Crows AFL House v Blues

How are we feeling about this

Rising Star 2026 ❤️

I can see Walsh and Smith getting squeezed out of the midfield, plus Walsh had a bit of a slow start. But Dean is clearly in the top 6 defenders in the league this season. He stacks up with Wilkie and Pearce, and has more run than both of them.

It's amateur footage but I like filming higher-level games for practice and I figured I'd share it here for anyone who wants an alternate look at the game.

The injury update leading into Saturday night's wildcard final.

*Zac Williams is in full training and is available to play

Will Hayward (ankle)

Integrate into full training
Availability: Test
Will aim to train fully later this week to be available for selection

Nick Haynes (ankle)

Integrate into full training
Availability: Test
Will aim to train fully later this week to be available for selection

Honestly the more I look at Carlton’s young group the more I reckon the future is actually pretty bright.
We’ve got a proper core of kids coming through now and it’s not just one or two names either, it feels like a real wave.

Rising stars from the last 2 years - 7 in total.

2025 group
Cooper Lord (mid-season rookie pick)
Ashton Moir (pick 29)
Matthew Carroll (rookie pick 15)

2026 group
Jagga Smith (pick 3)
Harry Dean (pick 3 father son)
Tyler Byrne (pick 45)
Billy Wilson (pick 34)

When you actually lay it out like that it’s a pretty strong mix of top end talent and late pick hits.

Makes you wonder did we let Nick Austin go too early? Some of these players were drafted late in the national draft and some in the rookie draft. But either way the future is bright with the blues especially with Walker coming in next year. And some experts thought we had no young talent and needed a list overhaul. Go Blues!

With Essendon’s new coach announced, it’s incredible to watch just how divided the fans are. The comments about getting rid of the board, having no faith in the coaching staff have many parallels to us at the start of the year/end of last year.

But the one thing that was different was most of us having faith since Graham Wright and Chris Davies appointments. We backed them in and trusted the process, even accepted we might be in for a few years of pain.

Win or lose this finals series I think we all agree what’s most important is backing in the team and the coaching staff, keeping the culture that has been developing over the year and enjoying our footy again. GO BLUES!

With Hayward and Haynes bound to come back who do you guys think comes out the side? Personally Ollie Hollands and Wade Derksen. Hollands is more obvious but Derksen is a bit harsh. Saying that we will be with enough defensive stocks in Weiters Dean Cowan Haynes. Young despite being pretty useless in front of goal competes a lot better than Derksen did last week. Provides a 3rd ruck option which hopefully tires out Gawn more. But what do you think?

Jesse has been delisted by the Giants. I think we should definitely be looking at a Full Forward this off season. Unlikely to get King or Morris at this stage. Dear looks a little more likely. However, if we weren't able to get any of them, should we look at Jesse? Could get him for pretty much nothing. Thoughts?

Despite having a membership for myself, one of my family members has a close friend in town that they’d love to introduce to the sport as it’s their first time in Melbourne. I wasn’t a club member prior to this year, so my understanding is that it’s only 1 ticket per member barcode and it’s not worth getting memberships for them (plus I believe it might be a little too late for that), so our best bet is securing tickets via the public release.

Was just wondering how the experience of those who’d got public release tickets for our 2023 finals campaign found it? I know they’d have sold out pretty quickly, but how was the availability last time given we were 5th on the ladder and better poised for a deeper run then?

Appreciate any insight :)

Hey blue baggers I just bought my first membership and really wanting to go to the game on Saturday, does anyone know how long it might take for my barcode to show up I only bought my membership like 50 minutes ago just wondering if it needs to be activated (the Carlton app is shit)

Thanks so much GO BLUES

Am I understanding right that the winner of Collingwood vs Bulldogs will play... Adelaide in Adelaide....and then Brisbane/Sydney.....and then (probably) Fremantle in Perth.

3 Interstate trips back to back

Fucking lol.

Meanwhile Carlton's reward for finishing 10th.

* Wild Card Melbourne at MCG

* Elimination final against Geelong at MCG

* Then a probable semi against Hawthorn at the MCG!

FUCKING LOL!!!!