Carlton assistant coach Brett Ratten runs his eye over Saturday’s clash against the Kangaroos at Carrara
LESSONS FROM LAST WEEK
Our attack on the footy in the first-half against Collingwood was fantastic and our intensity around the ball was just as good. However, as the game went on, we fell away in these aspects and we started to turn the ball over. Subsequently we were hurt on the scoreboard.
OUR BACKS
The Kangaroos are scoring from their forward stoppages which make them a very dangerous team. We just have to make sure our backs can work them over and quickly get the ball back out and hurt them on the rebound.
THEIR FORWARDS
I believe they are No.1 for forward-50m tackles and in the top couple for scores from forward-50m stoppages .They are making that a real focus and are doing it really well.
MIDFIELD BATTLE
Our midfield has been working really hard and we have rotated a few players through there so we just need to keep that up and match the Roos’ midfield in all facets.
THE RUCK DUEL
I think putting Setanta O’hAilpin in the ruck last week was a great move; he was pretty good against Josh Fraser early. We might go with just Cain Ackland this week but we will wait and see.
OUR FORWARDS
We have had some good results in patches in games but equally we have also had some poor results. We have made it a focus this week to make sure we match the Kangaroos’ effort in their forward line and what they are trying to do because as they are the benchmark in terms of pressure in the front-half. Therefore, we want to replicate that and make sure their backs are under constant pressure.
THEIR BACKS
You get what you see, they give 110 per cent every game. Guys like Glenn Archer and Daniel Pratt are desperate, they fly third-man up and put their body on the line. Dean Laidley is also playing their smaller types on taller players. For instance, Josh Gibson did a good job on Scott Lucas last week; so they are really backing themselves.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It is going to be a great game right across the board; the forward line, midfield and backlines. Both teams are roughly the same in contested footy, tackles and clearances so I think it is going to come to which team wants it more and is going to run the hardest.
