Post Game Passion: AFL 2019 Rd 15: Carlton vs. Freo

[Lods]

We have had some slow starts through the year...only about 3 or 4 really significant ones under Bolton and in two of those we copped a thrashing.
It's not his problem any more though, it's Teague's now.

In the three games since he's taken over we've been beaten in the first quarter 13-7 to 2-7
After quarter time we're in front 35.28 to 22-24

It's even worse when you consider that in the Brisbane and Bulldogs game they went further ahead early in the second quarter before we got going.

So there's something to work on.

[WASurfer]

Late again but a massive win and huge effort by all the players....firstly to peg that lead back in the conditions and then steady when it was on the line. Silvagni was desperately unlucky to be dropped for the Dogs game and went back to the VFL and earned his spot back...and played a great second half yesterday on Fyfe. Murphy answered the call and stepped up when it was needed. Like a few others on here, impressed with Kennedy's game. He's been ordinary at best since coming from GWS but he's exactly the type of bloke we need to stand up.

Kreuzer is a magnificent player and is still a key to our success. If his body hadn't let him down so many times he would be one of the great modern ruckmen....and big wraps on Levi for his form since coming back into the team. I still think he's the best option as a second ruck and can now drift between forward and back depending on who's available.

Not sure where Cripps and Harry are at but geez it'll be huge if they can get up for this week.....it would be them in for Charlie and probably Dow for mine.

[LoveNavy]

Interesting to see if this theory holds up after such a gallant finish.
"How you finish the last game is how you start the next"

[tonyo]

It's not about pretty or ugly. It's about being in control of proceedings. We won't be winning anything of note giving up big margins and trying to scramble playing desperado football in the dying minutes / seconds.

The good teams play tough accountable football, structured and in control. Think of any team that has won the flag this century. The Malthouse teams, the Clarkson teams, WC last year. That's what Bolton was aiming for IMO.

This isn't a weekend pottery course for depressed middle aged women of means. All this talk of freedom and players being able to express themselves - can you imagine Malthouse or Clarkson saying something like that ?

The last 3 flags have been won by coaches who seem far more measured and inclusive in their responses than Malthouse or Clarkson.  I think the days of the wall-punching, finger-pointing 'angry ant' type of coach are over.  The Millennials who are pulling on AFL jumpers now won't put up with that sort of crap.

The Malthouse approach was cooked by the time he got to us, and even Clarkson's reign was underpinned by the Dawks ability to recruit ready-made stars on an annual basis.  His Hawks are not looking so accountable and structured now.

[PaulP]

The last 3 flags have been won by coaches who seem far more measured and inclusive in their responses than Malthouse or Clarkson.  I think the days of the wall-punching, finger-pointing 'angry ant' type of coach are over.  The Millennials who are pulling on AFL jumpers now won't put up with that sort of crap.

The Malthouse approach was cooked by the time he got to us, and even Clarkson's reign was underpinned by the Dawks ability to recruit ready-made stars on an annual basis.  His Hawks are not looking so accountable and structured now.

I think we might not be talking about the same thing. I'm not talking about tearing strips off players. I'm talking about getting the right balance between order and chaos, between a controlled, structured and method driven style of play, and fast / instinctive styles. I'm saying the former is what tends to get you the prize. Watch Rhys Shaw's presser from this weekend - says it loud and clear "I'm a defensive first coach."

I haven't seen Clarkson punch a wall (at least on TV) since 2012. And Malthouse was in a GF 12 months before he came to us, after a sensational H/A season where the Pies had the best % of any team since 2000, including now.

[PaulP]

And just on the 2019 Hawks. Their best is easily top 4 quality IMO. They just have too many lapses.

[WASurfer]

Agreed PP...went within a whisker of the Eagles on the weekend...if they'd pinched that we'd probably be talking differently.

[tonyo]

I think we might not be talking about the same thing. I'm not talking about tearing strips off players. I'm talking about getting the right balance between order and chaos, between a controlled, structured and method driven style of play, and fast / instinctive styles. I'm saying the former is what tends to get you the prize. Watch Rhys Shaw's presser from this weekend - says it loud and clear "I'm a defensive first coach."

I haven't seen Clarkson punch a wall (at least on TV) since 2012. And Malthouse was in a GF 12 months before he came to us, after a sensational H/A season where the Pies had the best % of any team since 2000, including now.

Clarkson has been punching things since 1987.  And no way are Hawthorn top 4 - they have almost no forward line.

Order vs Chaos boils down to a variety of factors, probably the most important one of which is experience - an element in which we are severely lacking and no coach can teach. Unfortunately, there is only one way to get experience, and that is to get experience.  In two years' time, we will have the advantage of a group of early 20s with 50-100 games under their belt and I think structure will be far more apparent then.  Clarkson 2013-15 and Malthouse 2010-11 had the advantage of very experienced teams, which almost by definition brings with it an atmosphere of control and structure.

Once Malthouse came to CFC, his style was found wanting (and several of our players started looking for the door).  And Clarkson is now finding out the same thing.  There is not a coach on the planet who is going to make our list look like a seasoned bunch of professionals overnight.  It will take time. 

[jeza]

But let's face it, the game was mostly devoid of skill, and system or method seemed to disappear in large parts. This "hack it forward at all costs" idea, which seemed to increase as the game wore on, is not a platform for future success. We won't be troubling too many teams with that.

I see it completely the other way around. For so long our guys have wanted it to be soft and pretty and our outside precision would win the game. The other teams put a bit of pressure on us and our skills drop off and we get beaten.

This win felt different. We just wanted it more than the opposition got there in the end.

If we'd been cleaner by foot we would have won by more but under the high pressure of that game that was unlikely to happen.

[jeza]

Our next step will be to start burying some sides, I hope its next week.  These nail biting finishes need some relief. Eradicating the slow start would go a long way allievating that.

Having said that I can't understand the sour grapes because, at the end of the day, Teague has two from three and that's what matters. Teague is beginning to prove how bad a match day coach BB was and its becomming clear that he wouldn't take advice. Surely Teague would've been asking him to make the type of match day changes that are proving so successful now.

It's hard to argue. Putting Ed onto Fyfe didn't work so he swung SOS onto him and Jack played a cracker.

Setterfield into the back pocket was effective.

Walsh in the forward flank / pocket was also successful (though he missed 2 gettable goals).

Kennedy in the Josh Caddy role was a masterstroke - 2 vital goals.

None of these type of moves was a hallmark of the Bolton era.