Rd 16: Post Game Pessimism: Carlton vs Adelaide

[laj]

And we did there for a while until Bolton, in his 'wisdom', decided to drop him for no apparent reason......

Yes, decided one key forward and two rucks was the way to go again, you know, the structure we had the first 4 games of the year when 7 goals was hard work.

[crashlander]

The gap between us and the good sides is still huge, we need a massive draft/trade period at the end of the season.
Docherty would be further in front than Black Caviar in the B&F, he was outstanding again today.
Actually our back 6 is almost as good as any going around, but our midfield is thin and slow and our forward line non existent.

Very clear on today's performance just how far behind we still are.
However, as Blue4life noted, our back 6 held up very well in circumstances that some other cubs would not have. Perhaps we could do with another strong body, or maybe some run and pace (Ciaran Byrne), but our defence really did a job on their direct opponents.
That there was almost no pressure in the midfield or in the forward line is another issue entirely.

[laj]

Very clear on today's performance just how far behind we still are.
However, as Blue4life noted, our back 6 held up very well in circumstances that some other cubs would not have. Perhaps we could do with another strong body, or maybe some run and pace (Ciaran Byrne), but our defence really did a job on their direct opponents.
That there was almost no pressure in the midfield or in the forward line is another issue entirely.

Agree with B4L on that point for sure.

[madbluboy]

Yes, decided one key forward and two rucks was the way to go again, you know, the structure we had the first 4 games of the year when 7 goals was hard work.

Even if you play 2 rucks you still need 2 key forwards minimum.

[laj]

Even if you play 2 rucks you still need 2 key forwards minimum.

Agree, always must play 2 key forwards without fail.

[DJC]

It was evident to me today that the blokes we have making up the numbers are just making up the numbers.  Sumner, Thomas, Lamb, Walker, Everitt, Kerridge and, to a lesser extent, Plowman don't do enough and that places far to much pressure Gibbs, Cripps, Simpson, Docherty, Rowe and Weitering.

I watched Kreuzer closely today and I can't believe how people are underestimating his contribution and importance to the team.  Kreuzer was bashing and crashing, laying tackles and creating opportunities for his team mates will Jacobs was sloping off down the ground looking for an easy possession.  Apart from his three gaols (one of which was a charity), Kreuzer and Phillips neutralised Jacobs and Jenkins was a non-event in the ruck.  However, both Kreuzer and Phillips are being played out of position as part time key forwards and that's where their game drops away.  We really need sort out a ruck/forward combination that doesn't involve resting a ruckman in a key forward role.

That brings me to Casboult.  He worked his butt off today for little reward.  The defence was able to double team him with ease and the delivery was poor.  We desperately need to play another key forward that is a genuine marking target and will demand a quality tall defender.  We desperately need a quality small forward too but I imagine SOS's shopping list is quite full already.

The umpiring today was incredibly hard to follow.  While the tallies were pretty close, Adelaide's free kicks routinely changed the course of the play and gifted them goals.  Not that it would have changed the result but we should have been a couple of goals clear at half time.

Armfield was great early and pretty good throughout the game.  If he hadn't inexplicably passed twice he could have had six goals for the game.

[laj]

On the bright side, at least we got to talk finals for one week...lol!

Prefer to be able to do that once than not at all. Just shows how much can change in just a few weeks. That's both the few weeks before round 11 and the few weeks after round 11. They say it's a long time in politics, it's also a long time in football.

[Professer E]

DJC, being at the ground could you determine what role Everitt and Walker played today (I don't count SOJ in this)... what role are they playing in the forward set up? Why were they constantly out of position when the ball was worked forward?  Where was Lamb in the set up, isn't he supposed to be the specialist deck level option?

IMO opinion I'd play a larger marking tall (Jaksch or Jones) to provide a focal point because neither of the above are supplying a consistent marking target, deck level ball winning ability or pressure on the ball carrier exiting defence.  Personally I'd play Jaksch because he runs at the ball carrier.

I realise he hasn't been setting the world on fire but Boekhorst might give us a point of difference as well in the forward half.

[blue4life]

Agree, always must play 2 key forwards without fail.

Strangely enough Hawthorn seem to manage with only one, and calling Gunston a key forward at 193cm and 85kg is a bit of a stretch.
That said, I'd have Gunston on his own ahead of Casboult and Jones as a pair all day every day.

[Mondy]

I'd say that Everitt is a certainty to be dropped after antihero gutless performance.  Except I said the same thing last week and he still got a game.

Walker is gone.  Skills, workrate, game awareness - all gone.  Deserves his 200 but the pin needs to be pulled.

I'd like to see how Sumner goes after a proper pre-season, same with Plowman.  Yeah Sumner drops in and out of the game but he does put in effort.

Far too many times I watched a mid - Curnow, Gibbs - just hack it forward even though they must have known that there was no one there but Adelaide players.  On the other hand, they always seems to have the time to lower their eyes.

Sign up Army for another 12 months.  The guy is an inspiration, even if his brain fades are frustrating.