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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
The back half defense holds up ok but the problem is the defensive skills of our midfield doesnt.....Gulden and Heeney had high tackle numbers the same cant be said for our mids who dont apply much pressure when they dont have 1st use, we have too many one way players in the middle of the ground. Then you look at our forward pressure which was also non existant...Fogarty didnt have one tackle and he is employed solely as a pressure forward and Ainsworth had one tackle...
Its the not the defense, its the rest of the team who pick and choose when to defend  so the opposition mids and running half backs just stroll around unhindered and do what they like leading to the avalanche of forward entries and defenders bewildered by the pressure.
Cripps, Hewett and Walsh in the middle doesnt work as a group when defense is required, you look at Gold Coast and they have a main midfield of Anderson, Rowell and Miller who can win the footy, attack, defend and carry the ball....our group cant do the latter two skills well enough for long enough against quality opposition.

The bold is why we got rid of Kennedy. It has some merit. BUT, you gotta get replacements in to compliment that.
Yes, Jagga is one.....and an expensive one given what we gave up for him. Ditto Walker in 2027. But essentially waiting 2-3 years to get replacements is time we can't afford to wait.
In the meantime Charlie/Jack is gone. Weitering/Harry are another year closer to the end without real replacements yet. Cripps is definitely not going to recapture his Brownlow form at his age and they will be like ships passing in the night.

We need some urgency with list management decisions so we have an elite core group all around at the same time to be a genuine flag contender.

Unpopular opinion, but i'd be seeing what deal West Coast can do for Cripps at seasons end. I love the bloke as much as the next guy, but looking at whats best for the club......and maybe that is it.
I'd agree on Cripps, I think one of the main three has to make way for a player who can be that two way player , maybe it's Cody Walker. Walsh is locked in as the next skipper and long term and I think Hewett is the better defensive player than the other two. Imo a trade for Cripps could benefit both player and club, he will go down as a all-time great at the club but he looks like he has run his race, looks frustrated and in need of a fresh start Imho .
4
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by Professer E -
We carry too many passengers that are incomplete players ie they won't can't or don't do what their role requires.  Fog is one.  Seen enough.  Time to try somebody else. I could name ten others.
I understand Kruddler's sentiment re Cripps, he's a deadset legend but once the ball is 2 metres away he is incapable of applying any defensive pressure.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by kruddler -
The back half defense holds up ok but the problem is the defensive skills of our midfield doesnt.....Gulden and Heeney had high tackle numbers the same cant be said for our mids who dont apply much pressure when they dont have 1st use, we have too many one way players in the middle of the ground. Then you look at our forward pressure which was also non existant...Fogarty didnt have one tackle and he is employed solely as a pressure forward and Ainsworth had one tackle...
Its the not the defense, its the rest of the team who pick and choose when to defend  so the opposition mids and running half backs just stroll around unhindered and do what they like leading to the avalanche of forward entries and defenders bewildered by the pressure.
Cripps, Hewett and Walsh in the middle doesnt work as a group when defense is required, you look at Gold Coast and they have a main midfield of Anderson, Rowell and Miller who can win the footy, attack, defend and carry the ball....our group cant do the latter two skills well enough for long enough against quality opposition.

The bold is why we got rid of Kennedy. It has some merit. BUT, you gotta get replacements in to compliment that.
Yes, Jagga is one.....and an expensive one given what we gave up for him. Ditto Walker in 2027. But essentially waiting 2-3 years to get replacements is time we can't afford to wait.
In the meantime Charlie/Jack is gone. Weitering/Harry are another year closer to the end without real replacements yet. Cripps is definitely not going to recapture his Brownlow form at his age and they will be like ships passing in the night.

We need some urgency with list management decisions so we have an elite core group all around at the same time to be a genuine flag contender.

Unpopular opinion, but i'd be seeing what deal West Coast can do for Cripps at seasons end. I love the bloke as much as the next guy, but looking at whats best for the club......and maybe that is it.
6
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
The back half defense holds up ok but the problem is the defensive skills of our midfield doesnt.....Gulden and Heeney had high tackle numbers the same cant be said for our mids who dont apply much pressure when they dont have 1st use, we have too many one way players in the middle of the ground. Then you look at our forward pressure which was also non existant...Fogarty didnt have one tackle and he is employed solely as a pressure forward and Ainsworth had one tackle...
Its the not the defense, its the rest of the team who pick and choose when to defend  so the opposition mids and running half backs just stroll around unhindered and do what they like leading to the avalanche of forward entries and defenders bewildered by the pressure.
Cripps, Hewett and Walsh in the middle doesnt work as a group when defense is required, you look at Gold Coast and they have a main midfield of Anderson, Rowell and Miller who can win the footy, attack, defend and carry the ball....our group cant do the latter two skills well enough for long enough against quality opposition.
8
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by Thryleon -
Our game style is only a problem when we lose. 

For mine its an emotive argument that needs to be separated because when we are on top, we absolutely are fine game style wise.  We just need to polish up the execution bit. 

Where our game management falls over is flicking the switch.  When momentum deserts you, opposing teams get on top.  To arrest that it goes back to winning the ball, and sucking the life out of your opponents.   We seem to stay in a "we must score mode" rather than game management mode which is what you need to do, when momentum desserts you.  This is also not solely coaching, as the players need to recognise when to ride the wave, and when the wave is breaking on you better which is what the pies do well.

Thing is this happens for reasons too.  When the Swans got on top,  you need to control play and make them chase the ball a little to even it out.  Scoring ldid ead to more scoring which makes it harder to arrest as you need the odd missed shot to help get the ball in your hands unless you win the next clearance.  Without checking the stats, we got smashed at the clearance in that period and they scored heavily without missing which means the only way to arrest it was surrender a clearance and flood back rather than win at the next clearance.  That should have happened after 4 goals added on.  Even so it might be as simple as repeat stoppage for a bit and suck the life out of the game. The Swans got clean ball so that wasn't a thing for us and we needed to flood back. 

Anyway tactically this is all you can really try.  1.  Kill the game.  2.  Starve posession.  3.  Attack.

We default to attack.  Don't flip the switch between go and stop and 12 goals in a quarter is the result.

Statistically our defense held up last year so I cant agree we dont defend well.  So that means we need to do better at game management.