COMING OFF a tough loss to Coburg last Sunday, Carlton returned to winning form against Sandringham at IKON Park.
Taking control early, the Blues were able to get their second win of the season defeating the Zebras by 18 points, with VFL Senior Coach Luke Power highlighting both individuals and the team as a whole.
This is what he had to say.
On his feelings post-match:
“Pretty proud.
“I’m pretty proud of the consistency of our contest throughout the game. We’ve been talking to our players a lot over the last few weeks about being consistent with our contest moments. I felt like we’ve done that for periods of games, and today we were able to achieve that over the four quarters.
“Our young players are working really hard. They continually turn up, plan their week to get better and grow in the different areas they’re focussing on with the support of the development coaches: it was great for everyone to get a reward for effort.”
On things that worked well during the game:
“I thought early we probably got a bit outnumbered around the stoppage, so we reinforced that a little bit which evened things up around the contest.
"In terms of the way we played, we probably over-handballed early. I think we were +22 handballs at quarter time, and it wasn’t the night to be going down that path. We just spoke to the boys about being a little bit more direct in terms of trying to get a little bit more field position and territory.
“Whether that be through forward handball or surge kicks and just being able to take some ground, we felt that was important. Obviously with them getting numbers back behind the ball, we had a little bit more composure as the game went on, rather than early when we kicked it to their numbers a little bit.
“The boys got some feedback at various stages, and we were able to execute off the back of what we wanted to do and what the game required.”
On the evolution of the group to overcome close games:
“It’s more down to being able to own your moment, and at times it’s more of an individual thing. We spend a lot of time on scenarios on as an AFL group and a VFL group so that they’re all on the same page.
“It’s probably more about the contest moments. Last week against Coburg, we weren’t able to absorb the pressure and make our tackles early in the last quarter and we’ve just been a little inconsistent in terms of that across the board.
“So the pleasing thing was we now know that we can maintain that across the course of four quarters.”
On individual and team performance:
“I was sitting in the rooms after the game with them and I could’ve talked about all 23 of them individually, and about moments that they had during the game. I know it’s a bit cliché, but the whole team and what they were able to do in the moments that they needed to was the key for us.
“In terms of our boys, I think Billy Wilson played his best game. He was a cut above with his ability to attack the ground balls, mop everything up and to be able to drive out of congestion.
“Obviously ‘Doc’ and ‘Boydy’ were solid down back. They were really consistent, and at the right times they were able to control the ball and calm the game with their ability to set up the ground.
“The Camporeale boys continued to improve which is really pleasing. Harry Charleson and Harry O’Farrell keep growing. Hudson O’Keeffe just turns up and competes, Ashton Moir kicked a couple of early goals and Harry Lemmey was important in terms of his contest and bringing the ball to ground: we were really pleased with our AFL boys.
“In terms of our VFL boys, Will Hayes and Ethan Phillips, to have those boys playing is really important. ‘Hayesy’ just keeps on keeping on: it’s no coincidence that we play our best footy when he’s out there.”
On the Irish boys Matt Duffy and Rob Monahan:
“The Irish boys showed a bit: Duffy having his first game was a big plus. The boys were playing Irish music in the rooms before the game, and I think they really enjoyed it.
“He’s been a fantastic person to have around the footy club. Having gone through his ACL rehab, it’s great that he could now come and be a part of it tonight.
“And I think Rob over the last few weeks has shown that he just continues to get better. He’s a pretty resilient, stoic kid, and he’s going to find a way and put everything he possibly can into it.”
On the message following the win:
“It’s just about consistency.
“The mark of any footballer is to be consistent: the way you do that is through your habits, being able to plan your week out and consistently turn up and work on the things that are important to your game. That’s the key message.
“Our philosophy is that we need to be better in four weeks than we are now, so the boys are across that and that’s the only thing that’s important.
“While I’d love to be coaching a team and focussing on outcome, it’s not totally that for our players at the moment. It’s about the consistency of being able to grow their game week in week out, and day in day out.”
