Our weakness...

[reg_lower91]

We don't like to run. We like to run when we have the ball in our hands, but then we completely come to a stop when the ball is up for grabs. Was shown today. When Fremantle were up and about in the 1st quarter they simply were out running us. However, from that point onwards, they seemed to be tiring and slowing down their work rate. From that point on, we rolled on. Other games where it has happened:

Games against sides who like to run (both ways):
Essendon - Rnd 3 - LOSS - 4 points
Essendon - Rnd 13 - LOSS - 69 points
Sydney - Rnd 4 - LOSS - 17 points
Hawthorn - Rnd 6 - LOSS - 4 points
Adelaide - Rnd 9 - LOSS - 44 points
St.Kilda - Rnd 12 - LOSS - 9 points

Games against sides who don't like to run (both ways):
Richmond - Rnd 1 - WON - 83 points
Western Bulldogs - Rnd 5 - WON - 43 points
West Coast - Rnd 10 - WON - 41 points

Left out the games of: Fremantle, Collingwood and Brisbane as i couldn't really make up my mind on whether they were a running side or not. Don't really think that Brisbane are a hard running side. Fremantle have the ability to be a hard runnning side, as i said earlier - it's how they beat us in Round 7- they just don't do it consistently. And Collingwood is probably the same.

Just don't think we are pushing back to man up or drop in to space when the ball is turned over. Always amazes me how the opposition always seems to have one or two free men in the corridor and/or wing. Also, don't think we are chasing quite as hard as we could be.

Thoughts??

 

[Crazy Joe Fevola]

We don't like to run. We like to run when we have the ball in our hands, but then we completely come to a stop when the ball is up for grabs. Was shown today. When Fremantle were up and about in the 1st quarter they simply were out running us. However, from that point onwards, they seemed to be tiring and slowing down their work rate. From that point on, we rolled on. Other games where it has happened:

Games against sides who like to run (both ways):
Essendon - Rnd 3 - LOSS - 4 points
Essendon - Rnd 13 - LOSS - 69 points
Sydney - Rnd 4 - LOSS - 17 points
Hawthorn - Rnd 6 - LOSS - 4 points
Adelaide - Rnd 9 - LOSS - 44 points
St.Kilda - Rnd 12 - LOSS - 9 points

Games against sides who don't like to run (both ways):
Richmond - Rnd 1 - WON - 83 points
Western Bulldogs - Rnd 5 - WON - 43 points
West Coast - Rnd 10 - WON - 41 points

Left out the games of: Fremantle, Collingwood and Brisbane as i couldn't really make up my mind on whether they were a running side or not. Don't really think that Brisbane are a hard running side. Fremantle have the ability to be a hard runnning side, as i said earlier - it's how they beat us in Round 7- they just don't do it consistently. And Collingwood is probably the same.

Just don't think we are pushing back to man up or drop in to space when the ball is turned over. Always amazes me how the opposition always seems to have one or two free men in the corridor and/or wing. Also, don't think we are chasing quite as hard as we could be.

Thoughts??

If you watch the game again - we actually dominated from quarter time onwards but didn't put it on the scoreboard... Carlton should have actually been 4 or 5 goals ahead three quarter time instead of 18 points down. Completely owned the third quarter, but poor conversion was very costly, particualty when in the last minute Freo go forward for the first time in 10 mihnutes and scramble a goal out of nowhere to push the margin out to 18 points. Similary in the last quarter absolutely dominated the first 10 minutes but didn't put it on the scoreboard only leading by 11 pints - which then gave Freo the cahnce to steal it when they went forwward for the first time in the quarter and kicked a goal. Good to see the side rally and kick away again.....

Carltons conversion and just as importantly the final kick into the 50 metre zone needs to be addressed and improved dramtically to beat better sides. The game ebbs and flows so much these days thaht when it is your turn and have the momentum it is crucial that you hit the scoreboard. failing to do this has conservatively cost us 3 or 4 wins this year. Off the top of my head Essendon (1st time) Sydney, Fremantle (1st time) and St. Kilda are all games that we could haveone if we had hit the scoreboard more effectively.

St.Kilda are a very good example of this they have one two games by a kick or less against Carlton & Geelong because of hitting the scoreboard when it was there turn in the first quarter, enabling them to estabish big leads which were ultimately not able to be run down...

Essentially Carlton should have beat Fremantle by 60 + points if it weren't for poor discipline in the first quarter and extremley poor conversion and finishing in the remaning three quarters.

 

[Mister Carlton]

Our main weakness is that we think we are top shit. Best team in the competition. Some of the players better step and pull their head in. We now walk into games with confidence and then we get smashed straight away.

 

[Domenic Fotia]

Brad Fisher and Ryan Houlihan

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Our main weakness is that we think we are top shit. Best team in the competition. Some of the players better step and pull their head in. We now walk into games with confidence and then we get smashed straight away.

Which is evident by...?

The ironical thing about this comment (I've heard it by several posters) is that those saying it are the ones who must actually think we're 'top shit' if they think our losses can simply be explained away from over-confidence.

If only...

 

[AlecDuncan]

Carltons conversion and just as importantly the final kick into the 50 metre zone needs to be addressed and improved dramtically to beat better sides. The game ebbs and flows so much these days thaht when it is your turn and have the momentum it is crucial that you hit the scoreboard.

Seconded. It's our biggest problem by a mile. 2:6 in the third quarter would have sunk us against a better side.

 

[Feva]

Our major weakness is cleaarly our DISPOSAL. Both around the middle of the ground and going forward, and our set shots on goal.

We must work on our skills like Essendon has. That is why they are doing so well and why Freo started so well early in the game.

Finally, our focus must be to draft players with good foot skills. I think the following players foot skills can be questioned at times:
Jordan Russell (Improving)
Marc Murphy (Improving)
Adam Bentick
Mitch Robinson
Brad Fisher
Shaun Grigg (Improving)
Setanta OHailpin
Paul Bower
Mark Austin
Shaun Hampson
Joe Anderson
Dennis Armfield
Jordan Bannister
Simon Wiggins
Andrew Carrazzo
Aaron Joseph
Bentley

Far too many players!!

 

[celtic_pride]

How many times did you yell yesterday (esp in the first quarter) Hit a #$%#^$ Target ...

some of their long kicking leaves a lot to be desired, esp as sometimes they don't even aim for a contest, but the ball just ends up in the hands of the opponent.

 

[Bluebear]

We don't like to run. We like to run when we have the ball in our hands


Just don't think we are pushing back to man up or drop in to space when the ball is turned over. Always amazes me how the opposition always seems to have one or two free men in the corridor and/or wing. Also, don't think we are chasing quite as hard as we could be.

Thoughts??

Not sure if its that cut and dried Reg.

I'll admit I didn't see the game, but I listened to Q's 2-4 on SEN, so correct me if I'm wrong.......were we not zoning back at times in the second and third Q's (i.e. running back hard) to the point where we had no forwards, and when we won the ball we had nothing to kick to (ala Crows and Pies games).

The SEN commentators (for what they are worth) were comenting that we didn't seem to be pushing hard enough forward when we had the footy.

It is an issue, especially with our midfield, but I think our biggest issue is consistency at the stoppages and skills. If we can get our hands to the footy first, as often as our opponents, and get it into the hands of those who use it well then we are a very good side, and it doesn't really matter how fast or whatever the opposition are.

This is why we beat the Doggies. We win clearances and run forwards. They are lazy downhill skiers and don't pressure us enough.

Have a look at the Dons vs Pies. Pies won clearances and put pressure on at stoppages. We lost the clearances and applied no pressure to the stoppages - no point trying to chase after a bloke that is quicker than you and has a 5m head start.....much better off trying to stop him from getting it, or putting pressure on the guy giving it out of the pack.

I rant.

 

[Bluebear]

Setanta OHailpin

Mark Austin

Bit harsh on these two Feva.

Setanta's "poor disposal" hasn't been a major factor for a while now, and to be honest, he is one of the more reliable kicks in the forward line.

Austin's disposal for the most part has been very good. I'd rate him on of the better users of the footy in our backline. He may be putting himself under pressure with decision making, but his ability to execute the skills are pretty good IMO.

Why didn't you have Fev and Thornton on that list? Both have directly cost us games with poor disposal (Dons round 3, Swans round 4).

 

[Faz 2000]

We do not have a half forward line. This is the weakness.

We need Austin, Bower, Thornton and Jamison to sort out the backline for the rest of the year, so Jarrad Waite can be out star recruit for CHF next season.

If it works out it will make a WORLD of difference, having something to kick to other than a mess of contests, zoning back opposition players or Fev 70m away.

 

[Quazza]

Was kinda thinking bout this while watching the game. Can anyone actually say for sure what our game plan is? We all know Geelong use the ball a lot, Essendon run, the pies take it around the boundary etc. Whats ours? Cos after watchin every game under Ratts so far, I'm still not sure?

 

[CUG81]

We do not have a half forward line. This is the weakness.

We need Austin, Bower, Thornton and Jamison to sort out the backline for the rest of the year, so Jarrad Waite can be out star recruit for CHF next season.

If it works out it will make a WORLD of difference, having something to kick to other than a mess of contests, zoning back opposition players or Fev 70m away.

So true! Setanta has helped our froward line these past few weeks, but we need to have the CHF line consistent...if Waite returns and we have the defense all sorted, we have a gun big forward available. I still believe Waite is twice the player playing in that forward line.

Our defence this year has been inconsistent due to injuries as well. We started off with a solid defence and then got some big injuries which caused a lot of trouble and the team looks like it is still trying to find the right formula in defence.

From this we have lost drive off that half backline which is where many of the running teams really penetrate and push forward in numbers.

Not against Freo, but the games I think Ratts has been too defensive not allowing some of our ball magnets to play their natural game.

 

[blues4flag]

Waite's a tough one. I love him in defence and I love him up forward. It'll be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul wherever we put him - either way Waite, Walker and Warnock will make a world of difference to our side.

Down back, I feel that Waite is more imposing and has a presence. He's big, is an excellent reader of the play and is our best at stopping opposition attacking thrusts. Both Thornton and Scotland do it well but Waite's athleticism allows him to get to balls that the other two couldn't. Excellent at providing cover for our other forwards and while he can be found out one on one, does very well on strong leading forwards.

Not to mention his run from defence. Disposal can let him down at times but I love the drive he gives us. Much like Bower, isn't afraid to take the game on and run it down the wing.

On the flipside, while I feel he's less involved when moved up forward, he is incredibly agile and a very good mark - could very well be a 50-60 goal a season player for us. Add Fev and an improved Setanta and we have ourselves the multi-pronged forward line that we've been crying out for. Betts and Garlett at their feet, Yarran and Walker on the flanks...

FF: Setanta...Fevola...Betts
HF: Walker...Waite...Yarran

Excuse me.

 

[jonoman89]

FF: Setanta...Fevola...Betts
HF: Walker...Waite...Yarran

Excuse me.

FF: Waite Fevola Betts
HF: Walker Kreuzer Yarran

 

[blues_gibbzy]

Our major weakness is cleaarly our DISPOSAL. Both around the middle of the ground and going forward, and our set shots on goal.

We must work on our skills like Essendon has. That is why they are doing so well and why Freo started so well early in the game.

Finally, our focus must be to draft players with good foot skills. I think the following players foot skills can be questioned at times:
Jordan Russell (Improving)
Marc Murphy (Improving)
Adam Bentick
Mitch Robinson
Brad Fisher
Shaun Grigg (Improving)
Setanta OHailpin
Paul Bower
Mark Austin
Shaun Hampson
Joe Anderson
Dennis Armfield
Jordan Bannister
Simon Wiggins
Andrew Carrazzo
Aaron Joseph
Bentley

Far too many players!!

They can kick well Sentanta can on goal WITH HIS JIG!

 

[Beloved]

We simply don't run. We don't lead for the chip over the top and ask for the long bomb. That was our major weakness in the first quarter. In the second and fourh quarters, we injected some run into our game and it worked well.