Have we improved as a team?

[nully]

Personally i think we have improved as a team. We've learned to win matches that we would have lost or get ran over if it was a year or 2 ago? Fair statement? Are we becoming the new StKilda? Winning without class or polish but it is still a win. We have genuine stars but the last 10 players in our current team need to pickup their skills level at least 20% to 30% for us to be a genuine threat. I believe we will not get flog more than 30 points this year. Hope I am right though.

Thoughts.

 

[Alpha1]

Every game is a learning experience, we might have improved is some areas but in others we seem to be going backwards. The worry is that players who have had big wraps on them are stagnant.

We have the same issues, we tend top play like we are a million dollars and stuff around, let the other team back into the game and all of a sudden realize hey hang on we better pull our fingers out again.

The problem is we aren't that good as yet to do that, it's a bit of a worry, against good team you don't get the amount of chances we have gotten against, Richmond, Adelaide, Essendon etc.

 

[audas]

Agree on all points. Except the new thread ?

 

[Big Red is back]

- Strcuctures : yes
- Consistency of effort : yes

We will finish 4th or 5th

 

[blue gunslinger]

over the season I think we have shown ample evidence of better skills and decision making. Where that all went last night was beyond me. We looked lethargic across the ground. Our transition game was poor. Our reaction time was poor. The numbers of time you will see when you watch the replay players away from the ball walking and watching instead of working back to cover or fwd to position was perplexing. Missed tackles, missed kicks...we just did not click. Of course Ad did tie us up but we did not fight and work hard enough to break it.

 

[serenityNow]

Next 4 games will tell us. We were always going to beat Rich,GC,Ade and should've Essendon. Collingwood was the game we knew we would be up against it. So 3 1/2 from 5 will do.

So we're pretty much we're i thought they'd be. Haven't been too convincing in some of those wins, but we took the points.

All i wanna see is a full 4 quarter effort from the players, we get that week in and week out.....................and we'll be a very hard side to beat.

Improvement in the backline is huge.

Still think we'll finish 4-6.

 

[blues4flag]

I think the most pleasing thing about this season is the spread of contributors. No longer do we rely on a few to get the job done.

And before people bring up Judd, good luck keeping a champion down. He is what he is and will always do his all to ensure victory for the team.

But with players like Jamison, Yarran, Garlett, Warnock, Robinson, Walker taking the next step, players like Duigan, Curnow and to a lesser extent Laidler coming in and competing ferociously each week, we look a far more even teams.

Not to mention our core experienced players in Murphy, Judd, Simpson, Scotland, Waite all performing well. Gibbs, Russell and Betts might be down on form but they're all three talented players and all contributed last night.

Add to that guys like Ellard who can come in from the VFL and pick up 25 touches and slot 2 goals, and things are looking very exciting indeed for the future.

 

[HBF]

Overall we have improved, but there are still a few glaring issues that we need to iron out.

Our most pressing is a consistent and functional forward line. Waite, Walker and Garlett have all had good starts to the season. Betts is really struggling, and we really need a fit and in-form Henderson, O'Hailpin and Kreuzer. Hopefully in the second half of the year, all 3 of these guys will make us a better side.

The other issue is that we do look a tall defender down. With Bower injured and out of form, Watsom still learning and Thornton either considered as a forward or out of favor at Carlton, we need to find someone that can support Jamo and White.

Fix up these two areas, and we'll improve big time as team.

 

[gbatman]

We are a fit Paul Bower and a good key forward away from being a really good team.

 

[inyourcool]

We are a fit Paul Bower and a good key forward away from being a really good team.

Say no more. And if not Bower, someone else like Wato. But these two spots are the key for us to push up

 

[ScarfacePacino]

Next 4 games will tell us. We were always going to beat Rich,GC,Ade and should've Essendon. Collingwood was the game we knew we would be up against it. So 3 1/2 from 5 will do.

So we're pretty much we're i thought they'd be. Haven't been too convincing in some of those wins, but we took the points.

All i wanna see is a full 4 quarter effort from the players, we get that week in and week out.....................and we'll be a very hard side to beat.

Improvement in the backline is huge.

Still think we'll finish 4-6.

The backline has improved just need 1 more tall the forward line a little mess.

 

[ScarfacePacino]

Say no more. And if not Bower, someone else like Wato. But these two spots are the key for us to push up

I agree that why 2013 is very important for the club to get 2 guys in free agency who can see Carlton is a chance for flag with these 2 area fixed.

These 2 players won't be like the trade to trade for similiar players in normal draft.They could be rather 2 great players who are now in a struggling side that could take 7 years to get back while they rebuilt and like to be part of a flag like Greg Wells and Val Perovic did for us.

 

[Beloved]

Of course we have. If we hadn't, we would still be in the bottom half of the ladder.

 

[gbatman]

Say no more. And if not Bower, someone else like Wato. But these two spots are the key for us to push up

I'm hoping Kreuzer steps it up as a forward. Having him fit and in our team will improve us significantly.

Bower is a good player but chronic injury is a worry. He needs to be able to train hard and keep fit and it's not happening.

Watson will be very good for us. I'd like to see him tried a bit as a forward. He was in the VFL I see which is good. He needs to work on a few things like his fitness and spoiling.

 

[The Grover]

backline has improved with Yarran & few others. Russell has gone backwards

forward line has gone backwards.

No Henderson is hurting, playing Hampson there is also hurting.

Waite is playing atrocious, how many marks did he double grab/fumble against the Crows.

Shame we wasted picks on Grigg & Hampson, when could've had Dawes or Tippett.

The new 3 + sub has hurt us as we can't play a 2nd ruckman purely off the bench.

Midfield has improved with contested footy, Curnow & Robbo.

 

[gbatman]

Improvements:
Curnow, Duigan, Ellard, Garlett, Jamison, Laidler, Murphy, Robinson, Walker, Warnock, White, Yarran.

- contested ball and clearances.
- defence, especially run and skill.
- Tap rucking.
- Depth.
- Inside ball work.
- Tackling.
- Medium forward role.
- Coaching nouse.
- Player development is more flexable in playing guys in different roles.

Stayed the Same:
Armfield, Hampson, Lucas, McLean, Judd, Scotland, Simpson, Waite, Carrazzo.

Slipped:
Betts, Bower, Gibbs, Henderson, Russell (Think he might come good soon).

- Lack of a genuine CHB. Bower injured.
- Lack of a 2nd good tall forward. Kreuzer?
- Goal kicking accuracy.

 

[HBF]

Just amazing how many of our talls aren't providing much at all. Let's have a look a few of them:

Henderson - Preseason surgery. Needs a few more games in the VFL before another senior call up. Really unfortunate, as he was genuinely flying prior to Christmas

Kreuzer - Cannot get back into the starting 22 IMO. Can go forward and is a genuine threat. Suspect he'll be mainly used as a forward this year, to really give his knee a chance to get into the swing of AFL footy

Bower - Injured again. We were all looking forward to a fully fit Bower combining again with Jamo. Does his ankle in the final praccy match of the year, and now reported/injured over the weekend.

O'Hailpin - Not our best player, but gives 110% each week. We all saw what he is capable of doing in the first half of last year. Two games back in the VFL - hopefully Carlos can make it back

If you think about all four of these players at their best, it certainly makes our 22 look far better, and gives us so much more flexibility than what we currently have.

 

[Sam The Doc]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/blues-boss-admits-he-has-thought-about-chris-judd-and-josh-kennedy-in-the-same-side/story-fn7si0bn-1226044169038
Joe Anderson for Judd would have been a tad better.....

 

[Sam The Doc]

Just amazing how many of our talls aren't providing much at all. Let's have a look a few of them:

Henderson - Preseason surgery. Needs a few more games in the VFL before another senior call up. Really unfortunate, as he was genuinely flying prior to Christmas

Kreuzer - Cannot get back into the starting 22 IMO. Can go forward and is a genuine threat. Suspect he'll be mainly used as a forward this year, to really give his knee a chance to get into the swing of AFL footy

Bower - Injured again. We were all looking forward to a fully fit Bower combining again with Jamo. Does his ankle in the final praccy match of the year, and now reported/injured over the weekend.

O'Hailpin - Not our best player, but gives 110% each week. We all saw what he is capable of doing in the first half of last year. Two games back in the VFL - hopefully Carlos can make it back

If you think about all four of these players at their best, it certainly makes our 22 look far better, and gives us so much more flexibility than what we currently have.

At one point last year the Waite, O'Hailpin and Houlihan combo was working quite well.

 

[Beloved]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/blues-boss-admits-he-has-thought-about-chris-judd-and-josh-kennedy-in-the-same-side/story-fn7si0bn-1226044169038
Joe Anderson for Judd would have been a tad better.....

Look at that picture of Kennedy with his long curly hair and dark skin...

 

[The Grover]

What the hell has this got to do with petty sniping over misspelled words?

What are you talking about? Tell me coz I have no idea.

 

[Buzz/Sticks/bryce]

What are you talking about? Tell me coz I have no idea.

I think he was referring to your post being about Carlton, when the rest of the thread was a fight about spelling and grammar.

 

[The Grover]

I think he was referring to your post being about Carlton, when the rest of the thread was a fight about spelling and grammar.

got it, sometimes I don't read the whole thread before I post.

 

[Gezim]

i dont think we have improved. something doesn't feel right down there. cant work out the game plan. they seem confused

 

[DJMacca]

The next 4 or 5 weeks and we'll be able to answer the Op's question, as for now not sure.