Post Game Analysis: AFL 2021 Rd 5: Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[Macca37]

I am not trying to suggest we are a premiership contender.

However, i am suggesting that we do not need to sack the coach, the board and go through an entire rebuild again either.

The last time Charlie played a full game, he kicked 7 goals. He got injured the next week and injured again in a comeback game.
Imagine what having a fit Charlie can do for this team. He is but 1 player, but his inclusion would live morale, thus effort, and overall talent level, potentially to the point where we have a win or 2 more so far. That means less pressure on everyone. However, through no fault of our own really, he is unavailable....and we are under the thumb as a result.
There are others on our list that would have a similar effect, albeit less obvious one. Marchbank, Newman....

The follow on from their longterm unavailability means that obviously we have a less talented team to choose from. But perhaps more importantly it means we have less options to bring in when things are not going well. So we can't afford to drop poor performing players, because the players coming in are not up to AFL standard....or have failed previously to this point. Pressure increases.

I think it was Kane Cornes that was saying we as a club have failed by not playing the kids. He showed a graphic with kids and games played. He used Kemp with 0 games as justification of this point. Of course, ask a Carlton supporter why Kemp has played 0 games and you'll find out that is because he has been injured basically his entire time on the list. But the media run with it and pressure increases.

Why did Bolton get sacked? He played too many kids. But now, we don't play enough kids.
Less learned and less informed Carlton supporters and AFL supporters in general do not deep dive into these comments, but repeat them as justification for getting angry at the club etc. Pressure increases.

So what happens? Pressure increases.....mostly unjustifiably.
End result, supporters get their way without really knowing why.
Cycle repeats.

I am not suggesting that we sack the coach, the board or go through an entire rebuild, and I'm not sure anyone else is either.

I am very happy that the club has its finances in order.

However, our appalling record at the draft has left us in the position we are in now.  It seems at the drafts our selection committee has been fixated on picks in the first 20 to 25 and paid little attention to later draft picks - on reflection some seem like an afterthought - leaving us now having to pay big money for the likes of players such as McGovern.

Instead of having a number of reliable foot soldiers to cover inevitable injuries, the cupboard is almost bare. That lack of foresight is holding us back now and for the near future.

This current situation was entirely predictable and it is what upsets supporters.