Rd 2: Carlton vs. Sydney: Post Game Passion

[PassIt2Carrots]

However, of all the things we have done to alter our game plan, the least effective thing appears to be our midfield. We set up in a way that doesn't close other teams down but is ultra attacking. Now that works fine if your ruckmen get a lot of taps and direct them to quality mids. It doesn't work when we lose the taps, or can't direct them.

I'll tell you what the problem is. Gibbs and Murphy are simply not desperate enough at the centre bounce, the amount of times they get their hands on the ball and just let it go when pressured. There was one centre bounce when it was two goals all (2.0.12 - 2.1.13), first Gibbs got his hands on the ball and fumbled when he heard the footsteps, next thing he's lost it. Ball bounces to Murph, he picks it up, gets body contact from the side and drops it flinging himself on the ground looking for a free. Just pathetic and of course Sydney sweep the ball away and score. Now I challenge anyone on here to go back and look at that and tell me that is acceptable, they did exactly the same thing last week.

We simply cannot go forward with such a soft player (Gibbs) being around the ball so much and a player like Murphy who is a little harder but let's face it picks and chooses when to go. These two blokes are two of the highest paid at the club and arte supposed to lead by example, let's cut them loose before they halt this club's development any further. They will just look to piggy back on Cripps for a free ride, just like they did Judd. Quite simply, they are the AFL version of remoras.

We thought we had weeded out the players with no heart, well unfortunately there are two or three left, the two above being exactly that. I would look to trade both at year's end.