Round 18 – Carlton v Geelong

 

 

 

Carlton v Geelong
7.25 p.m. Saturday 16th July
MCG

 

In a news conference prior to the match, Michael Voss described the encounter with Geelong as an audit. While I’m not entirely comfortable with the language – has Vossy been hanging out with some spivvy finance types around Princes Park? – I can now advise that the auditor has reported.

 

We have audited the performance of the Carlton Football Club in its contest with the Geelong Football Club at the MCG on the evening of 16th July 2022. Management and players are responsible for the team’s performance. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the operation of the Club as evidenced on field, with specific reference to last Saturday’s match.

 

After permitting Geelong an unwarranted two goals’ start in the opening five minutes, when the ball barely crossed the centre line into Carlton’s attacking half, the team managed to outscore their competitor during the next thirty minutes of playing time. However, this scarcely represented an accurate reflection of the competitive balance. Carlton scrambled goals unconvincingly while Geelong continued to attack fluently. Both teams were troubled in their approach to scoring by an unpredictably tricky wind.

 

From the midpoint of the second quarter Carlton was outclassed and in this particular the scoreboard didn’t lie. Geelong scored 8 goals 8 behinds while conceding 3 goals 6 behinds to produce a comprehensive thirty point victory.

 

Our conclusion is that Carlton is at this stage unable to compete with the best teams in the AFL competition, specifically that the team cannot sustain a level of performance across four quarters of a match which would enable it do so.

 

The midfield lowered its colours which placed insurmountable pressure on the defence. Stanley dominated in the ruck, which gave his ground-level support first use. The Carlton forwards struggled with poor delivery and were generally outpointed, individually and collectively by a well-organised Geelong defence.

 

 

Recommendations:

In order to close the gap between Carlton and the best sides in the competition, significant improvement is needed. The playing collective has progressed in season 2022, both in terms of inclusion of better players – Hewett, Cerra – but also because existing players have become better – notably Kennedy, Fisher, Saad, Cottrell. The top drawer players who have sustained the team in recent drought years – Cripps, Walsh, Weitering, Docherty – have maintained their standard. Together with an improvement in organisation and fitness standards these elements have allowed the Club to advance. The evidence of last Saturday is that a further quantum leap is required to enable Carlton to be a serious contender for a premiership.

 

Green Pen Ticks (auditor)

 

 

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