Cretylus wrote:
padre wrote:
No one able to concede that injuries are playing a role?
Henderson clearly injured
Walker carrying
Garlett ..off field injury
Kreuzer injured
Judd injured still getting back to match fitness
Thomas coming back from major injury. Slowly regaining fitness. Still below his high standard.
Scottland retired due to body issues
Carrazzo coming back from sequential injuries. Still not fit.
Docherty previous injuries reducing match fitness and form
Curnow injured
Bell injured
Buckley injured
Ellard injured
Cripps injured
There are some significant injuries there. The influence on our team structure is undeniable.
Lets judge when we have a fully fit team to put out on the field.
Now the caveat. Yes we are exposed for depth because of those injuries. Hawthorn being a good contrast, can still continue winning despite injuries. But no one here is pretending that we are at the reigning premiers standard, so lets not bemoan that we cant do what the hawks have done.
The point being, judging malthouse based on an injured list is not being fair. Yes we had high expectations at the start of the season, but not adjusting them based on the new information ie injuries is puerile . To blame a coach that is hardly responsible for our lack of depth is even more so . Dare i say it, but this constant criticism of a great coach that we are lucky to have , is the same type of reaction that our great leaders have displayed and got us into our current " situation"
Have you looked at our draw for the first 11 weeks this year? Dream draw. No travel until the lions, didnt play many top teams. Didnt play cats til round 12, hawks til round 13, havent played the dockers, swans yet. havent traveled to Perth yet.
Are you saying the first 4 losses were due to injuries?
the Losses to the demons and the lions who were on the bottom at the time?
An of course every team has injuries - when we played the Hawks, we played a depleted team.
ratten had injuries in 2012 but still managed 11 wins. Mick had very few injuries in 2013 and managed 11 wins. Same list essentially
One needs to explain why Port rocketed up the ladder, and the Blues went backwards when Hinkley and Malthouse took over their respective teams at the end of 2012
Was there a difference in the quality of the teams at the end of 2012?
CHAMPION DATA 2012CARLTONDefenders 14th
Midfield/Rucks 3rd
Forwards 2nd
LIST QUALITY
9thPORT ADELAIDEDefenders 18th
Midfield/Rucks 12th
Forwards 17th
LIST QUALITY
17thI am saying that we have depth problems. And because of this, our significant injuries have exposed this.
But equally , for any side to win the premiership, they need a good run with injuries.
I firmly believe that we are still a fringe eight side, but injuries and a combination of bad luck and brain fade, has let us slip below where we could be.
I have given up on this seasons finals aspirations, but i am not a "no hoper". With some smart trading at year end we can bring in some more leadership. Hopefully with a fit list we will regain the form of our players that this year have been below par. Eg henderson, thomas, kreuzer, garlett, walker etc. that will make a big difference