FRASER'S FIVE BIG BLUES CHANGES
THESE are the five big changes Carlton has made under Josh Fraser.
The first is in game style – the Blues have taken control of the ball considerably more under interim coach Fraser, with Champion Data ranking Carlton No.1 for time in possession over the past three weeks and taking more uncontested marks than any team in this period. They were ranked 14th for time in possession and 13th for uncontested marks under Michael Voss this year.
Secondly, the Blues have left the corridor footy and are opting for the boundary line to set up their plan. This has seen them be less predictable with their ball movement and they have increased their 45-degree kick percentage, making them move the ball with purpose. Their ball movement has improved from their defensive half and they are transitioning and scoring more from that part of the ground.
The third priority for the Blues has been Fraser not taking his eye off Carlton's strengths. Their stoppage game has always been seen as the central part of the Blues' hopes, but it has lifted again and in Friday's win over Geelong they scored 49 points from clearances – the most the Cats have conceded this season. Defensively, they are conceding almost four fewer goals per game than the first nine rounds of the season and their scoring efficiency from forward-50 entries has also spiked.
The next change has been moving the magnets and experimenting. Will Hayward has moved to the wing and played more than half of his game time in that role, up from 96 per cent of his time forward under Voss. Harry McKay has played 30 per cent in the ruck, becoming the Blues' No.2 in that position. He barely played there under Voss (three per cent).
Jagga Smith has gone up in midfield time in the past three weeks (59 per cent to 76) and Ben Ainsworth has also been sent in the centre bounce 24.5 per cent of the time, a real change from his previous 97 per cent as a forward.
The fifth change has been some newer faces thrown in, with Jack Ison making his debut in the game that followed Voss' sacking and adding some class, and Billy Wilson also returning to the side. Flynn Young was also busy on Friday night with two goals.
Carlton can heap more pain on a wounded Essendon* next week, with its three games after that (following its round14 bye) against Greater Western Sydney, West Coast and Richmond, giving it a sneaky chance of playing in a wildcard game.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1531805/cal ... -departingJust confirming what most of us have seen and raised.
