News Welcome to Carlton Rob Inness - Head of High Performance

[DangerousD]

Innes has a good record, good qualifications and lots of experience and Russel won premierships at every club he was at except ours, these people dont forget their trade when they come to us, there must be other factors at play.

If we are leaving 12 rotations in the bank against the Dogs, this has to have an effect, to me it reinforces that Voss doesnt trust our depth and relies on too few. Add to this that we dont blood players and too few do too much.

Then there’s game style, not all are equal, some are more taxing than others, if ours is more taxing, then this also can make us look slow and unfit.

Recruiting, players can be fit and strong but if we have a one paced side that is strong, then when we play a team with faster players our team would comparatively look unfit, but this might just be the case of too many players in comparison being slower.

 

[Gointocarlton]

Innes has a good record, good qualifications and lots of experience and Russel won premierships at every club he was at except ours, these people dont forget their trade when they come to us, there must be other factors at play.

If we are leaving 12 rotations in the bank against the Dogs, this has to have an effect, to me it reinforces that Voss doesnt trust our depth and relies on too few. Add to this that we dont blood players and too few do too much.

Then there’s game style, not all are equal, some are more taxing than others, if ours is more taxing, then this also can make us look slow and unfit.

Recruiting, players can be fit and strong but if we have a one paced side that is strong, then when we play a team with faster players our team would comparatively look unfit, but this might just be the case of too many players in comparison being slower.

Just to clarify, are you suggesting Voss controls the rotations (ie limits them to keep players out there longer)?

 

[DangerousD]

Just to clarify, are you suggesting Voss controls the rotations (ie limits them to keep players out there longer)?

I have no idea who is in charge of rotations or how they integrate with tactics. All i can say is i think it looks bad

 

[Accidental genius]

Probably already asked but we've just come out of a preseason - where you'd expect players to be fit and firing?

but....

not only do our players seem to struggle applying reasonable effort/pressure across 4 quarters but our injury numbers dont seem to have improved either particularly seeing that we've dished off 3 of our most injury prones.

 

[Gethelred]

Probably already asked but we've just come out of a preseason - where you'd expect players to be fit and firing?

but....

not only do our players seem to struggle applying reasonable effort/pressure across 4 quarters but our injury numbers dont seem to have improved either particularly seeing that we've dished off 3 of our most injury prones.

Having two blokes - two blokes with no history of injury, I might add - do ACLs in preseason will do that.

I've just come to live with the fact that we're going to see injuries at a higher rate than other clubs. Take the opportunity to turn it into a strength; develop a squad mentality and develop so you could in theory bring in 8 players every week, enough genuine AFL capable role players that there's only really 2-3 blokes whose inclusion is difficult to cover.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Probably already asked but we've just come out of a preseason - where you'd expect players to be fit and firing?

but....

not only do our players seem to struggle applying reasonable effort/pressure across 4 quarters but our injury numbers dont seem to have improved either particularly seeing that we've dished off 3 of our most injury prones.

Our injury numbers haven't improved? We averaged about 15 out a week under Russell.

We also heard from a long lost ITK poster recently on the board that we'd intentionally left our fitness slightly below what we've gone into the year the last few years in hopes of peaking at the right time this year and not succumbing to a mass of breakdowns early in the year from going too hard over pre season (obviously hasn't gone to plan too well so far)

Give him some time, he's in his first year and had the Swans absolutely flying last year.

 

[Arr0w]

No side can sustain high levels for the season normally you'll have 2 flat ish phases

 

[The Bighouse]

Our injury numbers haven't improved? We averaged about 15 out a week under Russell.

We also heard from a long lost ITK poster recently on the board that we'd intentionally left our fitness slightly below what we've gone into the year the last few years in hopes of peaking at the right time this year and not succumbing to a mass of breakdowns early in the year from going too hard over pre season (obviously hasn't gone to plan too well so far)

Give him some time, he's in his first year and had the Swans absolutely flying last year.

Swans were flying at the start of the season in ‘24, so this is new to RI as well.

 

[BluesForEternity]

AFLW side (players and coach) cited high performance team as central to their win against West Coast yesterday, playing in Perth on a 5 day break (versus the Eagles being on a 6 day break). Good signs!

 

[slashin_velvet]

AFLW side (players and coach) cited high performance team as central to their win against West Coast yesterday, playing in Perth on a 5 day break (versus the Eagles being on a 6 day break). Good signs!

Is Rob Innes involved in the aflw? Steve Moore is listed as the clubs AFLW head of high performance

 

[BluesForEternity]

Is Rob Innes involved in the aflw? Steve Moore is listed as the clubs AFLW head of high performance

Oh I did not catch this…oops. I have potentially falsely manufactured a feel good story about our men’s team (hurray for the AFLW high performance team at least!).

 

[beowulf]

I don't care about all the waffle and all the excuses: in 2025 we ran out of steam as the game went on. We won a huge number of 1st quarters against all sorts of sides. We failed after half time far too often. This needs to be addressed.
I have no problem if our players are stronger; that should help our contested style of play. But we need to run out games, not get overrun. If we work on nothing else in the pre-season (and we do need to work on our disposal), then this should be the #1 priority.
If we have better endurance after half time we won't notice our disposal issue so much, because we'll hit more targets. Tired players miskick more often. Our decision making will be better, as tired players make poorer decisions.
It sounds simple, and, to some extent it is. But we have to own our failures from this season and learn from them, not ignore them.
Granted, that having more of our better players available (for a change) will help us considerably, but we have to address the elephant in the room.
That must be Inness's primary objective over the summer.

 

[The Bighouse]

I don't care about all the waffle and all the excuses: in 2025 we ran out of steam as the game went on. We won a huge number of 1st quarters against all sorts of sides. We failed after half time far too often. This needs to be addressed.
I have no problem if our players are stronger; that should help our contested style of play. But we need to run out games, not get overrun. If we work on nothing else in the pre-season (and we do need to work on our disposal), then this should be the #1 priority.
If we have better endurance after half time we won't notice our disposal issue so much, because we'll hit more targets. Tired players miskick more often. Our decision making will be better, as tired players make poorer decisions.
It sounds simple, and, to some extent it is. But we have to own our failures from this season and learn from them, not ignore them.
Granted, that having more of our better players available (for a change) will help us considerably, but we have to address the elephant in the room.
That must be Inness's primary objective over the summer.

Speed & power was the mantra in the pre-season. Needs a lot of fine-tuning IMO.

Composure & execution was certainly an issue. Work to be done on the skills, thinking and further training.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

I don't care about all the waffle and all the excuses: in 2025 we ran out of steam as the game went on. We won a huge number of 1st quarters against all sorts of sides. We failed after half time far too often. This needs to be addressed.
I have no problem if our players are stronger; that should help our contested style of play. But we need to run out games, not get overrun. If we work on nothing else in the pre-season (and we do need to work on our disposal), then this should be the #1 priority.
If we have better endurance after half time we won't notice our disposal issue so much, because we'll hit more targets. Tired players miskick more often. Our decision making will be better, as tired players make poorer decisions.
It sounds simple, and, to some extent it is. But we have to own our failures from this season and learn from them, not ignore them.
Granted, that having more of our better players available (for a change) will help us considerably, but we have to address the elephant in the room.
That must be Inness's primary objective over the summer.

I thi know the 2nd half fade outs were between the ears more so than fitness. We started losing all stats all over the ground after half time. Not just fitness ones.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Speed & power was the mantra in the pre-season. Needs a lot of fine-tuning IMO.

Composure & execution was certainly an issue. Work to be done on the skills, thinking and further training.

We need to copy what Geelong do. They put a massive priority on having their list fit for round one. They keep a basic level of fitness then use the practice games to get match fit. Im sure its more complicated than that but also... it aint rocket science.

Our tactic of doing overly intense fitness work from December onwards then tailing off towards games might work too if it weren't for a quarter of the list breaking down by Feb every single season.

 

[TwiggleyFanClub]

Our game style is also very taxing. We’d have to be the fittest team in the league to play that at full tilt for an entire game, and we definitely aren’t that.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Our game style is also very taxing. We’d have to be the fittest team in the league to play that at full tilt for an entire game, and we definitely aren’t that.

If by game style you mean turn the ball over under no pressure and then have to sprint to try to win it back - then I agree.

 

[Gointocarlton]

Our game style is also very taxing. We’d have to be the fittest team in the league to play that at full tilt for an entire game, and we definitely aren’t that.

I struggle with this concept. I assume you are referring to our contested brand of footy? Firstly, Newton's Third Law says for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So if we crash and bash, it means the the other mob must be crashing and basing also.
Secondly, almost every time I hear AFL coaches talk about the way they play, they consistently all state that its contest first, everything stems from that.
Do we need to get fitter? Bloody oath we do but its not because of the way we play, its to keep up with the way the game is played nowadays.

 

[BlueNath]

I struggle with this concept. I assume you are referring to our contested brand of footy? Firstly, Newton's Third Law says for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So if we crash and bash, it means the the other mob must be crashing and basing also.
Secondly, almost every time I hear AFL coaches talk about the way they play, they consistently all state that its contest first, everything stems from that.
Do we need to get fitter? Bloody oath we do but its not because of the way we play, its to keep up with the way the game is played nowadays.

Im not as convinced we are an unfit team. And I also believe our "bash and crash" style was probably born more out of personnel verses a set strategy. The trend is certainly flavoring the outside game with speed of ball movement a major focus. But the game constantly evolves and swings between the offensive vs defensive game styles.

The trap can often be trying to copy what last seasons best team does, as opposed to making the most of what you have within. Geelong are the best at this IMO. They will setup plans/plays to suit the personnel rather than the roles based approach. For example, in a roles-based approach, when Myers goes out with an injury, teams will have a "next man up" attitude. Whereas the Cats brains-trust are smart enough to know nobody can play like Myers, so they adapt to try a different strategy to maximise the personnel taking the field that week. I feel like that has been our problem. We have a highly talented list, but chasing a game style that does not suit our talent.

My point is: We do not have a lot of outside pace and skill (at present). By copying other teams/trends and trying to play a way that isn't conducive to our list means we constantly get exposed. This can sometime be confused with us as not being fit enough, etc. I agree that "bash and crash" (trying to beat teams into submission) is taxing, but can equally wear down an opposition and we are good at it! We should not throw this away because it isn't the trend. But I think we all can agree, once on the outside, we fail miserably given the talent we have on our list. Lets do it the Carlton way and not chase what anyone else is doing! Oh, and better fitness will not fix speed and skill issues!

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

He played a key role in Curnow’s disillusionment with the club - largely due to his refusal to allow Charlie to manage his own rehab/training program outside the club’s structured approach.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

He played a key role in Curnow’s disillusionment with the club - largely due to his refusal to allow Charlie to manage his own rehab/training program outside the club’s structured approach.

Can't really tell this a good thing or bad thing...

 

[JJBagger]

Can't really tell this a good thing or bad thing...

If this post is true, then Charlie wanted to do things his own way, and not the best way prescribed to him by the club. Potentially exposed him as not a team player

 

[lily of laguna]

If this post is true, then Charlie wanted to do things his own way, and not the best way prescribed to him by the club. Potentially exposed him as not a team player

It also implies that Charlie was of the opinion that he or the previous guy in charge had a better idea than Rob et al.
Not being open to new ideas and at least attempting to see if a new approach might work is pretty arrogant and petulant.

 

[The Bighouse]

When does pre-season officially commence?
11-No-2025?

 

[Beyond Blue]

He played a key role in Curnow’s disillusionment with the club - largely due to his refusal to allow Charlie to manage his own rehab/training program outside the club’s structured approach.

Puts into context Charlie’s little stunt of riding his bike to the G pre game in sandals. Thanks for sharing. It’s sad that Charlie chose the path it appears he went down.