AFL Rd 7 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Geelong

[Thryleon]

Im a little concerned with Ollie Hollands lack of development. Not sure whether he is star struck and head got too big but been underwhelming. Ginbey, McVee, Wilmot and many others are hitting some PBs but Ollie has stagnated and even gone backwards.

Needs to regain touch and confidence.

Second year blues or potentially just shouldering a much bigger load than last year.

Maybe we should change his number back....

Personally, i think these things are just a function of opposition knowing more about him and matching up accordingly. 

[DJC]

Zac Williams was subbed out last week, and possibly wasn’t cherry ripe for this game. Leaving aside significant personal issues and time out with injury, he should be given a chance to prove himself. Everyone plays a bad game at some point.

I’ve missed you Paul ?

The pile-on that Zac is experiencing probably won’t help ?

He may not be at his best but he’s not far off and his class and ability show out.  All of our defenders are under extra pressure with the absence of Saad and McGovern but I’m more than happy to back them in.  Vossy and Sammy will make changes if necessary and Zac may need to freshen up or tweak his role.  Either way, he’s a vital cog in our defensive structure.

[PaulP]

I’ve missed you Paul ?
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Thanks.  :-[

[townsendcalling]

Our major problem at the moment is that Lewis Young has no confidence in his ability.......and the backline players themselves (Weltering, Newman, Williams Boyd, Kemp) have no confidence in him either after having the likes of McGovern, Saad, Docherty down back who they could rely on.
Bring in McGovern for Young and see the difference. 

[DJC]

Second year blues or potentially just shouldering a much bigger load than last year.

Maybe we should change his number back....

Personally, i think these things are just a function of opposition knowing more about him and matching up accordingly. 

It’s probably also a function of playing a more defensive role. 

I suspect that Ollie is meeting the indicators set for him and is contributing to team indicators.

There’s a limit to the number of possessions a team can have.  When you have players like Walsh, Cripps, Hewett and Kennedy racking up possessions, it follows that other players get fewer possessions and adopt more of a support role.

[PaulP]

.......................

The pile-on that Zac is experiencing probably won’t help ?

He may not be at his best but he’s not far off and his class and ability show out.  All of our defenders are under extra pressure with the absence of Saad and McGovern but I’m more than happy to back them in.  Vossy and Sammy will make changes if necessary and Zac may need to freshen up or tweak his role.  Either way, he’s a vital cog in our defensive structure.

14, 9 ,0 and 7 games in 3 and a bit seasons.

He's had no continuity in his game, and one could reasonably surmise that the ill fated attempt to turn him into a full time / mostly full time mid would have also knocked him off his trajectory.

[DJC]

Our major problem at the moment is that Lewis Young has no confidence in his ability.......and the backline players themselves (Weltering, Newman, Williams Boyd, Kemp) have no confidence in him either after having the likes of McGovern, Saad, Docherty down back who they could rely on.
Bring in McGovern for Young and see the difference. 

I don’t see that at all.  Young’s contested possessions and spoils are comparable with  Weitering’s and Kemp’s and his teammates don’t hesitate to give him the ball if he’s the best option.

He was the victim of some good blocks by the Geelong forwards, some poor umpiring decisions and poor play by his teammates up the field, but his game was more than adequate.

[pertz]

So the press has jumped on us now in regards to our poor defensive efforts in the last 4 weeks. Only North have given up more points in this time. Good article in The Age today  no point posting link as you won't be able to access it unless you're a subscriber.
I agree we have been poor but it is not that easy to fix. It's not just about the back 6, although losing Saad and McGovern certainly hasn't helped. When teams like Geelong and GWS slice through us from defence to there forward line, it is about our whole teams defensive efforts. And as I have been saying for a long time  our lack of leg speed makes it hard to stop. We need players that can go with them when it gets turned over and we don't have many.

[townsendcalling]

I don’t see that at all.  Young’s contested possessions and spoils are comparable with  Weitering’s and Kemp’s and his teammates don’t hesitate to give him the ball if he’s the best option.

He was the victim of some good blocks by the Geelong forwards, some poor umpiring decisions and poor play by his teammates up the field, but his game was more than adequate.

We differ in opinion?

[PaulP]

I'd say the defensive issues are mostly personnel related. We were 4th in points against last season. With 16 injuries including Fogarty, Docherty, Saad, McGovern, Martin, Cerra etc. we are struggling. Those are big outs. The "next man up" mantra only takes you so far, eventually you reach a tipping point where the b graders and top ups cannot do the job required over 4 quarters, week in week out. I was expecting those injuries to have a greater impact than they have, although the dam wall may burst later if we don't get those guys back