Did anyone notice how lacklustre the team song was sung after the game? Didn't look good. I think a big problem with this side is they have too many introverts and not enough that show genuine leadership qualities.
Or maybe they don't like hearing how $hite they are from their employer
I read it in print this morning and wasn't online. Found it now in the subscription section of the small paper online.
HS 12/7/2013
WHILE no coach likes to lose, Carlton and Richmond's results would have especially stung their respective coaches last week.
After a defeat where nothing seemed to go right, the coach must be quick to collect his thoughts. The most dangerous period of the week - and, in fact, a coach's career - can be directly after a shock.
The walk from the coach's box to the changerooms is long and this time must be used to compose yourself and work through what you will say to the team.
Many thoughts are running through your head, including what the assistant coaches would have said during the game - mostly uncomplimentary - to the players.
However, I found the best course of action is to say nothing because there is often nothing positive to say.
All coaches know once you start to open your mouth it is hard to shut it and it is in these moments that relationships can be permanently broken. The other upside to saying nothing is it gives you breathing space to look at the game closely and have a much clearer picture of what went wrong.
Both coaches would be asking themselves if the result was an aberration or there were some worrying trends that need to be addressed.
Damien Hardwick could justify stamping the North Melbourne game "aberration", but not Mick Malthouse after the loss to Collingwood.
Carlton appears to have some serious problems. I had the Blues comfortably finishing in the eight and, if their best 22 was fit and available, as it has been for most of the year, pushing for top four.
Yet this week's discussion has centred on the Blues' list and its "many holes". How can a team that has had so many early draft picks claim to have a poor list?
Most of those players taken with early picks were rated extremely highly by all recruiters. Clearly the Blues have made some list management errors and, if they had traded some early picks, might have won a premiership by now.
However, to blame their recruiting department is a cop-out. On the list of current problems recruiting is a long way down.
The game against the Magpies again exposed a number of areas that have become a worry for Mick.
In the past four games, the Blues have punished just 16 per cent of opposition turnovers with a score, the second-lowest percentage of any team.
It would appear the Blues' down-the-line, conservative approach is stalling the team.
It is something Mick talked about earlier in the season and I'm sure it would have been a source of discussion this week among the coaching staff.
The Blues have trailed at three-quarter time on six occasions this season and have failed to finish in front in any of these games.
Is this a result of poor fitness or, again, because of the struggle the team is having with conservative ball use?
Carlton has the second-worst kicking efficiency in the defensive 50 this season, again, a worrying trend.
Mick must continue to work on the game plan and develop the list. There should be no talk of 2014 and trading until he can determine what this group can do.
I suspect the group is capable of much better than it has produced and that is the coach's test.
The Tigers, on the other hand, are competent in most areas - if not a standout - and that's why Damien would have looked at last week's game as something out of the ordinary.
Ironically, they had 73 tackles against North and this is their weakest area (54 average).
The Tigers have done a lot right this year and I will be looking closely to see how they bounce back today against Gold Coast, a team they have never beaten.
I don't think recruitment is the key issue, I'm more disappointed with development of some of our picks.
He makes a couple of obvious points but his credibility is pretty ordinary given his lack of ability to identify what a club needs to rebuild, develop etc.
Better read is Roos article in the picture paper. He says we could have traded early picks and may have won a premiership by now, but he goes on to say "to blame the recruiting dept is a cop-out. On the list of current problems recruiting is a long way down." He's basically saying that the over conservative game plan is stalling the team, and lists other issues that need addressing on field.
From match reports i've read it's not so much how much Graham is doing but how he's doing it.
Descriptions seem to include, neat, skilful, good awareness, knows how to find it and use it.
Tom Bells seem to include, got plenty of it, good attack on the ball but butchered it a bit.
Graham thinks like a footballer; looks right at home with the aggot in his hands and is a ball magnet. Thank you, Nick Stevens, for putting this bloke under the nose of recruiting... they probably wouldn't have noticed him without your efforts
more importantly, he is an extroverted character... the kind of character we were missing.
Graham is no tagger. That being said, he is having a decent year in the Northern Blues but is not exactly banging the door down for selection. Tom Bell was doing more, and failed to really get selected.
He has a broken jaw at the moment, but wonder if mick would have brought him in.
From memory Andy Mac wasn't exactly tearing it up in the VFL last year before he got a call up. I know it was probably more due to our extraordinarily long injury list, but he did step up at AFL level. Makes me think that maybe we should just take a gamble on Watson. What's there to lose? If we don't give him a shot now, we'll end up trading him for unders (as he probably has little trade value if he can't get a game). Mitchell on the other hand isn't ready for AFL - not a good enough tank yet etc. At least we know Watson can play out a full game.
Maybe you should have a better read of Crash's & RR's reports, he (Mac) had shown good form in the 2s before coming in last week.
I'm really surprised people are suggesting to "gift" games to players that certainly have done nothing to deserve a call up. Really doesn't set a standard and culture going forward. Many here keep referring to Swans/Cats culture and how players don't get gifted games in those teams, but we should Hope MM doesn't start down this track.
Can't see us getting up for this game. Especially with everyone telling the players aren't up to it. Reckon the player managers have been busy this week.
I love it. a couple of weeks ago he was a nut job senile old man, now that a few people agree with him he is the psion and only speaks the truth. I love Wallsy, but really, as someone said previously, when it comes to Carlton he speaks as a supporter, not an objective analyst, I think that's why I like him.
Well I look forward to the responses to Matheisons comments about the recruiting. Last year he said it was the coach and the players weren't the problem
Rowe WTF? Has looked ordinary in the VFL games I've seen on TV.
