By Peter Ryan
Carlton’s loss to Richmond cannot be explained away merely by their hopeless skill execution, which gifted goals to the Tigers.
Nor can injuries be the only factor behind their drop-off last season.
The Blues leave the field after the shock loss to Richmond.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Although Charlie Curnow and Elijah Hollands were crucial outs in round one, and the loss of Nic Newman and Jagga Smith for most of the season hurts, the Blues should have been able to handle their absences against the Tigers.
Carlton’s only wins in their past 10 matches have been against North Melbourne and West Coast; hardly the sort of form line worth bragging about.
Panicking after round one is uncool. But the result, on the back of last year’s capitulation (when they barely clung on to a spot in the eight and were blown away by the Lions in an elimination final), exposed issues with selection, game style and skill development.
Heading into this Thursday night’s clash with Hawthorn, they can make quick fixes at the selection table and foster an attitude that applies relentless pressure to the opposition.
The Blues fumbled the big moments against Richmond.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
But the vulnerability other clubs have exposed in their past 10 games also need to be acknowledged and worked on, even if the fix isn’t immediate.
The first issue is selection.
Play Docherty from the first bounce
Even though his poor handball at the start of the last quarter was costly, Sam Docherty should not have been the substitute when Newman was unavailable in defence.
Docherty’s leadership was required to support Jacob Weitering, an outstanding defender whom the opposition is focusing on to reduce his aerial ascendancy.
Docherty is not perfect, but his presence either side of half-time would have helped Carlton keep their shape as the Tigers grew in confidence. Weitering had enough on his plate without having to continually organise a back line that has played little football together.
He was leading a defence that was not only unfamiliar, it was unbalanced. Weitering, Mitch McGovern, Nick Haynes and Jack Silvagni aren’t footballers with Formula 1-type speed and opponents know they hate charging back with the flight of the ball.
An opposition analyst who spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity to speak freely said clubs want to squeeze the ground and leave space behind Carlton’s defenders to out-sprint them back to goal. Richmond did it after half-time and, helped by the Blues’ slapstick skills, embarrassed them.
Lachie Cowan found out that it’s not much fun racing speedsters such as somersaulting Seth Campbell back to goal – but at least he has some pace. The Blues’ quartet of tall defenders doesn’t.
Send Williams back to defence
Zac Williams was strong up forward last season but he can play back. Forget the argument that Carlton need to stick with what they have trained. Now is the time to be realistic about the flaws in their initial plan with both Williams and the back line. It’s not as though they have any synergy down back anyway.
Charlie Curnow is a crucial inclusion for the BluesCredit: Getty Images
Haynes, who was a great player at his peak, is not the answer as he folds back too quickly when the best defences now close space. McGovern should make way too, until his decision-making without the ball improves.
Silvagni and Brodie Kemp could swap roles, and Silvagni could pinch-hit in the ruck.
All of a sudden, a back seven of Weitering, Kemp, Docherty, Williams, Hollands, Saad, Cowan, and an eighth option, Jordan Boyd (when available), is an improvement on what was in place against Tom Lynch and a bunch of smalls last week.
Saad has a powerful left foot, but he always sets up to go to the boundary side, which suits the opposition. Unfortunately, his kicking was off last Thursday, meaning most Blues fans followed the cry of “woof” with a groan. He can be coached back to his damaging best.
The Blues’ game style centres around the contest – which they excel at – but if they don’t win the ball their defensive transition is below par. Many teams now use one midfielder defensively, one running both ways and one charging forward. The Blues have a bonus too, given Tom De Koning is a ruckman who can run.
But opponents can wreak havoc on the outside with their overlap run, catching the Blues out. Star midfielder Sam Walsh – who looked underdone on Thursday night – is their best outside player.
It’s too easy for opponents to chain handballs away from Carlton insiders to create a quick play inside 50.
Don’t use Cripps in the ruck
Using dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps in the ruck might seem smart, but it destroys a Blues strength – the one-two punch that is Cripps-Walsh. That must be maintained for the rest of the season to give the Blues quality supply.
Although they could argue 65-40 inside-50s meant supply was not an issue, too many forward entries were shallow or slow, with the ball often lobbed on Harry McKay’s head.
The release handball to a runner for a deep forward entry creates danger and with Curnow to return, they have a weapon to worry the Hawks. To be fair, the Blues know that, hence their smart moves to draft Smith, whose season unluckily ended prematurely, and speedster Billy Wilson, who needs time.
“Cripps is not to play in the ruck” should be part of an updated compliance training module with a multiple choice question. “Of these four players, who should not play in the ruck? A. Marc Pittonet, B. Jack Silvagni, C. Patrick Cripps, D. Tom De Koning.
Increase pressure inside 50
The back line and midfield are also entitled to expect some forward support. The forward pressure not up to the standard of those teams contending for a flag in recent seasons.
Unfortunately, despite several attempts, the Blues have not found a small forward to complement their twin towers, McKay and Curnow.
Rotating through that area since Voss arrived have been Corey Durdin, Matt Owies (now with West Coast), Orazio Fantasia, Matt Cottrell, Jesse Motlop, Lachie Fogarty and Francis Evans. Motlop had a good pre-season but was ordinary against the Tigers. Has Mortein been deployed at Ikon Park to kill the mosquito fleet?
Fantasia, Fogarty and Evans are discards that can fill one, perhaps two holes inside 50, but not three. Although mobile rather than small, any opportunity to play Ashton Moir forward should be taken. Cooper Lord might be an option as a pressure forward.
And every player can contribute; Geelong had six players lay at least three forward-50 tackles in round one and laid 23 with 55 inside-50s. Carlton, with 65 inside 50s, had just seven players lay a forward-50 tackle for a total of 10.
The Blues may as well have tipped a trampoline on its side at the forward 50.
This is not the time to stay the course. Coach Michael Voss needs to make changes to spark his team into action and regardless of results in the next month, have instilled new life into the team by Easter.
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