Post Game Analysis: AFL 2020 Rd 2: Carlton vs Melbourne

[LP]

Is that Barkers role?...and why was Oliver allowed to hold Cripps way off the contest all the time without another team-mate blocking for him or delivering some physicality to Oliver.
Now we have Brett Deledio and Kane Cornes all suggesting Cripps should look elsewhere and given the lack of help he is getting he might start thinking about it..
I watched ex Blue Nick Holman take out Luke Shuey with a lovely bump that left Shuey counting his ribs...when was the last time we saw a Carlton player do that to a opposition player....maybe Robbo?, thats what Oliver needed.

I feel your pain EB1.

Funny I was think the exact same thing watching the replay, not just Oliver, but the Dees put player after player between Cripps and the football nearly all of it illegal shepherding. I miss Mitch Robinson!

Why does someone like Cripps get stuff all umpire protection, while blokes like Dangerfield or Bont get a free ride? Who at our club has governance over this, and how and when are those issues being raised with the AFL?

[Lods]

On a separate issue to the ruck debate;

Has Cripps desire to become leaner / faster taken a toll on his well-being and diminished some of his key strengths.

Does he look rundown to other fans?

He looked flat on the weekend but....
Is it a more general issue than just Cripps.
Have we sacrificed size and strength for a leaner, fitter side that gets smashed at the contest early on but can run out games better than most.

[Gointocarlton]

Doesn't matter how big or small you are if you can win the ball and use it well.

Lachie Neale - 177cm, 84kg.

Agree and I'm getting tired of this big bodied mid term thats now become an excuse when you lose. Reality is there are only a handful of big bodied mids in the comp worth a pinch of salt, main suspects being Crippa, Fyfe, Pendles and Bontempelli. When you look at the Tiggers, its the lesser likes (not necessarily big blokes) that have lifted, and more than just played a role, that is the key to their success. Blokes like Lambert, Vlaustin, Townsend (gone), Butler (gone), Bolton, Pickett, Baker, Higgins. No necessarily high draft picks but they more than contribute and are rarely labelled as passenger. We are the opposite, one bus driver (Cripps) and bus load of blokes along for the ride. Need to change this or the loses (honorable or otherwise) will continue.

[Baggers]

I feel your pain EB1.

Funny I was think the exact same thing watching the replay, not just Oliver, but the Dees put player after player between Cripps and the football nearly all of it illegal shepherding. I miss Mitch Robinson!

Likewise. As just one example, when a leader/senior player like Murphy squibs it, it sends a poor message to the rest of the group. His play improved in the remainder of the D's game but by then the damage was done. We need blokes at the bounce with an uncompromising hard edge; a mongrel desire to get the aggott and keep the aggott.

That 1st qtr will go down in history as the worst first qtr ever from a group of blokes wearing the great CFC on their chests.

[LP]

I don't have problems with blokes like Murphy, Walsh or Fisher not smashing themselves against the rocks, that is not what they are there for.

Fans can be ignorant of the risk, they want little guys like that pulverising themselves in the first contest of the day just to make a statement, so the team risks losing them for the rest of the match. Just be happy to see them getting first to the ball, and find a way to protect them from the hunters.

If you make a Murphy, Walsh or Fisher type go head to head with a Hodge type, you lose, plain and simple. Our real problem is having Pittonet, McKay, McGovern or Casboult sized blokes watching our little blokes get cleaned up!

Opponents go fearlessly towards our smalls guys because we've nobody protecting them!

We've a couple of guys who are big bodied, but play like small, Setterfield and Marchbank come to mind. Young SoJ when he is on the ball at least makes opponents answer for their actions.

If he could get fit and stay healthy, Kennedy is a nice option for inside stoppage work but he's slow, he has to be counterbalanced with some quick peripheral players and we've got none at the moment.

Gibbon's is a great footballer, love him like I love Brock McLean as a smart footballer, but they both have the same problem, mud would outrun them!

[Professer E]

March bank.... What a bitter disappointment.  What has he played,  20 games in five years?

[PaulP]

March bank.... What a bitter disappointment.  What has he played,  20 games in five years?

48 total - 7 GWS (2015,16), 41 Carlton (2017-19)

[Gointocarlton]

March bank.... What a bitter disappointment.  What has he played,  20 games in five years?

Chandelier.