What are the key areas that we need to improve to be a geninue contender

[rp84]

IMO the only thing we lack is games, I think we really saw a small insight into how good Robbie Warnock will be today he just needs a couple Pre-seasons that dont kick off with a shoulder op so he can hit the weights and build some upper body strength, I saw Robbo again really spark it in the 3rd and cant wait to see him turn games consistently, Hendo as the Second tall in the backline could be a real deal which would release a fully fit Bower to really run off the third tall, Kruize needs time to come back from his knee and he will be the perfect ruck forward as he gets to the right places creates the contest but just lacks the maturity to clunk that big mark consistently, Duigan will become a real general down back along side Jamo.

We are on the right track. No Passengers.

WanNa be positive today but mk got smashed by Leigh brown. Very worrying. One good game in two years desperatkey wants me to see him with a full preseason.

I think just bad turnovers when the game is on the line. Mitch last week. Ellard this week. F'ing terrIble.

 

[thylacine60]

This is where the improvement we come in the future. You don't win premierships without a spine.

FF - Mitchell
CHF - Henderson
CHB - McCarthy
FB - Watson.

Yet to even get to the proving ground.

 

[rp84]

Furthermore, gibbs getting a hardball and some good disposal wouldnt go astray.

Gibbs being soft in the second( softness resulted in them getting a goal from our half back line) duigAns handball, ellards out on the full were all heartbreaking.

 

[CFC16]

Yet to even get to the proving ground.

It will take time I understand that, but the future is good with the KPP we drafted.Hopefully Mitchell and McCarthy get a few games next year.

 

[CFC16]

Furthermore, gibbs getting a hardball and some good disposal wouldnt go astray.

Gibbs being soft in the second( softness resulted in them getting a goal from our half back line) duigAns handball, ellards out on the full were all heartbreaking.

Gibbs is not the player I thought he would be.

 

[Effes]

Between them today Cloke, Ball and Jolly took as many contested marks as the entire Carlton team.

Yet the player who could provide a target up forward was played on someone who NO ONE can stop at the moment. Some are even praising him for his performance yet Cloke had 7 shots on goal. Play him where he can impact the ****ing result.

Then you might not have Betts and Garlett playing as lead up forwards. What hope have you got with them playing these roles?

 

[Blue Warrior]

He and Yarran both go to the school of soft knocks wouldn't get a hard ball get stat in a season what Judd gets in one game it's all well being "silky" when there is no pressure on you but christ it sh!ts me when they don't go in hard enough and other teams score from absolute spineless crap! They need to watch Judd,Robinson,Scotland,Simpson (for a light bloke he hits it hard)and Duigan on how to hit in hard at the footy

 

[Gezim]

Carlton desperately needs a key forward is it time to bring back brendon fevola. don't see to many key forwards out there atm?

 

[mediumsizered]

Carlton desperately needs a key forward is it time to bring back brendon fevola. don't see to many key forwards out there atm?

Oh dear. What can one say?

 

[TheBlueblood]

Between them today Cloke, Ball and Jolly took as many contested marks as the entire Carlton team.

Yet the player who could provide a target up forward was played on someone who NO ONE can stop at the moment. Some are even praising him for his performance yet Cloke had 7 shots on goal. Play him where he can impact the ****ing result.

Then you might not have Betts and Garlett playing as lead up forwards. What hope have you got with them playing these roles?

i assume your talking henderson.... might be a good player forward for us later but at present if put forward doesnt present enough, doesnt contest, wont win body on body with any full back in the comp,

Does have a massive upside .. needs to bulk up and find some confidence.....damn kid ya made it to afl get some ego about ya---show some swagger

 

[incaciawin]

Sadly I don't think we will be a contender with Eddie Betts in the team....His footy smarts have taken him this far in his career, but this isn't enough when you play the good teams...0 tackles today and last week indicates an alarming lack of intensity.

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

People question marking, people question intent, people question individuals...nothing to do with it. It's all structural with lack of fit/firing KPP down the middle of the ground. We have a particular weakness in this area.

We have a considerable lack of class depth in talls. The talls we do have are highly injury prone: Jamison, Bower, Waite and Setanta... all have a poor injury record. And of slight concern with our current crop, most are just short of the size we'd really like. We dont want all of them to be monsters, but one capable monster down back or up fwd would be nice.

Essendon have the opposite problem and are going through the same thing as us...VERY up and down form. When their system works, they look great, when it breaks down, they look embarrasing...so do we (last 3 years).

Forget blaming anyone on why we are in this position but if we dont sort out our structural weakness, we will most likely be frustrated for the next 3-4 years before a rebuild. WE'll win a finals game for sure but our KPP weakness will ensure one of the remaining teams beat us comfortably.

With Jamison and Waite out, just about in every Pie matchup across the ground we gave up height. Was very weird as most of our players are playing out of their proper weight division!

They all fought hard but just dont have the right player mix to win. Seriously, even though it sounds stupid, i was hoping the mids would kick inside 50s along the ground. Eddie and Garlett kill their opponent in this situation whereas in the air, Walker, GArlett and Betts have very little chance at all...add to that a Pies third man up!

Due to whatever reason, luck or whatever, Pies have Dawes/Cloke up front, and Tarrant/OBrien/Reid/Brown down back. If two go down to injuries, they still have quality big man depth...and two have gone down for them and they dont blink. There is nothing more in it than this...AFL class big men and depth. THey have it, we dont.

PS
They also have the best game day strategy on player positioning and ball transition down the ground. This might be overcome on the day by willpower...but the lack of KPP for structure is still so incredibly important as it has been forever in AFL footy.

 

[Malifice]

A key marking forward, a bit more height in the F50, experience and belief (turnovers killed us).

We're off the pace, but its not a yawning chasm.

 

[Big Red is back]

Gibbs is not the player I thought he would be.

Gibbs was sensational

 

[Big Red is back]

If Watson hadn't played and bower started I think we may have won.

 

[ctacp]

Two words KEY FORWARD. That is all.....

Put Cloke in our forward half today we win.

Cameron or david ?...

ctacp

curlier than a catoggio pube

 

[Jeffy38!]

No more trading picks, lets build on what we have.

If we can pick up a Ashley Hansen type in the rookie draft then go for it. Until then we will have to wait for our young KPP to come on.

+ get Bower, Jamo's and Waites bodies right.

 

[mac25]

No more trading picks, lets build on what we have.

If we can pick up a Ashley Hansen type in the rookie draft then go for it. Until then we will have to wait for our young KPP to come on.

+ get Bower, Jamo's and Waites bodies right.

l would suggest a little too late for this strategy with errors with Mclean and very questionable recruitment of Warnock, clearly this years draft is quite thin and we need to target a player from another club in age range 21-24 that will address this forward deficiency, we may need to give up something but that is the system, one of major issues the club face is that Judd is a unique player and players of his standard do not come along on a frequent basis, l am of the belief we need to win one whilst he is still near his best.

 

[RattAttack]

We're not too far away....but still have 3 or 4 areas requiring improvement.

1. Disposal by foot: we cough up the ball way too often.

2. A Gorilla up forward: no sense bombing long to Betts or Garlett or Walker. Small forwards are at their best when crumbing...simple. Long term Hendo and Mitchell (and maybe Levi) will be great but let's raid the state leagues for a mid/late 20's forward to play a role for us for 2/3 years before Juddy and Waite hang up the boots.

3. Leave Kruezer in the ruck: by all means rest him up forward if need be...but don't use him as a permanent forward. He isn't one. We keep persisting with that theory and we further prolong his development as a ruckman.

4. A Plan B: this is not a slur against Ratten. I like him and he's done enough to be given another contract. But we need thoughtfully planned Plan B. Too often we go into games with a certain structure/game plan but no alternative should that not work.


All in all not too far away. The way I see it finals are still 2 months away. We get Waite, Jamo, Carrots, Russell and Hammer back and fit and we may just see ourselves peaking at the right time to do some damage.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Sadly I don't think we will be a contender with Eddie Betts in the team....His footy smarts have taken him this far in his career, but this isn't enough when you play the good teams...0 tackles today and last week indicates an alarming lack of intensity.

I was also really disappointed in Betts, have been for a while including last year at times, just think he plays behind too much and tends to outsmart himself at times resulting in too many missed opportunities or clangers. To see another week with a low tackle count is even more disappointing!! He's efforts wouldn't be tolerated in better teams!!

 

[Donstuie]

Sticks

 

[Just Kreuzing]

He and Yarran both go to the school of soft knocks wouldn't get a hard ball get stat in a season what Judd gets in one game it's all well being "silky" when there is no pressure on you but christ it sh!ts me when they don't go in hard enough and other teams score from absolute spineless crap! They need to watch Judd,Robinson,Scotland,Simpson (for a light bloke he hits it hard)and Duigan on how to hit in hard at the footy

Not sure whats up with Yarran's kicking as I have noticed him kick some absolute shockers the past few weeks which has really hurt us.

I think he needs to ensure he primary objective when playing in defense is to stop his man from scoring or getting the ball, he will need to do 2 things about this, respect where/who his opponent is and go about it in a much more physical and assertive manner. Wouldn't be a bad idea to vigorously support your fellow defenders also at times!!

 

[Pafloyul]

l would suggest a little too late for this strategy with errors with Mclean and very questionable recruitment of Warnock, clearly this years draft is quite thin and we need to target a player from another club in age range 21-24 that will address this forward deficiency, we may need to give up something but that is the system, one of major issues the club face is that Judd is a unique player and players of his standard do not come along on a frequent basis, l am of the belief we need to win one whilst he is still near his best.

Indeed, but you can't fix bad with bad.

This is about what's best for Carlton not what's best for Chris Judd. I'm all for binging in more marking strength including a tall forward but I'm more concerned with our reliance on mediocre players whenever we get a few injuries. I think we need to keep a balance of whats coming in, in terms of draft picks, with what's going out. If we can do that, and still get us a tall forward, that would be a good outcome.

 

[rp84]

Gibbs was sensational

Gibbs was very good, but several times his attack on the footy left a lot to be desired. Led to a direct goal once too. EVERY player must go when it is his turn. The pies do it and that's why they are up there. They have the confidence in their guy going in 100% and therefore winning it more often than not. Only when Gibbs adds this do or die attitude will he stop frustrating. Hate to say it, but yarran shirked a few yesterday too. Skill errors you can handle. Losing a contest due to softness deflates the whole team and nearly every supporter.

 

[rp84]

And people knocking warnock, was very good against the second best ruck duo going around. (yes, brown is a spud but extremely effective.)

He will only get bigger and more confident. When he has another 15 kilos on him, which will take another 3 or so years, he will be unstoppable.

Showed increased hardness yesterday. Very happy. Just want him to regain confidence in his kicking. Was very good last year. Just take the shot Robbie! Showed he can be serviceable up forward, and with confidence I think he will be a goal plus per game player.

Also, I feel that we will get huge improvement from kreuzer this season. Will take him time to get his legs back under him. Reckon he will need a recovery break before finals. Ideally two weeks in a row with the bye. Will do him the world of good. We will def see the hampson/ warnock combo again this year.