https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/04/27/the-tweaks-justin-leppitsch-would-make-to-carltons-defensive-game-plan/Quote:
“I thought they competed really well (against Brisbane). I think one part of their game that can be improved is the defensive part of what they do,” Leppitsch told SEN’s Whateley.
“They’re very one-on-one. One thing that is different between Carlton and most other teams is that because they’re so one-on-one, they don’t have a spare behind the footy a lot.
“They don’t have a player deep behind the ball, they don’t really challenge the opposition.
“So you’ll see Adam Saad in a lot of one-on-one contests where realistically you want to use his offensive strengths of his run and his carry.
The game plan we thought would work with the new rules and the inclusion of Saad and Williams (now carrying injuries) needs a tweak.
All other teams have a man behind play.
There's a level of frustration, but no one is saying its not fixable. Are they?
The finger is pointed at several things:
Defensive strategy needs tweaking.
Old players are being gifted games to reach milestones (Murphy Levi and Edie)
Silvagni's mids haven't come on
Silvagni hasn't recruited any players with mongrel
Development
Line coaches in particular Barker as midfield coach
Teague on training wheels
Players not wearing the right boots
Players not protecting the leading lane
Turnovers (have lost within 5 goals)
Of course there's the Board argument
Playing injured players
and if the injured replaced the non performers we would be better
Charlie Curnow vs Casboult
Silvagni vs McGovern
De Koning vs Pittonet
Marchbank vs Plowman
Martin vs Murphy
Fisher vs Betts
Newman vs Cottrell
Philp vs Gibbons
Its all fixable.
Next 3 games (Druggies, Melb Doggies) we can win 1, but doubt we pinch another.
Puts us at 3 wins 6 losses.
We need a minimum 11 games in 2021 for finals.
Games to follow possible wins:
Hawks...W ....(
DeKoning Newman return)
Sydney..W ... (
Martin Silvagni return)
WCE.....W ... (maybe
Carroll makes the grade)
GWS.....W ... (Murphy's 300th finally)
Adel.....W .... (
Charlie Fisher Kemp return)
Freo.....W .... (Setterfield Dow Philp return...probably earlier
Geel
Coll......W
NM......W .... (
Durdin Honey may be introduced)
StK......W
GCS.....W
Port
GWS.....W
I don't think we will win 15, but 11 is possible, and I believe probable if we can fix a few things
At the very least we finish with momentum with players returning from injury, and playing bottom 8 teams
Levi Murphy and Eddie will not be an issue next year. Fixed.
Free AGENT
Trade in a couple tough players
A couple developing players step up Kemp Carroll Dow Stocker DeKoning
Its all fixable. No way one could say its unlikely if the ducks line up, regardless of who is on the Board
The Empire will Strike back.