Between the ears, GTC. Players don't lose their abilities, at PP, they do. But all is not lost, it can be reignited but a ruthless confidence will be required... much easier said than done.
You know Baggers, once upon a time, we were ruthless. Ruthless in our pursuit of premierships. And that ruthless pursuit meant there were expectations, not hope, high exceptions. Those expectations created a culture, a culture where the players "ran the club" in a way that demanded excellence and the highest of standards. If you weren't up to scratch, you didn't play and didn't last. The list managers and coaches didn't control this, the senior players did. THATS culture. It culminated in a side that virtually coached itself in 1995, the last success we have tasted. Not long after that, there was a deterioration of that culture, the last of "old school" players departed and were replaced by a "new breed". A breed of players who thought because they walked in the doors at PP, they had made it. That was the start of the "entitled" generation. They weren't prepared to work hard, they weren't ruthless. It's that culture that has been handed down for the last few decades and here we are. A group of players that are very happy with themselves and their team mates. They enjoy each others company and the environment which is the Carlton Football Club Bank and Retirement Fund. We accept poor performance after poor performance because they know there are no consequences. I keep repeating the saying, "to know where you're going you need to know where you've been". Our players need to learn that culture of ruthlessness in the pursuit of premierships which demanded excellence and the highest of standards from each other. The leaders should be encouraged to push and demand it. Instead when Weiters comes out and offers honest feedback after a poor performance, he gets hauled over the coals for being too honest and forceful. I say more please.
Remember you current players, you are just passing through and are mere custodians and you have a duty to hand it over to the next crop better than what you found it. You need to find a way to "break through to the cycle" as Paulie said and change culture back to what it once was,
Ripper post, GTC!!
I do remember those days, clearly. Started with the ruthless expectations of Barassi in the mid 60s, ended in 2002.
We are old enough to remember players demanding ruthlessness from team mates.
Remember when the players had their Camp Curnow in 2023? What's important about that was it was players only - no coaches. How many games in a row did we not only win, but win big after that! Player driven. Point of this is that we know that they can do it which makes watching the past twelve months even more distressing... And infuriating. Nothing more tragic than watching serious talent and potential being p*ssed down the drain.
Maybe the players should tell the coaches to p*ss off and that they'll select the starting 23 and run the show until the end of the year.
"Carlton rank last for kicking efficiency, disposal efficiency, overall kick rating and kick rating for kicks going into the forward 50. They are second worst in kick rating for shots at goal."
Aint no coach been born to fix that. Having said that, I said many years ago we should have poached Choco Williams to coach our AFLW team where he could run his famous kicking classes. Perhaps we need his servicesfor the mens team.
Between the ears, GTC. Players don't lose their abilities, at PP, they do. But all is not lost, it can be reignited but a ruthless confidence will be required... much easier said than done.
The only way any of this males sense is if we are trying to do a dodgy and not trigger some players contract bonuses and/or extensions. Eg if player x plays xx amount of games he gets this amount of money as a bonus or he gets an extra year added to his current contract.
That would be really 'dodgy', pretty obvious, and get other players concerned about their own 'triggers'.
I get the feeling a lot of decisions have already been made. Boyd, Cinncotta, Lemmey, Acres may not attract a lot in terms of trade, very low picks...but they are 'tradeable'. Each possess some skills that might see other clubs finding a role for them or believing they can use those attributes and get a bit more out of them...overlooking any deficiencies or inconsistencies. No need to expose them further.
Many of the other fringe players who are getting a game might just be being picked as a final "look-see".
Winning is no longer a priority, Sportsbet have finally conceded we can't win it and removed us from the premiership betting , but teams may be being picked to minimise any losses...no huge blow-outs.
But honestly, it's all just guesses.
Suspect this is so, Principal LODS. Shame. Obviously not looking to 2026.
Said it before that I have seen him play down at Scotch College and never been sold on him, I dont go often so maybe I have missed his good games but I find him stock standard ok at most skills but not having a weapon skill that makes him a standout. Tackling is an issue because of his size, he is very small and would have real trouble at VFL level making them stick imho.
speaking of tackling, I heard a stat the other day which astounded me. Matty Rowell has laid 41 tackles in his last three games! Most of our blokes wouldnt lay 41 tackles in a year.
Durdin and Fogarty lay plenty of tackles... don't bother the goal ump, but lay loads of tackles!!
You mean gets elevated for one game, doesn't get a chance to find his feet, and then gets dropped again?
Yep, beggars belief doesn't it, Professory.
Yet, Durds, puts in an okay VFL performance, bang... Straight back into the seniors where he tackles, chases... and... that's about it. (Nothing personal, he's obviously a wonderful person, but AFL standard... he aint).
Boyd has something we need - play him in the seniors for the rest of the season.
Yep. He does odd things like ...Hit team mates on the chest with bullet passes, take a risk, take on the game, hardness at the aggott and man, enthusiasm, hunger for the contest, controlled aggression... not sure if our seniors can accommodate such things.
It's always darkest before the dawn... there's that irrepressible optimist again!I
I do think we're in with a chance this evening, provided:
TDK pulls his finger out. Deliver or FO. We've effectively with him been one down in the past few weeks. Weiters has to roll up the pouting bottom lip, and roll up the sleeves. Doc has to hit targets by hand and foot. Make Durdin the sub... then have no injuries or passengers. Motlop remains deep in the forward line. 'Good McGovern' turns up. Pitto takes his mongrel pills before the game... then shares them with Cerra, Fog & Cripps. Moir steps up and in to senior footy. Martin tears it up for four qtrs and doesn't get injured, and... Team defence shuts down the Brisvegas prime movers.
, but teams may be being picked to minimise any losses...no huge blow-outs.
