Rd 15: Post Game Passion: Carlton vs Adelaide

[PaulP]

It's the exact same way Roos started at Melbourne. By the 3rd year they became more attacking once their defence was set.

I hope Bolton aims higher than being a Roos clone.

[kruddler]

For those so interested, try doing a google search for whether offense or defense wins you games. I did precisely that, and whilst I found nothing related to AFL, I found a few for other sports, and there does not appear to be any statistics to back up the theory that defense wins you games. The fact is (surprise) that both are needed and teams that are considered offensive are equally successful as those considered defensive.

About a month ago there was a bloke interviewed on triple m. I forget his name unfortunately, but he just finished writing a book on that very subject - "What makes teams great?"

He went through 100+ years of history across multiple sports from all over the globe. Usually teams who had sustained success in some form.
I forget how many different examples he used, but he had the 4-peat pies from the 30's as the only AFL team.

Anywho, his research concluded that....
- it was not about the team who had the best offense.
- it was not about the team who had the best defense.
- it was not about the team who had the best player.
However, it was all about the team who had the best leaders.

All throughout history, the teams that had the best leaders at the club, were able to rise up against better attack/defense/individuals to be the best.

IMO, focusing on defense first is partly a psychological ploy employed by the coaches that gets everyone on the same page. Not everyone on a team can attack, but everyone on a team can defend. It's a pack mentality, 'one-in all-in', type stuff. Play for eachother, give effort.

A leader brings people together...and that is an example of it.

So 'defense first' doesn't mean defense is more important than attack, but its a stepping stone to success IMO.

[PaulP]

Is the book called "The Captain Class" by Sam Walker ?

At any rate, thanks for that informative post. I agree with what you say. Some common ground once in a striped moon.

[kruddler]

Is the book called "The Captain Class" by Sam Walker ?

At any rate, thanks for that informative post. I agree with what you say. Some common ground once in a striped moon.

Not sure TBH.

Has that one just come out in the past couple months? Could be the one.

I heard it at like 630am on the way to work one frosty morning, i was half asleep at the time.  :-[

EDIT: Just looked that up and yeah, thats the one.
https://penguin.com.au/books/the-captain...0670078493

When I started out, I never expected to reach one emphatic conclusion. I assumed the fingerprints of these elite units would have many of the same whorls and ridges yet no perfect matches. In the end, I was shocked to discover that the world’s most extraordinary sports teams didn’t have many propulsive traits in common, they had exactly one. And it was something I hadn’t anticipated.

[Baggers]

I finished watching the replay last night too.

I thought Murphy was very ordinary, compared to when he's 'on'. And don't quote me his stats.

Fisher? Tries hard granted, just not there yet imo.....just reckon he's better off gaining experience and possessions in the 2s...

Pretty fair observation. I thought Murph looked hesitant and often 2nd guessing himself. Is not playing with confidence or 'edginess'/boldness.

[PaulP]

Not sure TBH.

Has that one just come out in the past couple months? Could be the one.

I heard it at like 630am on the way to work one frosty morning, i was half asleep at the time.  :-[

EDIT: Just looked that up and yeah, thats the one.

Yes, thanks for that. Released May 2017.

[mateinone]

Thry, the point I was making is that this is less about cattle and more about the mindset of the coaching staff. I am of course quite aware of player movements in the intervening years. Of course the cattle at your disposal must count for something, but not as much as people think in my opinion.

You don't think a midfield that includes Judd and a forward line with Betts/Garlett & Walker wouldn't be suited to a different game plan than our current one?

If we moved the ball in as quickly as we did with those guys terrorising the opposition it would be rebounded back up the other end and see us on the end of a whacking most weeks.

Cattle is only a part of the equation, that I do agree with completely, but this current team is more suited to Bolton's gameplan than Ratts I think and I was happy with Ratts gameplan.

From Round 1, I posted the following

Also from a tactical point, what should Carlton do?
They should make themselves hard to beat.

Forget the scoring for a moment, forget quick breaks and everyone running forward of the play, concentrate on getting into position and shutting down.

It is ugly and it makes us a mongrel crap team to watch, but it also teaches a hell of a lot of discipline and you don't need talent to be disciplined, you need commitment to the task.

The equivalent is my team in soccer, West Brom, they play ugly, they play without real fullbacks in the traditional sense (well at least without a RB) and they don't sprint forward on breaks, they maintain their positions and they are bloody hard in the tackle. It is ugly, it pisses me off, but clubs hate playing against it and it is effective.

If the club played 75% of the game shutting down their opponent, went back to the early Clarko days of crap football and shutting teams down with anti-social football, I think it would go a long way towards setting this group up.

I stick to it still. I continue to think this club is on the right track, even though at times they are really frustrating to watch

[PaulP]

All players come with their own set of limitations - some players can do more than others, some can do things others can't etc. I get that. But IMO, players are more versatile than they are sometimes given credit for.

I guess we will all be the wiser pretty soon as to whether what we are seeing is the real deal or just another mirage that we hope is there, but in fact isn't.

[bigblue]

I've been a member of this forum for a while now and we have been absolute poo for the bulk of that time.
I cant believe I am reading stuff on here about hoping BB knows how to play an attacking game style and all the negativety.....


Some people are so bloody hard to please .
Im loving that our team is playing like a TEAM. I'm wrapped that we've gone from hoping and wishing for a consistent effort to knowing my team will give a consistant effort every week. I'm also ecstatic that I get to see our babies, grow before my own eyes because I know that they're being taught and understanding how to play the game the right way.

Fair dinkum unbelievable some of you.

I'm all for free speech and differing opinions btw, but considering the changeover of our playing list, changeover of coaching staff,  how much better do you really expect us to be ??

I'm wrapped with our progress  and back BB 1000%.

Just sayin......

[PaulP]

I don't think I'm that hard to please. Say what you like about resets, rebuilds, refurbs etc. It is, like any sport, ultimately defined by wins and losses. We are currently sitting 16th. Al I want to see is that we can kick winning scores on a regular, or even semi regular basis. And by winning score, I  mean around 100 points.

We can defend till doomsday. We won't win much at all kicking around 70 points a game. 

Now Bolts may well have all the answers. He may well lead us to the promised land. We may even build a dynasty with him in charge.

I'll be waiting, and I'll be watching.