Carlton Blues vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog

It's this attitude that has gotten us where we are. What's the point of Goddard getting in the best in the 2s every week then not giving him a go in the 1s, whereas you have Dow playing maybe 1 good game for the year but keeps getting picked time and time again. What sort of message is this sending to the other blokes? They need to earn their spot and feel the pressure every week at selection that they know they will get dropped if they don't perform. This pressure is what differentiates the good side's from the poor side's

I would think Goddard still misses out, McKay comes in Casboult goes back to play Weitering's role and Weitering plays Marchbank role.

Marchbank out for the year. Looks like Goddard should get his chance. Really think we need to find out how good he is this year as part of our planning for the future. He has constantly been in our bests every week in the seconds. Not sure what roles they can work out between him Jones, Weitering (if he plays) and possibly Casboult if they send him down back. It might not work out but we won’t know if we don’t play him. There are others on our list I would like to see get a few games. A bit more rotation of our lesser players would be desirable as part of our player development and future planning around list decisions.

Given neither you nor I are privy to the coaches instructions it is not possible to tell if he has or has not been playing his role, other than knowing that if he keeps getting picked while others get dropped he must be doing what is asked of him. As for 7 touches, a game, you didn't mention 1 goal a game, 1 goal assist a game and over 4 score involvements a game. Based on that nearly every touch he has results in us scoring. As for ruining his career, just clam you farm, he is going very well for a second year player.

That's the thing though Macca, he hasn't been playing his role. Around 7 disposals 3 weeks in a row for a midfielder even though he's playing forward is nowhere near enough and his pressure hasn't been great. He needs time in the 2's before they break him and ruin his career.

Kane and you just completely missed mine!! Clearly no one is above being dropped and Dow has been "playing his role" well enough to hold his spot. That said if Cripps, .Cuningham and McKay are available this week Dow may get a rest (not play 2's just rest up for a start).

Pete - I expect there will be 3 changes this week, hardly playing the same players, simply putting a line through the constantly disappointing Lang and not dropping Casboult or Jones so Goddard can have a run. As for getting the same results, if we win half our games and lose the other half by less than a goal where we kick 100 points for the rest of the year I would be happy to play the same team every week.

And look how much better those 4 have come back after playing 2's. You pretty much just proved my point Macca.

That’s it Macca. Keep playing the same players week in week out for the same results and learn nothing about other players on our list. I’d rather we focus on the development of our whole list rather than just pin our hopes on a small handful of players. Some will develop into good players, some won’t. But of those closer to the fringe of selection we don’t know which ones they will be. As much I like Casboult and Jones right now they’re not our future. We’ve got important list management decisions to make at years end. We need to get a decent look at some of those on the fringes to decide which ones to keep.

Lang has now played 13 games for the blues how many times has he had more than 15 possessions? 3!! Dow has done it 8 times from 15 this year and he hasn't been in the system 2 years yet. Lang is done. As for Goddard is other teams want him then they can have him, Jones, Casboult, Weitering and Marchbank can cover his role, hopefully a MacReadie or BSOS develop for when Casboult and Jones retire or we can draft or trade for someone in the 3 - 4 years until that happens. If they are the only 2 who you think should be getting games I really don't know what you are whinging about.

One game in the middle of the year is not much of an opportunity. Players need about 3 consecutive games to really get into the groove at senior level. A number of players have been playing all season who were far worse than Lang today. Goddard will be approached by other clubs at the end of the year. If we don’t give him some games we may very well lose him. Which we may regret in a few years time when we are aiming to challenge at the top of the ladder and Casboult and Jones are retired.

Kane - O'Brien, Kennedy, Silvagni and Setterfield have all been sent back to the 2's but you think Dow is exempt? You have to remember in the past 3 weeks he isn't going through the middle (3 clearances in 3 weeks) but rather playing as a forward (5 scoring shots for 3 goals plus 3 goal assists and 13 score involvements).

A full pre-season will really benefit Setterfield. Kennedy needs to get on to the running coach who Cripps works with before his second year.

Winnable yes, should have won no, and we lost by 5 points after kicking 100. As for other players being given a go, who? Lang got his chance after a good VFL game and once again showed he wasn't up to it, Fasolo has had chances and shown why he couldn't get into collingwoods side last year, Goddard & MacReadie are behind Casboult, Jones Weitering and Marchbank. The next 3 players in (hopefully next week) are Cripps, McKay and Cuningham - which given JSOS, Kennedy and Setterfield have all stepped up in recent weeks will make selection interesting - it will get more interesting when Curnow comes back.

Melbourne 16th on the ladder, missing Gawn and another 13 players on their injury list. Down to 1 player on the bench before 3/4 time. It was a very winnable game and a lost opportunity to move up one more rung on the ladder and deny Adelaide pick 2 in next years draft. I’m frustrated seeing the same players underperform that have been gifted games all year. Its time to give other players an opportunity so we can make some fully informed list management decisions at the end of the year.

Four by five points or less Pete.

I think you have to look at team needs Peter. Blues had gone for talls in an earlier draft and wanted mids. So Haughton was never in the frame. Stevenson was an option but a risk.

Lang was shocking, wonder how long he is contracted for . His first tough after a quarter and a half he handed to a player with someone on him. A bit of a liability . Dow is a gun but needs a week Off then a run in the twos .

Like to see Deluca get a chance, he is no champion but he is better than Fasolo ,he was not given a fair go at Freo,

Great call Pete B, i agree Lyon is doing the same with Brayshaw and Cerra and they have fallen away and there other kids not getting a chance you have to rotate your list. They only have to go back for a couple. One player at Freo 20 yo averaging 25 disposals for a season and a half not one game.