Guess will keep the mini write-ups coming.. Hot day for Carlton vs Geelong.. Will try to skip over players like Motlop/Boyd/Saad/Gov/Cripps/Hewett/Curnow who did as you would expect, same on the Geelong side with SDK/Duncan/Danger/Tuohy etc.
CARLTON:
Notable absentees: Weitering, Martin, Williams, Walsh, Kennedy, Marchbank, Pittonet, Owies
Happy with what I saw today for the most part, considering how many players we had missing.
E Hollands: I don't want to exaggerate but close to BOG for mine. No CBA's (that I noticed anyay) so just a half-forward role, but very clean and always makes the right choice. $277K in SC and suspended for the first two games. Probably too awkward a price anyway but looking forward to having him in the team come Round 3. 100% best 22.
McKay - Big prescence start of game.. Shanked it then lovely goal then hit the post from 30 out. Had some yips but finished with a big goal from 50. Secondary ruck, was ok. Be interesting if we play both TDK/Pitt this year or just one and McKay as 2nd ruck..
Doc - Was wing early, then lots of CBA's. Expect he has decent midfield time with Walsh possibly out Round 0 and Acres/Hollands occupying the wings and Cottrell some wing time too.
OHollands - Has moved to #4.. Running well.. Great goal.. Some CBA's Q4.. Looks good on the wing for the season
Kemp/Young - One of Kemp/Young probably plays early in the season with the Weitering injury.. but both were pretty poor.
Fantasia - Was good, expect he's best 22
Moir - Nice crumbing goal for his 2nd, should get some games this year when we have injuries in the forward line
Carroll - On in Q4, did not do much
Williams - DNP and not sure he will next week
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GEELONG:
Notable absentees: Rohan
Pretty strong team but also rotated the squad a lot. They would've been happier with the hitout if they didn't cop an injury 10 seconds in...
Guthrie: Went down straight away after first kick of the game... Reported as quad. Quite innocuous but also a big red flag...
Conway: Rotated with Stanley. Neither stood-out. Assume they'll only run with one in the real thing so all eyes on who it would be.
Clark - Role was good, especially with Guthrie going down presumably helping his minutes even more. I wasn't impressed though - just not that clean. Be interesting if he was to play Round 1, would be hard to avoid.
Stewart - Looked usual self.. Most of the kick-ins but Duncan/Holmes took some too. Not sure if the Holmes move down back hurts him, but not sure that will last either.
Neale - Looked great. Expectation is will be the 3rd tall / 2nd ruck this season. Very awkward price of $200K unofrtunately. Drilled a goal from 50m out in Q1.
OSullivan - Looked ok... Not out of place.. I am assuming isn't in the early season team
Holmes - Was playing defence first half where he took a nice 1-1 mark and some kick-outs. Was back in the midfield a few times in the second half. He didn't look out of place in defence but not sure if he'll stay there, especially if Guthrie is injured.
Mannagh - On in Q3, racked it up in his limited time and looked good. I'd still happily select him if he gets into the team but not sure he will. Seems to fit the sub mould...
Athomas final thoughts:
Carlton are largely irrelevant, esecpailly with the early bye.
E Hollands looked great but too awkward of a price and misses the first game of the season.
Walsh out probably just helps Doc cement some midfield time, but still need to see if Walsh will even miss Round 1 anyway. Hopefully
Williams is good to go, potentially they will take it easy on him, Boyd played well with Saad etc, but I expect he'll be fine.
Need to see the
Guthrie fall-out, but he's definitely off my watchlist.
Clark may benefit directly from that injury, will at least keep an eye on him.
Conway is a bit expensive as R3 but could be ok if he gets the starting gig, but didn't particularly impress.
Stewart was fine, don't think too negatively impacted by Holmes or anything. I don't
think O'Sullivan is a contender to play Round 1 but I
hope Mannagh is; it does seem wishful thinking though!