The Blue Review: Not Good Enough... Yet | Thebigtip

For the second week in a row, our match was hyped up to be a one-team contest. Unfortunately, the result was far from similar to that of last week. I had my fingers crossed for an upset, as did all other Carlton supporters, but we proved tonight that we weren't as good as the best just yet. However, we were able to hold our own for a large part of the contest.


Round 2: Collingwood vs. Carlton
Collingwood: 4.2.26, 9.7.61, 12.8.80, 15.12.102
Carlton: 4.3.27, 5.4.34, 8.5.53, 11.8.74

Goals
Collingwood: Blair (5), Dawes (3), Krakouer (2), Cloke (2), Jolly, Didak, Ball
Carlton: Garlett (3), Waite (2), Hampson, Simpson, Thornton, Robinson, Gibbs, Betts


Negatives

If I were to be told that we would go down by only 28 points to the reigning premiers of the competition, I would have at least been content. Although I'm glad we didn't allow ourselves to be slaughtered, there are plenty of negatives to focus on. After all, it wouldn't have been a loss if there weren't negatives.

The back half is the focus of most of the negatives as issues that have caught my eye not only in the first three round of this season, but in previous seasons, are our inability to both figure out who goes up and who stays down in a contest as well as what we do when the ball hits the ground. The worst thing about the lack of awareness is that this generally occurs in the backline where we're punished in the worst possible way for our mistakes. It's hard for me to wrap my head around a team, most of which have been in the side for many years now, being unable to talk correctly with each other to make sure that one or two go up and one or two stay down at pack situations. To muck up against Gold Coast, where we're not going to pay for our mistakes, is completely different to making the same mistakes against the competition's best and that was proven tonight. With Didak Davis, Krakouer and now Blair lurking in their forward ready to pounce on the loose ball, allowing the footy to go to ground and not being prepared to defend against them gaining possession is suicide. Essendon are very good at cleaning up the ball from contests so this needs to be focused on sooner rather than later.

While we're talking about the defence, it was painfully obvious tonight that we lack a defensive leader. Although it has come along in leaps and bounds, our defence is still lacking that mastermind who is able to break the opposition's offensive zone. We lacked a bit of flair, poise and natural skill tonight, and the sooner we can get Paul Bower back the better. Michael Jamison's return was great and you can really tell when he is in or out of the team, but Paul Bower brings another set of skills to the table that we are lacking in at the moment.

Matthew Watson did well to hold his own tonight but some key errors during the game, one seeing Watson in the best position to spoil and misread the flight of the ball, show that he is still very wet behind the ears. He will be a great defender - I have no doubt about that. However, I'm not sure that selecting him to play against the best was the best thing to do unless we were looking at this game as a means of development and experience. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Watson played poorly, but he is certainly not ready to stand up next to the big boys.

It's always great to see a player back himself, but in Andrew Carrazzo's case, he needs to realise his limitations. Too many times he has taken on the opposition and been caught, generally resulting in a shot on goal to the opposition due to where Carrazzo plays. The coaching staff need to reign him in and cut out the gambling aspect of his game because it is hurting the team as a whole. As a player involved in the transition from defence to forward, Carrazzo is the perfect player. What he needs to realise is that he is not a key man, but a link up player.

For the second week in a row, Eddie Betts has failed to cement himself in the game. As a senior, mature player in the side, he needs to be setting a better example for the other small forwards than what he has been doing. Unfortunately, junk time goals just don't cut it and if he wants to keep his stop in the side, he needs to have more of an impact than he has been having. A big performance against the Bombers on another big stage is the perfect chance to turn his form around.

The negatives have dragged on but there a few others I want to reel off. To drop our heads in the last quarter and treat the game like a schoolyard game was very disappointing considering we were only down by 27 points at three quarter time. Jarrad Waite is the biggest culprit, attempting to get his face on the highlight reel with unrealistic attempts at marks.

To round off a long list of negatives (I do apologise), I have to scold the Carlton faithful. Of the 88,000 at the MCG, I'm willing to bet that only 20,000, if that, were Carlton supporters. In a big clash like this, that's simply not good enough from our own. Collingwood already had a three goal advantage just by having the crowd on their side.


Positives

So far in 2011, quite easily the surprise performer has been Jeff Garlett. For a guy in his third year, he is having no trouble leading the way in the forward line. Although there was a shocking attempt at goal that he sprayed badly, Garlett never put his head down and conceded the game at any stage of the match. He is quickly establishing himself as a key to winning but his biggest challenge will come mid-season when opposition clubs realise how big of a threat he is.

I was extremely impressed with the way that we were able to stop Collingwood from playing their natural game in the first quarter, which would explain why we had the lead at the first break. The Magpies are able to move the ball forward through a serious of well placed short chips and timely handballs, but from their kick-ins, they were locked into our forward line. I've mentioned in past weeks that we have been excellent in locking the ball in our forward half and to know that we can perform at the same level against Collingwood certainly proves that what we are doing is working. Unfortunately, we couldn't maintain the intensity that saw us take a lead into quarter time.

I am glad to say that despite the loss, our midfield was again very impressive. It has become clear that we have found the right formula in the middle of the field - what we now need to do is get it right on both sides of the ground.

Our forward line is slowly coming together. Although Shaun Hampson and Brett Thornton are new additions to the forward line, they are still contributing on the scoreboard and potentially giving a breath of fresh air to their careers. The dynamics that these two add to what has been a very stock-standard forward line is hard to put into words. We needed a tall forward and Hampson is easing into the position change. Thornton's presence means that the likes of Betts and Garlett don't have the be responsible for going up in contests and can be placed in their post damaging areas - at the feet of the contest.


To go down by only 28 points isn't the worst thing that could have happened. In 2010, we were comprehensively beaten by the Magpies on both occasions. In comparison, a 28 point loss is a win in some way. It's not as good as coming away with the four points, but to know that we are able to go toe-to-toe with the ladder leaders is great, especially with a host of new names in the team. In our next encounter with Collingwood, I am expecting to go one better.

Hopefully Paul Bower can make a comeback next week for our clash with Essendon. I have my fingers crossed that a lot more Carlton fans can make the trip on a Saturday afternoon to support the guys in what is certain to be a thrilling clash with a fierce rival.