A Hammering....

[Chism]

Yes folks we are getting it right now in all media circles. McClure calling us soft today and every Tom, Dick and Harry having a go at us while watching AFL 360 right now.

TBH i love it after a loss and it is the kick up the arse we need and the players need a dose of reality and this is exactly what we need as harsh as it sounds.

Watch us beat the Crows next week and bookmark this win in the book. Don't worry i will take my criticism if we lose but watch out as we are about to get angry and return to the best we can be.

Lets not also forget we have only dropped 2 games so far this year and both teams played lights out footy against us with arguably their best displays of the season so far and do not lose faith in us just yet.

 

[Silvagnis]

TBH i love it after a loss and it is the kick up the arse we need and the players need a dose of reality and this is exactly what we need as harsh as it sounds.

In a strange way, I enjoy watching a replay of a loss more than a win. You can learn more from these matches. You learn who has underperformed and is being carried by a winning team. #JeffGarlett

I can live with a loss to the Crows if we play hard footy for four quarters.

 

[coryne]

I was expecting a link to a Hampson/Gale video ......

 

[Chism]

I was expecting a link to a Hampson/Gale video ......

Did lol!

 

[Jeremias]

If the players don't respond to this, they won't respond to anything.

The players put in an absolutely putrid effort last night. St Kilda were excellent and got in our faces - and beat us both physically and mentally. The playing group deserve every bit of criticism that comes their way after what they served up.

On no planet are St Kilda a better side than us but they made us look 3rd rate. Of course credit has to go to them for the way they put us off our game, but our players are equally to blame at the very least. The effort was sub-par for a side striving to be among the best in the competition.

I hope the playing group gets dragged through hell this week because it's absolutely deserving. They need a wake up call and better it come now when we can do something about it, than later when it's too late. At the end of the day, in isolation it was only one loss. We're sitting 5-2 which is solid. A loss this week, however, would put us at 5-3 and all of a sudden we're well and truly back with the pack. 6-2 heading into games against Melbourne and Port Adelaide is obviously a hell of a lot more desirable.

I still have faith, plenty of it. Even the best teams put in poor performances every year. I still believe we're deserving of a top 4 finish on talent, and I still think we're in a position to challenge for a top 2 berth. However, talent can only take you so far - both individually and as a team. If the effort isn't there, the majority of teams can make any other look completely inferior. That's natural and we certainly are no exception.

I don't remember much footy pre-1995, so the majority of my life we've been pretty poor. I'm at a stage where I can handle losing, but I can't accept it if it's on the back of a lack of effort. On some occasions, we'll lose to a side we're inferior to because they are simply better than us - case in point, the Collingwood game early last year. We were very good that day, we were simply beaten by a better side. Other losses, like against the Bulldogs in 2011, and last night, are just not on because we were shown up for effort and that's unacceptable.

I will be surprised and so disappointed if we don't bounce back hard against the Crows. Another team we are better than, but that won't count for anything if they beat us to every contest. Go in and go in hard. There is no acceptable alternative. We've been poor the last few weeks and despite maintaining a good win/loss record during that period, it's time to make a statement and get our season back on track. I've got no doubt we can do it, I just hope they do it.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I'm not sure if we have enough players in form to simply switch on our determination and go out and win. If it was just lack of intensity then maybe, but we are looking slow, surprisingly lacking in stamina, down on confidence skill wise, very reactive, and just lacking understanding about some of the basics of the game.

On our best days, we have an open forward line with Walker, Garlett, Betts, Waite having a field day one out but it is now the opposition who are clogging our forward line while leaving theirs open. Sure we can put an extra defender down there but unless he is excellent at reading the play (Laidler), the opposition is bypassing that player quite easily.

We deserve the media pounding, and I hope it has the desired result, but will it rebuild our system, our skills, our accuracy, our consistency and our confidence?

At least you know the bottom sides are consistently struggling, they are not holding anything back. I think the difference between our best and our worst just might be the biggest in the competition. Before we were in cruise control, but against the Saints, we were just outplayed.

 

[Chism]

Good post J Man and i agree.

Interesting to add to this that Mike Sheehan just said that the Saints win against us was the best they have played since 2010 while talking about the game "On the Couch" .

I agree with Mike and it just seems that teams are lifting to play us which is a credit in itself to us but it shits me when we get teams that decide to turn it on against us and suddenly decide to play their best games of the year!

I'm not sure if we have enough players in form to simply switch on our determination and go out and win. If it was just lack of intensity then maybe, but we are looking slow, surprisingly lacking in stamina, down on confidence skill wise, very reactive, and just lacking understanding about some of the basics of the game.

On our best days, we have an open forward line with Walker, Garlett, Betts, Waite having a field day one out but it is now the opposition who are clogging our forward line while leaving theirs open. Sure we can put an extra defender down there but unless he is excellent at reading the play (Laidler), the opposition is bypassing that player quite easily.

We deserve the media pounding, and I hope it has the desired result, but will it rebuild our system, our skills, our accuracy, our consistency and our confidence?

At least you know the bottom sides are consistently struggling, they are not holding anything back. I think the difference between our best and our worst just might be the biggest in the competition. Before we were in cruise control, but against the Saints, we were just outplayed.

Disagree with the slowness comment ODN and every team that loses always looks slow and it has been like this for 50 years at the highest level.

Saints kicked a heap of goals from our turnovers last night due to their good pressure and if we can reduce the turnover count which i am confident we will do the scoreboard would of been completely different. We kicked goals from general play and stoppages while the Saints got them from our mistakes. This will not happen every week.

 

[Silvagnis]

I was expecting a link to a Hampson/Gale video ......

Posted those on the private board for Carlton supporters...

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Disagree with the slowness comment ODN and every team that loses always looks slow and it has been like this for 50 years at the highest level.

I was saying that we are looking slow, not just because we are losing but because we are not reading the play and following our opponents to the ball. That's probably a confidence thing and also possibly the beginnings of a lack of trust in a teammate. Several times last night, we had the same players running to a Saints player while the other Saints player set sail. Whether the system is breaking down or they are confused with their role I don't know, but it certainly helps them to look miles off the pace.

 

[Abaddon]

Good post J

Interesting to add to this that Mike Sheehan just said that the Saints win against us was the best they have played since 2010 while talking about the game "On the Couch" .

I agree with Mike and it just seems that teams are lifting to play us which is a credit in itself to us but it shits me when we get teams that decide to turn it on against us and suddenly decide to play their best games of the year! .

You only play as well as your opposition allows you to play. They're not lifting to play Carlton, Carlton is letting them play well. Mileria Saad and Milne last night the perfect example. Looked like millionaires. Some gaping holes at Carlton and a large number of spuds being carried by a good few.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Really hard to take your criticisms on board Abaddon. My BF, Edit Profile, AFL team you follow. It's just a gesture to let us know you are one of us and not a wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

[mike ockerts]

You only play as well as your opposition allows you to play. They're not lifting to play Carlton, Carlton is letting them play well. Mileria Saad and Milne last night the perfect example. Looked like millionaires. Some gaping holes at Carlton and a large number of spuds being carried by a good few.

^^^^^
THIS

 

[rampar]

It is true, teams are lifting to play carlton, the opposition are bringing finals tempo footy. Im sure collingwood and essendon suffer the same fate so its no excuse.

At the end of the day, carlton can match the intensity, they showed it at the end of the 3rd.

 

[Lukesta63]

Chism poor teams lift to play against us ,because the bookies/media pump us up so much the opposition think 'We'll fix these bigheads!' If they lose it was expected,if they win bonus!
The most humiliating thing being said now is that Carlton doesn't fight back,Essendon and St.Kilda bashed us up and we didnt raise a whimper,weak as piss!!!
The other thing is why is there no reaction from the coach?? Again it seems like Ratts has no plan B (Prove me wrong ,Ratten apologists) .Last night why not after half time ,move Waite back and put Hendo forward for a start ,do something ,make them react.
We wont get anywhere playing like last night ,and just looking at the odds for the Crows game ,we are getting set up for another belting!!!

 

[mike ockerts]

Chism poor teams lift to play against us ,because the bookies/media pump us up so much the opposition think 'We'll fix these bigheads!' If they lose it was expected,if they win bonus!
The most humiliating thing being said now is that Carlton doesn't fight back,Essendon and St.Kilda bashed us up and we didnt raise a whimper,weak as piss!!!
The other thing is why is there no reaction from the coach?? Again it seems like Ratts has no plan B (Prove me wrong ,Ratten apologists) .Last night why not after half time ,move Waite back and put Hendo forward for a start ,do something ,make them react.
We wont get anywhere playing like last night ,and just looking at the odds for the Crows game ,we are getting set up for another belting!!!

What was barrassi's famous spray to Healy at a break huddle, it's about possessions, you give me possessions and I'll shut up, so to shut the media up and every other prick in the football world, we WIN that's how
Mind you easier said than done when your as flat as a shit Carter's hat.

 

[RedFury]

What I've seen in a couple of games this year now is an opposition team raise their level of aggression, ferocity and desperation for the hard-ball to a level that our players seem unwilling to commit to.

As someone else mentioned, it feels like a finals-tempo footy in a lot of the H&A games this season. Until we're willing to show similar levels of desperation and commitment, we'll keep losing a large percentage of games to teams that on talent, we should be accounting for.

 

[gardiner stand]

In a strange way, I enjoy watching a replay of a loss more than a win. You can learn more from these matches. You learn who has underperformed and is being carried by a winning team. #JeffGarlett

I can live with a loss to the Crows if we play hard footy for four quarters.

you love singling out garlett,although hes been very quiet he still works hard chasing andtrying to get himself involved.if you had a clue and watched games with both eyes youd see how hard it is for a small fwd to get the ball when your team is ranked last in clearances the last 4 weeks and when we do get it we butcher it into our 50 under extreme pressure which our boys cant handle

 

[gardiner stand]

Yes folks we are getting it right now in all media circles. McClure calling us soft today and every Tom, Dick and Harry having a go at us while watching AFL 360 right now.

TBH i love it after a loss and it is the kick up the arse we need and the players need a dose of reality and this is exactly what we need as harsh as it sounds.

Watch us beat the Crows next week and bookmark this win in the book. Don't worry i will take my criticism if we lose but watch out as we are about to get angry and return to the best we can be.

Lets not also forget we have only dropped 2 games so far this year and both teams played lights out footy against us with arguably their best displays of the season so far and do not lose faith in us just yet.

hes 100% correct

 

[harmesy 37]

Quite frankly I am sick of hearing about Carlton being a "quality side", a "top 4 side" etc.. eg this press conference with some st kilda player this week

''It was a really solid performance, we got a great win. Carlton are a quality side. We certainly wanted to go out there and hunt them, so it was a great result.''


Where is the evidence Carlton is a quality side?

We finished 5th last year and won an elimination final?

wooophed---do.

There is NO EVIDENCE over the course of this year (as a whole) that Carlton deserves to be labelled a "quality side" - an overrated side yes, but unless you produce consistently it is all talk. Just the same as last year - Carlton will beat some mid-tier teams and lose to others, as well as getting beaten by the better teams. Until they produce they are the great pretenders. That is what they are. Big headed pretenders.

 

[AndyLucimitis]

Quite frankly I am sick of hearing about Carlton being a "quality side", a "top 4 side" etc.. eg this press conference with some st kilda player this week

''It was a really solid performance, we got a great win. Carlton are a quality side. We certainly wanted to go out there and hunt them, so it was a great result.''


Where is the evidence Carlton is a quality side?

We finished 5th last year and won an elimination final?

wooophed---do.

There is NO EVIDENCE over the course of this year (as a whole) that Carlton deserves to be labelled a "quality side" - an overrated side yes, but unless you produce consistently it is all talk. Just the same as last year - Carlton will beat some mid-tier teams and lose to others, as well as getting beaten by the better teams. Until they produce they are the great pretenders. That is what they are. Big headed pretenders.

You can't say some of the younger players are big-headed.

Take Matthew Watson for instance .... oh wait .......

 

[Coona Blues]

You can't say some of the younger players are big-headed.

Take Matthew Watson for instance .... oh wait .......

What a disgrace, Watson was not atEtihad on Monday night. The kid has issues. But they are as much our Match Committee and coaches issues as his. FFS 3 games first year. 1 OK and 2 chasing his arse against the Superpower Magpies with a mountain of ball coming at him. Had a decent NAB Cup, at least as good as Bower's, and the young man was overlooked. Vilification of the kids is really good for this club. You want to show a 19/20 year old the door before he matures. I almost hope the kid moves on and becomes a star, just for clowns like you. Ratten keeps giving opportunities to his pet boys, who can show up occasionally to "justify" their selections. The fault lies in the perception that we have a gun midfield. Carrazzo is a massive out, people are just starting to realise. Ellard no superstar, but I will take his endeavour any day, skills not too bad either. Curnow is a good average player, not a gun mid. Clubs who focus on Judd, Murphy and Simpson can shut us down. We do not have depth and they do not work, (block etc) for each other enough. This is a coaching/selection issue. We all know McLean has some limitations, but some thought people. He is the first tagged every week in the VFL and keeps racking up Ablett type numbers. He is an extractor, and that is where we are falling down. His selection mirrors WAtson's, throw him in for a game then dump him (even though performances OK) Ratten is too "pally" with certain players. Lucas, Bower, Russell and others get half a dozen games to show their stuff McLean and Watson, and now Thornton don't know if they are coming or going so have no chance. Collins and possibly McCarthy must be close to a game. We are kidding ourselves with some of the "retained".

 

[Franc de Borges]

We may well beat Adelaide, but why does it always take a pathetic, listless and demoralising display to get some hunger and desire back in the group?

I believe we have the game to match anyone, but unfortunately you can't play a dismal game in a prelim to harden you up for a GF.

 

[AndyLucimitis]

You can't say some of the younger players are big-headed.

Take Matthew Watson for instance .... oh wait .......

What a disgrace, Watson was not atEtihad on Monday night. The kid has issues. But they are as much our Match Committee and coaches issues as his. FFS 3 games first year. 1 OK and 2 chasing his arse against the Superpower Magpies with a mountain of ball coming at him. Had a decent NAB Cup, at least as good as Bower's, and the young man was overlooked. Vilification of the kids is really good for this club. You want to show a 19/20 year old the door before he matures. I almost hope the kid moves on and becomes a star, just for clowns like you.

I see my low-brow humour is lost on you !

 

[T2B_]

You can't say some of the younger players are big-headed.

Take Matthew Watson for instance .... oh wait .......

What a disgrace, Watson was not atEtihad on Monday night. The kid has issues. But they are as much our Match Committee and coaches issues as his. FFS 3 games first year. 1 OK and 2 chasing his arse against the Superpower Magpies with a mountain of ball coming at him. Had a decent NAB Cup, at least as good as Bower's, and the young man was overlooked. Vilification of the kids is really good for this club. You want to show a 19/20 year old the door before he matures. I almost hope the kid moves on and becomes a star, just for clowns like you. Ratten keeps giving opportunities to his pet boys, who can show up occasionally to "justify" their selections. The fault lies in the perception that we have a gun midfield. Carrazzo is a massive out, people are just starting to realise. Ellard no superstar, but I will take his endeavour any day, skills not too bad either. Curnow is a good average player, not a gun mid. Clubs who focus on Judd, Murphy and Simpson can shut us down. We do not have depth and they do not work, (block etc) for each other enough. This is a coaching/selection issue. We all know McLean has some limitations, but some thought people. He is the first tagged every week in the VFL and keeps racking up Ablett type numbers. He is an extractor, and that is where we are falling down. His selection mirrors WAtson's, throw him in for a game then dump him (even though performances OK) Ratten is too "pally" with certain players. Lucas, Bower, Russell and others get half a dozen games to show their stuff McLean and Watson, and now Thornton don't know if they are coming or going so have no chance. Collins and possibly McCarthy must be close to a game. We are kidding ourselves with some of the "retained".

Woooooooooooooossshh

In all seriousness teams do lift for us. We dont help ourselves when we don't lift to match the intensity they bring but consistently over the past few years teams are bringing their best for us. Perhaps we ought to feel flattered in some way but it's annoying. Still we need to harden up and accept it and bring our best.

I wouldnt mind losing if we played hard and never let up.

 

[HereComesJuddy]

You can't say some of the younger players are big-headed.

Take Matthew Watson for instance .... oh wait .......

I got it Andy. It may even be bigger than Bert Newton's head