Talking Tactics - Our Forward Structure In 2017

[Jofo]

Dogs have done pretty well so far without a key forward.

[DJC]

It seems that Murphy will spend more time as a forward this season:

Lingering shoulder concerns meant Murphy played more of an outside midfielder role early last season, but having overcome those issues, Murphy flagged not only more time as an inside midfielder, but also rests closer to goal.

"Certainly this year I've done a lot of training inside so I'll play a lot inside mid, filter on a wing, and then also go deep forward as well," Murphy told RSN on Tuesday.

I like the idea of Murphy spending more time as a forward.  He won't take mark of the year but he can find space and kick truly.

[Professer E]

Means we need to find another mid.

[DJC]

Means we need to find another mid.

The thing that struck me when I read the article is that Bolton must believe we can cover Murphy when he goes forward.  If he's right, that's equally as good as having Murphy as a goalsneak.

[ElwoodBlues1]

I'm wondering if Murphys shoulder is 100%, we have plenty of new talent that can fill the forward pocket role but lack genuine class mids who cn run , carry and deliver...
Teams will be lining Murphy up to test that shoulder, hope we have some plans in place....

[DJC]

I'm wondering if Murphys shoulder is 100%, we have plenty of new talent that can fill the forward pocket role but lack genuine class mids who cn run , carry and deliver...
Teams will be lining Murphy up to test that shoulder, hope we have some plans in place....

I doubt that he'd be preparing to play as an inside mid if his shoulder is crook.

I'd be more concerned about someone stomping his ankle.

[laj]

Heard late last year we may use Marchbank forward.  Bit hard to have all of Marchbank, Weitering, Rowe and Plowman all in defence. So Marchbank and McKay forward, Casboult can 2nd ruck with Phillips injured.

[DJC]

Heard late last year we may use Marchbank forward.  Bit hard to have all of Marchbank, Weitering, Rowe and Plowman all in defence. So Marchbank and McKay forward, Casboult can 2nd ruck with Phillips injured.

It would depend on the match ups but Rowe is the only one who couldn't stand a medium or small forward.

It's unlikely that Casboult will ruck again after his knee injury.  From what I've seen, he hasn't taken part in any of the midfield/ruck drills.

Rowe and/or Gorringe are more likely to pinch hit in the ruck.  Korcheck could get a run in the pre-season games.

[kruddler]

The thing that struck me when I read the article is that Bolton must believe we can cover Murphy when he goes forward.  If he's right, that's equally as good as having Murphy as a goalsneak.

Murphy isn't going to play the whole game in the middle.

When he is due for a rest, he goes to the FP instead of the bench. Cuts down on rotations + adds much needed class+experience to the forward line in the meantime

[DJC]

Does Matthew Wright shed some light on where our goals are going to come from in 2017?

After finishing last season as the second-lowest scoring team in the competition, Carlton is focusing on kicking more goals in 2017, forward Matthew Wright says.
...

Wright, 27, said having more people contributing in attack would help the side improve.

"We'd like to kick a few more goals. The more players we can get bobbing up kicking goals each week makes us harder to defend, and it looks good on the scoreboard as well," Wright said.

"A lot of work we're doing is towards kicking more goals but we want to get better at defending and through the midfield as well."

Levi Casboult looms as one of the keys to Carlton's attacking prowess. His marking ability isn't in question – he finished seventh in the competition for contested marks per game in 2016 – but he booted 18.18.

The Blues brought back goalkicking great Saverio Rocca as a specialist coach, and he has worked with Casboult to rectify his inaccuracy.

When Rocca was at the club in 2015, Casboult booted 24.12 – the best return of his career.

"(Casboult's) working as hard as anyone to correct that," Wright said.

"If you look at the best goalkickers across the comp and you look at their statistics, I'm sure they'd like to be a lot better as well.

"It's something he's working at and I'm working at and everyone is at the minute. Even the defenders bob up for a bit of goalkicking."

Harder work in defence and the midfield, more players looking to score, better conversion rate and Levi doing his job.  Sounds like a plan