Bolton would prioritise development of a kid in the seniors over team structure. When lamb was injured Bolton played Macreadie instead of playing kerridge or palmer. Long term development is exactly what we need to be doing

Exactly MJ.

Players develop when the are a part of a functioning team structure. There was little team defence and third defender up assistance on Saturday night. It unbalanced the rest of our team as well. Simmo or Dochery were constantly finding themselves pushed onto the wings which was causing confusion on the bench. Players were running onto the ground looking back at the bench with their arms out asking what the hell was going on. Confusion isn't development.
Against that opposition with 3 small forwards, it was an error.
By all means play Macreadie but not with White, Plowman, Rowe and Marchbank in the backline.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Just watched the 1st qtr again and tigers should've been 8 goals up considering we went in with an underdone Cripps and a first gamer SPS as inside mids with Murph and Gibbs hanging out as outside mids.
Who's our midfield coach ?

If Macreadie was the only one that BB was ever going to bring in, the issue was that it wasn't a like for like who was a last minute withdrawal

Agree about team structure and confusion to a point. Confusion and decision making is a learning experience if it is addressed formatively by the coaches

Right now, I'd take Macreadie getting game time and forcing defenders to think on their feet about making the most with what they've got rather than playing Kerridge or to a lesser extent, Palmer

BB's biggest blunder was playing DT. Would've happily had Palmer or Cunningham over Thomas

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Watched a little footy this weekend. We are so far behind in our ability to run both ways.
I know we have kids and all that, but its gonna be a tough year.

Watching Adelaide today...you couldn't help but feel how far off the pace we are to these teams.

Their running off halfback, their handball and their team spirit was enormous.

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"...that's the thing about opinion - you don't have to know anything to have one..." Andre Agassi commenting on Pat Cash 2004
"...the less you know - the more you believe..." - Bono 2006

Not just the kids. Two #1 drafts picks not keen on two way running either.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

I watched a few games and noticed many clubs lack the ability to run both ways.

2cm taller across the board than Richmond
Stat that surprised me was Kick to Handball Ratio - 1.63 - Only Port Adelaide had a better one 1.73 than Carlton on the week end
We appeared handball happy but in comparison to the rest of the comp our handball numbers were down

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I would also say efficiency would have been the lowest of any team. So many handballs missed targets.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

Compare the height of Carlton defenders Vs Richmond forwards.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

AFLCA Votes

CARLTON v RICHMOND
10 Dustin Martin (Rich)
8 Dion Prestia (Rich)
4 Jason Castagna (Rich)
3 Matthew Kreuzer (Carl)
3 Marc Murphy (Carl)
1 Dan Butler (Rich)
1 Trent Cotchin (Rich)

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Only saw the second half. What got me was their ability to hit the goals from everywhere. Completely expected them to dob them from 50 on the boundary by the end. Contrast that with my assumption we will miss from a 35m shot directly in front.

Mind you it doesn't take much for things to change. 3 less turnovers a quarter, a 5% lift in disposal accuracy, a bit more understanding of a game plan. a year older....

Only 4 players with more than 20 disposals. As Mickstar would say, we just need players to get more of the pill. Simple as that.

Yep ! the number one skill in footy is finding the bloody thing.Far too many on our list just aint natural ball winners.

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All my dangerous friends

This is my problem. You don't need skill to run, create and defend or have a team spirited flowering go!

Plenty of positives from the game. We are a bottom 2 side but more likely staring down the barrel of another wooden spoon everyone needs to put things in perspective.

All the kids showed something.

Marchbank massive tick

Macredie bargain at his pick

SPS showed he has the tools to be a gun

Weitering!!

Murphy and Kreuzer back to their best which is hard for people to acknowledge on here.

Forward line!! We nearly hit the 100pt mark.

Giving our draft picks a go instead of the recycled players that have shown nothing last year and preseason.

Cons

Armfield has look shot this year still to many players like White Rowe THOMAS!! in the side that need to be filtered out. Rowe should only play if their is a match up for him but he will end up playing every game if fit.

Defending - yes we know the backline is to tall but would rather Macredie get games at the expense of White.

Our ability to shut down the oppositions best players so if you play Supercoach captain whoever is the best player playing us for the round!!

Good post Scotto agree entirely - summed up well

Interestingly 132 points is the most conceded by Carlton since Bolton joined.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch