Re: Post Game Pandemonium: AFL Rd 3: Carlton vs Fremantle
Reply #66 –
There seems to be a general satisfaction with the performance, but it's still tinged with a fair bit of caution.
That probably stems from the fact that Fremantle were pretty awful.
We need to see a good follow-up effort, and probably a win against a better team before folks start to feel more comfortable.
Some really good individual efforts yesterday.
McKay is going to be a real concern for opposition coaches.
Walsh is going like a train...only concern is under the new rules whether he can sustain it for a full season....ran his guts out yesterday but even exhausted he kept going (may need a bit of management as the season progresses).
Liked Parks' first game and he'll only be better for the run and I like the energy Cottrell brings.
Fogarty...great pick-up. He's the kind of 'soldier' great sides are built on.
As I mentioned earlier Silvagni has taken a step forward this year. He looks stronger and a little quicker....that's what we need to see with 'development'. It's what we need to see with players like Dow and LOB...that step forward each season.
Cripps was back to what he does best, and monstered Freo.
Something that is really noticeable, and sometimes forgotten...players are often criticised for poor performances, but often it's the make-up of the opposition that dictates whether they will have a good day or a shocker.
Players match up better against different sides. Jones was really good yesterday....he had the match-ups that suited him.
Last week McKay did OK against one of the better defenders in the comp but was probably beaten on the day. Yesterday Freo had no answer to him.
That also goes for teams.
Freo was a good match-up for us yesterday.
I think they did what we needed to do against an opposition that have troubled us in the past regardless of personnel available. It will give our players some confidence, hopefully not overconfidence though. What was drummed into them during the week was the work rate, agressiveness and effort required, that's probably what they mainly got out of it. Execution is still a problem at times, that will improve with confidence as long as the effort, agressiveness and intensity are there.