Good thread Molsey, and good discussion points generated.
Molsey wrote
Quote:
Overall, the Blues kicked 36 goals less in 2006 than in 2005, and 225 points less were scored by Carlton in the year just finished. Not only did our scoring shots fall but our goal kicking efficiency fell from 53.1% to 50.8%. So how does that work given Fevola’s breakout year?
In 2005 our main forwards with Fev were:
Waite, Fisher, Whitnall, Betts and DeLuca, (and obviously Lappin was down there a few times in his All Australian year, as well as Kouta but from a midfield 'surge'). The first 3 give us a decline in output of 33 goals (mainly through injury), and that says a lot.
IMO we were Fev focussed, and even with Kennedy and DeLuca in the mix, they didn't generate much goal output as you would expect from a CHF and FP. As mentioned the increase in the flood sucked out our forwardline, and left Fev with 2-3 oppponents. We had one avenue to goal; Fev.
The question I have, is how many times did the ball go into our forwardline with Fev being beaten by 2-3 opponents? Heaps, and in a 1 on 1 situation his output may have actually improved; maybe not, if we were multi dimensional, as well as the turnover kings.
We needed a better structure in the forwardline, and I think we robbed the forwardline by playing Whitnall in the back half. He has smarts, leadership and direction, as well as taking a good defender away from Fev.
Fev in the goalsqare works for us, Fish needs to be closer to goal to be effective on the scoreboard (unless Edwards overtakes him; and he can kick), Waite and Kennedy (who will improve mammothly) need to work with Whitnall in mixing it up; become a multi dimensional attack. Hopefully the disposal into the forwardline improves by 30% in 2007.
Gibbs (if?) will be an interesting acquisition if he plays in the forwardline, because as far as crumbing is concerned I thought that many opportunitis were missed because Betts was nowhere in sight of the crumbs when Fev was bringing the ball to the ground, and when he was his accuracy was not that of a goal sneak, but more of a 'snapper'. Gibbs at 188cm marks well, kicks well (and goals at that), reads the game well and has clean hands...watch out Bettsy...unless Gibbs plays at HBF.
I thought we looked a better team this year, but yet we managed to kick 36 less goal goals than 2005. Clangers and turnovers didn't help our cause at all.
I hate to say this, but the more I look at it, apart from injury and the fact we played the kids (surely contributed to decline in goals), I think that Betts and DeLuca let us down, and other than Simmo, the midfield (Stevens, Houlihan, Bentick) didn't contribute goals either.
We've got to stop the ball from getting out of our forwardline so easily, and be accountable. Do not let the opposition run the ball out in 3's and 4's.