Malthouse: What changes can we expect?

[Murphkreuzmitch]

less rants by 40yb...

a tougher gibbs...

 

[Stig O'Hara]

The expectation: Top 4 next year.

The worry: MM is an autocrat with carte blanche to do as he sees fit wih a club he has been at for 5 minutes

The club: President backs him

The future: gunna be interesting

 

[Silvagnis]

Carlton to play the boundary line...

Wonder if we will see Watson and McCarthy pushed into the firsts like Nathan Brown and Ben Reid to play besides Jamison and Laidler. Watson could end up as Reid and Brown rolled into one due to his left foot, reading of the play and size. Malthouse said all the best sides have key forwards, so this move might allow Henderson to play forward with Waite. Or McCarthy could be a forward with Gavin Brown and John Barker fighting to develop him as a backman or a forward.

 

[King of Ruin]

More mid-week drinking, few more criminals around the club, etc

Gibbs has to get into at least 1 street fight a week.

 

[Blue since 72]

^^^^
This, but not just for Malthouse, but for all coaches. Where was Chris Scott's Plan B at the weekend? Or where is Clarko's Plan B everytime Hawthorn play Geelong? How about Hird-Thompson's Plan B when Essendon are being totally walloped by us (it has happened 3 times in Hird-Thompson's short time as coach of Essendon)?

Plan B does not exist in the arsenal of any AFL coach. If it did, those teams fortunate enough to be coached by a coach with a Plan B would be perennially undefeated. Plan B is a figment of the imagination of those supporters who have agendas related to certain coaches.

Agreed. There is no plan b,c,d or any other letter. The head coach has one game plan and if that plan is relatively simple to understand and implement you're off to a good start.

The plan is the plan. Positional changes due to mis-matches, injury or simply changing things up to throw the opposition off during a game is not evidence of a different plan.

Football is an instinctive game and any coach coming in with multiple or convoluted plans will fail.

Assuming the injury curse doesn't dominate your season, if you don't have the players to execute (ie have the basic football skills required) and the commitment to achieve no plan will work for long anyway.

I expect Mick to bring in a much harder edge mentally and ensure that all players on the list understand their role if and when they get into the senior team.

Considering his experience and achievements as a senior coach I don't really give a crap about his 'plan'. Whatever it is, as long as the players get on board, particularly above the shoulders I reckon we'll do alright.

 

[schooners]

I agree boys, the player to benefit the most should be Gibbs! Has stated himself his desire to move into the guts and I reckon ive heard the MALT saying ' thats where the boy should be '! Will be interesting!!

 

[gbatman]

There is really no such thing as a plan A and B in football. A team has a way in which it goes about playing and how it sets up and how it defends and moves the ball and that changes very little. It will change a bit but not all that much.

Teams then have different ways of reacting to game situations. Say how they play and set up when their team is on top and how they react to the opposition being on top and how that changes how they do things. For instance, a team may look to play up the wings, when they are going well, they may look to take a more direct route. When they are getting beaten or the game is in the balance they may chose to go up the wing or along the boundry or may chose to kick sideways more and play a slower possession game. We won't be going up the wings or the guts or the boundry every time, we need to learn to read the situation as a team and make good judgements. Controling the tempo of the game to change how things are going comes from on the field and how the players are drilled. Hardly a plan A, B and C thing, more of the players being smarter about it and more about onfield leadership.

 

[slashin_velvet]

As long as he has another crack at milne....he's done his job.

 

[Blue Flame]

As long as he has another crack at milne....he's done his job.

Performance bonus for that?

 

[Big Sim]

I can understand the call for it, but I just love Walker forward as he's very hard to match up on there with his speed but also the ability to run up the ground, lose his opponent whilst doubling back.
All of a sudden we have an extra in the forward line that can mark and work at ground level also.
Walker called to go forward last year and got his wish. I hope he can hang onto it, whilst we develop others in the mid-field.

I agree, just trying to see the options through the eyes of the new coach. Walker would add considerably to our midfield but you are absolutely right about his value up forward. Its something that MM will have to evaluate as he shapes the team.

 

[Blue Flame]

I agree, just trying to see the options through the eyes of the new coach. Walker would add considerably to our midfield but you are absolutely right about his value up forward. Its something that MM will have to evaluate as he shapes the team.

The problem with Walker is that he adds a lot of value everywhere. Hope Malthouse brings some fitness and medical staff with him, it's all hands on deck at Carlton.

 

[Big Sim]

The problem with Walker is that he adds a lot of value everywhere. Hope Malthouse brings some fitness and medical staff with him, it's all hands on deck at Carlton.

Nice problem to have mind you. Someone has already suggested returning him to the back half as our version of Harry O, assuming that MM wants a Harry O. (As long as he doesn't sprout the pretentious drivel that Harry does its fine by me) But given that Walker was prepared to go to Port Adelaide (shudder) rather than stay in the backline, would be interesting to see what happens if MM gave the order.

 

[Blue Flame]

Nice problem to have mind you.

No, needing more medical staff is never a nice problem to have.


Oh no, I see...
Hopefully Malthouse will give Walker a consistent position that he is happy with in which to develop. I think that kind of versatility that Ratten prized is less a part of Malthouse's game plan.
Good management and no injuries will see Walker rise to new heights next year, which as Jake Carlile will attest, is a scary proposition.

 

[gbatman]

Recon Walker could have a very very good season playing on the good small forwards of the competition. Milne, Ballentine, Johnson, Rioli, Gary Ablett (when forward), Jetta, LeCra etc are all great match ups for him. Ratts used to like to bring in small ordinary footballers like Joseph and they were beaten. Walker's a good footballer with smarts and pace, he's not going to get beaten and he's going to beat his man for the ball often and provide some run from defence. Also provides more flexability with Walker being good in the air and having a bit extra height. We used to play him in defence on the duds and they simply kept him away from the play but put him on a good forward and he will be taken to the ball a lot. Mick will see him as a better version of Harry O'Brian.

Unlikely to see Gibbs on the ball in 2013. Most people on here are wrong about Gibbs getting no chances on the ball this year. He was and there was a good reason you didn't notice it. Gibbs was started on the ball early in the season and played there and he failed to make an impact. Difinitely played the first half of the Richmond and Brisbane games on the ball. He didn't get the ball and his tackle count was very low, that's why he was moved to the half back line. Perhaps with a different setup in the center Gibbs might be a success in there but going on his past matches on the ball I would think that he would be a long way in the onball pecking order. The setup required to make Gibbs a better onballer likely means he plays ahead of Judd, Carrazzo and Murphy in there which is not desirable. He's a tallish skillful periferal type who is good in the air, in general play and at reading the game and creating when he has the ball. He's Mick's kind of half back flanker. If there is any change for Gibbs it might be that he plays wing and pushes back into defence and pushes hard up the ground or that he plays half forward flank and pushes up the ground.

Injury prone players may find themselves on the outer for those more durable. I can't see us hanging onto Warnock, he's been a expensive list clogger for many many years. Shoulder problems for a guy who is meant to be making a career out of reaching up high is bad news. Waite will want to stay fit this season or it will likely be his last. He's an absolute gun but you can't rely on players who are in and out of the team, it is to disruptive. Could see another player like McCarthy, Mitchell or Rowe becoming more perminant if he isn't able to get really fit and finds himself struggling. I feel MM is big on durable players and likely will not put up with guys who are in and out all the time or regularly miss large chunks of seasons.

Heavy reliance. We are very reliant on Judd, Jamison and Waite. Expect Judd to play outside the square a lot more. I also expect Judd to be doing more defensive stuff at stoppages and laying more blocks and our ruck looking for him less. No point looking for the tagged player all the time like we have previously. Murphy too. I also expect Jamison might spend more time on the half back flank/pocket as for the reason stated above, he regularly misses too much football and we are too heavily reliant on him to be the one to stop the gun forwards. I'm expecting Henderson and Watson to do a lot of the key position work. Maybe even McCarthy might get a Key role at times. Waite also will not spend all his time as our number one target. We will be looking to kick to all of our three talls and exploit weak defenders. We are likely to be weaned off our heavy reliance on individuals.

Lucas and Buckley might be played as forwards. firstly they can play there and secondly MM has often played up and coming midfielders as forwards where as we have often played potential midfielders as half backs. Will put pressure on Garlett next year.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Recon Walker could have a very very good season playing on the good small forwards of the competition. Milne, Ballentine, Johnson, Rioli, Gary Ablett (when forward), Jetta, LeCra etc are all great match ups for him. Ratts used to like to bring in small ordinary footballers like Joseph and they were beaten. Walker's a good footballer with smarts and pace, he's not going to get beaten and he's going to beat his man for the ball often and provide some run from defence. Also provides more flexability with Walker being good in the air and having a bit extra height. We used to play him in defence on the duds and they simply kept him away from the play but put him on a good forward and he will be taken to the ball a lot. Mick will see him as a better version of Harry O'Brian.

The difference is that O'Brien can't play anywhere else. Walker is a weapon, who was miserable having to waste his talent being reactive to his opponent down back, and he asked to be traded accordingly. I wouldn't be playing him down back on small forwards for love nor money. Filling a role because we have injuries is one thing, playing an exciting 190cm fast, strong, spectacular #2 draft pick in a position to negate the opposition's opportunists? No way. I'll help him clean out his locker.

If our forward line is sorted with 3 talls and our crumbers, then Walker goes into the midfield and smashes them. He's great in the clearances.

 

[Blue Flame]

If our forward line is sorted with 3 talls and our crumbers, then Walker goes into the midfield and smashes them. He's great in the clearances.

Too true. He has that aggression in his game that others lack. I think he might be played like Didak or Stevie J, as a genuine match winning midfielder who will sometimes be a genuine match winning forward.

 

[Silvagnis]

The problem with Walker is that he adds a lot of value everywhere. Hope Malthouse brings some fitness and medical staff with him, it's all hands on deck at Carlton.

From Channel Seven, 3AW and The West Australian?

 

[gbatman]

The difference is that O'Brien can't play anywhere else. Walker is a weapon, who was miserable having to waste his talent being reactive to his opponent down back, and he asked to be traded accordingly. I wouldn't be playing him down back on small forwards for love nor money. Filling a role because we have injuries is one thing, playing an exciting 190cm fast, strong, spectacular #2 draft pick in a position to negate the opposition's opportunists? No way. I'll help him clean out his locker.

If our forward line is sorted with 3 talls and our crumbers, then Walker goes into the midfield and smashes them. He's great in the clearances.

Walker IMO is a similar yet better player than O'Brian when used as a defender. The difference is that Walker was used in defence and played on ordinary players who chose to tag him. Change his role and it's a completely different story. Put him on good players and they will go to the ball rather than tag him. Back when we were playing him in defence it was Russell playing on the better players. Walker's better games down back were when he played on good players, like when he played on Hawkins one time, beat him and got a lot of the ball.

I don't think that it was because he was played in defence that was the reason he thought about leaving. It was how he was used. We would play him on an ordinary forward who would go defencive and when Walker didn't get the footy we dropped him. He was in and out of the side a lot and that was why I thought he was looking to go. I could be wrong but I thought that the reason he allegedly looked at going elsewhere was because he was in and out of the team and used in poor roles, not because of the end he played at.

Would be happy to see him spend time in the midfield however. But, watching the work he did on Milne in our last game was very impressive. Also I don't think there is anyone on our list who can do a really good job on the really good small forwards.

 

[Bluesince62]

Walker IMO is a similar yet better player than O'Brian when used as a defender. The difference is that Walker was used in defence and played on ordinary players who chose to tag him. Change his role and it's a completely different story. Put him on good players and they will go to the ball rather than tag him. Back when we were playing him in defence it was Russell playing on the better players. Walker's better games down back were when he played on good players, like when he played on Hawkins one time, beat him and got a lot of the ball.

I don't think that it was because he was played in defence that was the reason he thought about leaving. It was how he was used. We would play him on an ordinary forward who would go defencive and when Walker didn't get the footy we dropped him. He was in and out of the side a lot and that was why I thought he was looking to go. I could be wrong but I thought that the reason he allegedly looked at going elsewhere was because he was in and out of the team and used in poor roles, not because of the end he played at.

Would be happy to see him spend time in the midfield however. But, watching the work he did on Milne in our last game was very impressive. Also I don't think there is anyone on our list who can do a really good job on the really good small forwards.

Fully agree with you. The added benefit you didn't mention is that he is one of our better users of the ball. He doesn't have many clangers unlike AJ JR etc etc. Also, he was quite confident kicking in from behinds which is one of our many weaknesses.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sky-walkers-leap-of-faith/story-e6frexwr-1226076734141

Walker approached Carlton coach Brett Ratten after the Blues were bundled out of last year's finals series by Sydney.

He had a simple request: play me in attack or let me go to another club that will.

"I went to them at the end of last year and said that, in my own eyes, my best football is played as a midfield forward and I said if they couldn't sort of help me out and play me in those positions, then I felt I had to look elsewhere for my own future," Walker told The Daily Telegraph.
"It wasn't that I was dirty on the club with anything. I just didn't think I was getting played in the right positions."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sky-walkers-leap-of-faith/story-e6frexwr-1226076734141

While I don't agree with the tail wagging the dog, Walker backed it up immediately. He was in and out of the side because of injury, but he was miserable because he wasn't being utilised.

Walker often copped criticism for butchering the ball out of defence although I didn't agree with it back then. All of our defenders tend to cop that accusation but it is embellished greatly. Russell has and now Joseph has, mainly because it is more noticeable and costly back there. Who would want to be a defender?

Anyway, the proof is in the pudding. His best year was up forward but he also enjoys midfield. We need his attitude and his strength in the centre but need his marking ability and recovery skills up forward. He is very much a confidence player. He and Gibbs should only go back as the designated utilities when something goes wrong injury wise during a game or we are getting smashed and have to shake things up.

 

[slashin_velvet]

Malthouse needs to put glue on the bottom of walkers shoes to stop him going for the impossible grabs, in preference of a good lead and mark.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Malthouse needs to put glue on the bottom of walkers shoes to stop him going for the impossible grabs, in preference of a good lead and mark.

If the ball was delivered in a fashion that he could make a good lead and take a mark, then all well and good. Nobody ever went for an impossible grab when a good lead and mark would have sufficed, unless they failed to offer a lead. Walker offers multiple leads, then he goes for the ball however it is ultimately presented and contends with what is around him. The big issue with him going for impossible grabs is that he puts himself out of the contest if it doesn't come off.

Having said that, when Walker pulled down his screamer in 2010, he was ridiculously beaten out for mark of the year by another player .... Andrew Krakouer I believe. Does anybody know who coached Andrew Krakouer in 2010? You don't stifle brilliance. You teach them to know when you have a chance and when it is pure folly.

 

[gbatman]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sky-walkers-leap-of-faith/story-e6frexwr-1226076734141



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sky-walkers-leap-of-faith/story-e6frexwr-1226076734141

While I don't agree with the tail wagging the dog, Walker backed it up immediately. He was in and out of the side because of injury, but he was miserable because he wasn't being utilised.

Walker often copped criticism for butchering the ball out of defence although I didn't agree with it back then. All of our defenders tend to cop that accusation but it is embellished greatly. Russell has and now Joseph has, mainly because it is more noticeable and costly back there. Who would want to be a defender?

Anyway, the proof is in the pudding. His best year was up forward but he also enjoys midfield. We need his attitude and his strength in the centre but need his marking ability and recovery skills up forward. He is very much a confidence player. He and Gibbs should only go back as the designated utilities when something goes wrong injury wise during a game or we are getting smashed and have to shake things up.

Yeah fair enough. Can't say that's an attitude that will go down all that well but probably stems from us from not giving him the big jobs and making him a main part. I wonder if this is a little hint of, perhaps a lack of respect for the coaching staff of the time. That's a long time ago and with a new coach who knows what the outcome will be. Fair chance Walker has matured and his attitude is different now. Times are going to be interesting.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Yeah fair enough. Can't say that's an attitude that will go down all that well but probably stems from us from not giving him the big jobs and making him a main part. I wonder if this is a little hint of, perhaps a lack of respect for the coaching staff of the time. That's a long time ago and with a new coach who knows what the outcome will be. Fair chance Walker has matured and his attitude is different now. Times are going to be interesting.

It was 2 years ago. He's not a kid. His attitude is better because he is playing midfield and forward and he is working his arse off regularly to maintain those positions. He helped his depleted side out vs the Saints, probably to try and help Ratts go out a winner but I reckon he would shudder to think we wanted him to stay there again. I just think he offers far more value around the ball, and not being lead to the ball by others.

 

[Stamos]

There are two motivations for a player requesting a certain position.
One is selfish (think Marty Clark wanting to kick goals). Mick hates this.
The other, which I think applies to Walker and Gibbs, is they want to get the best out of themselves, and therefore the team.