handpasses, knock ons and chaos. Take advantage of the extra smalls and gamble on them doing the job. If we can run it to 45-65m out taking the extra posession our forward entries will be so much easier with the defenders completely scrambled. Then a pass to Charlie or whoever will be a well weighted, easy to mark, soft 25m dab to a good scoring position. The small-ball teams score so many from 20m out in front. I remember the Dogs 2016 and Tigers 2017 getting so many goals from the goalsquare. Usually raffling it off between 3.

The key is to have energy and make it impossible for the oppo to play. Shut down space. Pressure. Then score off the back of that. I think we can do it.

this.

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I'm shocked to be sitting here

In: Harry
Out: Young

Late changes are a possibility

Thank you SBM.

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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

From AFL.com:

Carlton v Geelong at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST

CARLTON

In: H.McKay, L.Cowan, S.Docherty
Out: Nil

R6 sub: Cooper Lord

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Cripps is the man

H into starting 18, the others on the extended bench.

[32] Matthew Carroll [13] Blake Acres [38] Will White
[20] Elijah Hollands [36] Cooper Lord [33] Lewis Young
[2] Lachlan Cowan [15] Sam Docherty

Hopefully the last 3 are the emergencies. White my pick for sub.

Cheers

Who other than Weiters may not get up?

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We are on our way back...

Don't you dare drop Young you weak cauliflower.

Don't you @#$%&! do it!

And right on cue, an article on the CFC website...
I can see Harry for Young but hope H is good to go

Go Blues

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Blues ( guitar ) legend