I apologize for not finishing this in one hit, but it isn't easy to get on the computer around here at the moment. It is now complete - I hope it can inspire some thoughts:
The preseason is over for another year and the real stuff is about to begin. We've played 3 'practice matches' against fair dinkum opponents. So: [1] What have we learnt about our chances for 2014? [2] Do we look to have improved significantly? [3] Has our recruiting and player development improved? I am normally pretty positive. I like to find the good things and look forward hoping for the best. However, I am really struggling with that at this point. Maybe I need to have my antidepressants.... < >
Why am I not confident? (1) Trend towards preseason performances corresponding to season's performances: In many past seasons our preseason has shown little about how we are going to play in the main games. In 1995, for example, we lost every single preseason game and went on to win the premiership. We did the same thing in 1987 and 1979. Similarly, most Malthouse coached teams have not done well in preseasons. That would bode well, would it not? However, this trend has not quite worked out in the few years. Since our Flags, back in the Pagan Days, our preseason and our season have been very similar: if we play poorly in the practice matches we usually start poorly and struggled to overcome that. We have seriously disappointed and lost to teams we shouldn't have. Since Ratts became coach, we have ended up doing a lot less 'experimenting' and ended up playing combinations well below our best in rounds 1 and 2. It may not be mathematically significant yet, but it is getting there.
This preseason looks to be following the trail of our recent ones. We haven't had a lot of guys coming through. We have had injuries and slow recoveries from surgery that have really meant we've started well below our best.
(2) List Management: Our list does not appear to have improved significantly. Firstly, of our current regulars, a number of really important players are well behind in their recovery and look seriously underdone. Judd will miss at least the first 3 games. Carrots has been missing and looks to miss more. Hendo may or may not be fit enough, but he is well underdone. Kreuzer is a long way from his best form. We may not have huge numbers of injuries, but our present ones are particularly strategic. Few of guys who have been playing look like they can cover these players. Secondly, our depth appears to be of concern. Our depth was once really important. We could introduce guys who would fill in adequately until our other 'better' players came back. We certainly don't appear to have that depth at the moment. The last time we appeared to was when Robinson and Garlett got their first game against Richmond. We looked very weak on paper, but we surprised Richmond and all of our new players had good nights. Thirdly, we have barely introduced any new players in early rounds since then and have little success from the few we did. Certainly our team sheet appears to be quite predictable in early rounds. At the moment we appear to be really short on good quality players around the packs, in the key defence and forward roles.
(3) Centre Square: We have played 12 competitive quarters so far this year and have won in the centre square for only 3 of them. And those 3 were the first 3 against North Melbourne. Although our clearance numbers do not appear too bad, we are really get smashed in the centre square. Against Adelaide, for example, we won1 centre clearance compared to every 4 the Crows won. Basically, that is the difference between winning and losing in itself. We found it difficult to come back because we couldn't get the ball to our forwards in any approaching a reasonable manner. Against the Dogs, they brought on Liberatore at half time and had him get 16 possessions for the 3rd term alone. He had more centre clearances for the quarter than our entire team did. If we keep going like that we have no chance at all: our forwards don't get any reasonable opportunity. I don't see where our clearances are going to come from either, with Judd and McLean suffering injuries. It also make we wonder about our ruck division, as we are winning a reasonable number of hit outs, but not getting any advantage out of them.
(4) Lack of Intensity: Granted that we only have the 3 games to compare to and none of the real thing, but we appear to lack the real intensity, the win at all costs belief and willingness to push that extra step that teams like Geelong and Hawthorn have. Without this 'killer instinct', the hyper competitiveness that guys like Silvagni used to have, we will not be able to beat the favourites. We just don't win enough 1 on 1 battles around the field, especially when it counts; our key forward and key defenders in particular.
(5) Fitness: Late last year when Cordy left and Buttifant came in, the word around was that we were working on our ability to run out games. This was something that was really noticeable when Cordy started. teams feared our ability to come back in the last quarter. However, in recent times we appear to run out of gas and rarely score more than our opposition in the last stanza. We managed it a couple of times towards the end of last season and it really stuck out. Not only did we come back to win, but it gave our team a of of confidence and momentum leading in to the next week. So, with this as our goal, it appears we have improved in no way. We have been overrun in the last quarter in 2 of the 3 games and we have been unable to overcome a tiring opponent in the 3rd. The Dogs were definitely losing momentum, yet were unable to bridge the gap. That is really bad.
(6) X Factor & Kicking for goal: Back in the day we had a lot of players who really had x - factor and who could take the spectacular mark or get the miracle goal that could kick start the lineup. We seem to be lacking that at the moment. Our kicking for goals appears quite pedestrian, especially with Waite and Casboult. There is no longer and Eddie Betts to make a goal out of nothing. Nor is there the Fev who can pull out a mark and kick a goal from almost anywhere. I am hoping that Daisy Thomas can make an improvement in this area as he gets his form and fitness back, but he can't do it alone. We need someone who can really lift and lift the side with him. Our goal kicking is also suspect under pressure. We have a lot of guys who miss clutch goals. Kreuzer, once one of the best shots at goal, has scored 1 in every 3 attempts in the last couple of years. Waite and Casboult have been known to miss from close range. Our former Captain is one of our worst offenders. he used to be able to make goals out of nothing at the Weagles, but now he misses 3 out of 4 shots.
So, to answer my original questions: [1] Our chances do not look good, as a number of teams appear to be very much on the rise. Our better players are one year older and we appear to be a mid round team at best. [2] We do not appear to have improved significantly in the areas we really needed to. Our forward line and key defensive posts look suspect and we appear deficient int he centre square. [3] While our kids look a little better at this point than last year, they do not appear as yet to be the answers to our prayers.
I will be heading to Etihad next weekend with a lot of foreboding. I'll be shouting my guts out and willing us to do well. But my expectations at this point are low. I really hate that.
Northern 9. 9. (63) defeated by Coburg 13. 12. (90) From the sounds of things, the effort was considerably better than it has been over the last couple of weeks. There were also NO Carlton listed players playing, so the effort said that the group is improving slowly. Mitch Gleeson played: he is the son of Bear Gleeson. Don't know much else about him at this point.
Disposals: Cattapan 24, Taglieri 18, Tardio 17, Thomas 15, Sutton 15 That will probably get Cattapan a senior game come Round #1.
Goals: Couch 2, Bowkett 2, Dorman, Schleibs, K. Roberts, Kur
I wish I could write a better report, but.... Unlike about 95% of the crowd, I waited around after the game to watch the Baby Blues play their practice match. It was quite a strange affair under the (lack of) lights at Eureka Stadium. The first quarter lasted only 14 minutes (although the time clock was working for this game, even though it was not working during the main game. I have no intention of explaining that one.) and I gather that was the way of things for the rest of the night. (You can also gather I did not stay for the whole game). I hope RR or some of the others may be able to shine a little light (pun intended) on what happened.
Why did I NOT stay? I had no idea who the players were. There was no record or team sheet provided and there were few players I recognized from last year. There may have been a few Carlton players running around, but I found it difficult to recognize them. I am pretty sure Simon White was playing across half back (and was one of our better players).
Basically the Blues lacked a lot of cohesion and a lot of class. Our disposal was ordinary, which made our game plan hard to determine. However, I was very pleased with the tackling pressure on a team that had a lot more class and cohesion (the Roosters). The closer the Blues could manage to keep it, the better for the Blues it was; when the ball broke free, the Roosters' better skills usually allowed them to move the ball around the ground fairly well.
Anyone who could shred more light on proceedings (OK, I'll stop the light puns) would be appreciated.
With a few new chums on the list, and the structure of the competition, I can see quite a few youngsters getting a game. But who deserves it?
[1] Dale Thomas: a certainty to play at least 1 game, even if he starts on the bench. Needs the run. [2] Sam Docherty: as a guy with some senior experience, I'd expect him to be pushing for a game. [3] Andrejs Everitt: a certainty. He needs to start jelling with his team mates on the field. [4] Cameron Wood: this will give me nightmares, but I am sure he will get game time. [5] Patrick Cripps: would not mind seeing the future running around and getting some handballs.
Early in the 3rd quarter I was disgusted with our lack of intensity. 30 minutes later and we had the Tigers on their knees. Shows what I know.
Well, show your appreciation.
Remember: [1] Votes add up to 15. [2] No more than 10 to anyone, even Judd, whose 3rd term changed the game. [3] At least 3 players need to get votes. [4] Include a rating for the game.
Pity I don't have pay TV: it would have been very nice!
Please, show your feelings. There are some guys who actually deserve kudos to come back like that over another finals' contender!
Remember: [1] Votes must add up to 15. [2] No more than 10 votes to any individual. [3] At least 3 players need to be mentioned. [4] Include a team rating.
For those of you with pay TV there should be a lot of say!
Amazing! Haven't hear a single minute and can't vote, as I haven't seen anything of the game (except Eddie Betts' goal of the year on the news). Do your worst!
I had all sorts of lines ready for the title, but the anger I feel isn't helping. Nichevo. Next year we have a LOT of wrongs to right, but that is next year.
This year we need to vote, for probably the 2nd last time. There were some guys out there who deserve recognition for their efforts. [1] Votes must add up to 15. [2] No more than 10 votes to any individual. [3] At least 3 players need to be mentioned. [4] Please include a rating for the team.
This week this should be a more pleasurable task. It was fun being there!
Remember: [1] Votes must add up to 15. [2] No one player can have more than 10. [3] At least 3 players need to get a mention. [4] Give our performance a rating. It won't be 'E' or 'F' this week!
A black evening if there ever was one, it was clear from the first few minutes that we were dead meat and our season with it. Well, we still need to rate our performance, so please, do vote this week. I expect a pretty ugly set of figures, but that is nothing less than we deserve at the moment.
[1] Votes add up to 15. [2] No more than 10 votes to any individual. [3] At least players need to be mentioned. [4] Please include a rating.
Northern Blues vs. Sandringham Saturday 10th August Visy Park at 1:00PM
Northern Blues B:Davies Coulson A. Gianfagna HB:Joseph McInnes O'Keeffe C:Lucas Robinson Dale HF: Wilson Casboult Lambert F:Buckley Mitchell Ellard R: Meese T. Bell Graham Int: McDonald Collins Thomas Currie Valladares Bromley* Bransgrove Temay Marcon
Sandringham B: Munro* Shepheard Shakallis HB: C. Banfield Shenton Wright C: Cook Ledger Ong HF: Michaliades Staley Dunell F: Schneider Dowler Dennis-Lane R: Hickey Cockie Ross Int: Weikhardt Tiernan Kreymborg Barnhoorn Lever Langdon Williams Fallon Pierce
A must win game this one: lose this and the finals are going to be very hard to get to.
Nice to see Ellard, McInnes and Collins back from injury. I am a little surprised that Graham didn't get a gig, but he is emergency.
Frankston vs. Northern Blues Sunday 4th August Frankston Oval at 2:00PM
Frankston B: Jennings J. Irving Dermott HB: Clark Simpson J. Newman* C: Cass Hockey Buchan HF: Alwan Haretuku C. Irving F: Lloyd Lourey Pongracic R: Gabriel Kitchin Potts Int: Bosward Matheson Purcell A. Forato Giobbi Edwards Delahunty Boland Miller
Northern Blues B:Davies Coulson* Joseph HB:O'Keeffe Bootsma Posar C:Menzel Lambert A. Gianfagna HF: Thomas F. Dale Temay F:Buckley Casboult Wilson R:Warnock T. Bell Graham Int: Lincoln Marcon McDonald Visser Dirago Meese Mitchell Dorman Bransgrove
Duigan is missing: he got a 2 week suspension at the VFL tribunal during the week. I didn't see the incident, so I have no idea how justified it was. Maybe RR can shed some light on it?
Our team this weekend is quite small, especially as Bootsma is CHB and Dale is CHF. I don't know who is going to play on Haratuku yet: he beat Watson last time we played a few weeks ago.
Mitchell is named on the bench. I am not sure what that means, but he had only 1 possession last weekend, a handball.
Nothing is certain in the world of TV, but at the moment there is only 1 game set for Saturday 24th August at around 1:00 PM, and that is the Baby Blues vs. Williamstown at Willi. That is the afternoon of the Essendon game, so hopefully a few enthusiastic Blues can get down to the ground.
It doesn't look like I will be able to make it, but I will follow closely on the box.
In advance, thank you to all of you who could make it to the games this year and given us a report: it has been a pleasure to read the information from people who are there, even when the reports are not as positive as I could hope.
Thank you also to Matt Lodge and co for the game information from twitter. This has been an excellent service this year. I have found it extremely informative and helpful.
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