Post Game Postulations: AFL Rd 7: Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[Baggers]

Disagree we went defensive too early, just couldnt score.
Watch the last 2 mins:
1. Cunningham could have hit up Betts, Levi or Cripps instead of blazing away on this wrong foot. Game would have been over.
2. Gibbo could have found a loose man and initiated keepings off. Game would have been over.
3. The three talls Gibbo went for all failed to mark or punch the ball over the line.  Game would have been over.
4. When the ball came back in, Jones completely missed the ball when trying to punch it over the line.  Game would have been over.
All attention to detail and execution items that I hope we lean from.

If we'd started properly and not given them a 3 goal start then so much of the last qtr would have only been academic.

[Baggers]

Disagree we went defensive too early, just couldnt score.
Watch the last 2 mins:
1. Cunningham could have hit up Betts, Levi or Cripps instead of blazing away on this wrong foot. Game would have been over.
2. Gibbo could have found a loose man and initiated keepings off. Game would have been over.
3. The three talls Gibbo went for all failed to mark or punch the ball over the line.  Game would have been over.
4. When the ball came back in, Jones completely missed the ball when trying to punch it over the line.  Game would have been over.
All attention to detail and execution items that I hope we lean from.

Reckon we will, GTC. One of those losses that may in fact be a huge learning experience/catalyst... especially that we can lead a top side, plus starting better and being more strategic in tight circumstances when in front.

[LP]

Disagree we went defensive too early, just couldnt score.
Watch the last 2 mins:
1. Cunningham could have hit up Betts, Levi or Cripps instead of blazing away on this wrong foot. Game would have been over.
2. Gibbo could have found a loose man and initiated keepings off. Game would have been over.
3. The three talls Gibbo went for all failed to mark or punch the ball over the line.  Game would have been over.
4. When the ball came back in, Jones completely missed the ball when trying to punch it over the line.  Game would have been over.
All attention to detail and execution items that I hope we lean from.

You're probably right, but watching live I mentioned to my family with about 5 minutes left I'd detected a shift in our balance or attack and defence that left me uncomfortable, not sure if anybody else noticed it. I suppose I can't un-see that now.

[Gointocarlton]

If we'd started properly and not given them a 3 goal start then so much of the last qtr would have only been academic.

But we got back on level terms and took the lead quick smart so that advantage was wiped. If only to have those 120 seconds back and play it again.

[PaulP]

Coaches' votes :

[LygonStreetLimbo]

Levi to Dixon was the move to make.
Jones has been great but doesn’t have the bulk for that type of hulk.

[Baggers]

But we got back on level terms and took the lead quick smart so that advantage was wiped. If only to have those 120 seconds back and play it again.

Fair call, but if we started properly we may well have been 2-3 up at qtr time.

[Baggers]

Levi to Dixon was the move to make.
Jones has been great but doesn’t have the bulk for that type of hulk.

Couldn't agree more. Was shouting that from the sofa... Meat to Dixon, give Jonesy a run up forward.

[laj]

But we got back on level terms and took the lead quick smart so that advantage was wiped. If only to have those 120 seconds back and play it again.

Yes. We finally get into the 8, play the top side, lead when the final siren goes only to be kicked back out of the 8 in cruel fashion.

[kruddler]

Couldn't agree more. Was shouting that from the sofa... Meat to Dixon, give Jonesy a run up forward.

The call that was made was Gov pushed back as the loose man.

They showed footage of him from behind the goals leading up to the lead, mark and winning goal by Gray.

Gov was defending the hotspot 25-30m out from goal, in the corridor.  Gray and his opponent were behind him edging up. They move up to level, but closer to the boundary and he stayed in the hotspot (nobody behind him - he became the last line).
I forget who was analysing it but they were very critical of Gov for not getting in front of Gray or at least pushing closer to the boundary.
Personally i thought he was doing the right thing by forcing Gray into a position where if he was lucky he'd get the ball just inside the boundary, and close to the arc. Which is where it ended up.
Essentially, he played the %'s and that was the only spot Port would've been able to get a mark inside 50. Of course they pull it out of their backside to kick it, but had he pushed closer to the boundary, it would've opened up the corridor to someone coming down, resulting in an easier shot.

Of course all that happened after Dixon had done some damage, and i'm not sure how early that move was made.
In any event, Casboult to Dixon could've helped earlier. But then i would've used Jones in the Gov role, rather than sent Jones forward.