Carlton Supporters Club

The zone was pretty far from solid in 2016 and 2017. If one player, Docherty, missing is all it takes for your defensive structure to fall apart then its a fair indicator that the system isn't particularly robust.

For whatever reason, it doesn't work. The coaches (not just Bolton but all of them) should have seen this already and adapted. But they haven't. It isn't just the backline with Daisy and Simmo though, the zone is a team defence - which is failing because as a team the playing group isn't implementing it.

So yes, that is the job of the coaches (again, not just Bolton). When one of two players continually get things wrong you can blame them. But when an entire playing group isn't running hard you have to look at the coaches. When disposal and skills are woeful across the board, you have to ask what the coaches are doing at training to develop them properly. And finally, when the opposition works out your game plan and thrashes you like this on a number of occasions, you have to question why we stuck with the same game plan each time.

I'm happy with the zone style because the coach is expecting them to learn how to play in a way that will win. One on one is for wet days and the bottom leagues. Watch a division one game in local leagues; they play zone.

Its the turnovers that are killing us. We won the inside 50s, which shows we are winning the ball and getting it forward. We then break down and it comes back and we are struggling to get back to position. Playing one one one is not going to improve us much.

One a few occasions this year our approach has worked and we score. Fast ball movement via accurate kicking is very hard to defend. But it requires great skills and being organised and we are struggling to meet these levels.

The coach has high expectations. Good.

How many coaches do we have to burn before the penny drops ? We've had rookie coaches, experienced coaches, soft coaches, tough old school coaches, yet we are where we are.

We don't have the depth to cover the loss of someone like Doc. Same goes for Cripps. And yet this is the coaches fault ?

Tha coach doesn't just inherit a list. He inherits an entire club, an entire culture. And turning around a culture like ours is a massive club wide undertaking. I'm not suggesting Bolton is blameless,  not am I suggesting he's beyond criticism.

Tim Clarke chopped. More to follow?

BB has about 6-8 games next season to show some real improvement (as reflected by number of wins) otherwise he'll be pushed imo.

Sure, we'l get players back etc etc but so many times this year the lack of effort from so many does suggest the players don't get whatever BB's message is.... the school teacher mantra only goes so far.

God, I trust SOS weaves some magic....

Good. As per my last post, this had to happen.

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2018-08-25/clarke-departs

Hopefully making way for Sam Mitchell to take up the position

Or Ratts

Could he really come back in any role less than head coach?

I like Ratts and think he would be great in the job, but it might be a little too destabilising to have him as midfield coach at the moment.

When an entire system breaks down, yes it is the coaches that need to be looked at because they are accountable for the entirety of the team's performance. And not just Bolton - all of them.

That doesn't mean sack Bolton - I understand the need for some stability and what you're saying. But there definitely need to be some changes in his support crew and a different game plan in 2019. As some first changes, replace those responsible for skills development, the midfield and fitness. Because whatever they're doing just isn't getting results.

After 2 wins in season and multiple 10 goal thrashings we can't bury our heads in the sand and say everything would have worked out if we just had one player. Docherty is good - but he alone wouldn't have prevented this shipwreck.

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After 2 wins in season and multiple 10 goal thrashings we can't bury our heads in the sand and say everything would have worked out if we just had one player. Docherty is good - but he alone wouldn't have prevented this shipwreck.

I'm happy with the zone style because the coach is expecting them to learn how to play in a way that will win. One on one is for wet days and the bottom leagues. Watch a division one game in local leagues; they play zone.

I can't speak for everyone, but i've got no problem with the coach implementing a zone style of play. As you say, its the norm.

However, when the team is so obviously bad, there needs to be a circuit breaker of sorts. Players need to be reminded that they can in fact play the game. The quickest and easiest way to do that mid-game is to switch to man on man. A large part of coaching is player management, both in terms of physically and mentally. The players look fed up and tired. Give them a break and let them just run around and play.

I'm happy with the zone style because the coach is expecting them to learn how to play in a way that will win. One on one is for wet days and the bottom leagues. Watch a division one game in local leagues; they play zone.

Its the turnovers that are killing us. We won the inside 50s, which shows we are winning the ball and getting it forward. We then break down and it comes back and we are struggling to get back to position. Playing one one one is not going to improve us much.

One a few occasions this year our approach has worked and we score. Fast ball movement via accurate kicking is very hard to defend. But it requires great skills and being organised and we are struggling to meet these levels.

The coach has high expectations. Good.

We are not an AFL freak show, or an AFL outlier. Every single AFL team plays a zone, cluster, web, whatever you want to call it. Conceptually they make sense. These structures can be implemented to varying degrees, different parts of the ground etc. They are all starting positions only. The game has a dynamic component, and players continuously change from one mode to another. Maybe there needs to be an adjustment to the way we implement our zone, but I think by far the biggest problem is that we turn the ball over so often, the players simply can't settle, and have to adjust and readjust far too often, and are therefore out of position too often. That coupled with inexperience, injury etc., is a recipe for disaster and as far as fans are concerned, a recipe for class unrest.