Round 3 – Carlton v Essendon: Downed by the Evil Empire

I confess to two serious offences in the space of a couple of minutes during the first quarter of Saturday’s Carlton-Essendon match.

I accused a player of a lack of courage in his attack on the ball. A few moments later I audibly described an umpiring decision as a disgrace. My guilt is compounded in each case, as I was a player conspicuously lacking in bravery in an undistinguished career in the long distant past; and I am still a member of the whistle blower (aka as the white or multi-coloured mongrels) fraternity.

However each of these incidents contributed to Essendon’s enjoying a narrow quarter-time lead, and I’d suggest influenced the pattern of the match for the rest of the afternoon. Bryce Gibbs’ diffident approach to a contest at half-forward led to the ball being swept down the field by the Bombers for a (minor) score, rather than Carlton keeping the ball in the forward fifty.

A few moments later, Pat Ambrose cannoned into two Carlton defenders who as a result pushed Joe Daniher in the back – in the manner of a freeway end-on car crash – Daniher was paid a free and goaled from the set shot. Bizarrely the man in green signalled that the infringement was for shepherding.

What this revealed to me about myself is that I am becoming that least admirable of characters – the supporter of a poor side who finds blame in all kinds of marginal issues, and has only a remote connection with reality. The logical inference from watching the opening three rounds is that I support a very poor side, and their deficiencies are exaggerated by catastrophic levels of confidence – individual and collective.

Carlton weaknesses (not a comprehensive list):

Confidence has disintegrated.
Players do not run in numbers.
Their defensive running is at about half the speed of their forward running.
Field kicking is extremely poor.
Backing up is an afterthought, rather than instinctive.
Players lack football smarts which would enable them:
– to anticipate an opponent’s next move, and run quickly to neutralize it, or
– to anticipate how a team mate might set up an attacking move.
Kicking for goal, from set shots or from running shots without pressure is abysmal, reflecting poor technique as well as disastrous levels of confidence.

The contrast with a confident (cocky?) Essendon on Saturday was marked. The Bombers swept the ball from the back line with ease, almost always moving it with precision to a forward target (often alone, but at worst to a one-on one contest). They combined with fluency whether progressing the ball forward or thwarting hapless opponents.

The progress of the match was odd. In general play, the Blues were competitive for most of the game, and only slightly inferior on the scoreboard. This spirited performance was refreshing in comparison to the feeble efforts of the previous two weeks. The final ten minutes of the first half when Essendon scored four straight goals to nothing was ultimately the difference.

While this probably gives a misleading impression, in that the game was in Essendon’s control for the whole afternoon, the fact that Carlton could mount something of a challenge for much of the last quarter does offer some basis for (highly-qualified) optimism. It seemed that the Bombers tired or took their foot of the gas, probably affected by the physical and emotional demands of their matches against Sydney and Hawthorn. As well, the Blues self-sabotaged in this period through poor kicking at the target. I can only speculate that this wariness about scoring goals may be influenced by the fact that Captain Carlton makes a gratuitous appearance on the scoreboard after each major. Perhaps the players are embarrassed by this feature of the MDE!

Essendon achieved a regulation win, sweet because of the historic rivalry between these two tribes, but otherwise they emerge from the game with more demanding assignments to come. They seem to be on the rise and should figure in the finals. Whether they are capable of a top four finish will become apparent as the season progresses. It is also evident that their performances are currently being sustained by emotion, generated by a feeling of their (self-perceived) unfair treatment by the authorities and the football world. Whether this is likely to enhance their performances over the long haul remains to be seen.

They definitely now have the personnel to challenge all but the best in the competition, although I would still maintain that the top three or four sides will have their measure unless they are somewhat off their game as the Hawks evidently were last week.

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