Supporters of their clubs usually think little of the outside opinion and take everything said about the teams they passionately follow with a grain of salt. Rightly so. The common view is either the surface visited by the money-hungry journalist or the preconceptions of the everyday folk. But like nearly everything else, an endeavouring excavation will see anyone eventually strike gold. That being a reason for matters most either can't see or tend to ignore. I mean yes we all sit and blame coaches when teams are not doing well, but we never stop to think of why that is. Most of the time it's just a numbers game. If one is not doing well, then they must be bad at their job without any questions asked. Little do people on the outside know that there is more that needs to be considered when making judgement on a coach in Brendan Bolton's position. I here, study the most glaring issues that do concern me to an extent and they don't necessarily involve wins and losses.
I'm not any typical, one-eyed blues fan. I don't see good in every decision my team makes nor do I support everything they do. In fact I know for certain that my beloved blues have done more harm to themselves than good since 2000. I've witnessed the impatience for their coaches, the ignorance for their draftees and the arrogance for their past achievements. All which rightly came back to bite them on the arse. However, I still see a different club from the one I grew up with. They're finally attempting to catch up with the modern game. They are embracing the draft. They are knowing what they need and are taking any possible route to ensure that they can achieve what they're aiming for. Of course, there are no guarantees it will work out successfully in the end. Carlton might reach a point where they could possibly fall short and have to start again. Not a positive look on the rebuild, but it is indeed a realistic one.
I'm not any typical, one-eyed blues fan. I don't see good in every decision my team makes nor do I support everything they do. In fact I know for certain that my beloved blues have done more harm to themselves than good since 2000. I've witnessed the impatience for their coaches, the ignorance for their draftees and the arrogance for their past achievements. All which rightly came back to bite them on the arse. However, I still see a different club from the one I grew up with. They're finally attempting to catch up with the modern game. They are embracing the draft. They are knowing what they need and are taking any possible route to ensure that they can achieve what they're aiming for. Of course, there are no guarantees it will work out successfully in the end. Carlton might reach a point where they could possibly fall short and have to start again. Not a positive look on the rebuild, but it is indeed a realistic one.
Starting off with Stephen Silvagni. Undeniably a 'favourite son' of the Carlton Football Club. More than 300 games, a two-time premiership player and his name etched in the twentieth-century team. He currently sits as the club's GM list manager after coming down from the newest expansion team in GWS. Unfortunately his high profile has a weight placed unfairly on both him and his family's back. He stepped foot into Ikon Park, a place then bereft of talent and no direction, only to have thousands of bluebaggers bullish on the potential of the club's freshest faces. Who wouldn't drive a high price for one of the club's few star players? Who wouldn't throw one second-round pick for four footy-hungry young men? Who wouldn't give kids a second chance to make up for their mistakes (e.g. Charlie Curnow)? Silvagni did what every list manager would (or at least should) do if they were in his shoes. He got Carlton standing on their own two feet during the off-season after many years of getting spanked on the bum. He knows the basics, sees the deficiencies and has fought hard to fix whatever he could. And none of this has anything to do with his achievements as a player. I myself will defend this man with every ounce of my being, especially given the weight immediately placed on his shoulders after the collateral damage brought on by his misguided predecessors.
Is the list truly the main issue here? Most of the time, it has been expected of kids such as Paddy Dow and Lochie O'Brien to have lifted way above their weight. There has been unjustified criticism and no consideration for the possible upside of certain young kids like Jarrod Pickett and Tom Williamson whose opportunities were quick to be smashed with a sledgehammer. It didn't take long for people to forget Carlton's attempts in luring proper experience when the odds were heavily stacked against them. What were desperate attempts in recruiting Adam Tomlinson, Tom Rockliff, Devon Smith and Josh Kelly, ended up having to become Aaron Mullett, Cameron O'Shea and Matthew Shaw. Scrutiny from the media and others have all been nothing but kicking the club whilst they are down and not providing any decent alternatives or solutions to the situation. Very little on Zac Fisher's drastic improvement. Very little on Sam Docherty's absence. It was as if the worsening state of the blues was normal, and more was expected as time went by.
I'll happily share what I think. When I look at Carlton's list, I don't see much wrong with its progression. I see it beginning to look extremely well-bound with young exciting prospects of similar ages and a growing knowledge of each other. Bar the obvious need of middle-aged talent, effective midfielders (especially assistance for the contested bull in Patrick Cripps) and the one or two crafty small forwards, most other areas look to be well stocked for the moment. Youngsters like Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Zac Fisher and Matthew Kennedy all have a game that can be extremely valuable when treated with care. If one had this team playing its best footy at full-strength, it would most certainly be competitive. I can possibly see it winning about 8 to 9 games. Obviously that was far from the case this year, but I don't put the blame on the list. Some of the adversities Carlton encountered were beyond their control while others leaned more towards how these players were being managed.
I've gone on and on about this in other pieces. But it just goes to show how important this is to me. That being how much I absolutely abhor the defensive game plan. I mean name me one onlooker that likes it. The fans don't, the league doesn't and I bet that any player having to stick with it would secretly find it disreputable. No doubt there will at times be scrappy, low-scoring affairs between every team in the comp. But knowing we're going to get it with any one club is deemed a waste of time and money by the majority of the nation. For 55 consecutive games spanning over two and a half years, Carlton has not kicked a triple-figure score. And it's expected by general community that the drought will hang around for a little while longer. I mean the team is even struggling to reach 80 points. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Carlton were in fact one of the few reasons why the AFL is considering these rule changes going into 2019. The leagues is wanting for an exciting game, and teams such as the blues right now are letting them down.
When Bolton walked in the doors of Ikon Park, I went on to believe Carlton would take the game on. I believed they would not so much be a threat but a tough obstacle that knows which way is north. I expected some attacking flair. I expected some regular scoring. I expected mistakes in skill, but the hunger to recover from them effectively. Bolton after all, was a student of Alastair Clarkson, arguably the greatest coach of the modern era. Irrespective of how easily I was fooled, one couldn't really blame me for leading myself to believe this. Reality just proved it wasn't to be. Apparently the list was so incredibly bad, that every new man and kid donning the jumper had to take the slow and steady approach first. It was only 'stemming the flow' and not bothering much with pushing up the ground. Sure the club put up a solid fight whilst the list was taking damage for two years. But Carlton was still getting spat on by experts for a boring and lifeless game plan that was sooner or later going to be rendered unsustainable. Adding to this was the excessive dependency on the club's core group of experienced performers as the kids fought harder to make a name for themselves.
When Bolton walked in the doors of Ikon Park, I went on to believe Carlton would take the game on. I believed they would not so much be a threat but a tough obstacle that knows which way is north. I expected some attacking flair. I expected some regular scoring. I expected mistakes in skill, but the hunger to recover from them effectively. Bolton after all, was a student of Alastair Clarkson, arguably the greatest coach of the modern era. Irrespective of how easily I was fooled, one couldn't really blame me for leading myself to believe this. Reality just proved it wasn't to be. Apparently the list was so incredibly bad, that every new man and kid donning the jumper had to take the slow and steady approach first. It was only 'stemming the flow' and not bothering much with pushing up the ground. Sure the club put up a solid fight whilst the list was taking damage for two years. But Carlton was still getting spat on by experts for a boring and lifeless game plan that was sooner or later going to be rendered unsustainable. Adding to this was the excessive dependency on the club's core group of experienced performers as the kids fought harder to make a name for themselves.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why Bolts stuck with the slow and steady strategy along with the role rotations. It wouldn't be right by any means to chuck scraggy kids directly up against big, seasoned bodies. And it is vital for young players to first learn how to build walls and nullify the opposition's tactics. But try looking beyond such reasons. We come to realise that nothing more can be discerned. I can't help but believe that Bolton didn't study his notes well enough in this area. The cons of Bolton's plan clearly outweigh the pros. When I look at the likes of Kade Simpson, Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Jarrod Pickett, I see them having every right to be filthy with where they currently sit in the plan. So many players are being pushed further down the ground, leaving Curnow and McKay to take on three men at once. And when the pressure is against the team, an ageing Simpson is constantly looked towards for the answers in both resetting and instigating play. A few players have been left to do way more work than their teammates. Doesn't sound very team-like does it? Usually premiership teams are made up of fairly even contributions. Yes, Carlton are still a work in progress. But things still have to change as soon as possible. Otherwise some people will bow out of the game sooner and others will just lose faith in the club's direction.
When one has players as talented as Charlie Curnow, as quick as Jarrod Pickett, as evasive as Paddy Dow or as exciting as Harry McKay, they shouldn't ever waste them on a game plan that does them no favours. They need the breathing space to create proper patterns and make effective decisions. They need to start from square one and move up from there. Expecting them to do anything more than what they've done this year is just about impossible when they're not at anytime receiving the proper support. So if it wasn't misbehaving that saw McKay struggle to get into the team, then his absence for the games he didn't play whilst fit were unreasonable. And if we're currently expecting him to kick 40+ goals next year, then we might need to re-think that if the coach sticks with the current disorganised structure. Carlton need to take some of the load off his shoulders. No longer should they be pushing players away from the forward 50, because that is expecting these young KPP's to deliver miracles on a regular basis.
Of course another issue that has these big forwards facing the uphill battle is the delivery they get. One can tell that Carlton are certainly the worst side in the competition when it comes to delivery inside 50. No surprises here what's to blame for this. Intense 'keepings off' is mostly teammates kicking it around to each other and not taking risks. It too is the hesitation and insanely slow passages of play. By the time the boys reach the last kick into fifty, the opposition is well and truly prepared for wherever the ball ends up. When the boys aren't bothered moving around and finding space to provide options, Carlton expects Charlie and Harry to save them every single time with a pack mark. The truth is that it's not always going to work out. More likely than not the blues are going to fail. The opponents use their breakaway pace and before we know it, the ball is kicked through the big sticks at the other end and Carlton is left stunned by the extreme difference in agility.
It's one thing for Bolton to administer a negative tactic such as this one, but it's another thing for him to encourage it. As stated in the season review piece (Carlton Football Club: The Season To Forget), I not long ago heard him downplaying the scoreboard during a press conference. That's when it hit me. Isn't the main objective to score big and outscore the competition? That's what wins games after all. And Bolton has regularly confirmed to us that both he and the team want to win games. This just leads to a much broader issue brought up by the community. People are beginning to detect some transparency through Bolton and his messages. I mean the most obvious one that sticks out in front of me is his round 23 post-match press conference where he points out the heavy injury list but follows it up with it 'not' being an excuse. Now although I hate to follow the superficial herd of outsiders, I can sort of understand where they are heading towards. I too sense Bolton's messaging lacking a little coherence. I just don't seem to understand what it is he's exactly trying to communicate to us. It's as if he is trying to meet us in a non-existent middle. It all but leaves me wondering whether his foggy vision is rubbing off on the team. Probably already has judging by Carlton's confusing style of game this year.
Does Bolton need some guidance? I'd say he probably does. But it's a matter of where to look. Recently the club has leaked out the likeliness of Robert Walls being the one to help him out. My view on this wouldn't matter anymore than the next person, but I will say this. If it does come to be true, then mark my words. Carlton WILL regret it. They will fall on their own sword and send themselves further into the ditch. Most supporters have had enough with the club looking through the history books for answers, when the truth is the game has changed far too much. Walls without any doubt, is a name etched within the club's glory days. A man of balls and bravery. But his current vision of the landscape is not one favoured by the majority. He is one that believed Marc Murphy had to stay captain and that Charlie Curnow mustn't be the face of the blues' future. How much damage he will create would remain to be seen, but I know for sure that he will certainly be involved in stuffing a few things up. To me, it's Carlton not looking hard enough. They tell us to be patient, yet don't seem to want to do the same thing. Bolton does need someone to stand by him, but Walls is nowhere near the right person for that job.
Truth be told, I don't completely support Bolton right now. Not that I'm saying he couldn't be the man to take us up to where we want to be, because he still has that door open for him. But his current posture is not entirely convincing. He shares the obvious flaws and does seem short on the vocabulary. 2018 however wasn't completely his fault. As a matter of fact, most of the problems were out of his hands. From the list he inherited to the rotten luck and appalling medical department. There was just about no way for him to overcome the near-impossible obstacle course. Carlton's performances throughout the year though had me reconsidering my thoughts on him. Bolton's philosophy is second to none. The ethics and psychological approach to motivating his team stands rock solid. His eye for the game though, isn't as fantastic as we like to think. What I believe he forgets to do, is tweak the game on his own accord. He has currently failed to recognise the possible weaknesses in his structure and never has looked to have a back-up plan in place. When his way doesn't meet the requirements, the team is quick to fall apart and not have his back. There were games this season where there simply wasn't any pressure and effort for Carlton to be defined by. Few players seemed disinterested and a couple gave up towards the end.
I'm not going to sit here and call for the coach's head, because when has that ever been the answer in recent times? Wayne Brittain. Denis Pagan. Brett Ratten. Michael Malthouse. Why continue the same process when the problems have always lied deeper? The board has never looked as healthy. The list management in the past was a shambles. Deep in Carlton has long lied a destructive pecking order. A means to look at one or two people for the solutions and not fight the tough battles as equals. The first rebuild was one destined to see the club hurtle down to another trough. Chris Judd long carried the team on his damaged shoulders and when a player wasn't pick one, they were merely a pawn of little promotion and a flunkey to the more talented leaders. I remain unchanged in my view of this club having improved its attitude. I know for a fact that this is the best I have seen them behave. But the job is far from done yet, given the obvious fifth wooden spoon. It's now all about maintaining that good vision and not rushing into the plan by returning to old habits.
I see the rise and fall of clubs as a natural element of the game. There will come a time when Geelong are a laughing stock. There will come a time when St. Kilda wins another flag or two and Fremantle see their first. Most will get a taste of both glory and misery. It's just a matter of when. That is forever the mystery. And it also relies on how the teams manage themselves. The blues in my honest opinion, are so far doing a satisfactory job. Yes, I know there is no sugar-coating the year that was. Carlton took a fairly big step backwards dished up their worst season in 117 years. Just two wins and a pathetic percentage of 59. But am I just going to say they're terrible and are going nowhere because of this year. NO F***ING WAY! That is what brainless, short-sighted idiots do. There's more to it than what I see in front of me. And there is definitely going to be a time not far away when Carlton perform really well. It's not 'whether they'll come good', but 'how good they'll become'. Will they reach their goal in the short term? Likely not, but nobody has foresight. It does however depend on the blues staying on track and not making silly decisions.
For more on the Carlton Football Club and the rebuild, click here.
For more on the 2018 season, click here.
I'm not going to sit here and call for the coach's head, because when has that ever been the answer in recent times? Wayne Brittain. Denis Pagan. Brett Ratten. Michael Malthouse. Why continue the same process when the problems have always lied deeper? The board has never looked as healthy. The list management in the past was a shambles. Deep in Carlton has long lied a destructive pecking order. A means to look at one or two people for the solutions and not fight the tough battles as equals. The first rebuild was one destined to see the club hurtle down to another trough. Chris Judd long carried the team on his damaged shoulders and when a player wasn't pick one, they were merely a pawn of little promotion and a flunkey to the more talented leaders. I remain unchanged in my view of this club having improved its attitude. I know for a fact that this is the best I have seen them behave. But the job is far from done yet, given the obvious fifth wooden spoon. It's now all about maintaining that good vision and not rushing into the plan by returning to old habits.
I see the rise and fall of clubs as a natural element of the game. There will come a time when Geelong are a laughing stock. There will come a time when St. Kilda wins another flag or two and Fremantle see their first. Most will get a taste of both glory and misery. It's just a matter of when. That is forever the mystery. And it also relies on how the teams manage themselves. The blues in my honest opinion, are so far doing a satisfactory job. Yes, I know there is no sugar-coating the year that was. Carlton took a fairly big step backwards dished up their worst season in 117 years. Just two wins and a pathetic percentage of 59. But am I just going to say they're terrible and are going nowhere because of this year. NO F***ING WAY! That is what brainless, short-sighted idiots do. There's more to it than what I see in front of me. And there is definitely going to be a time not far away when Carlton perform really well. It's not 'whether they'll come good', but 'how good they'll become'. Will they reach their goal in the short term? Likely not, but nobody has foresight. It does however depend on the blues staying on track and not making silly decisions.
For more on the Carlton Football Club and the rebuild, click here.
For more on the 2018 season, click here.
Travis "TJ" James
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