I was genuinely bummed after this loss.

But the thing I keep coming back to post-game is Weitering's suggestion that they fell back into bad habits...

There were seven club debutante's. Lord (25) and Moir (14) and E. Hollands (28) have played under 30 games each for the club, so that's hardly time enough to develop these long-term bad habits. (Also, they likely didn't play in the *other* games teams have run over us recently i.e. Richmond last year, Brisbane in the Preliminary final, etc.)

That's 10 players you could say haven't had the time to fall into bad habits. Which leaves 13 players who could, concievably, have bad habits:

Walsh - Cripps - Hewett - Pittonet - O. Hollands - Williams - McGovern - Weitering - Kemp - Fogarty - McKay - Saad - Young

You can make an argument that the forwards are less to blame - they can't do much when the midfield is getting smashed, so Kemp, Fogarty and McKay are less culpable (but not entirely blameless).

So, we're looking at

MIDS: Cripps, Walsh, Hewett, O. Hollands, Pittonet
DEF: Williams, Saad, Young, McGovern, Weitering

As the players whose 'bad habits' include not being able to do anything when the opposition get a run on.

Not that long ago? Facetious?

That was after one game. Round 1 2025. A year ago.

Haynes wasn't as bad as some suggested when Gov took out Haynes feet on the boundary, but conveniently, as the media took great pleasure to mock carlton abyssmal second half, by replaying that commical incident ad nauseum, he became the scapegoat for out awful failure against bottom of the table team, Richmond, despite him not being the reason we lost. But since that game he has earned respect of the faithful, and been an automatic selection, such has been his consistency and value to the team. Father time is not on their side, but if you look at Bset 23 sides from posters, Haynes selection was unanimous, unless I missed something.

Tall backs for mine were and are Weitering, O'Farrell, Haynes, till Dean develops. Whilst O'Farrell is out its Young or Derksen for me...at the start of this long season.

As for Newman, all I recall during the 2025 season is how much we missed his steadiness, leadership and delivery. I thought we missed him against the Swans too.

See my Best 23 team. Its on the record. Only one I have fighting for a spot in my Best 23 is Cowan. I have him behind Newman for obvious reason, but is the heir apparent.

You know we had 10 out injured, and Cowan would have been in if fit. He played 3/4ers of the reserves game, and was sprinting freely, so may get a call up this week. Ditto Carroll.

Everyone is replaceable given we are compelled to field 23 players plus 3 emergencies every week to be in the comp. Whether they are in your Best 23 is another story.

Cerra....another scapegoat. He has been outstanding all preseason, and was more than serviceable in 2025. I haven't written him off. He's 26yo. I don't like to write off players because of injury. I like to err on the positive side and say I like the way the club has taken the cautious approach with such a precious assett.

Wilson "meh"? Really? He's only 20yo and also has also had a great preseason. He looked like he belonged in that Lions win. A few track watchers were saying Newman may struggle to get his place back if Wilson wins a spot in round zero. He must be a bit better than meh for a 20yo imo. I would have preferrs Wilson's speed and run than having Gov take up the 4th tall spot. I thought we were too tall, and why wasn't Gov on Amartey instead of Williams? Mmmmm

Amazing how quickly young fellas, and veterans are marked up and shipped out when injury stifles their health.....and after one game...I get it... some Carlton supporters have become the new StKilda supporters.

I hope we come good, and holding fire after than unicorn of a game, and 10 on the injury list.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

double post

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Good point you raise.

After that 2nd goal in the third, the players decided to go for territory and boot as long as they could. I was spewing to see shorter options ignored.

I'd have to look at the 3rd and 4th qtr agin to see what you are alluding to. Logical. But I an sure Bentick took the long option a couple of times, ditto Elijah.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Interesting way of looking at it.
I think you could safely say a couple of those old heads didn't, i.e. Walsh and Pitto.
Weitering definitely gave up on a couple of chases when he knew he was beaten.
That one when he let Charlie go without any effort looked bad, but we don't know how sore he still is.

Yeah, Walsh and Pitto arguably played quite well.

Which leaves us where we thought we were:

Cripps and Hewett in the same midfield works when we're winning, but they're a defensive liablity.
Williams, McGovern and Young panic under pressure.
Saad has become a curiously peripheral player.
Weitering has a tendency to look after himself when the going gets tough (i.e. he tends to worry about his opponent at the expense of worrying about the defence as a whole).
And O. Hollands... I mean, he's still arguably a young player, and maybe you can cut him some slack?

But, most damingly, not one of them can take any action on field to reverse momentum.

Saad was in our best 2 or 3 in the first quarter and best 5 in the 2nd. Closed down Papley till he went off with hammy. Couldnt have done more imo. He wasnt a problem, and speed is certainly not his problem, even at his age. But that's my opinion. I do take on board the opinions of others like Doc, but I just cant see it when they say the game has gone past him.

I'm curious why anyone has doubts on Saad. I get his age is an issue, but bloody hell, we are crying for elite speed and he delivers it when we need it when no one else could close down opponents like he does. He does it week in week out and not as much as he did once given he's a lockdown player against the AFL's quickest and most dangerous small forwards (Papley, Pickett...) I think change is a case of timing. Some believe Cowan and Wilson have his measure, and can learn more by being picked (I get that) but I can't see they have passed him yet as a lockdown on small forwards, or line breaker, let alone his equal. Neither has Charleson or Carroll imo. Boyd comes close. Carroll and Cowan are much taller and would be pushing for Florent/ Newman and Williams' role imo. I'm OK if they go for a kids policy but I want best in for now, and think Saady has been great over preseason and one of our best in round zero.

Williams imo is more energetic and looking for options hence looks to some as in a panic.

I'm not sure if saad and Williams' bodies will hold up the whole year, but until they break down and the kids arent better than them, they keep their spots in my team, and so far, in Vossy's teams in 2025 and thus far in 2026, despite the preferences of some posters.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue