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Messages - Lods

4
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
To me the issue has always been a case of thinking in the present rather than thinking about what might be achieved.
That could never be done without them at least playing some time together, and developing that combination.
It won't always work, or even be the best option every game.
But if you don't try you never know, and that's not going to happen with one of them stuck in the VFL.
5
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1536660/tortured-wait-the-one-thing-on-blues-mind-after-giant-win?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3fA4nucSeyJF4dKnPDJ2dSX56ziKIL-0fPa5B0WqVFxAICyPsyILuJhgY_aem_AU5QynmePzWEMOSivCfC2fe91GNoAfyK7vZCpWoGYQ4EzeUEYrNDg5fhLTG5GoUlqJ2Cr9F653655GGxJ_92OLWw

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Pittonet's 2024 season was somewhat delayed by an ankle injury, but the Blues have opted to play two rucks (Tom De Koning his partner) for the past two weeks, against the strong-bodied Reilly O'Brien and Kieren Briggs.

"It's a great challenge. I feel like teams who want to be competing when it matters need to have big squads," Pittonet said.

"The way we view it is we want to make everything work, I think we get the best out of each other and we work together with the other big boys out there.

"It's more a matter of if we can do what we did (against the Giants) and really maximise it, it becomes a no-brainer from a structural point of view. It's a nice bit of extra pressure to keep it up and make sure we're on the whole way through."

De Koning kicked three goals, a career-high tally, with Pittonet's presence in the ruck allowing him to be a third option in attack alongside Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

"Geez he was good, wasn't he? I love it when he plays like that," Pittonet said.

"We've got such good connection, just trying to work together, whether it's who's having a better game against which rucks – there were passages where he was having a good day against Briggs, so he went in, and I went forward for a bit. Same with the second rucks as well.

"Even with those marking contests, being able to release him so he can get a launch at those balls, took some great marks, I think we just make each other better, and the team benefits from first use and getting aerial pressure as well."

It'll be an interesting watch to see if Carlton continues with the dual ruck combination regardless of opponent or uses a horses for courses approach depending on the opposition. Coach Michael Voss said he wasn't locked in on running with two rucks for the rest of the season.

"Their form says a lot as well," Voss said.

"There's a lot of discussion about two rucks – we've got a style of play we want to play, clearly we had the dominance around the ball, certainly from centre square bounce we did. Their games were certainly impactful."
7
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Post Game Review Carlton vs GWS
Well, we can probably put an end to the one ruck/two ruck debate that’s permeated multiple threads over the last year or so, not just in this place but across all Carlton discussion forums.

As it turns out, in the words of Taras Bulba…”We were both right…and we were both wrong!”
There is a time and a place for both options depending on the skills of the players involved.

We recognise the advantages of one ruck in terms of the extra run.
On the weekend we saw the advantages of two rucks.
Will either option work every week?
I doubt it will.
Two rucks may not even work next week.
One thing we can be sure of is, that having seen how Pittonet and TDK operated on the weekend, opposition clubs will devote a bit of time as to how they combat that combination.

Supporters tend to see things in term of how things work in the past and how they are working in the present. A coaching group has a different perspective. For them the past is irrelevant. The present is important because of the need to win, and bank points but they also need to look to the future.
Will a small experiment or sacrifice early in the season generate a greater benefit at the end of the year?

There was some criticism of using Pittonet last week against Adelaide. But in hindsight he was probably handled perfectly. Superhuman freaks (Walsh) may be able to step back into a side without missing a beat, but for the average player after a long lay-off or a late start to the season, it often takes a match or two to get back up to speed. Fifty percent game time for Pittonet in his first game back was probably the ideal re-introduction to the side.
Did it alter the result?
No more than a dozen or so other incidents in that game.

Just to finish….
-Pittonet reckons they’re developing into a good combination with a good understanding. That takes time playing together. It’s useless having one bide his time, learning his trade in DeKoning’s case, in the VFL where their role would probably be different. Game time together is important.

-There’s been a definite improvement in DeKoning’s game and influence…as well as his ruck work. He gave one of the best ‘hit-outs to advantage’ I’ve seen in recent times on the weekend. (it may have been a bit of a fluke.) :D  :D
 
-Pittonet and TDK are very different types of ruckman, and bring different strengths to the game.

-Cripps loves playing to Pittonet. It showed on the weekend.

-The coaches have a much greater knowledge than we do of
a) What they’re trying to achieve long term with the ruck situation.
b) The strengths, weaknesses and fitness levels of each player at any given time.
c) Opposition strengths and weaknesses that are analysed in preparation for the next games
d) How each player complements the other.
e) The balance- what is the cost effect of playing one combination vs the other.
They don’t get paid the big bucks for working out something a footy tragic can deduce by a couple of hours of watching a game.

So, let’s not go week by week depending on results, favouring one option or the other.
Know that both can work.
Trust the experts. They seem to be doing OK with half the side missing.
13
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Quote from: kruddler on
Short memory Lods, i'm pretty sure i said the exact same thing last week except it was Pittonet instead of O'Keefe!

I suspect there is still a bit of a difference between Pittonet and O'Keefe :D

Unless there is an issue with one of the rucks, O'Keefe is just there for show.
In the unlikely event that he does play it just reinforces the fact that the coaching group are committed to two rucks.

So that then begs the question....
If a coaching group that contains a Brownlow medallist and triple premiership mid-fielder with over 150 games of senior coaching, and years as an assistant at a moderately successful  Port...and our best ruckman this century think that there are times when the two ruck option should be used.
and
knowing the strengths and weaknesses, and fitness levels of both our ruckman far better than any of us.

Why are they on a different page to those questioning the two ruck set-up?

They're either as stubborn as mules, or they have a 'cunning' plan that depends on time for Pittonet and TDK to work together and develop a combination.
In all the games both have played probably less half have been together.

In the end they'll either work it out or abandon it.


14
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 6 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS
Quote from: Professer E on
Surely O'Keffe can't be an emergency.  Three rucks ? what drugs are the MC on?

Being named an emergency is sometimes a bit like a 'participation certificate'. :D
It's a reward for effort and it sends the message that "you're not too far away"
If we have to make a late change it's a pretty fair bet it won't be O'Keefe coming in....most likely it will be Cincotta, if he's fit.