I'm past the whole 1AW thing here, I'm just more curious as to why our players aren't bothering to be properly setup in the back half in the event of a turnover.

They're not all running forward, so why not learn to put themselves in a position where they can cover as many leads by the opposition as possible.

It's something that's hurt us for a long time, a sizable players coming to a halt when the ball vacates the area. It doesn't take many to create a problem.

In short what I'm trying to say is that 1AW shouldn't have been trailing Boyle on the lead, he should have been dropping in front of it.

Same goes for one of Setanta, Waite, T-Bird, Bower, etc in another situation. They were doing it a bit the week before.

Structure, set-ups, and zone coverage shouldn't just disappear because the ball extends just beyond a kick away. Especially in a team that is game-planned against to commit turnovers.

EDIT: Yes Gavin is doing a better job, but like so many things in life it could be done better still. Can't really say that without sounding high-and-mighty can I.

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And only 7 that you like;
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North Ballarat ????!!!!

Played in the Ants praccy match today.

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#DonTheStash

Pre game, I thought if we could contain their midfield superiority that we would win, having a superior backline and forwards to a lesser extent.
What made the win encouraging was the fact we won despite being outclassed out of the middle with the clearances. This should have given Hawthorn a strong advantage and put our defence in all sort of trouble, but it never eventuated. We forced them out wide having to kick set shots from along the boundary line. Mitchell for me was the most dominant player on the ground and kept Hawthorn in the game.

Hodge is their match winner because he brings a lot of their forwards into the game with his precision passing. I thought we negated him well. Restricting him to 6 kicks handed us the game. Who played on him? I thought it was Simmo but I am not too certain.

Russell completely outclassed Bateman who caused us giref last year. Really excelling as a running tagger.

I thought the quality of our disposal in the Essendon* game was much higher. Cannot believe the number of half volleys I saw yesterday placing the teammate under immense pressure either by hand or foot. Actually cost us a few goals as we were bringing the ball out of defence.
I put it down to lazy kicking, where near enough is seen as good enough.

A lot of positives to be taken from the game. Not going to mention any negatives as there are few and it does no good to focus on that when there is so much to be excited about.

1. Marc Murphy. This kid will win a brownlow. His composure, balance, time, precision, everything about this kid is class class class and he is a special special kind of player. When he got through a swarm of hawks in the ?third? quarter, may have been the last, well....words cant explain it.

2. Tex. I have been a big critic of Tex in the past, but holy hell, this kid has come in leaps and bounds. Reminds me, in build i mean, of a young kouta. Great dash and rebound in defence, really suited down there now. And to think, 2 years ago people on here were slagging denis and calling for his head for developing Tex's defensive game.

3. Pressure. this is something, that really, we havent had since really 2000. When we dont have the ball, we want the ball. We chase, we hold tackles, we are physical and we are pissed off. As Denis said pre season, we arent going to be pushed around anymore. Excellent pressure. To see the hawks trying to figure out who to kick to, and have 3,4 even 5 blues mob them and get it back is ne of the most pleasing things.

4. Defence. great work by a TALL backline. we finally have big bodies down there who do their job well. I like Carlos down there dishing off to the more confident kickers, he knows his strength is sticking with a man and getting the ball off the ground and then realises his weakness and gets it off when he can. Thornton will relish no longer being the only defender. Waitey improves week after week and it was great to see him take some risks and venture further down the ground, exposing franklins lack of defensive pressure, this will be a great asset to him. Sometimes it doesnt work, like last night and the ball is kicked over his head, but when it does, sublime.

5. Ackland/Cloke. I would like everyone who said that recruiting these two was a huge mistake and they were pissed off at the match committee to come on here and apologise. While we may not win every bounce or throw up or boundary throw in, the work these two have put in to be in the best shape they can be and to be able to cover the amount of ground they both have been covering is a testament to their willingness to succeed. Great additions to the club and have certainly earnt their right to be respected as navy blue boys.

6. Building a positive team environment. Lets bloody ride this wave as far as we can. how exciting would it be for the new comers of the last 2-3 years to be on this ride now? they come to club at its lowest point EVER. All the negative press over summer, and like sticks said, we are carlton, @#$%&! the rest. the resurrection has begun, we still have a long way to go, but it has begun, and these boys like Murph, Gibbs, Anderson, Benjamin, Hampson, Bower, Hartlett, Russell, Blackwell, Grigg, Edwards, O'hAilpin, are all in it at the ground floor. It's really exciting.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

Play of the night too, had to be Murph's super goal off 2 steps.

That was freakish.

As I said before I was wrapped with yesterdays effort, much much better than 06 and the improvement is evident.

Backline - Tall, strong and fast and starting to gell together. Setanta will play every game this year, Scotlands sweepping and rebounding excellent Tex looks like a thoroughred in the statrting yard sweat, sinew and ready to explode and often does. Oh and dont forget Waite. Our defence barring injury will also improve considerably I suspect.

Presseure has been great, I cant remember the last time I saw so many tackles stick.

The Ruck of Cloke/Ackland Ive been very very happy with. Both are gutsy and hard at it. I was a sceptic when these decision were made.

Simmo is consistently good -silk, Stevens better with an effective midfield. Murphy what can you say about Murphy - hell win the brownlow or go very close some time within the next 5 years, Carrots has improved, Gibbs has showed what he will be - poise and precision. Russells better, Jacksons showed he can play etc etc

I cant even be bothered talking about the fowards cos all I see is good things. Kennedy will be very good in a Pavlich type mould I think.

I just hope I get a chance to see some of the new boys like Griggs

I know its early and theres a lot of work to do. But if someone told us these would be the signs and we'd win the first 2 Id poop my pants with excitement, especially combined with the fact Dick Pratt's onboard.

Put it in perspective people and dont listen to the media bullshit about other teams fielding less than full strength sides.
We are better than 06. Were young and improving. FFS we were spooners last year and some of the criticism here sounds like the dissection of a side that is gearing up for a top four finish.

And thats the ton for me! taken a while though, a bit Luke O'Sullivanesque

Some positives
We won both games after being challenged in the last quarter.
Generally most played well. There were turn overs, and bad passing, but they stuck to it, and harrased.
Murphy is the best pick up for years. Hopefully Gibbs will be as good.
Aclkland and Cloke showed they might be good picks.

An apology to Andrew Carazzo. When he marked the ball late in the game, and was shooting for goal, I said. Oh no. Anyone but him.
He slotted it through the centre.

They will be lining up to join Carlton next year. Who else gets a ride home on the Pres's private jet.


..

Just watched the game again. Some quick views:

Gibbs tackling was first rate. For a skinny young kid he is a natural at it.

Carazzo is a ball magnet. I don't think his disposal is poor, but just needs to improve his decision making. Tends to kick the ball too high (or bomb the ball).

Murphy is a super star. His decision making and balance is Greg Williams standard. He is even better than what I thought he would be at this stage of his career.

My opinion of Bentick has not changed at all. I think he is couragerous and tenacious, but will not be in our best 22. He doesnt have the quick thinking ability that you need at AFL level. He too often gets the ball and just wraps it up into a tackle instead of breaking free and using it - ala Scotland, Murphy, Stevens, etc.

Was extremely impressed with Jackson in the last quarter. He did some really good things and I hope he continues his progression. I give him a greater than 50% chance of making it now. Prior to this match I had very little information on him.

Impressed with our ruck division and in particular Cloke. I am starting to eat my own words. I think he will be a more than handy pick up. Prefer him easily over Bryan, De Luca and Prenda. Also think Ackland will perform as good if not better than French, so we may have actually taken a step forward in this area this year.

easily better.

french was serviceable in the middle, but thats about it.

ackland has the mobility to not only be serviceable in the middle, but use it all around the ground and be a dangerous man drifting forward too.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

I thought he was good.

It'd be interesting to see what would happen if one of us butted into a live match discussion thread on SS to bag one of your players.

Pretty ordinary form.

They'd probably be surprised some on here could find the time, given some TC'ers are so preoccupied with bagging our own!

Aint that the truth!

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If you are wise you'll listen to me

Blue shirts good
Other shirts bad

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Love Cricket? Love me

You mean like that tosser who has just gone through another knee op?

....theres a concept!

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Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

His disposal hasn’t been too bad thus far but there are still deficiencies like kicking the ball too high (like you mentioned) and also struggles with long kicks where he lacks penetration and accuracy. Fabulous at finding the pill though and knows how to operate in close and around the contested ball.

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C'mon Blueboys!

Was very pleased with how we played. My views are as follows:

Murphy - a gem - poised, cool, calm and collected
Ackland - will be very good for us.
Carazzo - redeemed himself with his kicking when he goaled in the last qtr
Thornton - Very good on Williams
Gibbs - seemed to find the ball and tackled very well
Simmo - keeps getting better, even though some kicks went awry
Jarrad - Kept attacking even though he may have been beaten by Franklin
Kouta - could of easily have kicked 4 goals, but instead kicked 3 behinds -works well off the bench especially in the last qtr
Saddington - used sparingly - not sure what DP is planning for him
Bentick - looks good in the Number 7 guernsey - does the hardball gets very well
Stevens - better than ever
Kennedy - took some nice grabs - he will be a very good player for us
Scotland - good rebounding
Backline - very good
Fisher - lovely goal from the boundary line
Cloke - took some nice grabs in the back line
The team - last quarter skills went AWOL - some serious spills in front of goal
Fev - quiet, but still effective
Lance - very quiet
Whoever was playing on Mitchell, played too loose.

Umpires - did not pay enough holding the ball decisions that should have gone our way - opted for play on.

Channel 10 - arseholes for not going into the rooms after the game to hear the song

Dick Pratt - love the light blue suit and the private jet!

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

They've been good so far, but I won't be apologising off the back of 2 pre season games.

I'll reassess at Round 11.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24