Carlton Supporters Club

We do need some outside run and none of those above give us breakaway pace. For that reason I think it’s a mistake not investing more time in Dow.

We do need some outside run and none of those above give us breakaway pace. For that reason I think it’s a mistake not investing more time in Dow.

It's also possible that Riewoldt & Montagna are pumping up the tyres of an old mate in Aaron Hamill (fellow player and assistant coach during their time) when they dwell on Carlton's defensive woes during last season.

Leigh Montagna & Nick Riewoldt have separately talked about what they see as the prime mission of Voss in the preseason: fixing the inability to defend. In the Season Preview on Fox Footy, Riewoldt summed it up by saying "Carlton is a team that refused to defend". He said the behind-the-goals vision was horrible (including from Cripps) and noted Teague repeatedly stated at every press conference that this wasn't the way they wanted to defend and yet the players refused to buy in. He argued that Aaron Hamill, who was in charge of team defence at St Kilda, has presumably brought that system across and Voss will be the driver of culture & standards. Accordingly, the extent to which the players buy in will determine Carlton's year rather than the talent which isn't the problem. Montagna on SEN reviewing the last practice match said he noted that the man-on-man defence has been replaced by a system which offers more protection.

Obviously, Riewoldt & Montagna are just 2 ex-players and they just have their own opinions. But if Voss did come in with a plan to impose a defensive system the players would accept, where would Dow fit into it? It wouldn't be surprising if he turns to guys like Hewitt, Cerra, Kennedy & Ed Curnow to build that sort of system, particularly when the most hard-working mid in Walsh is unavailable. Having a guy with pace like Dow is more like the cherry on top when that system is bedded down.

Dow also lacks a bit of confidence, so allowing him to find some form in the VFL isn't such a bad idea.     

They have been showing behind the goals footage every week on Fox during Teague's tenure. It has been abhorrent, week in week out as bad as I have seen from any Carlton side. If Vossy and co. can turn this around, it will go a long to improving our fortunes.

They have been showing behind the goals footage every week on Fox during Teague's tenure. It has been abhorrent, week in week out as bad as I have seen from any Carlton side. If Vossy and co. can turn this around, it will go a long to improving our fortunes.

Leigh Montagna & Nick Riewoldt have separately talked about what they see as the prime mission of Voss in the preseason: fixing the inability to defend. In the Season Preview on Fox Footy, Riewoldt summed it up by saying "Carlton is a team that refused to defend". He said the behind-the-goals vision was horrible (including from Cripps) and noted Teague repeatedly stated at every press conference that this wasn't the way they wanted to defend and yet the players refused to buy in. He argued that Aaron Hamill, who was in charge of team defence at St Kilda, has presumably brought that system across and Voss will be the driver of culture & standards. Accordingly, the extent to which the players buy in will determine Carlton's year rather than the talent which isn't the problem. Montagna on SEN reviewing the last practice match said he noted that the man-on-man defence has been replaced by a system which offers more protection.

Obviously, Riewoldt & Montagna are just 2 ex-players and they just have their own opinions. But if Voss did come in with a plan to impose a defensive system the players would accept, where would Dow fit into it? It wouldn't be surprising if he turns to guys like Hewitt, Cerra, Kennedy & Ed Curnow to build that sort of system, particularly when the most hard-working mid in Walsh is unavailable. Having a guy with pace like Dow is more like the cherry on top when that system is bedded down.

Dow also lacks a bit of confidence, so allowing him to find some form in the VFL isn't such a bad idea.

We do need some outside run and none of those above give us breakaway pace. For that reason I think it’s a mistake not investing more time in Dow.

I know that he tries to do so but I don't think that Dow offers much in the 'outside-run' department; he is caught with the ball or forced to dispose of it under pressure far too often.  He lacks the real speed and acceleration that others have.

Unless someone is "in the know" that his kicking has improved dramatically over the break, we are in for more of the same - just not good enough for a team that wants to make the four.