Rd 20: Pre Game Anticipation: Carlton vs St Kilda

[cookie2]

I reckon there's heaps of potential in our list but possibly not in the one area that's crying out for improvement; midfielders and defenders who can deliver the ball to the forwards.  Of course, we have Murphy to come back and David Cuningham could be OK if he can get fit and do a full pre-season.  Billy Gowers is another who has shown a bit.

Four or five midfielders/small forwards who are upgrades on Lamb, Sumner, Graham, Whiley, Buckley, etc and we'd match it with most sides.

I was referring to the list as a whole DJC. There are no doubt some talented players and some individuals who will no doubt improve further. However, taken as a whole I do not think it is capable of becoming premiership material, by a long way, without the injection of some serious talent particularly in the area you have mentioned, plus a good KPF. We have seen now two or three performances that have shown we are really pushing the envelope of our team's ability, for which they all should be applauded, but.....enter SOS.

[DJC]

I was referring to the list as a whole DJC. There are no doubt some talented players and some individuals who will no doubt improve further. However, taken as a whole I do not think it is capable of becoming premiership material, by a long way, without the injection of some serious talent particularly in the area you have mentioned, plus a good KPF. We have seen now two or three performances that have shown we are really pushing the envelope of our team's ability, for which they all should be applauded, but.....enter SOS.

I don't agree Cookie.  Even with our obvious deficiencies we have been competitive against top 4 teams, our disposal efficiency has skyrocketed and were executing the coach's plans pretty well.  As Trigg's email says;

. . . there are metrics that indicate strong effort and a game style/method that will put us in good shape for the future, as well as measurable evidence of learning.

Informed drafting and some judicious trades to bolster the midfield and add depth and we'll be flying 

PS I'd like to know what the "metrics" are  ???

[cookie2]

I don't agree Cookie.  Even with our obvious deficiencies we have been competitive against top 4 teams, our disposal efficiency has skyrocketed and were executing the coach's plans pretty well.  As Trigg's email says;

Informed drafting and some judicious trades to bolster the midfield and add depth and we'll be flying 

PS I'd like to know what the "metrics" are  ???

I think that's what I was saying?  ??? We won't be flying anywhere unless we do that. Being competitive with but heroically losing to a top side and beating that top side are a long way apart IMO, especially a team like the Hawks. We won't become ultimately successful until we fix our major deficiencies otherwise we'll end up in the same old place of relying too much on too few.

[DJC]

I think that's what I was saying?  ??? We won't be flying anywhere unless we do that. Being competitive with but heroically losing to a top side and beating that top side are a long way apart IMO, especially a team like the Hawks. We won't become ultimately successful until we fix our major deficiencies otherwise we'll end up in the same old place of relying too much on too few.

I don't think our list is all that bad, and it's certainly not the worst in the comp as some pundits proclaimed.  It's also very "coachable" (if that's a word) and Bolton will be very keen to keep it that way.  I am not expecting wholesale changes, but I am expecting a focus on improving our midfield stocks.

[Robblues]

Need the midfield up grades no doubt , but when they get the ball, who do you kick it to? let's each nominate 2 players who we class as forwards on out current list , that you would want to pass to in the 50 say 35-40 metres out with pressure on
My vote Everitt & a distant second Walker ?

[cookie2]

Need the midfield up grades no doubt , but when they get the ball, who do you kick it to? let's each nominate 2 players who we class as forwards on out current list , that you would want to pass to in the 50 say 35-40 metres out with pressure on
My vote Everitt & a distant second Walker ?

Agree - our F50 efforts are weak. Levi doesn't currently look like the answer as a KPF despite his much vaunted marking skills and we don't have any classy small forwards atm.

[Gointocarlton]

Need the midfield up grades no doubt , but when they get the ball, who do you kick it to? let's each nominate 2 players who we class as forwards on out current list , that you would want to pass to in the 50 say 35-40 metres out with pressure on
My vote Everitt & a distant second Walker ?

Everitt and Wright.

[DJC]

Need the midfield up grades no doubt , but when they get the ball, who do you kick it to? let's each nominate 2 players who we class as forwards on out current list , that you would want to pass to in the 50 say 35-40 metres out with pressure on
My vote Everitt & a distant second Walker ?

Casboult, if on two legs, and Charlie Curnow with Wright not far off.

[Tragic]

Curnow Silvagni and Mckay are all first year forwards with talent. Patience grasshoppers.

[Gointocarlton]

Everitt and Wright.

And Sumner yesterday went back a slotted a nice one under pressure tucked on the boundary line. And the pressure was from his team mates as he failed to give it off or centre it when he had an option and time. He went back and duly slotted it. I think he and Lamb have been reasonably good in front of goal.