2017 Rd 2: Post Game Postulations: Carlton vs Melbourne

[Professer E]

At least we got effort this week, next thing to tick off is execution.  Then progress will really start to occur.

The poor tackling really worries me; you might not be the greatest player but nothing stops you putting on a good tackle which is part technical, part strength and a lot of want.  At one stage we were 100 possessions down and had hardly laid any tackles.  Nothing stops momentum like manic tackling pressure when a side has a run on.

[Pratty]

I'm afraid I don't agree with much of that.

Docherty like Simmo is a straight line runner, he won't work out in the midfield.

Simmo might have been that HFF option a year or two ago, but he's lost a yard and wouldn't get separation from a defender. I'll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't pull the plug before seasons end.

Pickett is nowhere near fit enough to run on the wing for more than 1 or 2 minutes, then he'd be cooked for the rest of the game.

Wright is a good one, I'll back him in to have a crack wherever and whenever he is played. You won't see him standing next to a taller opponent watching them mark.

C.Curnow might make a HBF, but the best we saw from him at the weekend was a few limited minutes in the midfield. He's a serious chop-put option for Cripps but needs far more core strength before he can fill that role. He has the lateral movement combined with height that makes him a massively difficult match up, but he has to learn to tackle. Off to the wrestling coach with him!

I've said my piece about Weitering, he's being wasted in F50.

SoJ worked hard after an injury, but the Dees are probably one of the weakest defenses we will come up against and he didn't look like scoring except when they fecked up! We need blokes who look like scoring when we get clean entries, not only when they turn it over. Neither Weitering or Silvagni have the speed to get separation in a clean one on one contest.

Disagree. Gotta try something, surely!

You got any other comments, maybe something positive? You'd get thrown outta the coaches box if you went at the senior coach with that outlook/those comments or answers.  ;D

What's your solution or alternatives?

[townsendcalling]

Am overseas, so haven't seen the replay, only highlights and match reports, like the dog acts from Hogan and Lewis (great leadership style!).

I am confused.....We lost by 24 pts ( many predicted 80-100), our backs stood up (young, enthusiastic, have a real future) and our forwards let us down again.

Melbourne's midfield boasts Jones, Pettracca, Viney, Lewis, Brayshaw, Oliver, Tyson etc.  Highly ranked engine room. Yet we got within 4 goals and apparently Cripps, according to many reports, was the only one to really fire a bullet!!! Surely there was some significant work done by others that has not been acknowledged???

[Pratty]

Am overseas, so haven't seen the replay, only highlights and match reports, like the dog acts from Hogan and Lewis (great leadership style!).

I am confused.....We lost by 24 pts ( many predicted 80-100), our backs stood up (young, enthusiastic, have a real future) and our forwards let us down again.

Melbourne's midfield boasts Jones, Pettracca, Viney, Lewis, Brayshaw, Oliver, Tyson etc.  Highly ranked engine room. Yet we got within 4 goals and apparently Cripps, according to many reports, was the only one to really fire a bullet!!! Surely there was some significant work done by others that has not been acknowledged???

I thought Cripps was sensational, Murphy terrific. Loved what SPS (aka Sammy) brings. If ever a youngster has looked at home at AFL level (offensively and defensively) then it's Sammy IMO.

Marchbank and Plowman continue to be very solid down back. Class and clean hands of Pickett, albeit in snippets. He has to stay. Macreadie's courage and again sure hands when marking and handling the ball. He has a very calm head and solid temperament. Wright, what a great pick-up he has been!

It's the best nick and I have seen Matty Kreuzer in, and his free moving is a delight to see.

We need more from many more though. The midfield is thin. We struggle to score at times. The turnovers are hurting us badly, and a number of senior guys are at fault, not just the kids!

I'd be seriously considering dropping White and Armfield. Who for though? Probably Palmer and Cuningham for mine. I'd be considering all of McKay, Fisher, Polson, Williamson and Gallucci soon too.

Reckon Gallucci will get senior games this year. Hoping he can become our Dahlhaus. Forward pocket with good skills, and goal sense, to become a ball winner. I just like what he offers Gallucci.

I'm liking Weitering and Jack Silvagni forward. Like the work (at times and albeit at the moment, not often enough) of Charlie Curnow in the middle. He needs to spread and run and get some easy ball. Good at clearances.

The return of Ed Curnow tagging. Has to be every week IMO.

Simpson lacking the same zip IMO. He is getting on in AFL years. Wouldn't min his nous forward at times. Reckon for young guys in Weitering, J.Silvagni, C.Curnow and Pickett he'd be magnificent. Then free up Wright further afield more often IMHO.

[Thryleon]

Thry, I'm not saying the umpires don't make mistakes, but as I'm sure you'll agree, believing "we woz robbed" by the umps is part and parcel of every footy fan's repertoire. I'm sure if you talk to a Dees fan about yesterdays game, they will have their own examples of biased umpiring. 

I would really like to see either a video referee, or an extra umpire on the field to help minimize these issues.

I also think that any half decent coaching panel would anticipate some dodgy calls, and hopefully take this into account when coaching / instructing players - how to set up, not dropping your head despite putting in hard work etc.

Problem being is that I only saw them make a couple of mistakes that favoured us (Rowe infringed in a marking contest deep in defense and Thomas was borderline infringing in a marking contest against Jack Watts resulting in a dropped mark) and I saw some inconsistent calls that lead directly to score involvements favouring the Dees in their offensive 50's whilst we sit there and get free kicks paid to us for infringing in a marking contest where we have held the mark because that levels the free kick count with no interference in play.

Now that I have mentioned that, because I certainly am not a "we woz robbed" brigade, good teams find a way to win in spite of inconsistent umpiring, but it doesnt mean that we can't complain about it when we notice it.

@LP I am 100% with you on the in the back decision against Thomas.

What kills me the most is how the commentary team are of the opinion that the umpires are stiffing our opponents for free kicks when they do finally pull them up, and they are pretty happy to point out our "skill errors" when the umpires stuff up and pay the free kick against us like when Thomas tackled Jetta.

[cookie2]

I understand the need to get the kids a win or two, but I'm in complete accord with Matthews.

Although I'm not a big fan of going too defensive, see Ross Lyon, I do agree you have to stop opponents scoring before you solve your own scoring problems.

I am leaning towards that myself now. Let's build what looks like becoming pretty much a gun defence this year and put it on to the other areas to improve.

[hotspur]

Just heard that sniper LEWIS got 3 weeks yippee ,also Hogan got 2 weeks .

[IvanAwfulbigone]

Just heard that sniper LEWIS got 3 weeks yippee ,also Hogan got 2 weeks .

Hogan can count himself very, VERY lucky.

[PaulP]

Problem being is that I only saw them make a couple of mistakes that favoured us (Rowe infringed in a marking contest deep in defense and Thomas was borderline infringing in a marking contest against Jack Watts resulting in a dropped mark) and I saw some inconsistent calls that lead directly to score involvements favouring the Dees in their offensive 50's whilst we sit there and get free kicks paid to us for infringing in a marking contest where we have held the mark because that levels the free kick count with no interference in play.

Now that I have mentioned that, because I certainly am not a "we woz robbed" brigade, good teams find a way to win in spite of inconsistent umpiring, but it doesnt mean that we can't complain about it when we notice it.

@LP I am 100% with you on the in the back decision against Thomas.

What kills me the most is how the commentary team are of the opinion that the umpires are stiffing our opponents for free kicks when they do finally pull them up, and they are pretty happy to point out our "skill errors" when the umpires stuff up and pay the free kick against us like when Thomas tackled Jetta.

Thry, you'd be having a very interesting conversation with any typical Dees supporter, that's all I can say.

The fact that good teams find a way is absolutely the most salient point in all this. The ability to find the mental resilience and fortitude to overcome dodgy umpiring decisions, your teammates letting you down etc. is absolutely critical. The ability to persevere through those things, keep your head up, your mind focused, not get down on yourself or your teammates, roll up your sleeves a bit more and try harder, is a defining element of good teams on a learning curve. It's not unreasonable to postulate that less skillful teams actually require more mental resilience than their more skillful counterparts.

[Bear]

On the Levi free I think he was duded, I'm not sure it was even there. From my viewing angle it looked like the umpire threw the ball up over Casboult's head and he basically held his ground under it and shoved Gawn in the chest. Gawn played it up for the umpires. If the umpires think that is fair then ruckmen should start 5m back and run straight into their opponent staging for the free.

I don't understand how that was a free kick... Gawn jumped into Casboult, and bounced off his shoulder... Casboult held his ground, barely moved.

Against Richmond, Casboult got bundled out of the way, Nankervis took the ball and kicked a goal.