What is our Weakness?

[GordonBlue]

To me, this is the biggest sign of improvement... when I can't put a finger on what our weakness is.

Start of the year, I would've definitely said the forward line, but I think our forward line is a great mix. I think we have a perfect balance of talls & smalls... ability in the air and ground level... it has pace and tackling pressure. It is unpredictable. I can't fault it

Our Defence (minus the hiccup against Collingwood) has been first class, even with injuries and form issues with several players. PLayers such as Russell and Armfield have not had a single poor game so far. Jamo has been Elite. The inclusions of White and Lucas has given us depth, options and ball winning ability.

Our Midfield we know is strong. With Judd in there were are among the best. Houla, Scotto, Simmo and Carrots are the ones that have really stood up.

Our rucks have also been terrific. Warnock was dropped after playing a pretty good game cause we had another in the 2nd dominating and deserved a go. Sauce is now outperforming Warnock. And Warnock is dominating in the 2s. Kreuzer has had a very solid year. And we still go Hammo who will play his first game this year in the 2s.

So I ask the question, What part of the ground are we weak or is the weakest?

Actually, what part of the team is weak or the weakest? i.e. Highest, marking ability, speed etc?

I just can't say anything in particular... which is probably the best feeling you can have when analysing your team.

 

[krayfesh]

One more on every line.

The big forward. Speedy midfielder. Big KPD.

Trade one in, pick up Dylan Buckley, hope Austin comes through.

There's always improvements to make.

 

[jj1978]

Consistancy/Maturity

 

[GordonBlue]

One more on every line.

The big forward. Speedy midfielder. Big KPD.

Trade one in, pick up Dylan Buckley, hope Austin comes through.

There's always improvements to make.

Is there a part of the ground where we are weakest between Defence, Forward, Midfield and Rucks?

 

[krayfesh]

Wouldn't call it a weakness.

Just need one more quality player on every line.

 

[Stamos]

I think we have 3 main weaknesses:

1. Consistency. Witness the Essendon and Collingwood games.

2. Keeping key defenders fit - Bower, Walker, Jamo (last year)

3. Mid-field defensive work. This is in two areas, the ability to stop an opposition mid-field when they get a run on eg against Brisbane (in round 2, and in the final last year) and Collingwood, and also the blocking and shepherding pressure and tackling, which is often lacking.

 

[zeeCFC]

I think we have 3 main weaknesses:

1. Consistency. Witness the Essendon and Collingwood games.

2. Keeping key defenders fit - Bower, Walker, Jamo (last year)

3. Mid-field defensive work. This is in two areas, the ability to stop an opposition mid-field when they get a run on eg against Brisbane (in round 2, and in the final last year) and Collingwood, and also the blocking and shepherding pressure and tackling, which is often lacking.

this

 

[GordonBlue]

Consistency is a key

Midfield defensive work is something I have noticed we have improved alot. The games against Brisbane and Collingwood highlight consistency/maturity more than anything... cause for significant periods of those games we actually did do alot of defensive work through our midfield. I think it's the lapse of concentration that gets us. And again that goes back to consistency/maturity

As the Brisbane and Collingwood games showed... we will have the quarters or halfs or 5 minutes spurts that we get completely dominated... but we saw this in nearly every game last year... win or loss... what we hardly saw last year was the ability to make sure the opposition never get a sniff or a roll on... we have seen it twice this year... against the best two sides. The amount of times at both the cats and saints games I was thinking "they're gonna come back now" and never happened shows that our ability to concentrate for the full 4 quarters has improved alot... and ofcourse that comes with maturity...

Is Consistency/Maturity is our only real weakness... then boy are we in for some fun in the very very near future

 

[NAUGHT5]

I'd like to see us be a bit more intimidating and ruthless.

Should come with a bit more experience.

 

[Jeremias]

Consistency.

We have shown that at our best we can more than match it with the best teams going around, only to lose to a bottom 4 side.

 

[Dennis]

Midfield refuses to help out in defence

Maybe Simpson gets a pass card, but you rarely see Judd, Murphy, etc floating across a pack to chop out the defenders or run throughthe HB line

 

[Kramer1]

Defence is still a weakness of sorts. Related to injuries in part, but we don't have a second lock down defender to compliment Jamo, and the potential for opposition KPF to get away from us still exists. Defensive structure still keeps me on the edge of the seat fairly often...still not particularly fluid comng out of defense.

General field kicking has improved, but we would be mid table at very best.

I think we still ahve a long way to go with team work. We are getting by on intensity right now, but I think we can do a lot more in the way of one percenters. Blocks, knock-ons, shepherds, putting in the extra burst to make a contest and help a team mate. A lot of this will come in time as the group matures together, but I just don't see our guys busting ass to help each other out often enough.

 

[Faz 2000]

No side is without weakness, and we are definitely on a sweeeeet upward curve, however I'd describe out weaknesses as the following:

1. Skills. We lack elite disposers of the ball and also carry too many players in our best 22 who cause us to shudder when they kick it.

2. Reliance on key players. Let's face it, our team looks far sh!ttier when Judd's not playing. And the backline would be poo without Bower and Jamison in it, and neither is famous for their ability to string games together.

3. No dominant big forward. Self explanatory. As positive as Setant has been, we still don't have a matchwinning big forward.

4. Consistency. If Judd is tagged out of it, or Gibbs has a shocker or Waite turns in one of his stinkers, we can look pretty ordinary. Likewise there's plenty of youngsters like Garlett, Yarran, Armfield, Lucas, Joseph who can be very good or very very bad on a given day.

But whilst this might come across as negative, let's reiterate: there are no teams without a weakness. Geelong aren't fast, and are really getting on in age. Their key forwards are also workmanlike, rather than stars. St Kilda have no forward line without Riewoldt (he's hurt or something... you may have heard about it), and rely heavily on Lenny Hayes to show them what to do. Collingwood are probably one of the most even sides, but their big forwards are hit and miss, and they would seem to lack a superstar midfielder, though Dane Swan is probably at that level these days. Fremantle wear purple, and look decidedly less great if/when Pav and Sandi aren't playing. They also have an inate ability to screw things up when it matters.

To be fair (and god it sickens me to say), Collingwood appear to have the least weaknesses at the moment.

 

[GordonBlue]

^^^ I think Collingwood's ruck department isn't the best. After Jolly who is above average and is 28, then it's Fraser and Wood who are both average

 

[Stamos]

Collingwood's biggest weakness is they don't have any guns. When the chips are down in finals, it's the guns who drag you across the line.

 

[Alice]

Agree with most of this.... I'd add a linking backman with poise and precision kicking - similar to a Mcleod. I know Russell's improving, as is Army and co but that one bloke who gets it and regularly sets up goals.

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

A combination of Krayfeshs, Kramers, and Faz's post sums up things best if you want to focus on Carlton's weaknesses.

ATM, we're ripping it, so they dont look as important as they usually do.

 

[happydude]

Our kicking in gives me head aches!

 

[Silvagnis]

Midfield refuses to help out in defence

Maybe Simpson gets a pass card, but you rarely see Judd, Murphy, etc floating across a pack to chop out the defenders or run throughthe HB line

 

[Silvagnis]

Consistancy/Maturity

That plus the fact we only have one Jordan Russell.

 

[The Panther]

Your biggest weakness is your midfielders only run 1 way. When the opposition's midfielders are running forward, Carlton's midfielders are looking for the easy kick.

 

[happydude]

Your biggest weakness is your midfielders only run 1 way. When the opposition's midfielders are running forward, Carlton's midfielders are looking for the easy kick.

I never thought i would agree with a pies supporter... but there it is.

 

[goreds]

Your biggest weakness is your midfielders only run 1 way. When the opposition's midfielders are running forward, Carlton's midfielders are looking for the easy kick.

Pretty close...

I think its more they wont sacrifice themselves for their teammate...

The only time it has happened this year was against your mob and it was only for a qtr...

Once they get consistant in running as a team in both directions, their skill levels will put them in the top 3 teams in the competition with Geelong and the Bullies...

 

[GordonBlue]

Your biggest weakness is your midfielders only run 1 way. When the opposition's midfielders are running forward, Carlton's midfielders are looking for the easy kick.

I never thought i would agree with a pies supporter... but there it is.

Not true... this is just media speculation and people just run with it... I think it was Grant Thomas who mentioned it first and every time we lose that comes up... yes it happened a few times last year... but definitely not this year...

When your a team that takes risk and tries to break lines, you're ound to turn the ball over here and there... and those turn over place the rest of the team out of position... giving an easy avenue to scoring... it's a price you pay when you're trying to play a game plan you haven't played before...

I think we have midfielders that run all day to make sure they defend and attack... and the more we play and emphasise on that... the better we will get at it...

there are games where you just get simply out pressured... which is what happened in the collingwood game... but I think we're taking away from collingwood pressure and effort if we're gonna say its because we didn't run the other way....

Yes midway through the last quarter... our players were hardly trying... but that was due to exhaustion of attempting to get back into the game in which Collingwood played unbelievably well...

It's an area to improve on... but it's not a weakness of ours imo

 

[The Panther]

The only time it has happened this year was against your mob and it was only for a qtr...

Essendon toyed with you on the fast break for 4 quarters. The likes of Carazzo & Simpson refuse to be accountable when their opposition midfielders run forward.

Against sides who are well structured, disciplined & work hard off the ball (i.e. Adelaide last year), Carlton play ordinary football. Your best shot is when teams want to have a shoot out with you.