very dissappointed in the first half alot of turnovers and mistakes but looks as though we are trying to workout a new game plan, hopefully this improves ten fold by March 20.
The boys we missing majority of the handballs within 10 metres and if it got near them the reciever he would need to stop and prop leaving him surrounded by opposition, to make this gameplan work we first have to pin point those handball in traffic.
There were alot of times we went backwards as though there was no one ahead of the contest. And when we got the ball down back we had 3-4 blokes behind the ball not making effort to run on, there wasn't anyone presenting for the ball and everyone else was just crowding the wing making it very hard to move forward.
Same thing happened early last year when we got smashed in the first half and then decided to send waite up forward, its like we give up on our strategy, should of kept him back.
I think i saw Russell once through out the game and that was him chasing not sure if he can improve enough to be put in the team week in week out.
Edwards hardly touched it possibly 2 positions maybe i saw, needs to present more.
Good to see the rucks showing promise, stevo back, Hadley looked good for the short term he was on the ground. Gibbsy dominated the 3rd. Cloke was good. Thought Ellard done well apart from few mistakes in the last.
Alot of aggression some resulting in sprayed kicks and turn overs but good to see passion.
All in all looks like we had a game plan and we stuck with it through out the match, didn't work in the first half but now is the time to persist(NAB Cup), if the same thing happens in the real season then we will have things to be angry and dissappointed about.
Few of the youngsters look good and the older blokes are finding their rhythm.
Who were we trialing at CHF, did Edwards, Kreuzer or Hadley have a go?
Why didn't Hartlett end up playing?

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The climbing has alread began

Carltn 70 - liked your post and agreed with most of what you said.


I have to say that I like the new game plan in terms of more reliance on handball. It means more players are brought into the game, more possessions and more confidence will be the result.


There were moments in the third quarter when I thought I was watching Carlton circa 1981-82 in terms of the handball frenzy. In general, it was pretty skillful during the third quarter.


Positives for me:

Jamison again.
Bryce Gibbs... please continue this form on.
Fev- really tried his heart out.
Cloke showed he was good enough to ensure that Ackland never plays for the blues again.



Negatives -

Luke Hodge is not only a dirty player (charged with his knee into Jackson)
he also PLAYS for the free kicks by ducking his head for head high free kicks A LOT.

ANY HEAD HIGH FREE KICK SHOULD BE NULL AND VOID IF PEOPLE DUCK THEIR HEADS. Akin to cheating in my books.


Eddie Betts couldn't get into the play at all.

Agree Tap and thought the same thing on both counts watching the game. Hodge will be the new Hird, he will get his fair of 50/50 free kicks.

I thought the same thing actually.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

"If" this game didn't highlight the fact that;
1. Waite needs to play CHF
2. We have more options for down back ie. Bower than forward

then I give up.
Hopefully Ratten will realise this by Round1.

As for the game:
1. Disappointed with first quarter. Will learn from that.
2. Really concerned about Russell.
3. We have some great young kids who will be absolute gems and I cannot wait to watch them develop.
4. Keep it in check Fev. Keep it in check.

ps. Umpiring and Hawthorn thuggery was a disgrace.

ROFL, finally someone with some sense.



And yet again, another that can see the big picture.

If we are still playing this bad with 4 wins to our name come round 18, then start to worry, until then, have some faith.

Nice of Clarkson so say they took the foot off in the second half by playing kids. Carlton played kids the whole game, so technically we had our foot off the whole game?

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

I'm a Bower fan - doesn't often get beaten one on one and at least has the CONFIDENCE to back himself. Sure, disposal can improve, but that will come with experience. If we can slot him in on a HBF, releases Walks for midfield where his pace and strong body was sadly lacking in the early Hawks onslaught. The Hodge match up was the poison chalice, but good experience for him nonetheless.

Worried about Jake and Russell, though.

Before I forget, loved the images of Walks on the TV when we were being hammered early on - he was bloody upset and you really got the feeling he wanted to be out there to lend a hand. His attitude to our Club and Footy is first class, so get back soon, son.

It's only February, we weren't 100% focussed and Judd, Walker, Fisher and O'Hailpin are still to come in the side.

- Gibbs was very good
- Hampson contested well and will be a beauty in a couple of years
- Jamson looked tidy in defence
- Grigg shows good signs
- Hadley looked good when on the ground and will be much better for the run after an injury affected preseason

Judd, Stevens, Hadley and Cloke all new "recruits" this year. We will improve significantly and I expect 8-12 wins.

I must admit that I'm now quite worried about Russell, he really needs to learn how to find the footy.

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There is no footy god

has the season started?

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

over using the ball.

I've seen this comment a couple of times now from various posters but I wonder how much game time JR had. Would be interested to know

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I need some new conspiracy theories; all my others have come true.

Frustrating to watch but not totally unexpected either.
Who would want to be an AFL coach? Ratten must have been crying out for the opportunity to call a time out and compose the players. We had a bunch of kids running out trying to play a nice, soft, uncontested game of footy and the party was ruined by a team who have just come off 4 quarters against the Swans!
You can talk to young players and tell them what to expect but sometimes they need to learn for themselves.
In 20 minutes, they learnt a huge lesson in no uncertain terms. You cant go out and dictate terms until you've won the footy first.

But lets be realistic. We've come from 6 months of learning a new style of play on the track with minimal pressure.
Its a time issue. If you want players to learn a new style of play, it takes time. Firstly they need to understand the requirement. You're reprogramming the way they think with time and space and more importantly, you're reprogramming their instincts under pressure. Guess what? we're not there yet. It takes time.

We went out trying to maintain possession, trying to run the ball and attempting to put team mates in space. Exactly how we should be playing the game. What happened then? It worked so well at training.
The difference is, at training you have 3 or 4 team mates in yellow tops applying mock pressure. The Hawks were'nt interested in mock pressure.

Some people may say "why didnt we apply the required pressure at training?"
Its a time issue. We're still learning. You have to start with the players making decisions under minimal pressure and build from there.
We are rebuilding a football team from ground zero. It cant be done in 16 weeks!

The most pleasing aspect of the game was the ability of the players to adapt after quarter time. They just needed time to compose themselves and to be reminded about about keeping their focus. The Hawks players got in our faces and we went into self preservation mode. No one wanted to take a risk and no one wanted to make a decision. They just wanted to offload the ball so someone else would take the initiative.

After that we were admirable. We started to run to create space instead of just expecting it. We got run from behind the ball which we lacked early. (It didnt always come off but experience will sort that out) and most importantly, we realised that you cant do anything with the ball until you work hard to win it first.

On players, I think Hammer is coming along in leaps and bounds. I'd love to see him work harder offensively and create a marking option inside 30. He would be unstoppable.

Jamo was good again and contrary to some posters, I thought Bower was very good. Some of his spoils were exceptional and his work one on one has improved enormously. Ellard shows some good signs and has surety in his ball handling. Grigg is improving, Gibbs is giving himself every opportunity with his hard running and Fevs defensive game was excellent.
Kruezer would have taken a big step in the eyes of his team mates as well.

My one criticism at the moment is our midfield. Everyone wants to be involved and accumulate possessions but our willingness to work for each other is non existent.
Everyone is calling for the ball yet no one wants to supply a block or a shepherd. We are too heavy with recievers and lacking in workers. These guys need to understand that there are roles that need to be filled and someone has to put their hand up.
Until Hadley came on to the ground, no one took that responsibility.

All in all, a frustrating game but some players recieved enormous experience and lessons in one game of footy. You cant buy that.
We'll be much better for it.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

And one more thing I forgot to mention that wouldn't have been as apparent on TV was the verbal berating between some of our players, if, for eg a kick was misguided, a handball missed, etc.

Some of the offenders were T-Bird, Fev, Stevo.

This really needs to be addressed and fast - we don't want this to be infectious on our young players.

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

I taped the game and haven't had the guts to watch it after hearing all this doom and gloom.

When did Brown towel in Kreuzer? I might fast forward it if I can.

Th game just started on Foxtel - and I'm still scared to put the damn thing on.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

This has been a bad side of T-bird's game that has become apparent since about 2004. I'm hoping his attitude will improve, which will improve his overall on-field demeanour.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

re: Bower...has some ability and isnt scared to put his body on the line but
needs to work on his disposal and needs to kick the footy more.
His defensive work isnt bad its when he gets the footy he has problems....a lot of our kids are turning the ball over with the exception of Gibbs who looks for safer options...

I'd rather see players like Bower or Austin kick long to a contest than get cute with the ball and kick across the ground or try a no look handball etc.

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

It definitely was a frustrating performance. Sometimes it seems like one step forward and two steps back. What was also worrying is that we are really only Judd, Walker and Fisher and maybe Setanta O'hAilpin short of our best side.

If we play like that every second week this season we'll still be bottom four.

%$#@ Luke Hodge.................

he's the reason my lower left two facing is starting to peel...........!

selfish wanka.............!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Excellent post BV.

I just wanted to highlight these first few paragraphs as its an excellent assessment of what happened in the first half.



DUC, watch the game, keep what BV has said in mind and its not that scary.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010