A very interesting interview with Nick Davis in the HS today. That's Nick Davis, the reigning premiers' and this year's grand finalists' half forward/ forward pocket.

Nick said "...[spectators watching the game may think] he may not be playing well, but we hall have specific roles in this team. And you may have 10 minutes where its your turn to really step up".

What the 2005 Wizard Cup proved was that we had what it takes to win, but unfortunately when the opposition read our Game Plan, we were shut down. We did not recover because it seems we only had Plan A.

I believe in the list we are developing, and add another 6 kids to that list this year and we have the foundation of a great team moving forward together for the next decade; 30 players under 23 years of age. We must develop these kids with the very best coaches, and teach them multiple game plans and multiple roles relative to their height, weight and pace (ability).

What my take from the Nick Davis quote is that everyone does have a role in his team, and everyone in their team is aware of each others role, but there is an aura of unpredictability that Roos imposes on the game by giving players in the forwardline, a lease of life in the midfield in bursts, but in a very subtle way. Davis was loose as a goose in the midfield in that third quarter of an intense and tight checking final, whilst supposedly playing as a forward. Note though, there was no radical flood, and whilst Davis moved upfield, the Swans did not have a situation where Hall was triple teamed as Fevola has been in 2006.

We all discuss how Stevens is tagged every game, and opposition coaches believe that if they shut down Stevens they shut down Carlton. Generally Pagan chooses to leave Stevens on the ground without a rest, and in the same position; there seems to be a lack of creativity and flexibility with this tactic. So the result from a lack of creativity is that we remain stagnant and predictable and because we don't take enough risks or show faith in our kids we don't do much for their development either.

I am not interested in making this thread an attack on Pagan, but prefer to discuss creativity we could apply to our game plan, just to prove that with this list we could improve 10% just by thinking outside the square.

Sure we need more muscle on our kids, but this will come over time after a couple of preseasons. We have a preseason infront of them and I wont be surprised to see our kids step up in 2007. We need to give them more time on the field, a number roles to play and learn, and game plans that take advantage of their strengths and give us flexibility and unpredictability.

Our midfield is thin, but has an upside, but we should also consider the roles our HBF and HFF play to support and link with them.

Whilst I agree that Walker is a great attacking HBF, opposition coaches proactively drag him to the BP and take him out of the game. I would suggest swapping Walker with Russell, or someone to allow him to play the HB role, and if this doesn't work then put Walker to go on the ball with Stevens and Murphy, so that we take advantage of his strength and pace.

Scotland has taken over Lappin in the other attacking HBF role, so we need to use Lappins smarts perhaps in a HF / midfield role. Whilst Lappin's reflexes may not be as sharp as days gone by, he is still a smart player...but that doesn't mean one of the kids can't take Lappins position in the team.

I like the idea of Waite playing as an attacking CHB, leaving Setanta on the gorillas, and Thornton as the third tall, with the flexibility to throw Thornton, Setanta or Waite into a HF role, just to add confusion to the opposition.

What sort of flexibility do you think we can bring into our game plan for season 2007? What would you like to see?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

All I know is we have to have a few different game plans that can be executed at different parts of the game. This is where opposition clubs can get sorted out.

This is what Sydney base their game on - many game plans so that depending on the tactics employed by the opposition, Sydney adjust their style.

Of course, you need to right sort of cattle to execute the plan.

I just hope Denis (if he's still around), employs a few game plans for the team, and each players' role is clearly articulated.

We'll see.

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

Our ball movement has been s#$% since 2003. We adopted the no handball kick at all costs approach and it didn't work. We tried Pagan's paddock with Lance playing the hard running Carey role. lol
After 3 years of that crap we started to go shorter which was better but we still have no system in our play. We went from a blind long bomb team to a clueless and confused short chipping side.
Only have to look at Adelaide who were tipped for the spoon last year and how they have performed with a different gameplan.

The way the game is played these days it doesn't matter what your gameplan is but if you haven't got 10-12 players you can rotate (and i mean rotate) through the midfield no plan will work.

you cant go 20-25 minutes in a 1/4 with the same 4 at the centre bounce - the games to fast and they need their spell . And you need to use all 22 players not 20 + 2 bench warmers

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Well that's all part of the gameplan Sydney.

One of our main problems is we have half our team with run with roles.

I've heard the coaches are actually getting white boards next year. Can anyone confirm this?

Laptops would have been nice but I guess Whiteboards beats the 96' GrandFinal photo album.

Yes and Cheryl Kernot comes with them

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Sydney Blue wrote



I agree.

Rotation gives us flexibility. So forgetting about positions on the ground we must identify the 10-12 midfielders. I assume we wont get Akermanis or Kelly, and might get Gibbs we have IMO the following capable of playing midfield in 2007:

1.Stevens (27)
2.Murphy (19)
3.Walker (21)
4.Simpson (23)
5.Jackson (20)
6.Houlihan (27)...should de (25) in 2007
7.Blackwell (19)
8.Scotland (27)
9.Carazzo (24)
10.Bentick (21)
11.Betts (20)
12.Lappin (31)
13.Kouta (34)
14.Russell (20)
15.Waite (24)
16.Edwards (19)
17.Gibbs (18)

With the bigger bodies being Stevens, Houlihan, Scotland, Walker, Carazzo, Kouta, Russell and waite.

Players such as Waite, Edwards and Kouta are big fellas but should be able to play wing, as well as being versatile enough to hold positions around the ground in attack or defense.

The point is that they must be rotated to keep them fresh.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

What does the 27 mean? Is that his IQ? height? weight? I hope it's not meant to represent his age? He's currently 24!!

Thanks for that Moshe25.

Houla is 24!! and will be 25 in2007...

The (27) implies age in 2007....you know to make the kids sound a bit older, and given they will be and will have another preseason under their belt, with a few added kilos of muscle, I'm expecting at least an extra 10% from them in 2007.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The Game wrote



you're dead right The Game.

When we unleashed the kids against the Eagles at Subiaco, they really showed that they may not have the engine to sustain 4 Q of good footy, without rotations, but that these kids do have creative flair and ability.

So do you think if they concentrate of The Game Plan, they have ability to keep their opponent honest?

IMO, unleash them, let them learn the attacking game plan. Every player has an opponent, and they are accountable for them. If they are found wanting, then they have to be told to tighten up, or if they can't keep up with the pace, then back to the reserves and work on their weakness in readiness for another try later in the season or 2008. a position in the team is not a given and should be earned.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Ross Kelly even.

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The great are great to us only because we are on our knees. Let us arise.
--Robert Collier

Ros

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Today in the HS Hall was interviewed.

Commenting on Longmuir, Hall said..." Sometimes you get too relaxed, and you get into a rhythm and a routine, but he changes it up a fair bit, which is great"

Mixing it up, making sure that the player does not become predictacle or stale, that's what Longmuir does. Provides alternatives.

Regardless of how good or undeveloped players may be, the ball is in our possession for a % of the game, and we must have our guys learning to execute to a plan A if it's there or to be conditioned to revert to a Plan B or C if Plan A execution does not present itself.

This is why I prefer to have Whitnall and Fev in the forwardline, whilst Kennedy learns his craft. They can mix it up and have the opposition guessing, and can even become a decoy for Kennedy to present. We must not allow our team to be predictable.

We must develop our kids' football smarts.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Psst, bondi, it's Longmire not Longmuir.

The only Longmuirs I can think of are overrated duds, like the one on our list.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

2007 List Management: Unpredictable and flexible

In 2007 Carlton will surprise the football world with its list management, providing the most unpredictable outcomes designed to keep the football world - and all Carlton fans - guessing.

Out will go key players like Thornton. We will retain players who couldn't get a game at other clubs on 3 year contracts, and only offer 2 years to our young guns. We will sign up our oldest players first and leave the youngest players to fight out with what we have left in the salary cap.

And the list will be flexible. Those on 3 year contracts will be in and out of the senior team and the Bullants all year.

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

OK KK it's Longhorse! That way I don't have to worry about spelling the names that are likely to never be at Carlton in the future.

Athorn, as I said earlier on, lets not worry about Pagan or the board and what they might do, lets have a bit of fun and see if a change in the game plan and game planning with considerations of flexibility and unpredictability can improve our players'/ teams performance in 2007.

If not, then we may as well stop blaming the coach and board for our failure on the field, and just believe that the list and all the kids we have give us worthless stock value for future dividends; which I do not subscribe to.

Murphy, Walker, Kennedy, Bower, Simpson, Blackwell, Setanta, Aisake, Hartlett, Thornton, Waite, Fisher, Russell, Betts, Bentick, Edwards, Flint, Jackson, Carrazzo.............Gibbs/Hansen, Pick 17, 19, 35. There's a squad of 23 Under 23's; not bad me thinks. Add Fevola, Stevens, Scotland and Houlihan for the next 3-4 years, and it's not bad. Throw in Kouta, Lappin and Whitnall as the oldies to support the kids, and I'm sure we could do better than 2006.

This team will also have support from Bullants players, form permitting from the likes of Wiggins, Saddington, McLaren, DeLuca and maybe Bannister.

It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom between September to March for us Blue Boys; this is when we can take advantage of a window for practising our bragging rights, after all we haven't lost a game for the past 3 weeks, and wont before the real season starts.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

A fresh breath of optimism

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Ich bein ein Carltonian