The Tackle: Carlton and Richmond in crisis, but can Geelong still win the premiership?
EXTENDED VERSION: THE crisis on the field at Richmond and Carlton has no boundaries, says Mark Robinson. Replay Robbo’s live chat
Mark Robinson
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THE crisis on the field at Richmond and Carlton has no boundaries.
The two powerhouses who played off in last year’s elimination final sit on three and four wins respectively.
Their seasons are a debacle.
The hopes of Tigers improving in 2014 were strong.
Mick Malthouse’s hopes at Carlton were stronger.
He said his team was approaching his premiership window which is opened between 11pm and 1am.
The Blues are somewhere near 5.17pm.
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Yesterday’s loss to Greater Western Sydney means they have been defeated by three of the bottom four sides this year.
It’s difficult to push for the premiership window, if you can’t beat the bottom dwellers.
The Blues don’t know where they are.
If theY do, they’re not being honest with their fans.
Malthouse said last week his team was playing good football and the list didn’t need a major overhaul. Then they lose to the Giants.
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The problem is Carlton can challenge the better teams, but succumb to teams who they are expected to beat, which means the Blues aren’t mentally capable at the moment.
Malthouse is a coach who mostly gets his team to play with supreme effort.
It’s why he is a coaching great.
He can’t get anything like consistency at Carlton.
It’s why there are mixed messages.
While Malthouse says the list won’t be severely culled, Blues fans would argue differently.
Richmond fans are worse.
They are disillusioned and defeated. They are protesting with their absence from games, which is killing the club’s profitability.
If they lose to St Kilda this weekend, the wooden spoon is banging on the Punt Rd door.
This from a team which won 15 games last year and narrowly missed a top four finish.
Next week they play the bottom-of-the-table Brisbane.
It doesn’t have to be said, but two losses would rate this season as perhaps Richmond’s worst in its history.
They have won the wooden spoon before, but were the expectations in those seasons as high as they were going into this season?
The Tigers’ historians would need to tell us that.
On Friday night, the effort was there, but the talent was not.
They defended strongly and maintained the ball, but kicked one goal in the second half.
It would seem the Tigers have been crushed so much this season, their games are being judged by effort.
Last season, they were judged in the win/loss column.
In what’s left of their season, the next two matches are critical.
Two losses and the self-examination will be fierce, if it hasn’t already started.
CONFIDENCE IN CATS HARD TO MAINTAIN
Go on, say it. The Cats can’t win the flag.
Say it again. The Cats can’t win the flag.
Say it as many times you like, but you won’t be able to convince yourself to absolutely believe it.
The commentary on Sunday was all about Geelong after they were scorched by the show-timers on the Gold Coast, but no one was definitive enough to call it.
Six and half seasons of professionalism, of will power and of self belief does that.
Still, the Cats might be a good side, but they aren’t playing good footy against the teams which matter most.
They have lost four games this season — to Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Sydney and now Gold Coast.
Three of them sit above them on the ladder, while the Suns are a game behind.
Their significant victories came against Hawthorn, Collingwood and North Melbourne. Of the rest, they scraped over Carlton and just held off Richmond. And they beat the others as they should have.
We know why we can’t write them off, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain your confidence that they can actually win it.
Genuine premiership threats win on the road.
This year the Cats are 1-4. Last year, they went 4-1. The year before, when put out on elimination final weekend, they went 1-4.
The season before that, the 2011 premiership, they had a 4-1 record on the road.
Certainly, the interstate win-loss result is not the be all and end all, but there’s a trend for Geelong.
The last two losses have raised serious questions. The 110-point loss to Sydney was a once in a decade defeat but the loss to the Suns on Saturday night was most un-Geelong like.
The Suns kicked eight successive goals either side of three-quarter time.
Remember also the Port Adelaide loss. That was by 40 points. If it wasn’t Geelong, you’d accuse them of giving up in all three matches.
Coach Chris Scott said the scoreline on Saturday night blew out because the Cats tried to chase victory rather than fatigue.
The facts is, no matter if you’re chasing victory or defending to the death, or whether you’re fatigued or running on the top of the ground, the fact is the Gold Coast munched Geelong for a quarter and a half.
The game was over early in the final quarter because Geelong didn’t have the weapons to compete.
Always when they lose, the query is leg speed. It’s a cop out most times, but not on Saturday night.
As the Cats battled to compete, Harley Bennell, Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Jarrrod Harbrow, David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara time and again found themselves streaming downfield with numbers in support.
Shane Kersten was a positive as the second key forward behind Tom Hawkins and that combination may well decide whether the Cats can make top four or run with the pack below it.
Steve Motlop continued his climb to full fitness and full output and Allen Christiansen was solid, so there’s some light.
Joel Selwood found significant ball for the first time in three matches and Steve Johnson too, but they went at 54 per cent and 56 per cent efficiency, which means they were sloppy.
There are other queries. Players such as Billie Smedts, Jordan Murdoch and Josh Walker, well they flash in and flash out, and Walker at this stage of his career barely flashes at all.
Overall, the attitude is an issue. That Cats once were warriors. Now they are pedestrian.
Of all the stats that count other than the scoreboard, it has to be contested ball.
From Rounds 1-5, they won the contested ball in every game. Since then they have won it in just two of eight games.
The seven times they won the contested ball produced seven victories.
It’s plainly obvious what has to be a priority.
So, can the Cats win it? If I had $100 to bet, I’d learn towards no.
LIKES
1. Harley Bennell. This knockabout off the field is a genius on it. He has those special talents: Poise, time, skill and confidence. If he can find the consistency he will be absolutely elite. Playing mainly forward this year after missing the first six weeks with a calf injury, he has kicked 21 goals in seven games. He will become a goalkicking midfielder and what makes it even scarier; his return to the middle will mean Jaeger O’Meara will be the fourth best midfielder behind Ablett, Bennell and Prestia. Be afraid people, be very afraid.
2. Jay Schulz. On less than half the pay packet as some key forwards, yet Schulz keeps delivering. He kicked another eight on the weekend and he’s just so trustworthy with the ball in his hands. Schulz leads the Coleman with 43.10, which makes a mate of mind happy. He made a series of bets which included Schulz to win the Coleman, Gary Ablett to win the Brownlow, and either of Sydney, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide or Fremantle to win the flag. “’Eight goals and two votes,” he said on Saturday night. Worst result is just over $2K.
3. Brad Sewell. Might be biased because he’s part of the family — AFL360 family that is — yet Sewell deserves recognition. Career was teetering because of a hamstring which wouldn’t go away, but his efforts on Saturday was enough to say Sewell remains as important to the Hawks as ever. No Mitchell, Hodge playing midfield and defence, it was left to Sewell, Smith, Hill and Lewis to wage war in the midfield. Sewell was terrific with 26 disposals, a game-high seven inside 50s, and 20 bruises and abrasions.
4. Goddard and Hibberd. With Jobe Watson down, the Bombers needed leadership. Goddard has provided it two weeks in-a-row and his words after the game that it was “us against the world” spoke of the siege mentality among the players. It can work as a philosophy, but it can be mentally draining. The other player was Michael Hibberd. Took a big knock to a leg, but he played out the game and surely will be in the Brownlow Medal votes. He’s loved at Essendon but coach Mark Thompson gives him tough love. Thompson pushes and pushes him, and Bombers people have wondered is it because Hibberd reminds him of himself.
5. Bernie Vince. Best on ground in a team which lost by 41 points and had you wondering who exactly was his opponent. Finished with 41, nine marks and three goals and can’t think of a better game of footy he’s played. Was interested to see what a 28-year-old could bring to the Demons — he and Daniel Cross to be honest — but clearly has earned his wage.
6. Buddy v Rance. It was the best of the “clash of the titans” we get these days. Two supreme athletes with strength and speed and by the end didn’t know whether to give two votes to Rance for stopping Buddy from kicking 10. As it was, Buddy was the matchwinner in a pretty dour affair and once again earned his pay packet. That’s four games — in my opinion — that he has won for the Swans this year. He had 17 touches, four marks and seven tackles. Rance had 16 disposals, six marks, two tackles, four rebound 50s and one clanger. Buddy won. Rance was admirable
7. Jonathan Brown. What a strange feeling it is wanting the big bloke to retire. Generally, we all want our champs to play as long as they can, but it would seem it’s coming to end for Brown. I like it because for the past week, Brown has been idolised by all and sundry. If/when he retires, we’ll hear it all again. The Lions king deserves everything he gets. He may not have made All-Australian as many times as his contemporaries, nor won enough B & Fs, but he was a warrior like few others. Courageous. Tough. Leadership. He had it all. When Leigh Matthews urged him to retire, couldn’t help think that it sounded like a father telling a son to let it go.
8. Big Josh. Have appreciated Josh Jenkins’ heart and soul-type efforts as the key forward in Tex Walker’s absence, but didn’t know he was booming centre-square clearance player. This bloke is 199cm and 103kgs and his goal, after taking the ball in the middle and running through centre half-forward was one of the highlights of the season. He kicked four for the game, has 26 for the season, and I doubt if he’ll ever kick as good a goal for the rest of his career. Yes, that good. I’d take it over Eddie Bett’s goal or Ben Howlett’s goal as goal of the year.
9. Bum tap. One of the great interviews of the year on Fox Footy was literally run by GWS star Adam Treloar last week. He said he loved the The Rock and that he loved Chris Judd. He was challenged to tap the Blues champ on the bum at some stage during yesterday’s game. Keen eyes watched and waited as the pair opposed each other at some stoppages. But nothing. It wasn’t until the end of the game before Treloar made his move. He used one arm to shake Judd’s hand and the other to quietly pat Judd on the bum. Three votes, A. Treloar.
10. Ben Brown. Cult figure in the making — that’s if he can keep his spot in the side. The North Melbourne debutante yesterday had eight touches, five marks and kicked a goal, and with that kick he pointed to the skies as teammates surged towards him from all over the ground. He said later the finger-pointing was for his Pop who passed away two years ago, and that he was always going to dedicate his first goal to him. #familyfirst
Honourable mentions: Mackenzie on Riewoldt, 35.4 for Breust for the season, Ollie Wines, Scott Thompson (Adelaide), all of GWS, Shiel’s goal, Ballantyne again, Fyfe in the wet, Levi Greenwood, a bloke named Boomer, Jack Billings, Tom Rockliff’s stand, Redden’s 15 tackles, Matt Rosa’s gut running and Andrew Welsh in the Saints bunker.
DISLIKES
1. Carlton. Already got a touch up, but worth a second go. Coach Mick Malthouse put it on the players yesterday, which raised eyebrows because he didn’t accept any responsibility himself. Always thought coaches and players won together and lost together. Not at Carlton. When the Blues win it’s mostly always the master coach who gets the headlines — and you can blame the media for that — and when the Blues lose, Malthouse makes the headlines because he’s critical of the players. Malthouse will remain as coach but his record of 16 wins from 37 games is hardly remarkable stuff.
2. Brisbane. What can you say? One behind at half-time, 22 points at the end and just 17 inside 50s. They are horrible numbers. The respect gained after the Bulldogs win has evaporated, and you wonder what sort of impact not having J. Brown has. Then again, they are not the first team to have the life squeezed out of them by the Dockers
3. Cheap shots. Gia knew it and while he isn’t a dirty player, you simply can’t jump in the air and bang, crash Jared Polec’s head because you feel like it. Smacked of frustration from Gia, and the Port players let him know it. He might be saved somewhat — from three weeks down to two — because Polec was in Gia’s face only seconds after being hit, which tells us Polec wasn’t really hurt.
4. Goal review. Not really my domain because I have a little mate who likes to enunciate words around the very joy of his life — that’s being critical of the goal review. It was a joke yesterday. It has been a joke before. And it will be a joke sometime soon enough. Liked this from Jack Ziebell on Twitter: “I think the AFL owes me a goal tonight. Good win by the boys.” Yes, I think they do.
5. Jack Riewoldt. The Tigers were down by three points, six minutes into the final quarter and Jack kicks for goal from 45m. He misses. The quarter plays out and the Swans win by 11 points. It wasn’t the deciding factor in the game, but it was decisive. Riewoldt just had to kick the goal. Its why he is paid about $600,000-a-season, to kick those exact goals when the team needs him. It’s unfair to only point the finger at him. The skipper had one touch in the final quarter after compiling 32 in the first three quarters. Where was Deledio?
6. Weak tackles. Plenty are made and plenty are missed. Hawthorn’s Matthew Suckling let Paul Seedsman glide by him on Saturday afternoon, which resulted in a goal for teammate Jamie Elliott. It was poor attempt. He went the bump instead of the tackle and the bump barely bruised Seedsman. He’s an outside player who kicks the ball, but as Dermott Brereton always argues, when your time comes, you have to put your body on the line. Suspect something might’ve been said to Suckling because later in the game, he took a courageous mark running with the flight of the ball.
7. Dumb decisions. Same game, similar mistake, same result. The ball goes into the Hawthorn forward line and Collingwood’s Tom Langdon tries to mark from behind, only to have Luke Breust mark it front of him and then kick the goal. You learn to punch from behind in under-10s. Coach Nathan Buckley talked pre-game of being tough enough for long enough. They weren’t. It doesn’t help when players aren’t smart enough for long enough, either. The Pies had to be dogged in defence from the first minute to the last bounce, so why Langdon went for the mark and not the spoil is a strange one.
8. Accidents waiting to happen. Jaeger O’Meara won’t be cited for his little nudge of Allen Christensen into oncoming Charlie Dixon which resulted in a heavy head knock to the Cats midfielder. But O’Meara must have a duty of care. At the very least there has to be code between players. O’Meara was trying to find some space, but his decision to push Christensen could have been disastrous.
9. Friday night union. Come on, footy’s better than that. Even the umpires’ families left at half-time.
10. Academy bashing. Eddie McGuire is leading the cheer squad and it’s a difficult issue. On one hand, the game needs academies to help advance talent in the rugby league lands, and without academies the talent might not be recognised. McGuire wants them abandoned because it is a free swing on the best kids in NSW and Queensland. Maybe it’s time all other clubs have their own academies and have access to one player a season from them. All teams win.
TOP TWEETS
@AdamJHolliday: dislike: mick never taking responsibility for losses. have vibe he’s a consultant looking from the outside not part of team
@ZeDemiurge: Like. Big mummy terrorising the blues
@mickobrien83: like Rockliff with 45 and 12 tackles in a well beaten outfit ... surely this bloke is a top 5 midfielder in the comp!!
@Tiges15: Likes: Gold Coast ridiculously credible. Dislike: Being a paid up Richmond Member.
@howietduck: dislike the game of rugby at the MCG Friday night
@AFLisnotasport: Like: Attempt to acknowledge football history. Dislike: Attempt to rewrite football history. Hate: Self-interest in way.
@HBNadolny: like: Harley Bennell. Dislike: Carlton’s insipid effort against GWS. No heart, gutless
@emtwenty: L: Harley Bennell. Disgustingly good. D: Carlton’s inability/unwillingness to actually turn up to play against lower sides.
@A_Broughton: dislike: conclusive evidence seeming ignored while inconclusive evidence used to change scores. Score review process flaws
@DeaneShane: dislike goal reviews, BT commentary, Likes: footy future looks exciting — Harley Bennell, McGovern, etc etc etc
@SamSaracino1: The delusional nature of Malthouse. If the results weren’t enough evidence that we are no good then today confirmed it
@coachnoodles: big like for Jack Billings — just want you want to see from your top pick
@balmainboy68: like GWS looking like they belong. Dislike: Brisbane . Even the Freo fans were leaving at half-time......
@osama_hag: Like: Bennell, GWS 4 qtr effort, Kersten, Ben Brown, Bruest. Dislike: Josh Walker, Review System, Shuey’, Perths conditions
@_Willo_: the only positive as a cats fan was how natural Kersten looked at the level, the rest was concerning
@stkildamatt: dislike-grown men trying to get their mugs on camera when the ball is near the boundary line #clowns
@JisChrudd: Buckley taking out his frustration by man handling a player. Huge dislike. Explain that to a footy loving kid!
@marris 264: dislike — umpiring decision against Pendles for “throwing”
@jrulach: Goddard’s final quarter. We needed a leader & he stood up and delivered. Brilliant ambassador. Worth every cent.
@MrBradski999: Like: Bernie Vince, another recruit questioned, but has stood up for the Dees Dislike: that 2013 demon feeling
@mooraboolwing: on a serious note — like Reclink Community cup — footy + music + spirit + great cause = great story. 10000 crowd.
@CraigAko80: like Lachie Neale in the wet, underrated! Dislike Shuey channelling Reidwolt, extremely dangerous
@TravisLapthorne: dislike your disrespect for Cats. Give fans better value than others and transforming the list #creditsinbank #finalsbound
@wightsnake24: like — the buddy show, Jeremy “shooter” McGovern dislike — Cotchin and tigers fading out again.
@ayle_williams: after “Honorable losses” blues performance was more then disappointing it was a kick in the guts.long way to go
@Demonblog: Dislike — Little League at MFC/North being played at 3 so adults could do marketing promotions at half time.
@JOHNGOMMERS: likes — T Shirt Tommy Logan, waited till round 14 for his chance and took it with both hands, a great clubman
Originally published as The Tackle: Carlton and Richmond in crisis, but can Geelong still win the premiership?
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