I have been watching "The Last Dance" the Michael Jordan doco series on Netflix and comparing it to what we see at Carlton. Their attitude and self belief is compelling in building The Chicago Bulls basketball team.
In one season Jordan (and Pittman) were being physically smashed. The Bulls realised that they need a physical "gangster" to protect their talent - so enter the "scary" Dennis Rodman. Looking at the Judd period (and through to Cripps) we needed the same toughness to look after our elite - so we give Mitch Robinson his marching orders (he is exactly they type of player we need in our centre lineup with Cripps)...
When we were getting smashed in the middle, why weren't our (few) senior players moved to the centre to assist Cripps? Our small bodied mids were being mauled.
Why did no players assist or comfort Murphy or Jones when they were badly injured? Nobody went near them...Weitering was the only who went up to Jones (whilst Pittman got the giggles in the centre).
Why is Cripps the only player prepared to step up physically to an opponent who rag dolls one of our own?
When we fumble and lose possession, instead of laying a tackle to try to get the ball back we seem more concerned about running back to form our defensive grid or set up. This might be "the team thing", but it allows the opponent to continue with no pressure on him. Fisher, O'Brien, Walsh & SPS all did this yesterday...
Why do we repeatedly kick along the wings, back into huge congestion, instead of maintaining possession & switching play? Which version is our actual game plan under pressure?
I know this is a little off topic (and sorry to everybody if this is the wrong place to bring this up)...but I have just written a book!
It's called "For The Record" and looks at the development of Australian Pop Culture. There are unique chapters dedicated to every year from 1964 to 2017. Each chapter looks at Births, Deaths, News Events, Entertainment News, Sport and the Music that became the soundtrack to our lives.
Obviously there are many references to Carltons success over the decades with scores, facts and figures (but it's not entirely a sport book).
The notes and trivia I have compiled is the information I used when producing a radio show on Gold 104 called "My Generation with Jono Coleman" and "Classic 9 At 9" on Triple M and K Rock. For the first time, everything is about to be released.
As we get closer to publication, I'll keep you all in the loop.
Instead of sacking Mick, the club should announce a complete review of the player contracts and how we operate moving forward.
We have a massive imbalance of players being paid well over their worth and the rest can please themselves.
Looking at Hawthorn and Geelong etc, they pride themselves on paying everybody about the same to keep egos and jealousies in check and build a true "team" spirit...
Our top ten players are no way related our top ten contracts, and this will only cause problems long term.
For example, compare Warnock's deal to Wood. Compare Daisy, Murphy or Gibb's deal to a Bell or Docherty...
The Judd deal is the exception to the rule because he has actually fulfilled his end of the deal...and more.
But there are others who are swanning around the club whilst their team mates kill themselves each week for a fraction of the money - and we all know who they are.
And unfortunately, it's our memberships that pay for these contracts...