We've seen the growth and improvement coming for a couple of years. But there's been a clear step up this year. And no doubt there are a range of factors involved. I think you can credit the new coaching assistants/set up. There's also the addition of Curnow and Laidler and Duigan. And the sudden improvement in Robbo. And the continued improvement in others like Murph and Ellard and Gibbs.

But for me, I reckon the 3 biggest differences have been:
1. Jamison's improvement to the point where he's now one of the best key position defenders going around.
2. Walker's emergence in our forward line. Not only has his form been stunning, but he really adds something special to the forward mix (both offensively and defensively).
3. Yarran's shift to defence as a rebounding defender.
(Duigan's addition to our defence would be a close 4th)

What are your top 3 'difference makers'?

Good idea for thread.

For mine:

1. Alan Richardson
2. John Donehue
3. Gavin Brown

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Carlton. Yes, Carlton are into the grand final!!!
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I don’t think you can isolate individual players as a singular reason for our improvement this season. Although, if that was the point of the thread, I would say that the individuals who have improved to have the most impact on our ladder position are:

1) Mark Murphy: With an uninterrupted preseason he has taken the next step up to join the elite category. This is after a 2010 where he didn’t evolve his game from the previous year. He has added an inside element to his game and is winning more clearances. He is also much more accountable defensively. For mine, midfield accountability is much more of a reason for our defensive improvement than any key position player in our backline.
2) Mitch Robinson: Since Judd arrived we have been trying to find an in and under player to offer him protection. The decision to pick up McLean for such a high draft pick was a disaster and I wonder if our match committee wasn’t feeling so much pressure to fill that role they made a desperation move. Anyway, Robinson has filled the role with aggression, courage, determination, pace (you hearing this Brock) and skill. The significant bulk and muscle Mitch added in the off-season has now allowed him to play his natural game without fear and step it up to the next level.
3) Andrew Walker: Is this improvement in the player, result of an extended period without injury or the coaches finally persisting with him in a consistent role? Probably all of the above. I also think he is only just now growing into the role. His last four games have really seen him run his opponent up the ground to make use of his massive tank. This makes him a match-up nightmare. 18 touches and 8 marks is a great average over this period and it makes him much more damaging than a 2nd or 3rd option forward who only works out of the 50. Big advantage and massive difference maker for us this season.

OK, so the real reasons for our improvement:

1. General List Evolution
If you look at our list from last year to this year you can see a general improvement across the board. This is totally expected as we capitalize on a period of high draft picks and the rebuilding of our list. Every team goes through ebbs and flows and a window opens at the top of the flow. Our ebb was insanely long due to reasons that will not be mentioned….but our window is opening this year as I expected after three number 1 picks and Judd’s arrival. Young players who have improved this year and fit the category: Gibbs, Murphy, Yarran, Robinson, Walker, Jamison, Garlett and Ellard. That’s a third of the side.

2. Mature Aged Recruits
Great job to slot in Curnow, Duigan and Laidler, three ready made AFL players. Can’t under estimate the difference it makes to have big, mature bodies being thrown around inside packs as opposed to an 18-19 year old body. These guys have perhaps fast tracked us a little as we wait for players like Yarran, Garlett, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Ellard, Lucas, Davies, Watson and Bower to bulk up a bit. (Although Yarran and Kreuzer look like they were hitting the weights pretty hard in the off-season).

3. Coaching Staff
Got to agree with dooky on this one. Ratten deserves a lot of credit for bring the philosophy of hard tackling, accountability and defensive focus to the table but clearly he was struggling with the implementation. In hindsight it was crazy to surround a first time senior coach with assistants with limited experience themselves. It’s amazing he has made it this far. From everything I read in the media, Ratten is open to evolution as a person\coach and is improving himself season by season. I think the best is yet to come from him and a lot of mistakes and lessons have now been learned. Richardson, Brown and co are great additions and are clearly doing something right.

HK

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1. The restructuring of coaching responsibilities. The players are embracing what they're being taught.

2. The addition of Laidler and Duigan in to defence has strengthened and freed up a number of other players.

3. The growing maturity of the young guys, particularly Murph Jamo Yarran Walks and Jeffy.

1. Improvement in the list (turnover)
2. Maturity of the players (natural development and experience)
3. Addition of coaching staff from successful clubs. (provide SWOT analysis of our game plan and the successful teams)

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Agree with Rexy and bondi.

I love when the keyboard experts think so one-dimensionally. If only it were that easy.

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1. Leading Teams.

2. Increased spend on footy dept./facilities.

3. List management.

Most of the improvement we see today is because of decisions we made several years ago.

1. Time - (from the time a new Coach comes in it just takes time to get all the right pieces in place throughout the entire Club)
2. Justin Cordy and Co - (Fitness also takes time to build for a season not just for 12 games)
3. Juddy - (for all the obvious reasons)
4. New facilities - (builds self esteem/pride and provides the necessary training/rehab equipment)
5. Recruitment ( )

Regards Cazzesman

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1. GIBBS
2. GIBBS
3. GIBBS

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After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

Getting rid of FEV

1. Coach Ratten moving office downstairs and getting to know players personally. It's worked and the relationship between them is very strong.

2. Diet. When I moved base to New York in the late 90's I was fed breakfast and lunch by the Racquet club chefs. You wouldn't believe what a difference this makes to your daily life. Jason Johnson's food is outstanding.

3. Performance,Conditioning & Medical staff.

The Spirit of Carlton was formed in 2007.

2007 15th
2008 11th
2009 7th
2010 8th
2011 3rd*

Coincidence?






* just give us the cup already

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The Spirit of Carlton compels you!

1. the depth in the playing list
2. the depth in the playing list
3. Pressure to keep your spot brought about by the depth in the playing list

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They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

1. The Jumper. (will pull you out of any slump eventually.)

2. The players.

3. The fans. (we really are awesome. )

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1. 'Early doors' philosophy

2. Robbo's thick skull

3. Spa treatments

4. Encouraging words from journalists letting us know that we are contenders now. And the way they deliberately tipped us to finish outside the 8 to fire us up (cunning plan).

1. The IP from our assistant coaches (StK/Haw, Ess/Coll, Coll) - perceptions from other clubs on how we're viewed by those clubs > created the impetus for the CFC to change that. This is why when we play the dawks later in the year we will have the intel from Barker. No coincidence that Saints almost beat us this year due to Rob Harvey's involvement over the past 2 seasons.
2. Development of Walker, Murphy, Yarran, Ellard, Robbo, Garlett, Jamo.
3. Good recruiting - Duigan, Curnow, Tuohy, Laidler (with luxury of developing the kids in a less riskier way - Watson, McCarthy, Lucas, McInnes in the twos)

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Only 1 difference.


Consistent Intensity applied over the course of a game.

I mostly attribute it to a range of subtle improvements in my posting technique.

Change in game plan. - for the last 2 yrs the offensive stats were good; the defensive stats poor. Agreed that Gavin Brown and A Richardson have helped enormously in this area.

confidence in game plan - belief is massive at the moment, and players are starting to showing their talent. Jamo, Walker, Ellard are great examples of knowing their role and consequently playing with so much more confidence.

list Man on man we are one of the most gifted teams in the afl, and our depth allows us to mitigate impact due to player injuries.

It is all coming together nicely.

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