4 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Controversial opinion, but I think it was our best performance over the past month. Our contested game was strong, our clearance game was excellent, numbers around the contest was up, our defence looked very organised and we only gave up 6 goals. Carlton are lucky McKay actually kicked straight early or they would have been in real trouble.

Yes, our set shot kicking was awful and some of our inside 50 kicks were misguided and rushed, but if we get that many inside 50s next week with the same level of effort across the ground (contest, clearance, defence) then I think we’ll beat the Pies. 

Not controversial at all. Should have been a 7-8 goal win. Being at the ground, our structure looked as good as it's been for a while, we dominated all key KEI's except free kicks, we were winning clearances. If the win was 7-8 goals, people would be saying how we're back.

It was an ugly game and both teams had over 70 clangers. Was it the pressure or poor skill. A lot of the turnovers weren't under pressure and sorry Sparg's do the first the ng and stop running around in circles.

What has happened to our goal kicking. It cost us last week and tonight we should have buried Carlton

Last but not least is there a new rule that says it is ok to push Max fair square in the back? Jackson got away with it last week and Young put both hands in Max's back and got paid the mark. Seriously

7 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Gus is better behind the ball but he plays half back as an intercepting tall not as an aggressive two way flanker.

It’s the combination of him and Lever in the same role that I don’t like.

Some of Gus’ best footy of his career was when Lever was out last year. When they both played together it’s fantastic against bad sides but gets silly against dangerous teams.

Of course if we do get to full health with mids and flankers we can consider Gus to a wing where he gets the benefit of playing as a spare back and a mid at the same time.

Yep, that's the way I'd play him. Play him almost like a dummy wing, but play Lingers and Hunter as the true wingers. Alternatively, if we can generate a situation where Gus plays as a defensive winger at half back (filling the spots Langdon usually would), we could potentially use Hunter and Langdon as attacking two-way-running wingers.

9 minutes ago, A F said:

I agree to an extent. The dilemma will come as early as next week. We'll want to play three talls again, with Hibbo replacing Bowser, but I'm not convinced there's a good match up for Tomlinson, who remains undersized for a second key back. Maybe it's not a huge issue against Collingwood. 

Gus is a butcher in the midfield IMO and gets lost in transition, but he's so much smarter playing behind the ball. That's really his position. I felt Gus was much better when Bowser went off, because we shifted him behind the ball. He did a couple of really calm and clever things after that.

100% in agreement with brayshaw playing his best football behind the ball

our entire backline is built around players reading the play coming in so well and being able to work together

our disposal everywhere else on the ground was pretty putrid but our backline workrate and effort was first class once again

That was a very dominant performance littered with small errors throughout the whole game. 

Should have won by a lot more but didn't kick straight, Carlton were never a chance at any stage. 

Frustrating game but we competed very strongly. The defense looked great and overall the team effort was there. A bit less bombing and some better set shock kicking and this game is closer to a 30-40 whipping.

I love seeing our half backs coming up to attack in the game. Rivers, Bowey </3 and Salem look so dangerous entering inside 50. Max is also got some groove back and looked much better flying for marks. 

The best games for Langdon and Hunter too. Hunter had some inspiring defensive efforts and both of them got off the chain with their run and carry. 

Maxs best line....

Amazing that the King and Queen have a birthday on the same weekend.

Btw, another thing I noticed tonight was we played a hybrid 1v1/zone across the first 20-30m. We definitely played tighter if not on a man, very close to it, and played a zone directly behind it (30-40m) and then 1v1s. We've definitely tweaked this.

We did lose this shape when Carlton transitioned to the other side of the ground a couple of times. We simply played zone on transition. We'd have to continue this 1v1 set up in transition against a good kicking team like Collingwood. But could afford to go zone against Carlton, who butchered the ball at times.

It'll be fascinating to see how we defend stationary plays from our half forward on KB.

Also, another thing, we were mixing up our kick outs a lot more. Lots of shorter kicks to 35m out and either handball receives to get it to the edge of the centre square (our attacking side) with a longer kick (centrally), or another change of angle from the first shorter kick out, into the corridor or close to centre wing.

Our ball movement was a little predictable at times (a little too often we went long to contests - mostly to Max 1v2 or 3), but nowhere near as bad as last week. And I think early on in the game, we were better at lowering the eyes and looking for lead up targets, who would often not mark.

Edited June 2, 20231 yr by A F

We had a win!

We’ve found some great young players this year, who look to be 100-200 game players.

We’ve got players coming back from long term injuries like Salem and Grundy who look better every week.

There’s work to be done, but it’s the 1st of June. We have months to get our game plan humming. 

19 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Controversial opinion, but I think it was our best performance over the past month. Our contested game was strong, our clearance game was excellent, numbers around the contest was up, our defence looked very organised and we only gave up 6 goals. Carlton are lucky McKay actually kicked straight early or they would have been in real trouble.

Yes, our set shot kicking was awful and some of our inside 50 kicks were misguided and rushed, but if we get that many inside 50s next week with the same level of effort across the ground (contest, clearance, defence) then I think we’ll beat the Pies. 

Not only that, but to have the statistical dominance we did when free kicks are 22-13 takes some doing. That equates to 9 one on one contest wins at all points over the ground - huge differential 

Just finished watching the game, finished work late so thanks to KAYO. Well i’m in the minority because I enjoyed that.

I think tonight we moved the ball quicker, used the corridor more, tried hitting up targets rather than just bomb it fwd and yes we missed a few. Started to slacken off in 2nd half and reverted to old ways. Fwds worked to create space for each other. Disappointing that for the first 6-8 weeks we were the most accurate side then tonight we kicked 8.13. Missing 10 set shots. ANB kicking a goal after putting himself front and centre, what a concept. Our fwds at times need to play in front more. 
Fritsch missed a couple early but finished strongly, love his marks. Was really impressed Sparrow, Rivers, McVee, Bowey, Salem and May. Petracca’s best game for the year, Kozi quiet again. Fast footy comes with turnovers but we defended really well. 

Interesting one to analyse that, absolute statistical dominance, looked alright going inside 50 and our defensive structure was very sound. Jake and Steve starting to look more like their 2021 version (definitely helped by the third tall) and our small defender brigade were excellent. Trent Rivers is in some seriously good form at the moment. 

However it was a little Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at times. Would be lying if I said i wasn't pulling my hair out at some of those passages of play. Poor disposal efficiency and an inability to convert certainly leaves room for some improvement. 

Collingwood is going to be the real test. Always good to bank the 4 points but we've got a chance to really prove ourselves in 9 days time. It's felt like we haven't stood up on the bigger stages this year against the better teams, no better chance to prove the doubters wrong than in front of 90,000 plus at the G against easily the best team in it. I'm not exactly confident but I guess we will all wait and see. 

At the end of the day four points was good to get.    When we play them again later in the season I want to see us smash them.

On the way home I looked forward to listening to 3AW to Carlton fans bagging out on their side. I was almost disappointed. I expected more. Ah well. 

Still, feels like a good rest of a weekend coming up. GO THE DEES.

10 minutes ago, Tom Dyson said:

Jake and Steve starting to look more like their 2021 version (definitely helped by the third tall) and our small defender brigade were excellent.

I really like the sound of ‘’Jake and Steve’. It has a real no nonsense, 1980’s Belfast ring to it.

‘Sent out Jake and Steve. Job done. Don’t ask no questions.’

1 hour ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

 Very soundly. McKay nearly kicked 50% of the blues score. 

Thought Tomlinson was poor tonight and poor against the bombers. I’d be getting games into Turner. 

I reckon you’d go well on Mckay.

Wasn’t able to watch the game tonight. Was about to watch the replay, but according to many here it seems my face might melt like the dudes at the end of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. 

And how good is it to see May back on song? Al dente. 

42 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Carlton’s pressure was very solid early but we stuck to attacking guns and switched it more tonight than in the last month. Even some corridor kick ins!

What I also loved is the backline mostly came forward and defended far higher and grew in confidence. Far less sitting back. 

Then Carlton got stuck in the turnover cycle, butchering it more and more so less and less unable to pressure. 

We were getting a lot more of that high press again and our defenders taking intercept marks outside our forward 50 again. Was good to see.

43 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

If we persist with Petty up forward. You have to go May, Tommo , Lever. Lever looks so much more dangerous as the 3rd tall.
 

Also Kozzy needs a kick up the backside. He is incredibly out of form and has very little impact on the game for such a good player. Had a weird matchup today and couldn’t really out manoeuvre his oversized opponent. 

Sometimes I wish he'd just get front and square instead of trying go fly like Superman.

4 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Wasn’t able to watch the game tonight. Was about to watch the replay, but according to many here it seems my face might melt like the dudes at the end of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. 

All you need.

https://www.afl.com.au/video/941427/highlights-melbourne-v-carlton?videoId=941427&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1685709620001

 

1 minute ago, layzie said:

Sometimes I wish he'd just get front and square instead of trying go fly like Superman.

It’s a real big deficiency in his game atm.

Edited June 2, 20231 yr by Gawndy the Great

14 minutes ago, layzie said:

Sometimes I wish he'd just get front and square instead of trying go fly like Superman.

To be fair to Kozzy, he's often front and square, but he also tries to go for the spectacular at least once every game. I don't mind this, because I'd rather him flying for the ball, than allowing his opponent to intercept. 

When Kozzy flies for the ball, he can usually spring straight back up, ready to compete for the ground ball. Sure, he's out of the play for an initial crumb, but bringing the ball to ground is more vital IMO.

Edited June 2, 20231 yr by A F

2 minutes ago, A F said:

To be fair to Kozzy, he's often front and square, but he also tries to go for the specular at least once every game. I don't mind this, because I'd rather him flying for the ball, than allowing his opponent to intercept. 

When Kozzy flies for the ball, he can usually spring straight back up, ready to compete for the ground ball. Sure, he's out of the play for an initial crumb, but bringing the ball to ground is more vital IMO.

That's probably true. Just wasn't an easy night for the opportunity forwards.

I'm going to retract my previous comments about Carlton's list.

Their elite, top end talent is excellent and they have a very good spine, but the talent drops away dramatically after this and it's exacerbated by a coach who has no feel for the modern game or a robust defensive system that is needed in 2023.

And... I'm loving it.

Just now, A F said:

I'm going to retract my previous comments about Carlton's list.

Their elite, top end talent is excellent and they have a very good spine, but the talent drops away dramatically after this and it's exacerbated by a coach who has no feel for the modern game or a robust defensive system that is needed in 2023.

And... I'm loving it.

They're like a world class ship with a really bad rudder