AFL Rd 9 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Western Bulldogs

[crashlander]

English led Pitto a merry dance around the ground and ran away from him several times to create a link.  Having said that, I thought Pitto was very, very good in the ruck contests (particularly boundary throw ins) because he played a couple of metres in front and blocked English's run - I was surprised that he didn't have a free kick paid against him.

Unless he was injured, I can't understand whey Kemp was omitted.  Apart from his recent performances, his presence freed up Young to play back-up ruck to good effect whereas Silvagni was way too small to offer the same contest.  Having said that, I thought Jack contested his heart out (when doesn't he) as a spoiler.  Also, surely Kemp would have offered much more as a sub than Ed.

I thought Pitto actually thrashed English last night, right up to the last few minutes. English tried hard to get a few kicks around the ground, but even there he wasn't as effective as he has been. I don't think he took a single pack mark, for example. (4 marks in total).
What was happening is that Pitto's taps have not been as effective, as the opposition have woken up to our style of midfield play. We need to start working on that, especially protecting our mids.

Jack played his best as a 2nd ruck for ages. He did better than I expected at the contest, as was MUCH better on the ground in the middle. He isn't a serious ruck option, not if we're going to improve, but he worked damned hard in there last night.

We are better when we play 2 rucks. That allows Pitto to get some decent rest while providing Tom de Koning, a totally different type of ruckman, who can get over people who are used to wrestling with Pitto. Tom actually can provide the marking option that Marc often can't. But that requires him to be in something approaching form. I'd consider bringing him in against Collingwood, as their ruck division is something we can exploit.