Re: Rd 23: Post Game Reflection: Carlton vs Essendon
Reply #51 –
. Blues end season on a low
It certainly wasn't the way Carlton wanted to end the year. After winning just four games last season and claiming the wooden spoon, the Blues have been rejuvenated in 2016 under the tutelage of Brendon Bolton. Defensively Carlton has been much improved, with the Blues only conceding 100 points on six occasions prior to Saturday. But against the Bombers they were poor. They stepped up their intensity in the final quarter, kicking four goals to one but it was too little, too late. The Blues finished the year with seven wins, a big improvement, but there were far too many passengers against Essendon. At three-quarter time there were 12 Blues with 10 touches or less, including Dale Thomas in his 200th game.
per afl.com
Succinct and on the money. Oh and with that many passengers, no team will win. That phenomenon certainly begs to be what is learned from this game. Fix that and..... well, we'll see.
For mine - this & the Brisbane loss undid any supposed gains made this year. Bolton's 'coach of the year' compliments from mid-year are but a distant memory, as he failed as much as the playing group did in the run home.