MITCH Robinson and Jeff Garlett played their first games for Carlton last Thursday. They were among the Blues' best defenders. They played forward.

The heralding of debutants at Carlton in recent years has been a moment to plead for the future, a statement of hope. The arrival of Garlett and Robinson, however, provides a comment not on how Carlton will play tomorrow but today.

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Carlton is not alone in asking forwards to play the game the rest of the team plays, but it was evident that it had been in focus at Princes Park during the summer.

The effectiveness of defenders is often quantified by the goals they concede, but not measured against the number of inside-50s they have been asked to repel.

Carlton observed that last year's grand finalists only allowed opposition sides to enter their defensive 50 arc about 44 times a game, while they went inside their forward 50 about 55 times.

It is also not only about winning the ball back from defenders; it is also about implied pressure, which was something Garlett was so impressive at in the season-opener.

I guess it could go in the bad journalism thread, but Robbo is actually tackling Will Thursfield, not Richo.