On too many occasions last night we had young players panic going forward because we had no one in our forward 50.

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

The main positives for me were as follows:

- Charlie Curnow's best game for us.
- I thought Williamson was impressive again (surprised more posters haven't commented on this)
- Fisher looks very good with ball in hand. Makes the right decisions and has clean disposal. Absolute steal for pick #28.

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There is no footy god

Our goal kicking is a real worry. I feel like it's been terrible for years. Players that leave us suddenly seem to improve their kicking (Garlett can't @#$%&! miss now). Why!??

Not saying it would have made a difference, but it's a confidence killer on field.

Garlett was a bit of a deadeye in his early Carlton career too, at least that's how I remember him. Over time he lost it. Like you say, it's all confidence, and the Malthouse era obliterated every trace of that.

Bolts the honeymoon is officially over
Two things that must be addressed
1 Leadership

Murphy is a shit captain period. A captain must lift when the team is challenged. He doesnt. 25 possesions can mean nothing the way footy is played, particularly if you are talking about last night. Chip chip footy. No tackles when your team doesn't have the ball often and your a midfielder is pathetic. Watching him let players pass him was unbelievable. Clearly he doesnt want to hurt his shoulder again, but its more about the mental attitude of being competitive when your getting beaten. I remember watching Luke Hodge in a reserves game once go in like a man possessed. It didn't matter that it was for the Box Hill Hawks out at Casey. He hates losing. Murphy to some degree accepts it based on what I have seen over the years. This is partly due to who he is and the culture he has experienced at the club.
Gibbs once again picks and chooses when to go in. Almost zero running effort at times when the oppositon has the ball. He clearly wants out. Should of got pick 13 when we had the chance and if he wants out at the end of this year let him go. Adelaide would give a round one pick which probably would be around 17. Good deal for everyone.

Cripps becomes captain from 2018 onwards. Stands out like a sore thumb.He is far
more competitive than Murphy. Have a look at the quarter time huddle last night if your not convinced. I reckon the young kids would develop quicker with Cripps as captain.

2 Cant kick goals
Clearly a major issue. We move the ball form the centre line as fast as a glacier on tranquilisers. They have to play Jaksch as a leadup forward. They have to give him a go.
Promote Gallucci. He looks like a natural forward to me.
Drop White and play Weitering down back . White has been ok but as we all know aint the future. Weitering is being murdered by our coaching staff and looks [REDACTED] to me. Rest him or play him in the magoos for a while. Where killing this kid at the minute.
Hopefully Byrne and Sheehan can get back in the ones. Break the lines and good users of the footy. I reckon Buckley needs another go because he can gain yards quickly

3 A ruckman
Have to find a good one at some point. Kreuzer is the best option but he is going to be
banged up often. Phillips, Korcheck and Gorringe not good enough


Aint all dome and gloom. Picked up some great kids over the last 2 seasons with more to come
But Bolts faces his biggest test so far over the next 6 months with some tough decisions that are well overdue.

Measured, insightful post.

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O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

This. Could have put a fist to thru the TV. Trengrove kicking 3 FFS.
And they're not really that good.

Keep playing, exposing and rotating the kids. Maybe Cunners next week.
KJ needs to take decision out of MC's hands.

Least we are losing with an emerging group of talented, promising kids who could be the core of something good. Better that than a 60-point loss with all our depth players running around.
Bolts had to stay the course and he indicated as such after the game.

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I just want my old club back ... (edit) maybe I have!

Pickett doesn't use the ball as well as I had hoped. Lots of his touches are wasteful.

I am in agreeance with an earlier comment that Cripps should be captain asap. Stop him from leaving but more importantly he just oozes leadership.

It was good that Charlie and SOS got a lot of the ball. Jacks ball use is excellent, could he become a midfielder?

Seems to lack the pace required of a midfielder (although I did see him put in a good chase at one stage. Perhaps just lacking acceleration). Needs to be able to take a set shot over 40m to make it as a forward, but you'd hope that can be developed. Overall, his cleverness and size make him best suited to an attacking role, I reckon.

I liked the idea of giving Doc a run in the midfield.

I remember Mundy started off as HBF.

Didn't he roost a few from 50 in the magoos last year?

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

i know. There should always be someone in the F50 at all times. Best case scenario if do get the ball forward quickly enough the forward has alot of space to run into. Plus it means he needs an opponent hence less congestion.

I rarely get the chance to see any NB footy, but that's encouraging. So he just needs to get a bit of an ego.

we lack run because there is no depth in our midfield

sums it up in a nutshell

until we build that depth through the draft we will struggle

as a result we are too tall and cumbersome

a player like Byrne who has a bit of toe will help

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

We butchered the ball all night.

Weitering is a roaming player, not the lead up target we require.

I saw a young team lose all confidence last night when effort was consistently not rewarded on the scoreboard.

The twofold effect of this was the absence of scoreboard pressure applied to Port. They're mentally not the toughest side and we failed to capitalise when we had our chances. Implied pressure was heightened on our backline(who played exceptionally well under the circumstances) and we failed again and again on the rebound. The default reaction was then to kick long down the line. It looked a lot like malthouse football in the third quarter.

Fisher is a joy to watch.

Murphy had a shocker, really had to nail that goal and zero tackles is unforgivable as captain.

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We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion.

Apparently Madhouse was on radio bagging us. Said he couldnt understand why we traded in Palmer but dont play him (it was pointed out it had to do with getting Marchbank).
Says Jones should be playing.
Well, Betts should be playing too and would likely be if wasnt for this moron.

I didn't see the game so can't comment but I'm very surprised to read 5 pages of comments largely about Murphs form but very little reference to this stats. Zero tackles! Front the captain. In a game dominated by the opponents possession. Seriously?

What tackles the players did make, did not stick, easily shrugged off, or ball given off (often illegally) Except the beauty from Polson.

Need to focus on tackling during training this week, pin the arms FFS! Master the basics, the rest will come.

Worst part of our game yesterday in my opinion.

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No Guts, No Glory