Re: AFL Rd 9 2023 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Western Bulldogs
Reply #37 –
There is an interesting article in The Age online which states:
"The theory has been you stop Paddy Cripps and you stop Carlton. And it is true to an extent.
The other part to the newer theory is that, presently, you can rely on Carlton to do the job for you. Carlton helps stop Carlton.........their ball use is dreadful for a side with pretensions to the finals."
It also adds that Carlton gave up 85 points from turnovers against Brisbane, and if you exclude the West Coast game we are bottom 3 with North and West Coast for points conceded from turnovers.
No wonder the supporters are restless.
It was a pretty accurate article and hard to argue with.
Michael Gleeson also wrote in that article in The Age... ('they' refers to BrisVegas)... "They knew the numbers pointed to Carlton turning the ball over under pressure, and they ratcheted up the way they hunted the man with the ball. They closed down space, then they closed down the exit options and forced the Carlton player into panicked error. Their plan worked."
In other words, 'soft' ...mentally. Or simply clueless at responding to pressure with even more of our own. Reactive, not proactive.
The leaders at our club sure do talk the talk. Walking the talk is another matter, entirely.