Blue Vain wrote:
Lots to like. Lots to work on.
3 All Australians to come back into the side. Cripps was excellent. Loved the game of Kennedy.
Cerra is classy, Durdin and Fisher create plenty of pressure and pace on the ball.
Backline is still a concern. What's the point of playing O'Mac and not putting him on King? I suspect Weitering calls the shots on defensive match ups and his ego wont let King go to someone else. The defensive coach should call the shots. At stages McDonald was playing on mid size forwards. That's pointless.
Boyd apparently is a beautiful kick but he was a turnover machine today. Nic Newman frustrates the hell out of me. The most one sided player in the AFL. With stocker, Docherty and Plowman to come back in, he should be first defender out of the side.
O'Brien has been mentioned by others. He's always lacked strength in the contest and crumbles under pressure. I thought Pitto was very good today, as were Saad, Williams, Owies and Setterfield.
Philp seemed to struggle unfortunately IMHO.
Love Silvagni's workrate but his field kicking is sometimes poor by AFL standards. Put a couple of passes on Charlies head that should be an easy lace out chest mark. Both times Charlie got smashed. Not good enough.
Loved the pressure and intent around the ball. The Saints were rushed 90% of the time. That's the best tackling, pressuring Carlton team I've seen in a couple of decades. Is it sustainable? Hopefully so.
For round 1, in Harry, Doc, Plowman, Stocker, Martin.
Out Williamson, Newman, Boyd, Philp, O'Brien. Kemp to the wing.
edits added re Jack. His set shots at goal showed a footballer who has a straight and measured kick.
The mismatches in the backline happened by design, by Voss/ Ratten, or by failure to identify and adjust by defenders. Either way, Membrey got away from Gov, Willo on King, OMac on another medium. OMac looks a bonafide KPD and should be taking King especially when Weiters is up the ground or rested.
Setterfield got a bit, but I thought his hands wern't that good today, and he was lazy at times when it was his turn to defend or get the hard nut. Happy with him otherwise.
I was really looking forward to see what Boyd can do on Saints dangerous smalls and with his disposal by foot, and he had a really bad day poor fella. Ditto Philp. I was really surprised he didnt feature much. I'm still a fan and want him to be persisted with unless there's an obviously better replacement.