Re: Pre-Game Possibilities: AFL Rd 4: Carlton vs Gold Coast
Reply #53 –
On the ruck question, I'm not sure why it's considered such an issue for this game. Witts will probably have more hitouts than anyone we put against him, but we are consistently strong on the clearance front (both in the centre and at stoppages) and I expect we'll have them covered there. Am I missing something here?
So, we'll get more clearances, but the issue is about what actually constitutes "clearing" the ball for us. Our delivery forward has been extremely poor and that's nothing to do with who is rucking. We either bomb it in, or poorly execute more precise delivery.
2 problems with this. First, whilst Harry has done extremely well, given the few clean deliveries he gets, to mark and put himself in a position to goal, we're not going to kick enough through him. Second, we are not giving ourselves the opportunity score the other way - by locking it in F50 when the ball (more often than not) simply spills. If we let the GC half-backs just run it straight back out, as we did with McVeigh, Lloyd, Mills, Jones last week, we're going to struggle.
Not too worried about our defence. I think it's looking pretty good, TBH.
x2, a nice summary of the situation.
The only thing I can add, is that even in losing the taps to Witts, good rucks will sway the balance of clearances with 2nd and 3rd efforts.
I have to wonder if our rucks have simply been told not to get in Cripps way, but I'm sure Cripps would appreciate a block or two from the ruckmen every now and then!