Carlton Supporters Club

In his post match presser, Bolton emphasized that with our young list and injuries, guys like Murph and Gibbs are carrying a heavy load, particularly through the midfield.

I watched Murph in the last - he doesn't stop - he was also tagged heavily and blocked off the ball - that would have to wear you down near the end of a tough season, coming after years of tough seasons.  And I like him - I think he does BLEED blue.

Gibbs I watched and I don't know why he does this - but if he's going after an opponent and they get rid of the ball, he keeps at them to push them rather than go to the next contest - so he's expending energy for no reason, there's no real effect because he doesn't push the guy much, just a nudge - and he gets caught out.  I saw him do it time and again.

Maybe it was just frustration on Gibbs' part, but it just seemed like a waste of time and energy to me.

Don't underestimate the absence of both Cripps AND Ed Curnow at the moment. Curnow' ability to stop a player and win his own ball these days , has been invaluable. When you lose you extractor and the guy who makes sure their main man ain't getting the clearsnce, then you are heading for Struggle Street.

Not sure how it all gets done but we need significant change 'at the top'....

I don't agree.
Any side will struggle without two of their best four midfielders, especially a young side in year two of a four year rebuild.
Our problem isn't our top six or eight players, it's our bottom six or eight.

I don't agree.
Any side will struggle without two of their best four midfielders, especially a young side in year two of a four year rebuild.
Our problem isn't our top six or eight players, it's our bottom six or eight.

I don't agree.
We need to add 3x quality players to our midfield.
It just doesn't stack up against the best sides as soon as one player is out.
The reason, we have far too many one dimensional players.
Our mids don't tackle, harass and chase well at all.

There's no argument from me about any of that, my point is that the three midfielders we add would replace Kerridge and Graham and allow Gibbs to play outside where he's better suited, there's no need to replace Murphy or Gibbs who are both very good footballers in my opinion.
We have to accept some pain while Petrevski-Seton, Fisher and Cunningham develop and Cripps and Curnow are unavailable.

I think the problem is as number 1 picks we expect them to be elite and in Murphy's case he was earlier in his career. We just have to accept them as B+ players or ship them out.

I think the problem is as number 1 picks we expect them to be elite and in Murphy's case he was earlier in his career. We just have to accept them as B+ players or ship them out.

Murphy was leading all kinds of rankings earlier this year. Including better than Danger, Martin etc.

Gibbs had a purple patch that was on a par with anything that Ablett and Danger has done.

Problem we have with the above is the consistency as much as anything.