Carlton Blueprint: Mick Malthouse’s job goes on the line if Carlton can’t succeed in 2015
WHAT has improved at Carlton in the past 12 months? David King says Mick Malthouse’s job is on the line if the Blues struggle in 2015.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WHAT has improved at Carlton in the past 12 months?
After winning 11 home-and-away games in 2013 the Blues plummeted to only seven victories this year. They went from being a consistent, competitive team to a dangerous opponent at best.
They had a 1-9 record against top-eight teams with an average losing margin of more than six goals.
They are miles off the top bracket and have appeared to be in denial about their plight.
In the AFL system, not all wins have premiership points attached. Often there’s list improvements of note, youngsters on the rise or a vision that supporters can identify with and enjoy along the journey. Is this the case at Carlton?
Carlton needs change. It needs a group of youngsters to become the next wave of hope that drives it up the ladder.
There appears more going than coming into the Carlton ranks. The loss of Jarrad Waite and Jeff Garlett, on the back of Eddie Betts’ departure last year, means Carlton’s top three goal kickers of the past five years have left. That will hit home in 2015.
Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs are still the reason Carlton wins or loses. Matthew Kreuzer effectively missed all of 2014 and the bulk of the club’s past few first-round selections had little or no impact this year. The exceptions were Troy Menzel and Chris Yarran, who already look to assume responsibility. There are too few others.
List changes are obviously required, but style changes are also essential. The point of difference has become the ability to score heavily as the contenders last season raised the bar. Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney challenged their opposition to be offensively proficient, not just defensively sound.
Mick Malthouse’s plan needs tinkering at a minimum, but an overhaul would be more apt. If Carlton again ranks 10th offensively and 14th defensively, as per 2014, then Malthouse will be unemployed at season’s end.
PROS
CARLTON were “in” most games with only three losses greater than six goals and considering they were the AFL’s worst at squandering leads, winning only five of 10 occasions when they lead at three-quarter time, it endorses their competitiveness, despite only seven victories.
Lachie Henderson provided the forward line class but the continual improvement of Levi Casboult was possibly the best story given his 40-odd games have been better than most youngsters in the Navy Blue. Levi’s 36 contested marks for the season ranks him in the AFL top 10 and clearly he is the future. Once the ball is inside the Carlton forward 50 they’re elite at converting entries into goals, ranking fourth in the AFL. More supply is required as Carlton average the AFL’s 14th fewest inside 50 entries with only 48.
At 25 years of age Bryce Gibbs became the genuine midfielder Carlton were hoping. Gibbs’ doubled his career average clearances from three to six per week in 2014 as he took ownership of the Carlton midfield, particularly in the absence of Chris Judd. How he missed All Australian selection is one of this year’s greatest oversights.
Chris Yarran was involved in one of every five of Carlton’s goals, ranked third behind the stellar seasons of Bryce Gibbs (one in every three) and Marc Murphy (one in every four). Yarran’s kicking and ball carrying separates games. Chris Yarran is the AFL’s best at ensuring his kicks inside 50 are marked by a teammate at a staggering 40% retention rate.
CONS
CARLTON simply have too many slaughtermen by foot. They cannot maintain possession. They have the competition’s fewest total team possessions on a weekly basis as they almost expect turnovers and therefore cease running to create.
Carlton need a strength area. Competent in most areas but they lack an overarching asset as a team. Where are they dominant? Ask yourself the same question about the top bracket of teams or even those on the rise and the answers are obvious. Talent alone isn’t the answer as Gibbs, Murphy and Yarran etc. might win them individual games but that isn’t sustainable, certainly not at the pointy end of the season.
At the start of pre-season for 2014 the Blues playing ranks were subjected to an inordinate amount of operations and that hamstrung Mick Malthouse’s pre-season plans not to mention individual player growth.
Carlton now realise they’re rebuilding and will take the necessary steps, but things will get worse before they get better and this is a tough pill for Malthouse to swallow, not to mention the Carlton board.
No short cuts, no excuses or alibi’s from now on. Carlton must ensure they make the right decisions regarding list management and drafting, or succumb to further cellar-dweller tenure.
Hall’s long-distance Gallen plan
Barry Hall has revealed how he plans to beat his shorter but more experienced opponent in their much-anticipated bout.
Hall gets kick from little masters
Andrew Moloney is the hot favourite to become Australia’s only current world boxing champion when he battles Brooklyn’s Elton Dharry on the same night that his mate Barry Hall fights Paul Gallen.