Last night we kicked 20 goals and still lost the match...

Any other time it probably would have been enough to win the match, but our backline just haemorrhages goals to our opposition.

Much has been written about our mid-field, but it got me thinking about our glory years and how we always had a rock solid defence and built forward out of it.

Waite has been given a second chance at CHB but hasn't really taken it.

Considering Setanta's reasonable form at FB, I was wondering if Aisake is worth a shot at CHB, instead of Ruck... If it were to work, imagine how daunting that could be to an opposition down our defensive spine.

Has anybody seen Aisake play at CHB?

Of course, then we need to look at an enforcer type to assist - an Archer/Soloman type instead of the softness of Thornton or Houlihan. Scotland sweeps through but is also needed in the midfield.

The more I think about our (few) options, Aisake might be would a punt...

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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

If both Jacobs & Hampson kick on as elite rucks then Aisake could well end up as a CHB. It also depends how Waitey performs this year and next and if Austin, Jamo, Harts can kick on. We do have a few options developing in the 2's.
I reckon Aisake will firstly be given a go in the ruck.

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There's so much I could say...

There's still enough time for him to win the JJ Liston.

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There's so much I could say...

Gotta bring in another ruckman this week. While I think we have had a bit of success playing Setanta there, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul (or whatever that saying is).

We miss him down back and more than anything it unsettles a backline that more than anything needs to spend time together - something that we said we were going to do at the start of the year.

Setanta would have been a much better match-up for Brown last night than Waite was. Waite could have played on Jones and Thornton on Edwards. Keep Setanta, Thornton and Waite in the backline.

Agree that we are really missing a small defender - we have the creative, sweeper role covered (Houlihan, Scotland) - but we need the accountable, pacy defender to cover the likes of Didak, Davey, Grant etc. From what I hear, this could be Anderson.

I'm still pushing for Aisake at CHB and see how he goes...

Imagine Lloyd and Lucas doing a double take with TWO Irish boys down back to deal with.

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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

We are building a side but we still lack a few players - IMO we need a tall mobile ruckman, a small defender for the back pocket with pace and skill, we need another 1 or 2 midfielders with breakaway pace, and a quick mercurial half forward flanker to complete the onfield team and then we need to have depth and back up options.

I think we do have some options for those positions but they are kids, still developing and not yet ready to step up and take those roles on full time. Probably need another 2 pre-season to get the miles in the legs and the strength required to last a full game and season. In the meantime we are trying to fast track the development of Murphy Gibbs Betts Russell Kennedy and OHailpin.

Preferably Setanta Walker Waite Scotland Thornton should play down back for most games and that means getting another ruckman into the side. Elevating Aisake and playing him in the ruck has to be a serious consideration. Lance can help out down forward and Setanta down back with Ackland or Kennedy providing relief from the bench. Other wise drop Ackland and briong in both Aisake and Jacobs and change them off the bench.

We still need another small defender and Anderson or Flint may be the answer long term. Anderson doesn't yet have the miles in the legs and IMO needs another 2 pre-seasons before he will really flourish. Flint is coming back from a serious injury and is just starting to find his feet. Another 2 or 3 good games in the Bullants and he should be brought into the seniors. Both like to lock down on an opponent and won't care if they don't get a kick as long as their opponents don't either.

Lloyd and Lucas would be rubbing there hands with glee. Aisake is not a CHB, Carlos is barely a FB.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

No worries - Lloyd is barely a FF (how many of his goals this year have been from cheap over the top handballs) and Lucas is barely a CHF.

It is unacceptable to kick scores of 124 and 130 in the space of a few weeks and get beaten. I'd rather kick 60 playing ugly football like Hawthorn and win.

The buck stops with you Denis. This is not the 70's or 80's mate. Tactics win matches these days not flair.

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WE ARE CARLTON, WE ARE ARROGANT AND WE LOVE IT!

We need to put more defensive pressure through the midfield and from inside our own 50

The amount of times we are burnt on the rebound is a joke and at times is actually cruel on our defence

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SMFC 1959 : ONE LIFE, ONE LOVE, ONE CLUB

Setanta gave Lloyd a bath, all of Lloyd's goals were from him getting a soft free kick or cherry picking in the goal square. Setanta is a great full back considering it's his first year in this position. I love the way he goes and says hello to his opponents before the game not to be intimated by the likes of Richo,Lloyd, Rocca and Lynch. After this year we will have ourselves a true full back, and an intimidating one too.

flint would be close for selection this week i would have thought, but who would you drop?

i'd drop houla for flint but that's just me.

Interestingly, after 8 rounds of footy only 4 teams have kicked more of an aggregate score than Carlton (Geelong, Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs and Essendon*). In these rounds we have had a game where we only kicked 39 against West Coast in Perth. So even with what appears to be a dysfunctional forward set up statistically we are not having any trouble putting scores on the board. Yet despite all this we are 3rd last. Just shows how poor our defence really is.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

we lack poise in the backline and frequently shit ourselves, switching is unknown to the team and when we try we put our teammates in a coma by showing to much of the pill and letting them get steamrolled by 2 or 3 opposition players. O'Hailpin has made a huge step up this year and his disposal has improved on both sides of his body. we need a couple of good mobile backmen though, if we want to really test the good sides.

play him in the bullants and give a kid a go - he is far too soft and never going to change. time to bite the bullet with him, just like hawthorn did with hay and thompson

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one you knock back is one you never have

I think one of the main reasons that our defence in 95 was so effective was not only were they all settled and knew one another's games perfectly, but could still play different positions if the situation called for it.

SoS and Sexton could rotate between FB and CHB, Ang and Macca could both take smaller forwards with different playing styles, While Deano would take down the second tall. Then as the situation demanded it you could throw in guys like Hanna, Rice and even Rats to fill in the gaps should a change be required. This was why we were so successful that year.

Fast forward to now, and you've got a skeleton of a pretty good team there, but confidence, experience and discipline are still lacking. Setanta should stay at FB, no question, and Waite needs to make CHB his own. He's got the fitness and the athleticism to run with the premier CHFs of the league, so there's no reason he shouldn't be able to take the next step. Get those two working in tandem and you've got yourself a spine to build around. Get Thornton to take the 3rd-tall/medium tall forward, Scotland to play the sweeping role and develop Anderson and Flint to play the other stopping roles. Get these guys together, get them to bond, to fight for and support one another and you've got yourself a backline to be reckoned with.

I think the biggest responsibility for this among the playing group is Scotland. He's only 26 (?) but is by far the most experienced and disciplined player in this group. He needs to be their leader, and these guys need to be able to rely on him to support them. If I was Waite or Setanta and I punched the ball down, I'd expect Scotland to be there waiting for it. If I was Gibbs being chased down by Harvey or DIdak, I'd expect Scotland to be there for the sheperd. Heath is the most vital cog in our backline IMO and needs to become a leader.

But as always it comes down to team management. As great as it would be to have these young guys come in and get better and better each week, we need to understand that they're just as likely to have their confidence shot to pieces with one drubbing after another. Crosisca needs to unite these guys because every time the opposition scores 120+ points it's a red X for his report card. What I'd love to see is SoS, Deano or Macca take over as defensive coach and not only teach these guys the skills, but what it means to play for one another, just as they did in our halcyon days. The 95 backline was like a family, and we need that feeling back again.

Great post Don. On the money

In a nutshell.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Now, now, Beatle. You know I don't agree with that!

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Wiggo, permanent back pocket.
If you read the Roos match-discussion thread you will see my reasons why.
Dog's post of the 95 backline reminded me about Rice.
Only just a footballer, Rice. What Jack Dyer used to call a 'good, average player'.
If he were playing today, the Wiggo/Houla bashers would be right on his case.
But he was a soldier. Brave, hard bodied, team oriented and straight ahead. Played taller than his height. Not the most exquisite skills. Not overly quick.
Just got the job done.
Remonds me of Wiggo a lot now I think of it.
Thanks, Dog.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)