We seem to be choosing a side out of the blokes most not injured these days.
We can be stoic, and so long as we compete well im happy but that equation doesn't result in knocking off teams looking like they'll finish top 4 unless they too have an off night.
Port may well think they just need to turn up, collect 4 pts and go home. I really hope that's the case and we can use that to our advantage. Smug Kents like Rozee symbolise PA, he/they need to be taught a lesson. We have shown that when we bring it, we can beat anyone. Our problem is we don't bring it often enough, so that's the challenge. Its at the G, not the basketball stadium so that's a start. It should be dry Sat night so weather shouldn't be a factor, although wind might be. Here's hoping.
We play better against top opposition. Who gave us a chance at KP v Geel last year? If not for some lapses of concentration, we were in it up to our ears v Rich in rnd 1.
Barker is not a development coach and has only been midfield coach for a couple of seasons - and Cuningham is in the forwards group.
If Barker is to wear the blame for poor development, Bolts and Teague have to share it - particularly Teague who was Cuningham’s line coach for a couple of seasons.
The bottom line is that our player development has been lacking for far too long. Criticism of our player drafting should be tempered in that light.
Cam Bruce is the fwd line coach, there is the problem.
I see ZERO benefit - to Dow or the team - in continuing to pick Dow in the 1s.
He's lost.
And he's certainly keeping others out of the 22 who will almost certainly have a far bigger impact on team success presently.
Setters is little different but has done more at times.
Teague needs to be smart. Not ultra conservative.
Dow may still come good, but getting 8 touches every week simply is unacceptable in the role he performs.
No being a smart ass here, but what is that role? That is, how do we know what role the coaches are asking him to play? If he keeps getting picked, he may be meeting those requirements. Just saying.
and of course Lord Lucifer actually posted alternatives in the sack Teague thread today FFS.
Whilst I put my hand up, I think that my posts didn't call for him to be sacked, they involved: - stating that if we don't make the 8, the club would sack him at years end. - if we where 0-5 or 0-6, they would sack him sooner I also stated that I don't like the bloke much, doesn't mean I want hime sacked. He could win us he next 10 on the trot, my opinion of him won't have changed.
I actually went to the game, which always gives a different perspective.
As close at it may have been, it felt like we were always in control of the game and were never really going to lose (yes, I know that's easy to say in retrospect...). At the ground, you can look 80 metres off the ball to see who is working hard, who is slacking and who controls things.
Forget who the pundits said was best on the ground. The man who is becoming the absolute general of the backline is Jacob Weitering. He was superb, smashed King in virtually every one-on-one and has a very calm head once he has the ball, Liam is good too, but this week and last, he could run around intercepting because Weitering had such a presence and provided the cover. There is no stat for presence and cool head, but they are invaluable.
The Suns were only in the game because (a) we kicked 9.16 instead of 16.9 and (b) they got 3 goals from unbelievably soft free kicks at really important times. At the start of the last quarter, I said to my son who was with me that the 'old' Carlton would end up coughing up this game. To my delight, they all worked incredibly hard in the last quarter - didn't get the scoreboard rewards, but kept turning up the heat. The run and cover was miles ahead of the Suns.
An ugly win, yes, but pleasing that the work rate is improving.
Some observations :
(1) The dew was a significant factor. Certainly meant that disposal was more difficult than even a wet day in Melbourne. (2) We really need some expert assistance in tackling, so that they stick - our one-on-tackles are about as firm as those floppy sponges in a car wash. (3) Patrick Cripps, as much as I love him, needs to learn about poise. ATM, when he gets the ball, he is so unpredictable and tries to do so much that no-one, team-mates included, knows what he is going to do. The mark and play-on in the last quarter is the perfect example - that should have led to a goal and shut the gate. It's easy to say he is a gun surrounded by spuds, but on many occasions, he makes them look that way. Give him some tapes of Pendlebury and get him to study how he uses his teammates. Usually, one simple clean disposal is much better than trying to crash through three tackles. (4) Kennedy must come in. Attacks the ball well, presents on lead, and kicks very well. His last 10 minutes were very important.
In the end, it was nice to walk down the stairs to the tune of 'Da-da-da-da-da'.
Roll on next week.
Brilliant post Tonyo, being at the ground you see so much more that TV and stats don't.
Fitness wise, we were all over the Suns in the last quarter. We kept attacking and if 1.7 had been 5.3 we would be singing the praises of Russell and his team. We ran out the game very well I thought.
Agreed, but 1.7 against good opo will end in tears.
In the end just wanted to get to 2-2 no matter how. Thought that was just so important. 1-3 with Port to come would put things in a very different context.
So now we have to expend all energy getting to 3-2. Port will be a tough job, so was Geel at Geel last year. If not for some slightly sloppy defence, we would have beat Port last year and it took Robbie Gray's best to knock us off. Onwards and upwards, these are the games that launch seasons, that's the challenge.
Was good to see Levi starting to use his weight and strength again around the ground, that's the first time I've seen it this year. It's his go. He should ignore the tap stuff and just muscle opponents and try to get a handball away and if the ball is pilfered by an opponent he should be smashing them in a tackle every time, even if he gives away a few frees it'll start making some space for Walsh and Cripps.
Its an art what you have described above, if it doesn't come natural to him and doesn't know what he is doing, he will come off second best.
Parks barely had a possession, but he did a decent job defending. Not sure he'll keep his place if we have a few guys back. But he does have some idea what he is doing.
Paddy Dow had 8 possessions and just fumbled too often. I think he will go out. Jack Silvagni didn't get a lot of the ball, but he was lively. His tackle basically won us the game. Levi barely had a touch either. I would have rucked him more, so he could get into the game. He contested well enough, but we didn't do him any favours. Pitto was disappointing. He got his hand to a lot of balls, but we didn't get the ball away. We really have to improve in that area, or good midfields are going to smash us.
They clearly knew they were deficient in the ruck area but their mids were switched on from the get go both at the centre bounces and around the ground.
