Opinion Best Guesses - what game changes will MM make to how Carlton plays and why?

[Blue Ratts]

With the speed that our players have for spreading the play, I reckon that we will always have players clear in the corridor forward of centre

But it will be interesting seeing what happens in the NAB cup.

I'm hoping so, but also other tangible options to draw opponents away .

 

[Dramoth]

The other thing I think Mick is gonna be big on is "assessing the situation".The whole run and carry looks great when it comes off but if there is a turn over the defensive positioning is a shambles.Having talls helps him.If its a 50/50 running race, kick wider to the talls instead,if they can't mark it push it over the line.The defensive zone is still set up and if your small forwards can also be good inside mids the percentages swing your way.I think this is also why Mick wants to teach the small forwards how to be mids. More options ,more avenues and retaining a press.

When our forward press is able to set up, we have one of the best in the league. Having some talls who are quick is also quite helpful in setting up that forward press.

 

[gbatman]

I am looking forward to hopefully every player putting themselves 'behind' the ball as suggested above - will make all the difference when combined with the obvious skill and speed we already have.

Not wrong, one thing i admired about collingwood when they were starting to challenge for the flag was the emphasis on forward momentum at stoppages and completly stopping the opposition from moving the ball forward. I remember them touching us up a few times and the big reason was that they didn't allow us to carry or handpass the ball forwards at all but they were able to carry the ball, and get it forward in any way possible themselves. Completly the opposite to the Collingwood teams Carlton belted in 2012 . They had us moving it backwards and bombing kicks long and snuffed out our momentum and run completly. If we can utilise the strong powerful blokes we have on our list and develop a team that can brick wall opposition from moving it forward at stoppages and in tern find the footy, get it going forward and break tackles and defensive setups and get clear possession forward of stoppages and have every one on the same wavelength as to how we are going to move the ball then we will have enormous success. I have a feeling that being predictable to tem mates and focusing on this old fashion notion of forward momentum and contesting hard at stoppages might come in. Not just because it was a big focus at Collingwood but because it is also a big focus at clubs like Hawthorn and Sydney too who have strong powerful hard as nails midfields. A Carlton team that runs through the contest and gets momentum at the contest would be a breath of fresh air.

 

[gbatman]

the having plan a b and c etc theory is interesting. I'm not sure teams greatly change how they play during the match and during the season a lot for that matter. Just subtle variations of the same thing. It all has to come from the players on the field at the time and how they react to the situation. For example when Carlton get on a roll they might look to move it more direct and maybe a bit quicker and riskier but when it is close they may start to go wide or they may look to play possession footy if the opposition are on top. There should be variations to how the onballers setup which should be influenced by how their ruckman is going and if they are winning the ball or not. Rather than having so called plans, it's more to do with how the team reacts to different situations. Again, it is something to improve on and to do so, the main 22 need plenty of continuity and a lot of strong leadership. Players need to be all on the same wavelength and must become good at picking up on how their team mates are looking to change the style of play. For example, we shouldn't need a player to hold the ball up in the air to send the signal to all the other players that they are changing from one style to another, players need to read the situation better and just play accordingly.

 

[Mental Magpie]

The most significant changes to be seen at Carlton, due to Micks arrival, will be above the shoulders. His ability to get average players to stand taller, and the team to play as a united force, is second to none. I never really rated his abilities as a game day coach. Seemed too one dimensional. Never saw a plan b. It just goes to show, how playing as a united team, truly believing in your individual role, and being the best drilled side, can overcome even the best sides.
You might see some left field selections, and faith put in players you may not rate, in positions you didn't expect. This is Mick. Wouldn't be too many coaches out there, who can extract every ounce of effort, belief, and intensity as Mick can.

 

[Dramoth]

The most significant changes to be seen at Carlton, due to Micks arrival, will be above the shoulders. His ability to get average players to stand taller, and the team to play as a united force, is second to none. I never really rated his abilities as a game day coach. Seemed too one dimensional. Never saw a plan b. It just goes to show, how playing as a united team, truly believing in your individual role, and being the best drilled side, can overcome even the best sides.
You might see some left field selections, and faith put in players you may not rate, in positions you didn't expect. This is Mick. Wouldn't be too many coaches out there, who can extract every ounce of effort, belief, and intensity as Mick can.

Any player that pulls on the navy blue I rate... except when they come from Collingwood... then they have to wear blue for about 5 years before they have cleaned themselves up sufficiently to be called Carlton.

 

[Aphrodite]

Any player that pulls on the navy blue I rate... except when they come from Collingwood... then they have to wear blue for about 5 years before they have cleaned themselves up sufficiently to be called Carlton.

Come on Dram it took you 5 years to "like" Scotland.

 

[GoBlues!]

Come on Dram it took you 5 years to "like" Scotland.

Still doesn't like Scotland. I think he lives in Dublin.

 

[Dramoth]

Come on Dram it took you 5 years to "like" Scotland.

true

Thought he was a reasonable player after 6

 

[Aphrodite]

Still doesn't like Scotland. I think he lives in Dublin.

Typical ex-pat.

 

[The_Wookie]

Any player that pulls on the navy blue I rate... except when they come from Collingwood... then they have to wear blue for about 5 years before they have cleaned themselves up sufficiently to be called Carlton.

Trent Hotton would have confused you a bit then.

 

[Dramoth]

Trent Hotton would have confused you a bit then.

Hotton was sacked by the filth for failing to even live up to their low standards... we tried to reform him, but it didnt really work out.

 

[thylacine60]

Mick talks about the "clash" of 2 game plans as though Ratts' was tantamount to chaos theory.

 

[The Toad]

Gibbs into the guts. Because thats where he would play his best footy.

 

[gbatman]

Loads of changes from what I can see so far.

Not sure there is a lot of changes in defence but we seem to be getting back in more numbers, which I guess is a fair change.

The midfield has more forwards/players being rotated through the center square and there is more faith in a larger group to go in there. Betts, Gibbs and Garlett have had good success going in there and some of our regular onballers like Murphy and Mclean have spent more time up forward.

The main change is something I predicted and that is a focus on forward momentum and getting the ball forward of center. Players are gaining possession of the ball while on the run going forward mainly unlike previously where we were very flat footed around ball ups. Players hitting the footy at pace and going forward directly from center ball ups is a sight for sore eyes. Rather than pushing and shoving and standing still. Players willing to knock or tap it forward and hit it in waves and run in numbers from a stoppage is an improvement. Generally the only person not moving at center ball-ups is a strong body who is standing forward of the ruck who we look to run off, like Mclean which is a classic setup in there. We aren't looking to handball at stoppages as much. We aren't afraid to get it on the boot and bang out out of the congestion. Clearances are going well.

The forwardline is very different, talls to go to up forward. Talls to kick long to when coming off half back. We are really kicking it long and using the talls we have to mark it or bring it down. Not kicking to smalls as much. The long kick to talls up the boundry line is improving this play very well. We really are kicking it longer and setting up better for the long kicks. The biggest change in our forward movement is where we kick it to. Last year we kicked it the the boundry line and pockets. This year we are rarely going wider than 45 degrees and we like going to the top of the square.

The player condition is much much better. Players are bigger and stronger. Gibbs and Garlett stand out here.

 

[Azul]

Gibbs Unleashed.

I'd like to think he's going to be playing in the middle ... he certainly has to come up that next level

Personally I think this deserves mega-thread status.

 

[Sector 7G]

I will be interested to see whether we persist with the lob handball in traffic which was spectacularly unsucessfull on the weekend

 

[JustaBattler]

Without a doubt the biggest change I have seen has been Robbo type enthusiasm - spread much more across the board - Gibbs will only get better. Murphy was able to play much more outside and he was able to set up so much attacking momentum because - so many more players were doing the hard work inside. Secondly - just having the luxury of tall targets up front who if not marking - are definitely bringing ball to ground for crumbers to exploit.

Finally Carlton has a set up and structure which allows the team to compete on much more equal basis.

the easy turnovers and kicks back over the teams's heads are NOT happening anymore ( save for a couple of brain fades which were quickly rectified)

 

[Smell The Glove]

The most significant changes to be seen at Carlton, due to Micks arrival, will be above the shoulders. His ability to get average players to stand taller, and the team to play as a united force, is second to none. I never really rated his abilities as a game day coach. Seemed too one dimensional. Never saw a plan b. It just goes to show, how playing as a united team, truly believing in your individual role, and being the best drilled side, can overcome even the best sides.
You might see some left field selections, and faith put in players you may not rate, in positions you didn't expect. This is Mick. Wouldn't be too many coaches out there, who can extract every ounce of effort, belief, and intensity as Mick can.

Correct. His greatest achievements were not the flags he won, firstly with a glorified state side and then with a team constructed scrupulously over 10 years. It was the Grand Finals he made in 2002 and 2003 with essentially a "B" side. (This also, is why I rate Parkin's greatest achievement at Carlton, at leas tthe second time around, not as 1995, but as 1999. The middle of that year we were gone, he publically labelled us a B grade team and the boys made the Granny).

Take Buckley and maybe Clement out of those sides and none of the players in those teams would be considered more than a B in the grand scheme of things. He got everything possible out of guys like McKee, Freeborn, Betheras, Lockyer etc. because he took what they individually did best and used that as a cog in the team as a whole. Individuals don't exist in Malthouse sides. Everyone is a part of the team and follows the boss. And because of that mentality, and the knowledge that your coach will accept total responsibility for the performance of the team, means that peoples genuinely want to play for him.

 

[thebluelagoon]

Players willing to knock or tap it forward and hit it in waves and run in numbers from a stoppage is an improvement. Generally the only person not moving at center ball-ups is a strong body who is standing forward of the ruck who we look to run off, like Mclean which is a classic setup in there. We aren't looking to handball at stoppages as much. We aren't afraid to get it on the boot and bang out out of the congestion. Clearances are going well.

i was thinking that there may not be room in the one team for Randy the Ram Robinson, Broke back Mclean and Bell. but if the stoppage play is like the above, then possibly there is. this will release Murphy and Judd more outside of the scrum where they can work their magic. last year we were seeing them get the ball inside and not being able to break away. I like it.

 

[Dramoth]

I think that we are seeing a fair amount of difference in the game style we used to play under Ratts (smaller, faster players spreading quickly utilising lots of handballs) and Mick's style at the filth (lots of work along the boundary but not much speed).

We seem to be using long kicks into the forward line a lot more but also, we seem to have better taller options now up front. We arent depending on a ruckman to be our forward option.

We also have a nice balance to the side now as well. The side isnt all about speed any more, there is a fair amount of low level grunt in there also so if things get bottled up, we have the power to get in there and clear it out.

But I think that the biggest difference we are seeing already is how Mick is utilising Gibbs. He is using him as a floating mid which seems to be really suiting Gibbs a lot more. If things work out well, this year could be the year that we finally see the best from Bryce.

 

[gbatman]

i was thinking that there may not be room in the one team for Randy the Ram Robinson, Broke back Mclean and Bell. but if the stoppage play is like the above, then possibly there is. this will release Murphy and Judd more outside of the scrum where they can work their magic. last year we were seeing them get the ball inside and not being able to break away. I like it.

If we are to play the boundary and focus on defence and expect to go deep into finals then there will be a lot of congestion and stoppages to deal with. Grand finalists are generally filled with teams that can compete and win in amongst the contests. There is room for all of these guys and I can guarantee that the open, free flowing game that we have relied on in the past will not succeed in preliminary grand finals or grand finals simply because good sides will not allow us to play an open free flowing fast game at that end of the year.

 

[Dramoth]

If we are to play the boundary and focus on defence and expect to go deep into finals then there will be a lot of congestion and stoppages to deal with. Grand finalists are generally filled with teams that can compete and win in amongst the contests. There is room for all of these guys and I can guarantee that the open, free flowing game that we have relied on in the past will not succeed in preliminary grand finals or grand finals simply because good sides will not allow us to play an open free flowing fast game at that end of the year.

True, but if we play a hybrid game where we can battle it out in the stoppages and then get the ball out to our fast movers, work the boundaries at speed and then kick long into the forward line, we will be able to break up the opposition tactics of flooding the area around the ball.

Once we start breaking open games like that, the opposition flooding pressure will start to crack as well and we can then move into a free flowing game plan. But we need to win the battles in close first tbh!

 

[gbatman]

True, but if we play a hybrid game where we can battle it out in the stoppages and then get the ball out to our fast movers, work the boundaries at speed and then kick long into the forward line, we will be able to break up the opposition tactics of flooding the area around the ball.

Once we start breaking open games like that, the opposition flooding pressure will start to crack as well and we can then move into a free flowing game plan. But we need to win the battles in close first tbh!

Yeah for sure, as long as we can play the type of footy we keep seeing in grand finals year after year, which is a mix of contested footy and outside running footy. The only difference is that pressure is higher, possession time is shorter and winning the contests is everything. Base our game on long kicking and winning contests and we will do well in these situations. I think we can do it.

Just on OP topic. I said that Yarran would be playing on the better opposition players so that he is lead to the ball and not tagged and to fully use his ability to shut down and beat top quality forwards and against Freo he played on Walters and Ballantine at times who I see as their top small forwards... Something in this I recon.

 

[JustaBattler]

The Adelaide game will reveal a lot about how Carlton sets up and plays against contested ball winning midfields and down the corridor attacking sides. I see some surprises being tried against Adelaide - will be intriguing how Kreuzer/Warnock and Hampson are used/.