The Wrap Up | Round 17 V Adelaide
Joseph Addamo
15/09/2020
Each week, Blue Abroad’s “The Wrap Up” takes a different perspective on Carlton’s post-match review. “The Wrap Up” provides insights and stats supporting the key trends, moments and patterns of the game that held most influence over the final result. This is your Round 17 Wrap Up following a disappointing loss to the Adelaide Crows.
MATCH SUMMARY: Melbourne’s win over GWS looked to set the tone for Carlton to come out guns blazing against Adelaide, with finals hopes once again alive. You wouldn’t have known that those stakes were on the line for the Blues, however, with the complete lack of effort and execution across the first two and a half quarters in their clash with the Adelaide Crows.
Numerous times this season, it has been Carlton that have got the quick jump on their opponents in the first quarter – Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, to name a few. Adelaide decided to turn the tables, providing the early spark and putting the Blues to task. Blue-turned-Crow-turned-Blue Eddie Betts (9 Diposals, 4 Tackles) almost put the Blues in front straight out of the blocks, but it was Brodie Smith (11 Disposals, 1 Goal, 73% Disposal Efficiency) instead that began the first half onslaught for the Crows. As was the case in the round prior, Carlton went goalless in the first quarter.
It wasn’t until the 6 minute mark of the second quarter that Carlton would breakthrough for their first major of the afternoon. Will Setterfield (16 Disposals, 9 Tackles, 4 Clearances) slotted a checkside goal to try to get the Blues rolling, but this momentum shift did not last long. The Crows continued to pile on the pain, as agony grew for Carlton supporters tuning in across the country. Their team went into half time staring at a 44-point deficit. Taking nothing away from a fierce Crows outfit, the lack of effort from the Carlton playing group was as disappointing as it has been in recent memory. Matt Crouch (28 Disposals, 4 Clearances, 7 Score Involvements) and Rory Laird (27 Disposals, 4 Inside 50s, 89% Disposal Efficiency) made easy work of the Carlton midfield group, while Bryce Gibbs (27 Disposals, 549 Metres Gained, 78% Disposal Efficiency) turned back the clock across the Crows half-back line as the quarterback that Blues fans once remember him to be.
As Carlton have done for most of this season, only when all the chips were down and there was nothing to lose, there was a spark. Much to the dismay of their supporters, the Blues started to show fight, and the comeback (again) seemed on for glimpses. Harry McKay (4 Goals, 6 Marks, 5 Contested Marks) made the second half his own with 4 Goals, while Kade Simpson (601 Metres Gained, 6 Inside 50s, 90% Disposal Efficiency) provided running from his veteran legs on the wings to get Carlton forward of centre. Patrick Cripps (16 Disposals, 6 Clearances, 5 Tackles) did Patrick Cripps things – missing a set shot from 30m out directly in front, yet atoning for it with a phenomenal solo goal from 45m out on the run moments later – and Sam Walsh (22 Disposals, 6 Marks, 6 Score Involvements) came to life and continued his consistent run of form.
Unlike weeks prior, the ‘comeback kings’ fell well short of the mark, playing 1 quarter of solid football after conceding 8 of the first 9 goals of the match. The Crows, now with 3 consecutive wins under their belt, were hungrier and first to the ball at seemingly every contest. They finished the day with a +49 disposals advantage over Carlton, capitalized in transition by taking the game on and scoring off of Carlton turnovers, and controlled the contest from pillar-to-post. Carlton were hapless, and their 2020 season goes into the books as an improved, yet disappointing year.
Source: foxsports.com.au
BREAKING IT DOWN: KEY MATCH INSIGHTS
· Efficiency? What’s That? The lack of execution in Carlton’s game in the second half of the 2020 season has been on show for all. In Blue Abroad’s Preview for this game, it was noted that the 18th ranked Disposal Efficiency that the Blues boast for the season needed to be a clear focus area going in. The Crows are a high-rebounding, fast-transitioning team that have looked to punish teams with their ball use coming off half-back. Carlton’s 68.1% Disposal Efficiency and 45.5% Efficiency Inside 50 to Adelaide’s respective 73.5% and 61.4% highlights how well the Crows did their homework, and how poorly Carlton did theirs. 6 of Adelaide’s first 8 goals came from defensive half transition, with 4 of their first 8 goals being scored directly from Carlton turnovers. Carlton’s forward half entries Inside 50 have been spoken about to death, and their overall Disposal Efficiency has been abysmal for much of the season. It’s baffling that this cannot be addressed throughout the course of a season, especially when Sam Petrevski-Seton, arguably the Blues best ball user, is not used to counteract the poor execution as a mid-forward connector – in the position he was initially drafted to own.
· Hello Harry! The Blues biggest positive coming out of Sunday’s clash was Harry McKay’s follow-up performance from his second half display vs. Sydney the round prior. He exposed second-gamer Jordon Butts with his one-on-one marking ability numerous times, and finished with a game-high 4 goals for the day. 5 Contested Marks Inside 50 for 5 shots on goal converting at 80% Goal Accuracy is what the Blues have been waiting for from ‘H’. All of this unfolded in the second half alone for Harry. Leaving McKay one-out in the forward 50 and giving him the space to deliver and outwork his opponent is clearly a strength. Let’s hope this dynamic in the Blues forward structure can be exploited more often. When ‘H’ looks dangerous, so do the Blues.
Source: au.sports.yahoo.com
FINAL SCORES
Carlton: 0.2 (2), 1.3 (9), 4.5 (29), 8.8 (56)
Adelaide: 5.3 (33), 8.5 (53), 8.8 (56), 10.12 (72)
Carlton Goals: McKay (4), Cripps, McGovern, O’Brien, Setterfield
Carlton Best: McKay, Setterfield, Cripps, Simpson, Walsh
