Preview 2024 Rd 15 Carlton v Geelong Friday 21 June 7:40PM (AEST) @ MCG

[Aphrodite]

TEAM IS IN …


IN: Fantasia

OUT: Carroll

AFL team news: Blues make one change

It's a relatively settled 23 for the Blues heading into the 2024 AFL Carlton Respects Game.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Backs:	Jordan Boyd	Jacob Weitering	Brodie Kemp
Half-backs:	Nic Newman	Mitch McGovern	Adam Saad
Centreline:	Ollie Hollands	Patrick Cripps	Blake Acres
Half-forwards:	Lachie Fogarty	Harry McKay	Zac Williams
Forwards:	Matthew Owies	Charlie Curnow	Alex Cincotta
Followers:	Tom De Koning	Sam Walsh	George Hewett
Interchange from:	Lachie Cowan	Corey Durdin	Orazio Fantasia
	Elijah Hollands	Matthew Kennedy
Emergencies:	Caleb Marchbank	Jesse Motlop	Marc Pittonet

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Ah the Cats... Supercilious, grandiloquent, solipsistic, entitled... A powerhouse of modern football. Gary Ablett Jr, Joel Selwood, Corey Enright, Matthew Scarlett

Matthew Scarlett

Age

45

Ht

192cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.8

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

3.8

1star

K

3.2

2star

HB

0.6

1star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

, Jimmy Bartel... even the evergreen Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

. The Cats fans have been truly blessed with close to two decades of continual success and a seemingly everlasting supply of quality free agents and comically good trade outcomes. Their CEO, Steve Hocking, when working at AFL house even decided the Cats hadn't seen enough of their dream run so took things into his own hands and altered the very fabric of the game just to try and prolong the Cats era and finally get them over the hurdle of the infallible Richmond 2017-2020 dynasty. It worked... The Cats under Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

48

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

finally got their glorious piece of silverware in 2022 where they took the comp by storm and blew everyone else off the park.

However, since then we've seen a change of sorts down at Kardinia Park. With increased scrutiny on their questionable real estate deals for players and bizarre cases of homesickness from fully grown adults who live 1 hour up the highway, the Cats never ending top up strategy seems to have finally caught up to them a touch. In combination with the retirement of Joel Selwood and continual injury woes to captain Patrick Dangerfield, the Cats have been left reliant on a very young and frankly out of their depth midfield for much of 2024. Jhye Clark, Tanner Bruhn, Jack Bowes

12

Jack Bowes

Age

26

Ht

189cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.3

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

318.1

4star

D

18.0

4star

K

11.8

5star

HB

6.3

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.1

2star

MG

318.1

4star

D

11.6

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

and Tom Atkins

30

Tom Atkins

Age

29

Ht

180cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.5

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

4.3

5star

MG

123.5

2star

D

6.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.5

2star

M

0.8

1star

T

1.5

2star

MG

100.0

2star

D

11.6

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.8

5star

MG

130.0

3star

... Its slim pickings for the once mighty Cats.

Despite this, their forward line remains as dangerous as ever even with Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

looking like he's finally lost a step or two... Gryan Miers

32

Gryan Miers

Age

25

Ht

179cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

15.3

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.6

3star

G

0.9

4star

D

14.4

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.2

4star

, Tyson Stengle

18

Tyson Stengle

Age

26

Ht

175cm

Wt

71kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.3

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.5

4star

D

8.8

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.6

5star

, Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

31

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

, Ollie Henry and Brad Close ask questions of the opposition as well as any forward line in the competition with their exquisite ball use and electric speed and finishing ability and can largely cover for the deficiencies further afield if left unchecked, as the Blues unfortunately found out back in round 7 this season.

Carlton dominated the territory game and smashed the Cats around the ball only to repeatedly bomb the ball inside 50 to a triple teamed Curnow and Mckay over and over again much to the teams dismay. Our small forwards were largely unsighted for most of the night and our defense looked all at sea without the likes of Mcgovern and Saad to clamp down their opponents and intercept entries. Even still, the Blues were in it up to their eye balls heading into the last quarter. Unfortunately, that' where the Cats kicked away as the Blues floundered their opportunities in front of goal and despite a late surge from the Baggers the damage was already done.


But anyway, moving onto the rematch!




Another prime time match against a top 8 team. Seemingly a weekly occurrence for the mighty Blues this season. That can only mean one thing... After winning our last 3 games straight in convincing fashion it will be "the first real test for Carlton" according to old mate GC2015, "A battle of the pretenders" according to old Fudgey boy and his band of cronies and our chance to finally shut up the Cats faithful who have been sooking non stop all over this site after a few stalwart Bagger fanatics said we'd easily win the rematch once we have a few players back.

The teams - The Blues should be expecting close to a full health squad for the first time in a long time, whether they all return via AFL or VFL is another question entirely but the names in the mix are Pittonet, Cerra, Martin, Motlop and Cottrell. With one of the final holes in our list being a couple of dangerous small forwards the likes of Martin, Motlop and Cottrell would be welcome additions and with the reinvented Zac Williams consistently hitting the scoreboard since a shift to the forward line the Blues forward mix could look as dangerous as it has in close to a decade. Cerra, to add some balance and class to our somewhat lumbering and unpolished band of brutes in the midfield. A real question mark lies over Marc Pittonet

27

Marc Pittonet

Age

28

Ht

202cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.7

2star

K

2.9

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

22.3

5star

D

8.6

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

4.0

3star

CL

3.7

5star

HO

25.9

5star

D

5.8

2star

K

1.2

1star

HB

4.6

4star

CL

2.4

5star

HO

16.6

5star

, undoubtedly a solid player when healthy but with the performances of Tom Dekoning the last month without him I'm expecting to see big Pitto return via the VFL.

The Cats on the other hand are expected to see the return of their captain, Patrick Dangerfield, who will no doubt be straight into the team after a lengthy stint on the side lines. Touhy and Ollie Henry a chance too but no guarantees going off prior form.

Where will the match be won & lost?

For the Blues - In the backline. The Blues were unfortunate the first time around to be missing Saad and Mcgovern and as a whole not defending as well as they should have as a unit and it was capitalized on by the Cats. BIG TIME. For the Blues to get on top this time around they'll need to make sure players like Tyson Stengle

18

Tyson Stengle

Age

26

Ht

175cm

Wt

71kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.3

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.5

4star

D

8.8

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.6

5star

, Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

31

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

and Gryan Miers

32

Gryan Miers

Age

25

Ht

179cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

15.3

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.6

3star

G

0.9

4star

D

14.4

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.2

4star

are held and restricted from delivering the ball inside 50 too often or being targets themselves. The Blues superstar Jacob Weitering

23

Jacob Weitering

Age

27

Ht

195cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.8

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

4.7

3star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.3

3star

MG

189.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

0.8

3star

MG

263.4

4star

will no doubt head to Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

again given his history of shutting him out of games and will look to sag off and intercept any deep entries from the Cats. Alex Cincotta is a watch given his recent success as a midfield tagger given the Cats weak midfield... Perhaps he's the man to run with Stengle or Miers and keep them out of the contest as they roam high up the ground.

For the Cats - The midfield. Over the last couple of months the Cats have been pulverized through the middle of the ground. Beaten up around the ball, continually on the wrong side of the ruck battle and in general just not finding ways to get involved in the game. The Cats will know they are once again up against it, so don't be shocked to see them look to play defensively against the Blues and simply try to restrict their usage out of the middle but with Dangerfield back they may look to go on the offense against the Blues star studded midfield unit.

The Blues really should have dominance around the ball if all things go as expected. Dekoning, Cripps, Walsh, Cerra and Hewett/Kennedy should be too big a task for the young Cats mids, while both teams forward lines have the tools and players to blow the opposition away in a matter of minutes if their supply isn't limited.

How will the Cats defense hold up? Surprisingly the Cats defense is rated one of the worst in the league for winning one on one contests in their defensive half and with Tom Stewart out of form/well held lately their intercept game has dropped off considerably.

It should be a cracking game between two big Victorian clubs and a packed out MCG should allow for a great spectacle for neutrals, my prediction is Carlton to come away with a 23 point win after another Zac Williams masterclass kicking 4 snags and main board to go into meltdown with Cats, Collingwood and Essendon fans collectively in tears after after seeing the Blues finish the round above them on the ladder.

Good luck to both teams and hopefully there's no injuries for either!

And of course... GO BAGGERS!​

 

[skadoosh]

Gov and Harry should be right to play.
Cerra, Martin in.
Carroll, Durdin out.

Blues much better strategy-wise this time.
Blues by 24.

 

[Jatz]

They'll be up for it with their season starting to slip away.

Our best is far better though. Blues by 25.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Ins: Cerra Motlop
Out: Carroll Durdin
Kennedy assigned to Stewart
Cincotta to Holmes

Boyd Weitering McGovern
Newman Kemp Saad
Cowan

DeKoning Cripps (m/f) Walsh
Hollands Cincotta (m/f) Acres
Hewett

Fogarty (f/m) McKay Hollands (f/m)
Kennedy Curnow Williams
Owies Motop (f/m)

Sub: Cerra

Emg: Carroll Durdin Binns

 

[le dominateur]

They just sucker punched us last time, Blues by 26 points.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Juddernaut08]

Gov and Harry should be right to play.
Cerra, Martin in.
Carroll, Durdin out.

Blues much better strategy-wise this time.
Blues by 24.

This. Hewett or Kennedy to sub (my preference is Hewett)

FB: McGovern Weitering Boyd
HB: Saad Kemp Newman

C: O.Hollands Cripps Acres
OB: TDK Walsh Cerra

HF: Cincotta Harry E.Hollands
FF: Williams Charlie Martin

Int: Kennedy Fogarty* Cowan* Owies* Sub: Hewett

Emg: Motlop Pitto Durdin Carroll/Cottrell

* = could be swapped with Emg based on horses for courses

 

[carlton_99]

Assuming everyone is fit:
IN: Motlop, Cerra and Cottrell
OUT: Durdin, Owies and Carroll

Martin/Cuningham through the VFL.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Ins: Cerra Motlop
Out: Carroll Durdin
Kennedy assigned to Stewart
Cincotta to Holmes

Boyd Weitering McGovern
Newman Kemp Saad
Cowan

DeKoning Cripps (m/f) Walsh
Hollands Cincotta (m/f) Acres
Hewett

Fogarty (f/m) McKay Hollands (f/m)
Kennedy Curnow Williams
Owies Motop (f/m)

Sub: Cerra

Emg: Carroll Durdin Binns

They'll get Dangerfield back I reckon also.

 

[Juddernaut08]

How was Motlop in the VFL?

 

[Arr0w]

Gov and Harry should get up. Available, Cerra, Pitto, Martin, Motlop

Some good players likely to miss out

I think we beat the Cats

 

[Osc1]

How was Motlop in the VFL?

Electric. He’ll play for sure.

 

[Zlatan]

They just sucker punched us last time, Blues by 26 points.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Thought we sucker punched ourselves after kicking 2.8 in the first quarter then starting the 4th quarter with 0.4.

Regardless, their midfield is absolute ass and we should be putting them away, but players like Stengle, Close and Miers worry me.

 

[Ezayyak]

I'd expect a performance reflecting the lessons we learnt from the last time and our recent evolving, adaptive style of play to deal with different game plans. We should win this game.

 

[heatleystandend]

I hope any returning players play VFL to get match fitness up before playing AFL.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Thought we sucker punched ourselves after kicking 2.8 in the first quarter then starting the 4th quarter with 0.4.

Regardless, their midfield is absolute ass and we should be putting them away, but players like Stengle, Close and Miers worry me.

Close = Meh.
Saad to Stengle.
Cinc to Miers

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Gov and Harry should get up. Available, Cerra, Pitto, Martin, Motlop

Some good players likely to miss out

I think we beat the Cats

Cerra, Martin & Motlop inski.

Carrol, Owies & Durdin outski.

Kemp Weitering Boyd
Saad McGov Newman
Elijah Cerra Acres
Williams McKay Martin
Motlop Curnow Fogerty
TDK Cripps Walsh

Hewett Cincotta Cowan Ollie
Sub - Kennedy.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

I suggest we don't spend all game kicking to the lead of our key forward target in Tom Stewart for this one... might not bode well for us...

Jks, we always get our revenge...

 

[sweethoney]

How was Motlop in the VFL?

Played real well. Had a few cba too

 

[David Sylvian]

Another redemption round. Cerra in for Carrol.
I would like to see Durds and Motts in the same forward line at some stage.
Geebung will be hard to beat after watching them against the swans
We should break them in the second half, oxygen brothers to facilitate and Harry to dominate.

 

[Arr0w]

Cincotta has a number of options to tag depending where a few Cats players line up

Miers, Holmes, Bruhn, maybe even Danger

I wink Williams goes to Stewart, like he did with Aliir

 

[sweethoney]

Is Geelong’s losing streak off the bye still going?

 

[JJBagger]

Cincotta has a number of options to tag depending where a few Cats players line up

Miers, Holmes, Bruhn, maybe even Danger

I wink Williams goes to Stewart, like he did with Aliir

Will be interesting. Holmes has probably been their best player this year, but wouldn't be surprised if he went to Miers. Either one of them poses the biggest threat imo. Danger will be tough in the contest, but might struggle impacting the game outside of that, especially if our mids get on top.

 

[Red_man2008]

Since 2013 post bye record:

Carlton 7-5 (last two by an average winning margin of 63 points)
Geelong 3-8 (last one lost by 38)

 

[SurreyBlue]

Stupid fixture. How can we be playing this mob again so soon. FMD.

 

[gab213]

I think that we will win this one simply because we have better personnel available to us this time. Geelong played at their absolute best last time, we are much improved since then.