Inside the Blues’ transformation from “mistake-makers” to “deceivers”, and why a great is questioning the coaching situation at Moorabbin.
Plus, more of the biggest talking points ahead of Round 23, as well as the Fox Footy commentary roster for every game, in Foxfooty.com.au’s ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
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Round 23
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‘REMARKABLE’: HOW BLUES TURNED FROM ‘MISTAKE-MAKERS’ INTO ‘DECEIVERS’
Remember that time in the preseason when Carlton’s kicking skills during a January training session were mercilessly savaged?
Us neither.
Because the Blues have turned into a force moving the ball by foot under Josh Fraser.
And they were on full display last Sunday night against St Kilda, with the likes of reborn half-backer Adam Cerra ripping right and left-foot sizzlers into the corridor.
Since Round 10, Carlton has been the best transition side in the competition, with Brisbane and Fremantle sitting second and third in that span.
“They’ve been so impressive, and the way they’re moving the ball, and it’s not just completely fast, but their kicking skills were on show on Sunday night,” Lions great Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“And unfortunately for Vossy, we just didn’t see this consistently enough in his tenure, and the first 10 weeks (of this season) especially.
“And it’s helped them defensively as well — they’re No.3 for points against since Josh Fraser took over.
“They’re taking 20 more uncontested marks per game. So, it’s not just fast-paced. They can move the ball quickly, but that (controlling possession with marks) is helping them defensively as well.”
Over the past 12 rounds, the Blues also sit first for uncontested marks differential.
They’re controlling games with possession, and being smart about when they choose to pull the trigger.
Four-time Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis said the Blues are moving the footy with “deception”.
“It’s not necessarily a kick off-line; it’s using deception. Right now, they’re using the ‘deception kick’ better than any team in the AFL,” he said.
“So, I wonder whether that is a Josh Fraser thing, or if there’s someone else there that’s really encouraging that.”
The ‘deception kick’ is a type of kicking motion where the player fakes their body, eye direction or foot placement before kicking in another direction entirely.
Whether it’s been a kick into the corridor after shaping down the line, or vice versa, the Blues are weaponising it.
Brown added: “We asked Sam Walsh after the game, and he said that’s the Jordan Russell drill. Jordan Russell is their development coach.
“That kick across the body, it wrong-foots defenders.”
But while the Blues are getting creative in possession, they don’t muck around close to goal.
Since Round 10, they’ve committed the least back-half turnovers in the competition, and sit fifth for points against from back-half turnovers.
“Three months ago, they were mistake-makers; they looked like a poor kicking team,” AFL legend Leigh Matthews said.
“And then they started to win a couple of games. That momentum, the confidence grows, and all of a sudden, they’re like different players.
“They just look so much different than they did earlier in the season. So, whoever’s been responsible, whether it’s Fraser or the development coach, what has happened is remarkable.”
Lyon Blasts Nonsense Kola Call | 02:35
‘THOUGHT THAT’S STRANGE’: GREAT’S SAINTS SUCCESSION QUESTION
Barring a miracle, St Kilda isn’t making the finals.
And in the expanded format, finishing outside the top 10 should be viewed as a considerable fail for a club that significantly improved its personnel in hopes of a ladder leap.
After finishing 12th last year, the Saints are likely to only improve by one rung on the ladder, despite adding Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders last offseason.
Granted, the club has encountered crippling injuries in the form of Flanders, Max King, Jack Sinclair and most recently Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. That’s undoubtedly had an impact.
But while the Saints have played a positive brand of footy at times this year, they’ve repeatedly failed big tests against contenders.
And looking at the bigger picture, going into Lyon’s fifth year since retaking the helm, it’s a cloudy outlook at Moorabbin.
It’s getting harder to argue Lyon will be the club’s drought-breaking premiership coach.
And with one of the league’s highly-regarded coaches in-waiting sitting on his assistants panel, former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon is turning to the future.
“I’m looking at the Saints as a whole as a footy club. They put it on notice last year that they’re going to spend some money and get some personnel in,” Dixon began on Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview.
“Jack Silvagni has been enormous, Nas was enormous until he got injured. (But) where do they go? Because I look at a succession plan, and I (look at) the Hawks.
“Sam Mitchell got approached by Collingwood … it’s, ‘You’re not interviewing Sam, let’s fast-track our succession plan under Clarko and get him into the chair’.
“Josh Carr, same deal — ‘Ken, I’m not going for the interviews because we want to keep Josh and he can take over’.
“All the noise is that Corey Enright will be the next man to take over from Ross and be the successor. (But) he goes and interviews for Carlton. I just thought that’s strange.
“Maybe it’s not; maybe they do it differently. But if he’s of the quality you want and probably will be a senior coach and take over the reins, you don’t let him (talk) to another club.
“You lock him down, and you keep him in-house, and you go, ‘Right, this is our succession plan’.”
In his fifth year on St Kilda’s panel, Enright, who’s in charge of game plan and strategy, is one of five finalists for Carlton’s vacant coaching job.
Next year is Lyon’s last on his current contract. The same goes for Wanganeen-Milera.
It’s fair to say there’ll be piercing questions if the Saints have a middling first half of next season.
“Saints fans will be going, ‘Righto, if it all goes tits-up next year, what happens? Where do we start? What is the succession plan going forward?’” Dixon continued.
“Ross is in there, first year he made the finals, finished sixth (then) 12th (and) 12th. (They were) expecting more this year, (and now) they’ve got their feet in the mud once again.
“So I look at it and go, ‘What’s the succession plan? Who is taking over from Ross?’. Because if he’s going to be the next premiership coach, I reckon they’ve got a long way to go.”
Dixon cited Josh Fraser grasping his opportunity since Michael Voss’ departure, while Steven King successfully ran for the Melbourne job with Chris Scott cemented at Kardinia Park.
“So, who is the next in line that sits under Ross? He’s been in the game a long time. He’s coached for a long time,” Dixon added.
“He’s got lots to pass on in terms of his knowledge, and he wants to see the best for this footy club. That’s why he stepped in.
“But who’s next? I just think it’s strange they let Corey Enright go for another job.”
Saints Succession Plan Under Threat | 03:32
‘CAUSED TURMOIL’: HOW LIONS MIGHT’VE UNCOVERED ‘TEMPLATE’ TO BEAT HAWKS
Dual premiership player David King wonders whether Brisbane uncovered a “template” to beating Hawthorn’s run-and-gun game.
It comes after the Lions forcefully stunted the Hawks’ transition game by cleverly defending the running handball-receiver.
Last Friday night, Brisbane was +15 per cent in chain-to-score rate differential, and kicked 8.5 to Hawthorn’s 4.1 from the defensive half.
It was comprehensive, and King thinks it might be a formula for the Hawks’ upcoming opponents.
“I want to have a look at the ‘standball’ game, which we’re calling that through-ball handball when the umpire calls ‘stand’, and you can work your way around that guy at pace,” King explained on Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview.
“Brisbane was ready for it … it causes turnover, it causes turmoil, (and) back they go the other way into a disorganised Hawks defence.
“They’re all watching … close the door, (and it) forces another option.”
Brisbane’s shutting off of the handball-receive meant Hawthorn couldn’t get deep forward entries, allowing Harris Andrews to come up and intercept.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learnt about the way the Hawks like to attack, it’s with quickness and urgency, which allows the forward line space to keep their opponents guessing.
“I think the Hawks are a team that likes speed on the ball, and they do need space in the forward line,” dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna added.
“Whether it is the space for Gunston to come out, or for those others to run back towards the goal.”
But more often than not, that space wasn’t afforded to them by the Lions, who instead forced more Hawks kicks down the line to contest than Sam Mitchell would like.
“It took a long time for the Hawks guys to adjust to this forward of the ball, and some of them didn’t all night,” King added.
“They’re little things that had a massive impact, and I just wonder if this is a template for teams coming forward.
“If you can slow Hawthorn down, or put them into another mode and not allow them to be freewheeling, does it stop the Wizard (Nick Watson) getting that uncontested on-the-fly ball inside the forward half of the ground at speed?
“Does it stop (Jack) Gunston out the back? Does (Mabior) Chol need some movement? Is he a pack-crasher? Does (Mitch) Lewis actually have the tricks to shake a man?
“I’m looking at all these things. I’m not trying to go too far with it, but it’s Round 23. We’re here; the bus is about to pull up for the finals. So, what order are you in?”
King also explored the “loss of trust” issues in Hawthorn’s defence, with Josh Weddle, Josh Battle, Tom Barrass and James Sicily’s disconnect in question.
Watch the First Crack Preview breakdown in the video player below.
Lack of trust in Hawks defense? | 02:57
ROO’S RAPID RISE UNDERLINED IN REMARKABLE 10-YEAR REALITY
George Wardlaw is fast turning into one of the biggest impact players in the competition.
In fact, in the amount of time he’s spending on the field per game, he’s the most impactful player in 10 years.
And a recent AFL tweak appears to be playing a key role in the dynamic Kangaroo flourishing.
Wardlaw was an irrepressible force in North Melbourne’s character-building win over the Bulldogs last Thursday, amassing seven score involvements and six clearances from 19 disposals in just 57 per cent game time.
The 22-year-old has had his struggles with soft-tissue injuries, and he won’t eclipse 16 games this year for the second-straight season.
But if managing his explosive playing style in-game dilutes his injury susceptibility, Alastair Clarkson and the Roos’ decision-makers won’t be quick to change much.
“You can just see the physical energy he plays with,” Geelong assistant coach Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“A couple of years ago when he came on the scene, Paul Kelly was the player that he reminded me of. Just that absolute desperation and attack on the contest.
“He’s not the cleanest-cut player, and I don’t think he ever wants to be, or should be. Because what he is is absolutely effective.
“Whether the ball is in dispute, whether his teammate’s got it and he’s really damaging in offence, but especially in defence when the opposition has it.
“He’s been a lightly-used player; at the moment, with his body, his hamstring, he plays around 60 per cent game time, and the conditioners and coaches are starting to get an idea on how he’s best used, and they’re using him lightly.”
Since Champion Data has measured AFL Rating, only West Coast’s Nic Naitanui in 2016 was more highly rated in 67 per cent time-on-ground or less.
And Wardlaw, while he ranks 31st for AFL Rating this season, sits fifth in the competition for impact per minute played.
The only players more impactful? Marcus Bontempelli, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Zak Butters and Isaac Heeney. That’s decent company.
And the AFL’s introduction of a fifth player on interchanges is working in his favour.
“Because there’s now five on the interchange, you can have a player who you might only want to play 60 or 70 per cent (game time) for a variety of reasons,” AFL legend Leigh Matthews said.
Buckley added: “Different clubs are using that 23rd … whether it’s the sub in recent years, or whether it’s actually using that 23rd position, ala Wardlaw for North, it’s been a really effective way of bringing him into the game and maximising his impact.”
AFL ROUND 23 FIXTURE AND FOX FOOTY COMMENTATORS (all times AEST)
FREMANTLE v ADELAIDE CROWS
Friday August 14, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7:00pm on Channel 504, with Kath Loughnan, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lewis, Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Will Schofield & Jon Ralph
RICHMOND v ST KILDA
Saturday August 15, 12:35pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12:00pm on Channel 504, Mark Howard, Jason Dunstall, Brad Johnson & Sarah Jones
NORTH MELBOURNE v GEELONG
Saturday August 15, 3:45pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 3:30pm on Channel 504, with Dwayne Russell, Garry Lyon, Adam Simpson & Eddie Betts
BRISBANE LIONS v GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday August 15, 4:15pm at the Gabba
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4:00pm on Channel 503, with Leigh Montagna, Ben Dixon, Nick Dal Santo & Alastair Lynch
HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD
Saturday August 15, 7:40pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7:30pm on Channel 504, with Anthony Hudson, Mark Howard, David King, Jack Riewoldt, Cameron Mooney, Kath Loughnan & Jon Ralph
PORT ADELAIDE v MELBOURNE
Saturday August 15, 8:10pm at Adelaide Oval
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 8:00pm on Channel 503, with Adam Papalia, Ken Hinkley, Mark Ricciuto & Shaun Burgoyne
GWS GIANTS v WEST COAST EAGLES
Sunday August 16, 1:40pm at ENGIE Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1:15pm on Channel 504, with Dwayne Russell, Adam Simpson, Brad Johnson, Alastair Lynch, Alexia Pesce & David Zita
WESTERN BULLDOGS v CARLTON
Sunday August 16, 3:15pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 3:00pm on Channel 504, with Matt Hill, Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Nick Dal Santo & David Zita
ESSENDON v SYDNEY SWANS
Sunday August 16, 4:40pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4:30pm on Channel 504, with Anthony Hudson, Jordan Lewis, Jack Riewoldt, Sarah Jones & David Zita
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