Round 9: Carlton vs. Sydney Post Game Pain

[bignic]

Was at the game live so hopefully can add something different.

Jones - just putrid. Watched him closely for the 1st half as I had not seen him live before. He has no idea where to run to lead so basically clogs the forward line. Never looked like taking a mark, goes to ground, and then gets up and either walks or jogs off looking for his man. Intensity level of zero. Just embarrassing that our recruiters thought he could play.
Surely KJ is a better bet and might learn something if played up forward.

Tutt - tries really hard and runs to position but panics under pressure and not good in the contest. Either play him up forward or not at all.

Armfield - gives effort but his turnovers and decisions kill you and nothing has changed for 4 years. Time to move on and give others a chance.

Walker - started forward but never looked like it. His glory years appear well and truly past. Has lost his natural athleticism that was the key to his game. This often made up for the fact that he has poor foot skills, not a good decision maker and poor tackler / contested ball winner. Like many on here I think he is a shot duck.

Henderson - tried pretty hard and spent a lot of time talking to his team mates, and is clearly an on field leader. I just think his injuries mean that he doesn't have the speed or endurance to play key position. He can't get separation on his opponent and they close on him easily. I think he has therefore lost confidence in his marking. I don't really know what else they can do other than keep playing him and hope he regains fitness, speed and some form.

Daisy - in a team desperate for skill and polish he actually has some, but doesn't do anywhere near enough. Seagulls too much for mine. Has good intent and makes pretty good decisions when he has the ball, he just needs to get the ball about 10 more times per game to make a difference. He is the cream, but we paid for the cake!

Carrazzo - surely gone at the end of the year. Gets a bit of the ball, but no zip and doesn't hurt with his possessions. Looked to be struggling with the pace of the game a lot of the time. A great servant, but well past his best now. Thanks for the memories.

Menzel - again never looked like making an impact. Doesn't have the pace and fitness to play high half forward, and doesn't have the pace and evasion for the small forward role either. Just hope it's his injury that is restricting him as he gave us nothing.

Yarran - weaknesses are glaring, but he still has more speed, poise and polish then any other player out there. In an ordinary team his weaknesses are always going to be exposed.

Everrit - very laconic but at least he kept battling away. He has skill, size and speed so he stands out against his team mates, but is therefore frustrating. You would love him as your bottom 5 depth player, but we need him to be much more than that. His career has shown he is what he is, and that's not likely to change, but he was still better than most last night.

Rowe & White - good honest battlers who are simply punching out of their weight. They are State league level players. I love that they try and they care, but I hate that our recruiting means that they are the best we have to play FB & CHB.

Bell - my greatest fear is we produce another Armfield or Robbo with this guy. Hasn't seemed to improve on his glaring weaknesses and brain fades over the last 2 years.

Graham - tried hard and doesn't panic. Should get a clear run of 10 games to see if he improves. Need to play him over carrots IMO.


The first thing we have to do is get rid of Tutt, Jones and Armfield and play KJ, BB and Whiley for the balance we made our bed with these 3 picks so we have to try and make it work.

But make no mistake - our skill level is shockingly bad. The swans never got out second gear and hardly raised a sweat to beat us by 10. Yes our effort was better than last week, but we have only about 10 players right now would get a regular game with most other teams.

We can win clearances, but we have no damaging mids. We have no forward line to speak of, and our defence is a laughing stock - we have no KP back men. The list has got holes you can drive truck through, so the rebuild will be a long and hard road, and not one we as a club have ever shown any aptitude at.

Other than Cripps I left last night thinking we have a very bleak future ahead.

Nice post Syd.

good to see that great minds think alike ;D ;D ;D