I don't think I was unfairly critical of Carrots. I said he is still in our best midfield rotation, I just would like to see him handpass it more. Getting the ball is great. Turning the ball over is worse because our guys push forward to present options and then get out of position. Counter attack is just as damaging (if not more so) than attack in todays football. Pagan's old school tactics of bombing it long proved that. Carrots is not damaging with his disposal, so he needs to dish it off to players that are... Ratten style!

btw, gota love a ruckman that can tap the ball with both hands so effectively. Thats a weapon in itself. Hammer!

I was'nt talking about you.
I was just commenting on some general comments in the thread.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Best part of the game for me was Robert Walls commenting on how Ackland would struggle to and might not get a game this year.

For me, Hampson was outstanding. As much as we got killed at the clearances, I think this was more to do with our midfield needing to spend more time together and learning where to go. Hampson certainly wasn't dominated by Brogan, but a lot of the time his hitouts would go where our midfielders weren't. That's just something that will take time to figure out and something I'm sure they will now work on before Round 1. Think Hammer has secured himself the spot come Round 1.

Jamo was really impressive again - has great closing speed and spoil on the lead and looks composed under pressure and usually delivers well. One point of notice, dont know whether it was the shoulder injury at the end of last year that prevented him bulking up a little bit, but he was very much outmatched when the ball was kicked on top of their heads in a one on one. Just outbodied and outmuscled. Not a criticism of the kid - just think we need to be aware of that when choosing his opponents and also if opponents work that out, teammates need to be aware of it to be third man in for the spoil.

Waite looked good at CHB - whether or not that is his best position and the best position for us is always going to be debatable. I certainly think he gives us a lot coming out of defence with his athleticism and dash. Is he decision making always 100%? No - but that will get better. The important thing for me is that he has been cemented in a position and now we just should sit back and watch him flourish and become consistent.

For me, the other stand out was Pfeiffer. Looked really good - skills a little down at times, but wasn't alone there and hope thats just a bit of pre-season rust. Looked quite bulky to me, but haven't seen a lot of him so that may be his playing weight? Still seemed to have decent pace about him and the added bulk showed in his attack on the ball and tackling.

Gonna agree with nytdog, I like the look of Russell. His main problem is that he fades in and out of games and just doesn't know how to get near it for long stretches. Think he is at a point now where he can really step up and perform at AFL level - is getting the confidence and now has the body. Fingers crossed.

Other than that, one general comment. Thought our tackling for the most part was pretty terrible. Think this should be one of our focus areas - I want us to be one of the top tackling teams in the league.

Overall, good to get the win without a lot of our bigger names starring. So glad footy is back!!!

It seems that everyone had a license for shit disposal apart from Carrots.

Port's forward line set up is far superior to ours.

Lots of leads, double leads, screens (to borrow a basketball term); our defenders looked at sixes and sevens at times.

It was only Port's poor delivery in to the forward line that saved us.

I think a few of you are looking at Fev through blue coloured glasses.

I didn't like his attitude last night. He was pretty lazy.

Didn't chase as much as he should, or as hard as he should have; tried a few crazy things that he wouldn't during the regular season, such as snapping at goal from an acute angle, instead of going back; remonstrated with the umpire when the ball was still in play, and seemed to want to be the fifth umpire out there.

Now I suppose you could say that "it's only a pre-season game", and "he's only 50% fit", and I suppose that excuses him not chasing hard; but it's his overall attitude that bothered me a bit.

After the first quarter, he was playing like he didn't really give a shit.

Being in the leadership group, I don't think it sets a good example.

_________________
I AM DISENFRANCHISED

He is being rated against his peers at higher levels, not against mid range players or newbies. If he is to be an elite midfielder, his kicking is consistently not up to par.

btw, can someone tell me how to post photos?

Use the image button.

His efficiency last year was 79%, 4% better than our elite mid Chris Judd. It seems no matter what he does there will always be someone in the corner of the room calling out 'But he can't kick!!' The good part is he will always make people eat their words.

Wasnt a game for forwards and without another tall ie Hartlett we lacked another alternative to Fev.....Fev gets doubled teamed a lot and our spare man doesnt pick up the slack....I didnt think Fev was too bad and played a team game rather than trying be an individual..


Cockshell troubled us with his size and marking ability and he is a dud.....
without Santy we will struggle to contain opposing teams bigger players.
Saddington isnt the answer and Jamison is still learning the ropes....

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I think you'll find that Fev lacked fitnness, which contributed to his lack of chasing and general malaise.

_________________
“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

I guess I'm a technically challenged. One I use the image button then what? How do i paste the picture in the box? do I have to upload the pic somewhere first?

Regarding Carrots, his kicking is not damaging ... thats something your stats don't show. I think he'll be more damaging by getting the pill and dishing off to a teammates advantage - preferably a team mate that is more damaging (Judd, Stevens, Hoops, etc).

Lots of talk about Carrots - I agree that his disposal could be better but the thing that worried me last night was when he called for the ball from Cloke and then didn't make any effort to get it. Cloke kicked from half back, more or less diagonally across the centre square. As Carrots came into view his hand was up in the air but he just faded off to the left and a Port player took an easy turnover without a contest. I understand that it is the pre-season and that skill erors will be made but I expect our players to make a contest everytime - especially midfielders who have the tank to get there.

_________________
We're getting closer to 17

nytdog



That's the plan. Carrots is a beauty. He knows his limitations, and has done wonders to curb them, including pace, fitness and care with his delivery (albeit awkward in style), hence low % of clangers.

We will have some great executors in the middle, in addition to those you mention, Murphs, Gibbs, Simmo...even Pfieffer, Grigg....

Great rusty effort first up.

I wouldn't rate Brogan as dominating ruckman, although he was the strongest out there. I thought the shit bounces from the umpires favoured him over and over again.

I can't read much into the future from this game, but we did well.

I want Waite at CHF, but after last night's effort how could one say Ratts is wrong? I thought his kicking was very good; well weighted and hit the spot. Why handball when he can break the lines himself. TV doesn't do his decision making justice I reckon. He always broke 1 or 2 and once 3 tackles running straight through the middle. It's the corridor we want to own isn't it?

The old heads were all class as mentioned, like Hoops, Scotto and Thornton looked like a very difficult match up as a forward.

Hammer me swinging....I love him.


Waite was my BOG, followed by Carrots, Pfieffer and Hammer.

I wish we had that Adelaide sunshine up here at Cape Byron.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Port were missing Cornes, Cornes, Burgoyne, Burgoyne, Lade, Ebert and Motlop.

While that list is littered with elite talent, we had a number of our best 22 out too : Judd, Walker, Hadley, Setanta, plus Hartlett, Bentick and Ackland (ok, maybe I am pushing things with the last one).

But definitely the first four names one would expect would be in our starting 18, and Hartlett would have been handy yesterday - as good as Edwards was we really missed a big body across HF.

Good win for the young team, again I thought Hampson was the stand-out. A few times he pounced on the ball and wanted to run in a dead set straight line at top pace. He looks like a fast (200cm) mifielder when he does this. He will be a star.

And thought Pfeiffer looked good too. Strong body which is what we need, and was very prominent. Not 100% sure of his kicking, but at least he looks a bright prospect and ready-to-play.

And Armfield didn't look totally out of place either.

One question, are we going to regret not having Jamison on the senior list? He looks alright.

A future midfield of Hampson (17), Kreuzer (1), Judd (3), Murphy (1), Gibbs (1) and Walker (2) is mouth watering.

HEY 16 FLAGS.

I saw that too. Have you ever looked directly in the sun? Well don't try flying there either.

In all fairness to Carrots....the sun was awkward for both teams.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

hampson+pfeiffer should play every game this yr - along with judd thats 3 new 'solid' players

edwards looked good but was missing a bit - needs to present more though perhaps he wasnt on the ground as much.

waite as much a I would love him at chf/ff did a fantastic job. Jamo good but not quite big enough yet.

fisher, murphy, stevens all had shockers - they will undoubtably improve though so to be able to win was a great sign

some early calls
hampson as the rising star if he continues to develop as he has shown
waite as AA

VB ... Jamo is the nominated Rookie so he can play seniors. Nothing to worry about.

Had 13 handballs and 11 kicks yesterday, so is handballing more than he kicks.



Who would think that?

I don't get how Hartlett can be in our best 22 when he hasn't played much AFL grade football since he's been at the club...

It's good to have a win but I would err on the side of caution with getting excited about a Rd1 win in the NAB Cup. If we're popping champers now what's the crash going to be like when we lose one? I'd be happy to lose them all if we were able to 'nab' 4 points off Richmond in Round 1 and St Kilda in Round 2.

Has anyone got a link to the player stats for the game?