Rd 5: Post Game Party!: Carlton vs. Fremantle

[DJC]

I thought Rowe was pretty good against Freo, in the main role he was no longer hesitant. Just needs to get sorted in his head when to mark and when to punch, maybe some confidence will help.

To me one problem we have got with the mids is some confusion over who's doing what and it makes us look slow. Other than Kreuzer and Murphy they don't even look like they know where they want to stand. Yet I liked the early parts of the Freo game, Kreuzer looked fresher and hit the contest really hard leaving Cripps free to either link up or attack the opposition. Later in the game Clark started winning taps but by then the game had slowed and Cripps size and fitness kicked in, he was winning contested ball regularly. In effect early it was Kreuzer / Murphy when we were winning first use, later it was Cripps / Gibbs when Freo got their hands on the ball.

Not sure about the benefits of having Kreuzer, Cripps, Murphy and Gibbs in the same rotation. It's like we have an A and B rotation, but I'd rather opposition had to deal continuously with either Kreuzer or Cripps. Feels a bit like rolling he dice at the moment.

In a high pressure game Gibbs impressed, as did Daisy. I think if Daisy stays fit he'll start to get more of a midfield rotation and that will help enormously as he can certainly find the football at stoppages.

I'd like to see Wright used in the F50 more, less in the midfield, his tackling is impressive and he could be our Betts replacement as a pressure forward.

Lamb did some nice stuff but tends to want to jump at the ball more than get at the fall. We had very few marks taken against our tall forwards so get some players at their feet.

Good analysis LP.

I was surprised when I saw Kreuzer's stats; he seemed to have a much greater influence around the ground.  I suppose his second and third efforts and up as clearances won stats for others.

Kerridge is proving to be an important cog in the midfield rotations too.