The Tackle: Carlton looked a mess on field and in the coaching box in big loss to Essendon
CARLTON is in a world of pain following its big loss to Essendon, and Robbo says fans are growing restless. RECAP ROBBO’S CHAT
Mark Robinson
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CARLTON is in a world of pain.
They are a mess on the field and in the coaching box, their recruiting has been a poster for all things bad and last night was a humiliation.
This mighty, proud football club is hollow.
There is a disconnect between some fans and the club and clearly there is a disconnect between coach Mick Malthouse and his players.
The search for reasons and answers is always convoluted when a team is deeply embarrassed, as they were last night.
Ball movement, run and support of each other was abysmal and when that happens there comes queries about intangibles such as effort, heart and responsibility.
RECAP ROBBO’S CHAT IN THE WINDOW BELOW
The Bombers stopped the first two, interrupted the support, and showed up the Blues in effort.
Carlton’s pressure was not to AFL standard, and when they had the ball, their disposal was poor.
Indeed, the Bombers were extraordinary. The Blues were ordinary.
MALTHOUSE: WE WERE EMBARRASSED
It might be “just a bad day” for the Blues — as coach Mark Thompson said in the post-match — and the numbers reflected so.
The Blues had just 29 inside 50s, 120 fewer possessions, 80 fewer marks and 41 clanger possessions to Essendon’s 30.
There were few if any winners.
In thrashings the spotlight is on the leaders.
Kade Simpson was shut out of the game after half-time, skipper Marc Murphy was so-so, same with Dale Thomas and, to be honest, to see 27 possessions beside Bryce Gibbs’ name was a real surprise.
Robbie Warnock had 41 hit outs and four kicks, one handball and one mark. If Leigh Matthews argues that Aaron Sandilands is overrated, would hate to think what he’d say about Warnock outside of the centre square.
Malthouse was impressive in the post-match. He wasn’t difficult or divert questions, he spoke honestly and openly about the performance.
“We allowed them to play with relative ease,” he said.
“We are embarrassed about our performance.
“At the end of the day Essendon totally outworked us.”
And: “I pray it was a one-off.”
Clearly, Carlton’s expectation and reality are miles apart.
In March, Malthouse said his team was among a bunch clamouring to reach their premiership clock, which Malthouse said was between 11 and 1, which is top-four material.
“The rest of us, and we’re one of those, we’re caught in that bracket ... are we approaching 11 o’clock? I would say that we’re approaching 11 o’clock,” Malthouse said.
“But I think there’s a lot of sides approaching 11 o’clock.’’
Three games in and the Blues are closer to nowhere near being a finals side, let alone a top-four side.
What has happened?
They sack Brett Ratten and bring in Malthouse because they believed a premiership tilt was in the offing.
But they are far worse now than when Ratten was kicked out the door.
Here’s a simple question: Who has improved under Malthouse?
Um. Hmmm.
Maybe Curnow and Ellard.
The Blues coaching staff, and the board, has a decision to make. Continue with the same players and dish up that rubbish or play more kids.
Buckley and Menzel have showed promise, and surely it’s time for first-round pick Patrick Cripps to get a crack, along with Sam Docherty.
For Blues fans are restless.
Twitter last night was relentless.
@gdore89: this is a team with zero strengths.. They don’t do anything better than any other team at the moment
@meagee 24m: we might seriously struggle to beat Melbourne next week. We look third rate
@PennyGubby: @carltonfc is not in crisis. this is normal, we are mediocre every year. something everyone will have to get used to
@DashZboard: Is he still on Collingwood payroll? We were considered premiership potential 2yrs ago; now demons could beat us
@airbyrnes: I’ve been a member of CFC since 2002, so I’ve seen us at absolute low, but tonight’s game was one of the worst.
Others called for Malthouse’s head, which is unfair.
His immediate challenge is not to contend for finals, but rebuild confidence.
Perhaps the more pertinent question is: Is Malthouse the person to rebuild the list?
The Carlton board has 40 or so games to ponder that one.
CAT CAM A NEW CLAMP-DOWN KING?
Unquestionably, Cameron Guthrie would have received votes from both Chris Scott and Nathan Buckley on Saturday night.
Tom Hawkins was the matchwinner with three goals in the final quarter, Joel Selwood revelled, Mitch Duncan had it 30 times, Jamie Elliott booted five goals and Steele Sidebottom found form, but Guthrie had as much if not more influence than all of them.
Guthrie’s role was to curtail Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury.
The week before, this column lauded Pendlebury for his performance against Sydney, so much so that he was afforded the ultimate accolade: If he doesn’t play, Collingwood doesn’t win.
In Geelong’s 11-point win on Saturday night, Pendlebury was largely ineffective.
It’s an odd description for a player who had the ball 26 times. The underwhelming numbers came with clearances (3) and inside 50s (two) and the disposals came in mostly non-threatening situations.
Buckley acknowledged the difference between last week and this.
“Pendles had mid-20 touches, but didn’t have same influence,” he said.
“If I was sitting in Chris Scott’s shoes I’d be pretty happy with Guthrie’s role.”
TOLL FROM LOSS COULD RISE FOR PIES
All coaches love their down and dirty players, those who sacrifice themselves for the team, and Scott absolutely loves his No.29.
“He (Pendlebury) is a class player, but the thing you love about Guthrie is that he is very good in that negating role, but he wins contests as well,” Scott said.
“Some of those contested marks towards the end, there is almost no safer player in our team in that situation which is a big rap.”
Big rap? In a team which contains the contested instincts of Selwood, Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan and James Kelly, it’s extraordinary appreciation for a player who has played 43 games.
His three games this year have produced three big wins.
In Round 1 versus Adelaide, he kept Patrick Dangerfield to 21 disposals, although his tactic were criticised by some in South Australia.
Dangerfield was credited with just three score involvements and 154m gained. In 2013, the inspirational Crow averaged 497m gained, meaning Guthrie stopped Dangerfield at the source and also stopped his ability to link.
Of the players to have 20 or more disposals in Round 1, Dangerfield was under more pressure than any other player when disposing of the ball.
In Round 2 against Brisbane, Guthrie had roles on three prime suspects — Daniel Rich, Pearce Hanley and the talented Sam Mayes — and in the 60 minutes he played on all three, he allowed just six disposals.
Against Pendlebury, he allowed six score involvements and 331m gained. Against the Swans, Pendlebury had 745m gained, 11 score involvements, 11 inside 50s and nine clearances.
You’d love to know who Scott awarded his top votes to.
Indeed, Guthrie won’t get a Brownlow Medal vote for his job on Pendlebury, nor will it sway any of the all-Australian selectors when they gather early in the season to assess contenders for the best team of the year.
And if Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley didn’t get a gig last year in the All-Australian side what hope does any tagger have of being recognised by the selection warlords?
Still, the likes of Crowley, Guthrie, Carlton’s Ed Curnow, Port Adelaide pair Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi and Essendon’s Heath Hocking are critical to the win-loss column.
LIKES
1. Heath Hocking
Similar to Cam Guthrie, Hocking is loved by all at Essendon. Played his 100th game, not on the back of a lethal left foot or strong hands overhead, but on a game built by work ethic. Beat Marc Murphy last night while collecting 28 possessions of his own, the second-highest return of his career. If you have a moment, watch Hocking at stoppages and you’ll comprehend why Hocking is only behind Joe Watson as the heart beat of this side.
SUPERCOACH STUDS AND DUDS - ROUND 3
2. Ben Cunnington
No Swallow or Ziebell, challenged by Port Adelaide in the third quarter, and someone has to put up their hand. There were many, but perhaps none as important as Cunnington. He had 19 contested possessions from 30 overall, to go with seven tackles and nine clearances. He was superb. As was Greenwood, Bastinac and Gibson, and of course Boomer Harvey in the final quarter.
3. North Melbourne
No-one really listened to Brad Scott when he said last week’s scrappy game against the Western Bulldogs was what the club wanted and needed. It’s food for thought. To try to balance a greater defensive mindset with a well-acknowledged offensive instinct cannot be achieved overnight. They seemed confused in Round 1, battled hard in Round 2, and then beat Port Adelaide at their own game, which is fierce pressure and superior run. Yesterday was the perfect balance.
4. Tom Lonergan
Tired of using underrated to describe Lonergan, so let’s just speak the truth: The guy is a gun. Big game yet again, big-name opponent yet again, and Lonergan stands tallest. Took Travis Cloke on Saturday night and kept him to five kicks, four marks and zip-zip on the scoreboard. Lonergan is not your run and gun defenders such as Josh Gibson or Michael Johnson, rather he is an old-fashioned defender who plays his man tight and is there for the spoil. To use an old-fashioned word, he is reliable.
5. Tom Scully
Was not in the best players yesterday, but perhaps would be the most respected. With three minutes to play and Greater Western Sydney leading by 30 points, Scully produced one of the most courageous acts on the footy field. Ala Nick Riewoldt and Jonathan Brown, Scully ran with the flight of the ball at full pace into an oncoming Jeremy Cameron and Lynden Dunn. You had to see it to believe it. He didn’t take his eyes off the ball and leapt into the darkest of holes — the unknown. He wasn’t hurt and he didn’t take the mark, but that wasn’t the point.
6. Josh Kelly
Gut feel and nothing but five quarters of football to assess, but Kelly is a potential star and Melbourne made a mistake by trading away its pick No.2 for Dom Tyson and the swapping of draft picks. Composed with an elite kick, Kelly had 17 touches for the game and kicked two goals in the final quarter when the game was alive. The great Michael Voss said on Saturday Kelly was a future Brownlow medallist. Who knows what will happen but it will be fun watching him for a decade.
7. The veterans
Gia on Saturday and Boomer on Sunday. If you ever want to see ‘’experience’’ at play, watch Gia win the free-kick and goal to win the Dogs the match. He knew Brandon Ellis was on his tail, so instead of grabbing the ball, he tapped it. Ellis, in his desperation, knew he had to lay a tackle and believed Gia would grab the ball. He didn’t, it was holding the man and Gia was the hero. As for Boomer, well, Sundays have become his special day.
8. Buddy
It was back to business for the champ and he did it on Daniel Talia. Kicked four, gave off three others, and produced those mesmerising dances and weaves around the half-forward flank. Wins may cover cracks, but did you see how he was swamped by his teammates at every turn? Reckon the Buddy wrecking Sydney’s culture-type stories will cease.
9. Jackson Macrae
In just his 16th game, he produces a 30-touch performance. Amazing really for a 19-year-old midfielder in the big league. That’s 31, 22 and 30 in the three games this year, and with Libba at the contest and Mitch Wallis on the tag, the Bulldogs have three young men with old heads. If Liam Jones can find consistency then the Bulldogs will be a difficult team to play against.
10. The chase down
Adelaide’s Brodie Smith did what Cyril Rioli couldn’t and that’s chase and catch Lewis Jetta. Jetta had two metres start and Smith caught him before they ran 20m. Pity it didn’t inspire his teammates.
11. Matt Spangher
Like his name, like how he is adored by Hawks fans, and like what he did on Friday night. There was one play, the sweetest of the night, where Spangher made the spoil, received the ball, kicked it to Rioli, who tapped it to Puopolo, who gave tof back to Rioli, who gave it to Breust, who kicked the goal. It was magical football, all started by the long-haired folk hero in defence.
Honourable mentions: Minson’s 55 hit outs, Shane Mumford’s 60 hit outs, Brendon Goddard as a resting forward, Johannisen’s late-game tackle, Dunstan again, Dean Cox’s blinder on his milestone and Adam Treloar.
DISLIKES
1. Modern style in wet weather
It was 19-11 at half-time of yesterday’s game between Melbourne and GWS and if there was a worse half of football played in recent years, I can’t remember it. Numbers at the contest and rolling mauls made it look like Rugby union. The second half opened up, but by then it was too late for some TV watchers. The old man, who like many remember when players played in their position, said it was unwatchable and switched channels.
2. Adelaide
Outside of Melbourne, is there bigger stink-bomb of a team in the competition? Twelve goals to four after half-time and seven to zero in the final quarter at their home ground and with a packed home crowd. Pods was strong, Sloane was dogged and the numbers actually praised the team overall, but there’s something wrong. Ran out of legs, leaders were rare, and their ball use and decision-making once again let them down. You know what, they are erratic.
3. Eddie Betts
On big coin, so needs to earn it. Kicked four goals last week and didn’t sniff it on Nick Smith on Saturday. The small forward position can be poisonous, but Eddie can’t be so inconsistent. Both he and Jared Petrenko combined for 21 touches and one goal.
4. Alex Fasolo
Would smile at funerals he’s so positive, but there was no smiling when he found the ball in the back half on Saturday night. In one play he made multiple errors, and followed up with a blundering kick out. He will be told that finesse is not always required in defence, and that mistakes cost goals. His transition to defence clearly is a work in progress.
5. Richmond
Do you praise the comeback or be critical of the first half? I’m in the latter. Thirty-seven points down at half-time and for the first time in 140 games you were asking: Where’s Brett Deledio? Lacked run and explosion from half-back and thoughts of Richmond being a top-four contender were quickly wiped. The comeback was admirable. It doesn’t give you four points, however. And did anyone else like Jack Riewoldt in the square?
6. Brisbane
They annoy me. The push Hawthorn and Geelong with fast football and the want to contest, and then fall away to nothing against the Gold Coast. The Suns beat them on the scoreboard and beat them up generally. Worse, they lose Daniel Rich to a knee injury. Long season ahead.
RICH, LIONS BRACE FOR THE WORST
7. Merrett and Adams
Not a comedy duo, instead two blokes who will face MRP scrutiny. Merrett will go for clobbering David Swallow late, and Adams’ front-on hit on Joel Selwood was more strange than anything because it was an act that has disappeared from the game. Selwood had got rid of the ball and Adams just kept zeroing in and went whack. Selwood having a few words and pointing to the boundary line told us how much he liked it.
8. Confusion
What will the MRP do with Gold Coast’s Sam Day? He nailed Dayne Zorko with a ripping shirt-front which snapped Zorko in half. Zorko stayed down, and we’re yet to know if Zorko was also hit in the head as well as the body. Because, as we know, Day had the option of smothering and tackling, but instead went for the front-on kill. Hope he isn’t cited, but who really knows?
9. Melbourne
No effort, no working game plan, no winners and soon enough, nobody caring.
BEST TWEETS
@jazzeejool: L: Cats’ Burbury hitting contests bravely after having his face smashed. D: no footy on FTA TV Saturday or Sunday afternoon
@ZakGinevra: as a Richmond supporter I’m glad Carlton are here to take some headlines off us #wearebad #theyareworse
@JakeBurgo: Been a @CarltonFC supporter all my life. That first quarter was the worst quarter I have EVER seen, 2002-2005 included. #pathetic
@srahul_35: Like: Saints at Pattersons vs Eagles. Insane pressure & a great show from a group that bleeds RW&B. Loved the effort.
@saintsarmy: Dislike that Carlton are deplorable & no one in the press will ask Malthouse if the game has passed him by
@BraydenWaight: Love: Jackson Mcrae’s game. Gunna be a future star. Dislike: Sunday night footy. Silly timeslot.
@champidiot: No consistency in over the mark 50 metre penalties....happens 100 times a game but penalised once a game
@Russdowg: like: the fact that the suns not only beat the lions on the scoreboard but beat them up full stop. Some sore lions.
@Fr3akMe: likes: Super sub Gia, catsvpies, King Ablett. Dislikes: injuries, poor basic skills and the crows
@NichBaker: Like: Swans shutting up the media. Again. Dislike: Hardwick’s coaching.
@Leapingleobarry: like: Luke Parker. Same amount of goals as buddy, 1/10th the publicity. Dislike: Merrett throwing the arms. Ugly
@bbsgiants: Like: 115-70 tackle count for GWS, w/ 9 of the top 10 tacklers in the game. Dislike: Umm... Getting wet on walk back to car
@BeccaHayne: Like: Treloar again Dislike: An all time low for footy quality, the skills are woeful so far — and the future of the Lions
@sduyvo: like: Lemmens first goal, selling candy! Dislike: trading Elliott for Zorko, cost 100k, 70 pts & maybe a win
@PCariss: this stupid heart rate monitor. Who gives a toss. I don’t wanna hear Bruce banging on about it all night..
@mattyk91: like: Luke Breust... Averaging 20 disposals and 3 goals a game... Forget Wingard, Breust is the no1 FWD/MID
@kavishadipi29: L: accountability of Frost as a defender. Gives every contest 100% and has a solid 2nd or 3rd effort where necessary
@87LauraM: dislike: Cloke NEVER getting a free kick. Pls explain umps!
@Schonaaaah: Jack not playing out of the square for the tiges is a MASSIVE dislike
@demps1984: it will be a sad sad day when boomer Harvey retires for north Melbourne!! #irreplaceable
@saintsarmy: Likes: Man crush on Saints Luke Dunstan. Looks like Tarzan and plays like Tarzan. Just belongs. Future captain
@RedV09: Like: The class about to deliver the Suns 5 flags in a row Dislike: admitting you’re a blues supporter #justgodawful
@Bluntyyy: like: Buddy’s back! Dislike: blues thinking they have a top 4 side!
@crusha_32: only early days but Dale Thomas looks a shadow of his former self. Much better player at Collingwood... Thoughts?
@dannyblaine: the ox is going to need to be very patient if he’s going to rebuild this team. A shambles at the moment.
@JustinBeck33: so...Brent Harvey?
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