Post Game Analysis: AFL 2021 Rd 5: Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[capcom]

We can argue the semantics

Who is arguing?  I'm making a valid point, as are you

[Lods]

Improvement would be instant if we were motivated enough on a consistent basis. We don't want it badly enough hence don't work hard enough. Look at games where we are really switched on. There's run, spread and suddenly the skills are way better. We are are top 8 team and better if we badly "want" to be. There's the issue and it's frustrating. Even on bad days, which is alot of them, we don't take thrashings on the scoreboard and always "in" games mostly. Currently, right now, we are a waste of ability.

I'd agree
You can usually tell in the first 10 minutes of a game whether it's 'good Carlton' or 'bad Carlton' that has turned up.
You see it in the pressure and intensity.
It's reflected in the number and force of players at the contests.
A few desperate acts early on can set the tone for others.
So can weak efforts!
If we come to play I reckon we can trouble any team.
If we don't it gets ugly in this place...'in game' and 'post match.'

So who bears responsibility for that...and if it's the issue it seems...how do we fix it?

[flyboy77]

The age old story with us.

The gap between our best and worst remains huge!

[Gointocarlton]

We seem to have a distinct desire NOT to employ former senior coaches to assist our 'apprentice' coach, just in case they start looking over their shoulder!! 
Goodwin was told that Alan Richardson would be sitting in the box with him, then he was told that 'the forgotten man' (too old, don't touch him) Mark Williams would come in to improve their kicking and toughen them up around the ball. Melbourne were as soft as us............now look at them!!
Horse Longmire was happy to take on board the intel that Don Pike could provide, while Stewie Dew saw value is getting the football brain of Rhyce  Shaw onto his team!!
We keep persisting with Barker, Bruce, Amos and Stanton!!
Give Ross Lyon a 9 month contract to come in and help Teague tell a few players a few home truths (I'm sure Choco does!!)  Lyon has enough to do and seems comfortable 'out of the cut and thrust of coaching', but would probably enjoy a bit of 'club land' interaction. 
For Teague, it may very well prolong his coaching career rather than shorten it!!!

I just want a fwd line coach that actually played as a fwd.

[Blues15]

Who Lukas or Jamie???

Lukas! He’s a unit! Just getting ready for our next rebuild ?

[tonyo]

The age old story with us.

The gap between our best and worst remains huge!

It's the gap between the ears that worries me the most.  The hunger to compete is nowhere near that of the teams at the top end.

I think we have serious motivation issues, and when things are not going well, many of the players go into 'me first' mode and the teamwork evaporates.  You can only see it when you are at the game - the lack of hard running up and down the ground 60-100 metres ahead of the play.  It is why we look so slow, because many players cruise around in 2nd gear, and end up chasing tails.

In contrast, on Saturday night, Port Adelaide had their entire playing group on the one page, and it showed so clearly - they ran in silver waves down the ground and we looked like witches' hats.  Despite the stats being relatively close in most areas, we were just never in the hunt and should have lost by far more.

I fear that being happy to run second has become embedded in the DNA. 

[Macca37]

Surely our backline must go into siege mentality mode early in a game when our inevitable skill errors cause turnovers on our half forward line and the ball comes rocketing back at them through the centre.

Those skill errors, unwillingness to chase and consequent lack of pressure on opposition teams must contribute to a losing mindset that has been a feature of the club for most of this century despite a huge turnover in the players list and numerous coaches.

An air of complacency seems to be a feature of the club - how else to explain the recruitment of players with mediocre skills at best and then providing them with no specialised coaching to reach AFL standard?

Harry is a prime example.  Why has he not been taught a set routine when taking a set shot for goal?  It is quite plain to see that his current method depends entirely on the thought bubble occupying his mind just before taking his kick.

That raises the question: why do we keep recruiting players whose skills will keep us occupying the bottom half of the ladder?

I wish I had the overconfidence of Paul P.  At present I am struggling to be in the glass half full frame of mind.

[PaulP]

..........................................
I wish I had the overconfidence of Paul P.  At present I am struggling to be in the glass half full frame of mind.

Not overconfident, just my version of realistic.

[WASurfer]

Macca....problem is that there's plenty of errors/turnovers coming out of the backline as well....how many times did Jones kick it straight to an opponent, or dropped marks by Docherty, lack of chasing and pressure. Robbie Gray would be one of the most dangerous players in the game yet he was often 50m in the clear on his own....so something is breaking down somewhere.

That margin completely flattered us and was one of the worst games we've played in a while....yet we were right in it in the first quarter. Unfortunately it's become a trait of the team under Teague....play a couple of shocking quarters each game and then we're completely out of reach.

[Macca37]

You are correct about the clangers and mistakes made by the backline.  I think what gets me fired up is the complete lack of pressure put on the opposition's mids.

On so many occasions the Port mids just waltzed straight down the centre without any pressure. It was like watching a training exercise where talented mids had multiple options with forwards leading to designated positions and then having the ball delivered accurately to them.  Our backline was always under pressure with little help from further afield.