Re: Round 12: Carlton vs. Port Adelaide - Post match celebrations

[Brettie]

I also reckon it was possibly Buckley's best game for the club today.....can't remember any glaring turnovers, which can often sour his performances and he played an extremely meaningful role today.

Also reckon that Barker picked the absolutely perfect time to make the sub today....as Wood was spent & was getting smashed in the ruck at the time.

[RiverRat]

Before everyone starts wheeling the boots into White......is he a key position defender? Absolutely not. Is he being asked to play a role he is not equipped to do? Absolutely yes. Bit of perspective people, who else would you have standing the 2nd best opposition tall forward at the moment without hurting our current forward set-up of Hendo-Everitt-Caboult? White is clearly out of his depth, but he's not a key defender's bootlace & never has been....maybe if Jaksch wasn't such a spud, White wouldn't be getting exposed - but to his credit, White is leaving nothing out on the field & has been far from disgraced.

Spot on.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Bell's a decent lump of a lad.

Doesnt have the class/nous or poise of Cripps IMO....one of my favs is Tommy Bell but he needs a couple of classy mids to play with and they need a
steamroller like Bell to do the heavy lifting when required...

[RiverRat]

Great to see the improvement in Graham, I didn't rate him at all but I'll be glad to eat my words.

Not so much improvement - just given an opportunity (which was earned by persistence and performance).

That's not to say he is a world beater. The reasons he hasn't had much of an opportunity is that he is not very quick - not a great kick - struggles to hold a tackle - too easily pushed aside - has probably only shown anything when playing in the midfield.

Accordingly, he was (and probably still is) a fair way down the pecking order of our midfield group.

[RiverRat]

Also reckon that Barker picked the absolutely perfect time to make the sub today....as Wood was spent & was getting smashed in the ruck at the time.

Might have been a bit too late - Wood was flat-footed and unable to get off the ground in ruck contests in the final term - so he was overdue to get off the ground and into the red vest.

[RiverRat]

Some of that tackling today from Buckley, Cripps, Graham and Menzel was so heartwarming to watch. We have a future. Our boys can play. We are not shight like everyone thought.

The first time in a long time that I can recall the Blues giving the opposition a dose of unsociable football. We had players tackling opponents forcibly into the ground; tackling a dumping opponents who were shepherding them; bumping opponents and making them earn their kicks.

Even Yarran played what might have been his most defensively competitive game for the club - hopefully he will do it again this side of Xmas..

[shadesy]

Not so much improvement - just given an opportunity (which was earned by persistence and performance).

That's not to say he is a world beater. The reasons he hasn't had much of an opportunity is that he is not very quick - not a great kick - struggles to hold a tackle - too easily pushed aside - has probably only shown anything when playing in the midfield.

Accordingly, he was (and probably still is) a fair way down the pecking order of our midfield group.

When graham Tackles they stick.

I'm not getting carried away with barker. He is just doing what a competent coach would do.

[RiverRat]

When graham Tackles they stick.

He stuck quite a few today because he put his body on opponents - he has previously been shrugged off because he lays too many arm tackles.

[cimm1979]

Thought White did pretty well.

[Jack Burton]

Before everyone starts wheeling the boots into White......is he a key position defender? Absolutely not. Is he being asked to play a role he is not equipped to do? Absolutely yes. Bit of perspective people, who else would you have standing the 2nd best opposition tall forward at the moment without hurting our current forward set-up of Hendo-Everitt-Caboult? White is clearly out of his depth, but he's not a key defender's bootlace & never has been....maybe if Jaksch wasn't such a spud, White wouldn't be getting exposed - but to his credit, White is leaving nothing out on the field & has been far from disgraced.

Agree with this 100% Some of his second, third and fourth efforts today saved goals. Also probably our smartest defender in positioning himself when the ball is coming in quickly. Just needs a chance to play on the third or fourth opposition forward, rather than the second