Toast Peaking duck

[Alpha1]

All our wins have been dirty, we have played crap and still won, most of our spine has been out injured. Our kicking for goal hasn't been very good, if we look at the last 5 rounds we are still tweaking the game plan, team setup etc.

The facts are we are 14 points and sitting fourth on the ladder, and remember we have not been playing great football. But the signs are there, that once we get our best players on the field we will give the top 5 - 6 a real shake.

A few players are still down on form or rusty, or aren't match fit as yet. In my opinion we are missing Krueuzer badly at the moment, a few of our guys are down on form or confidence.

Bower is another one we are missing, but its good we have a few options to cover for Bower, there are a lot of positives there.

Gibbs is the most important, we need to get him back up and confident, maybe the MC should just set him free and let the other team tag Gibbs for once.

Eddie is starting to come good, he had an ok game against the Crows, would be a good idea to move him into the middle and get him to hunt the ball and get his confidence up.

And it's always a good idea not to peak too early, its only the end of April and a long way to go yet.

Remember all our wins have been hard slogs, not pretty, we were lucky with the draw and the win against Adelaide, but hey I will take it, 14 points is 14 points and no one can take that away.

 

[BlueMania]

Peaking is the magic word here Alpha. Coming up to the finals, we should have all of our kpp back and finding some really good form. I am happy with where we are at when I look at the ladder, hope geelong win today though.

 

[Poseidon]

I hope Geelong win today so we remain in the top 4. I think we're doing okay considering how poorly we've played in a couple games. I predict another scrappy contest this Friday.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

You plan to peak at the right time but don't plan to be patchy early by the same token. However, I would like to point to Collingwood early in 2010. In Round 2, they beat Melbourne by 1 point and really should have lost it. In Round 3, they were suffocated by St Kilda by 28 points (nice margin) and that was after the Saints lost Riewoldt when he tore his hamstring off the bone.

It really started coming together for them after that, but they still had a two game lapse midseason where they lost to Geelong and Brisbane.

After that game against Melbourne in round 2, I all but wrote off their chances as again being 'near enough but not good enough.' Last year was tough to take because I just kept subsconsciously thinking of that Melbourne match and expected their fragility to be exposed.

This is where we are at. We are still getting the points, without having produced a performance such as our more recent wins over Geelong and St Kilda. It has not all come together once this year (GC game can not possibly count) but it has to at some point. Maybe when it does, we will be able to sustain it for more than a game or two.

Right now we have more steel in this side. Structure and ability to perform on the day are our main issues right now.

Alpha, haven't you been critical of our performances to date? Change of heart? Done some soul searching?

 

[Alpha1]

You plan to peak at the right time but don't plan to be patchy early by the same token. However, I would like to point to Collingwood early in 2010. In Round 2, they beat Melbourne by 1 point and really should have lost it. In Round 3, they were suffocated by St Kilda by 28 points (nice margin) and that was after the Saints lost Riewoldt when he tore his hamstring off the bone.

It really started coming together for them after that, but they still had a two game lapse midseason where they lost to Geelong and Brisbane.

After that game against Melbourne in round 2, I all but wrote off their chances as again being 'near enough but not good enough.' Last year was tough to take because I just kept subsconsciously thinking of that Melbourne match and expected their fragility to be exposed.

This is where we are at. We are still getting the points, without having produced a performance such as our more recent wins over Geelong and St Kilda. It has not all come together once this year (GC game can not possibly count) but it has to at some point. Maybe when it does, we will be able to sustain it for more than a game or two.

Right now we have more steel in this side. Structure and ability to perform on the day are our main issues right now.

Alpha, haven't you been critical of our performances to date? Change of heart? Done some soul searching?

Yes I have been critical, but critical of our skills and players who have not improved, I don't mind winning dirty as they say, but when our skills are one of the biggest reasons that teams get back into games against us that hurts.

I am not asking that every disposal is 100% but you cannot be a good team when you turn the ball over constantly, or are carrying too many players who hurt the team with their disposals.

I have been critical of Gibbs this week as well, it's only because it frustrates the hell out of me that this kid is an out and out star, but yet he seems to be playing with no hunger, he is in cruise control.

When I see guys like Ellard, Army, Garlett, Curnow etc who are in no way as talented as Gibbs giving it 110% it does make me wonder about Gibbs.

 

[HARKER]

Many more positives than negatives for mine.
Let's also not forget just how important Duigan and Laidler have been for our backline.
They may not exactly have set the world on fire but they've blended in seamlessly to our stucture, as for Curnow: He could not have come at a better time
These three boys alone have made us stronger and a lot more aggressive for the ball.

Hampson, Henderson and Betts will only get better this year and we won't be going backwards for the inclusion of Kreuzer and Bower.

It really does come to injuries for us and somewhat more than many other clubs.
We cannot just cover for a premium ruck-man, our CHB and our CHF.

For now, so far so good and our overall intent and endeavour is up 20% on last year.

 

[bobsyouruncle]

For now, so far so good and our overall intent and endeavour is up 20% on last year.

Lol exactly 20%?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Yes I have been critical, but critical of our skills and players who have not improved, I don't mind winning dirty as they say, but when our skills are one of the biggest reasons that teams get back into games against us that hurts.

You might want to seek solace in the Freo v Dogs game last night. Worst exhibition of skills I have seen. Fair dinkum looked like wet weather football with the amount of shanked kicks, fumbling, spilled marks and errant handballs. At least some of our top 4 competition are struggling with their skills at times also.

 

[Alpha1]

Didn't watch that game, but our skills have always been my pet hate, we seem to be trying to fix that with players like Yarran etc, still it pisses me off when we let other teams back into the game with cheap goals because of our disposal skills.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Watch it Alpha, particularly the third quarter. It will give you perspective. It is not just us and it is not necessarily a permanent problem.

 

[Alpha1]

I shall, but don't you think are skills haven't been very good for a few years now? This hasn't just happened.

 

[TNBT]

Many more positives than negatives for mine.
Let's also not forget just how important Duigan and Laidler have been for our backline.
They may not exactly have set the world on fire but they've blended in seamlessly to our stucture, as for Curnow: He could not have come at a better time
These three boys alone have made us stronger and a lot more aggressive for the ball.

Hampson, Henderson and Betts will only get better this year and we won't be going backwards for the inclusion of Kreuzer and Bower.

It really does come to injuries for us and somewhat more than many other clubs.
We cannot just cover for a premium ruck-man, our CHB and our CHF.

For now, so far so good and our overall intent and endeavour is up 20% on last year.

I second this post. Laidler and Duigan are not superstars, and I think it's fair to say that not many non-Carlton people expected them to have much of an impact at all, but they have been really solid for us so far, and are fitting in well in the backline. They're really making it difficult for the MC to drop either of them to get Bower, Watson or anyone else into the side.

As for Curnow, I agree that he has been a revelation and has come right when we needed him. I still think Brock McLean is a top-quality inside midfielder, but you can never been too sure about how long he will play without injuries coming into it. We needed another tough, bottom-of-the-pack inside midfielder to provide us some depth and to come in and have an impact, and we got 3 of them. Ellard and Robinson are looking great in there, and Curnow just attacks the footy with such heart and dedication. There are a few other guys in the team who could benefit from watching him work, with Gibbs being the obvious one.

I agree that Henderson and Betts will improve as the year goes on, as you said. Henderson is a really talented CHF who can take a mark and kick some goals for us, and Betts will start hitting the scoreboard harder as his confidence and form improve. As for Hampson though, I'm not holding my breath. I was a big supporter of his previously because that combination of size and athleticism is just so mouth-watering, but the more I see of him, the more I'm reminded that I don't think he has ever really shown any football ability other than in short bursts here and there. If he does come good though, that would be an extra string to our bow, but I'm not expecting or relying on it.

Kreuzer and Bower will be big inclusions for us as well, and hopefully we can get a couple of games into some of the young blokes along the way as well.

You said that injuries are going to be one of the deciding factors for this team, and I really agree with you there as well. With a fully healthy team, I think we are EASILY a top 4 team. If we get a good run with injuries, we could beat almost anyone. If they hit us hard though, we could be in real trouble. I think the ability (or lack of) to keep everyone fit and on the park is the major key to our season.

 

[juddsentant517]

I'm all for positive, but lets take into account our wins have been over Richmond, Gold Coast and Adelaide, who have 3 wins between them, and we have lost/drew to two teams that are better/equal to us.

We can only beat the teams that we come across, but lets not get too excited. At the end of the day it comes down to the teams better/equal to us.

 

[Alpha1]

Well this week is going to be important for us, we need to break the hoodoo the Swans have over us, if we can get a win over them over there, I will be happy.

The Swans are slightly better than us and have had it over us for decades now, big game on Friday, we win it, it will break the mental hold teams like this have on us and give us a boost going into the next few weeks.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I shall, but don't you think are skills haven't been very good for a few years now? This hasn't just happened.

Our skills were bad when we were bad. Our gameplan in the last couple of seasons has been to play on, run and support. A high risk, high return game, and it has taken time to really look good at it and do it consistently.

As we get better players in the team, our skills should progressively pick up. We have a few players who lack polish and soon will only be able to carry a couple of them in a game.

 

[Alpha1]

Well the move of Yarran to the HBF has been a great move, gives us polish and creativity from the back line, if we can get Gibbs firing as well he will only add to and compliment Yarrans disposal skills.

 

[The Real Deal]

the last couple of years we've always had 3-4 of our best 22 out- I'd love to see how we'll go with all of them in. If you add Kreuzer, Henderson, Bower and McLean is our list really that far off Collingwoods? I think not.

 

[HARKER]

I shall, but don't you think are skills haven't been very good for a few years now? This hasn't just happened.

you know the funny thing though, Alpha?

Some of our poor skills are a lot closer to being right than they used to be?
Watch Saturdays game again and see just how many kicks missed their mark by less than a metre and especially when going forward.
Had have we had pin-point passes Walker and Waite would have kicked 6 each. (Yes, both did miss some easy marks also)

That may not excite everyone but the same kicks used to miss by 3 metres only last year.
Getting there but only by inches at a time, it seems.

Russell: Best served kicking 40mt.+ kicks. Leave those 20mt. things to someone else Jordan. Handpass instead, mate.
Warnock: Usually a straight kick, but Saturday was not his best foot skills showing.
Judd: I hate to tell a champ to learn how to hold the ball. What was that kicking action about?
Garlett: Again, much better kick than he displayed on Saturday. Weird showing.

Several others also unusually sloppy, but the endeavour largely covered the mistakes.

To be honest, Saturday's match could almost have been over in the first quarter had have we kicked just a little better.
2 posters in one quarter tells you the story there.

 

[HARKER]

the last couple of years we've always had 3-4 of our best 22 out- I'd love to see how we'll go with all of them in. If you add Kreuzer, Henderson, Bower and McLean is our list really that far off Collingwoods? I think not.

Exactly.

Get those guys at the ready and take several keys away from Collingwood, and tell me we haven't got any shot.

O.K. we may not have taken much notice of Guns's observations at Visy, but have we the best medical department, because whatever Collingwood do to keep all their boys on the park, I want some of.

 

[Alpha1]

Agree Harks I am not too worried about Garlett, Warnock missing a few targets, they rarely do it. Judd was a shockers on the weekend that is the worst I have seen him kick, don't know what happened there.

I am talking about players who can't hit a target 20 meters away under no pressure and turning the ball over for a free goal. Or the handballs to the feet of players which ends up putting them under pressure, or the hospital handballs.

I know everything can't be perfect all of the time, the problems I have is that it has been happening for a while now.

 

[HARKER]

As we get better players in the team, our skills should progressively pick up. We have a few players who lack polish and soon will only be able to carry a couple of them in a game.

I don't really think it's as much a case of clearing players, but rather having them work within their limitations.

As long as we have Yarran, Duigan, Laidler and the like running through, let's use them.
Create the space and then protect the man to execute the kick.

 

[HARKER]

Agree Harks I am not too worried about Garlett, Warnock missing a few targets, they rarely do it. Judd was a shockers on the weekend that is the worst I have seen him kick, don't know what happened there.

I am talking about players who can't hit a target 20 meters away under no pressure and turning the ball over for a free goal. Or the handballs to the feet of players which ends up putting them under pressure, or the hospital handballs.

I know everything can't be perfect all of the time, the problems I have is that it has been happening for a while now.

No, it will never be perfect but we do have some quality still to find their way back into our side.
Houlihan may or may not make the difference this year, but he does slow the game down in a good way (Non-Thronton like)

I was excited through the off-season to see what a revelation a rebounding back-line made to our forward line, yet we haven't seen the best of it just yet.
We finally have a back six that will run and run which does throw the opposing backs off kilter with the mix of dangerous talls and smalls we currently have up forward along with our running mids prepared to take the goals on.

We may not exactly be able to fix some of our shortfalls but that shouldn't halt us from working to our strengths.
Some of our running on Saturday was exhilerating

 

[Alpha1]

The first quarter was awesome, the way we dominated them from the back line, Garlett's run through the back line was awesome, he used his skills he would normally use in the forward half in the back half this time.

 

[audas]

Aren't most teams in the same position as we are in ? We are not alone in having players coming back, not peaking etc.

People need to wake up to Eddie - his nick name - JUNK TIME is there for a reason. His goals ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR were in junk time, either the match was entirely lost or in the bag before eddie shows up. Eddie is a liability - needs to be dropped. Being able to tackle is absolutely not good enough for a forward - he must be able to score.

Andrew Walker should take Eddies place permanently - Eddie needs to find something new - but he has finally been found out with people catching on regarding his football issues - can only score when the opposition has shut the gate.

The blues have a serious, serious issue with both their forward line and back line. Have had for years. Brining back Kruzer is not going to solve this - and until it is solved - we are in trouble.

Henderson showed us GLIMPSES last year - that was all. He was looking good but in no way had cemented his position or garnered respect outside our own club. Anyone who has seen him in the reserves would have understood what a mistake it was to bring him back - there is something really wrong with him, or, he fluked it last year.

Right now we are being carried by our juniors and rookies and little men - (Yarren, Garlett, Murphy), while senior players and big men failing miserably.

Kruze will make a difference but it really worries me how much pressure is already being placed on him through expectation.

I can see the Blues coping a serious thrashing - right now we are falling over the line, I can see this easily reverting to falling at the last hurdle.

 

[Poseidon]

I think our backs have been pretty impressive the last couple of weeks especially considering we were lacking any real genuine height aside from Jamo vs. the Crows.