I noticed a lot of Carlton players in defence last night clogging that area
Need to counter that too somehow. Doesnt suit a long kicking game so heopefully Teague gets us lowering the eyes
The Stand rule encourages flooding. Another SHocking decision.
Carlton went with a high press in the first half as they applied forward pressure but once McKay and small forward Durdin (inj) went off at half-time and Melbourne were making a comeback the Blues did push numbers back. I hate Carlton but their workrate last night to support each other and their two way running was excellent.
In the guts, I noticed Hewett plays the defensive backstop role at centrebounces, Cripps stands to the side and Kennedy/Cerra stand forward of the centre circle. Whoever out of Cripps and Kennedy/Cerra gets first hands to the footy will try to get a forward handball to the other who will position themself just defensive side running past to receive the handpass. If that's blocked they look for Hewett in space. I noticed Oliver went ballhunting so that left Melbourne's defensive side at the centrebounce open to exploit with this forward handpass by Carlton. Protecting the defensive side at stoppages and the post-clearance contest was something we fell away badly at doing last year. So we will need to be wary of the Blues mids trying this against us. Whoever is standing defensive side of the centre circle can't be sucked into the initial contest or we'll just give up centre clearance after centre clearance. If can get back to 2017-2020 of nullifying the clearances then we'll have a good chance of winning as Carlton's defence is still suspect.
I'd take a guess this is the Carlton line-up for round 1.
FB: Newman/Docherty McDonald/Young McGovern
FF: Castagna Riewoldt Balta HB: Williams Weitering Saad
HF: Bolton Lynch BakerC: O'Brien Kennedy Setterfield
C: Edwards Prestia McIntoshHF: Martin McKay Owies
HB: Short Tarrant D.RioliFF: Durdin Curnow/DeKoning Silvagni
FB: Vlastuin Grimes/Gibcus/Miller Gibcus/Grimes R: Pittonet Cripps Hewett
R: Nankervis Cotchin MartinInt: Cerra Fisher E.Curnow Kemp
Int: Soldo Broad Ralphsmith/Mansell Ross/Dow/RCD IMO we look a bit suspect in key defence like this. Taking a big chance playing one of an unexperienced Gibcus or Miller on one of their talls (could go for the experienced Grimes but we like him in an interceptor role). Rather Balta line-up in defence and someone else plays forward and makes McGovern and his dodgy kicking accountable to force turnovers.
I'm also a bit concerned going too tall will make us too slow once the ball hits the ground in our F50 and on defensive transition. Geelong cleared the ball from end to end far too easily in the praccy match.