Re: Post Game Analysis: AFL 2021 Rd 8: Carlton vs Western Bulldogs
Reply #93 –
Yes, this is the point fans need to accept about Pitto, huge heart will keep competing with all he's got, but what he's got isn't enough to make up for our midfield issues.
Losing Kreuzer permanently has really exposed our lack of midfield depth, the big guy might have struggled to get out there, but when he did he was another onballer.
Despite my criticisms, I think Kreuzer has Pitto, Levi and De Koning playing better than ever, you can see the changes and if you watched the VFL you can see the changes in De Koning are exceptional. The guy competes and hits the deck running like a mid!
Pitto is not that type of ruck, he's a wrestle man, long term he'll be more than useful but might again find himself as 2IC. But we do need that type, long term it may become a flip between Pitto and Levi in the 2nd ruck KPP role next to De Koning, horses for courses.
The issues of tapping to advantage are a bigger problem for Pitto, it probably comes down to vision and spatial awareness, not sure that can be taught or coached. He plays like a ruck who has struggled to get a hand on the footy at bounces his whole career, so when he does he is almost shocked to have won and panics!
Not sure how this will go down, but it's almost time for Cripps and others to play 2nd fiddle to Walsh, the kid is getting better under more duress! He's an enigma and could end up as good as Diesel! Fans might be cynical because they only remember the good Diesel, but when Diesel started he was slow and couldn't hit a barn with a kick from 20m. Then pretty much over one solitary pre-season he taught himself serious left and right side kicking to 35m and became a superstar!
btw., I think that is the trick to getting more out of Cripps, improve his left and right side so that he can go either way. Forget all the sprint shizen and contested marking, goal kicking, leave him powerful and give him the gift of time and space by allowing him to turn either way and kick accurately to about 35m!