St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna has exposed Carlton’s “bewildering” defensive set-up from its recent horror loss to Hawthorn – and if the Blues don’t correct their issues in the next fortnight, “their season’s over”.
The Blues ahead of Round 23 sit outside the top eight with their finals hopes hanging by a thread after a poor 74-point loss to the Hawks.
Several key players during the match suffered fresh injuries, meaning the Blues will have to make at least six changes for Sunday’s match against West Coast.
But speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night, Montagna said the Carlton alarm bells were ringing well before the array of setbacks.
“I was at the game. I know there’s been a lot of narratives to come out of (the game), a lot about how brilliant Hawthorn were – and rightly so – plus the injuries. But what I saw was a bit of a rabble,” Montagna said of the Blues on AFL 360.
“I want to know who’s going to take charge here.”
Montagna first pointed to a passage of play where Blues defender Nic Newman at a stoppage didn’t take responsibility for manning up Hawks star Dylan Moore, who then waltzed inside Hawthorn’s forward 50 and took an uncontested mark – all while Newman was essentially stationary on the wing.
“People say ‘how come Hawthorn have got a free player inside 50?’ It wasn’t rocket science. Nic Newman basically half-pointed for someone else to take care of him (Moore) when there was no one else there and it cost them a shot at goal,” Montagna said.
The next clip showed All-Australian contender Jacob Weitering ball-watching from a Hawthorn kick-in, allowing Jack Gunston to take an uncontested mark on the wing in a two-on-one situation. Meanwhile, young Blue Lachie Cowan is drawn to the footy, while direct opponent Jai Newcombe streams through the MCG corridor to take an uncontested mark and set up a goal for Calsher Dear.
“Everyone thinks ‘brilliant by Hawthorn’ – but there’s nothing scientific about it. (They) just lost their way completely,” Montagna said.
Montagna’s third passage of play showed the Blues, initially, well set up behind the ball from a Hawthorn kick-in. As the Hawks moved the footy towards their half-back flank, three Carlton players – Newman, Adam Saad and Matt Kennedy – were drawn to the ball.
That created a disastrous domino effect for Carlton, with Hawthorn moving the ball up the field through an array of players. Eventually, it led to a four-on-one – in favour of Hawthorn – inside 50.
“Those half-backs have no interest in what their opponents are doing,” Montagna said of Newman and Saad.
“Four v one – and you think ‘how does that happen’ when literally five seconds ago everyone had an opponent.
“They need to do something about this because it’s going to unravel.”
Finally, Montagna zeroed in on a stunning centre bounce stoppage.
After taking the ruck contest, Mabior Chol slowly drifted forward while Will Day – manned up by Saad – moved from a half-forward position into the middle. Day eventually got his hands on a loose ball and got the Hawks going forward – all while Saad was metres away from congestion unopposed and Chol was jogging towards the 50m arc.
As the ball went inside 50 then hit the turf, no Carlton player took responsibility for Chol, who took an uncontested mark 20m out from goal directly in front.
“Look at this. He (Chol) had a picnic there,” Montagna said.
AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley labelled Montagna’s presentation “damning vision”.
Asked who was to blame for the mess behind the ball, Montagna said it was a player concentration issue, rather than a coaching or structural concern.
“I think it’s their leadership,” Montagna said. “I look at Jacob Weitering and I don’t see what Steven May does or Tom Stewart does, pointing and directing.
“(Mitch) McGovern has played a lot of footy, Saad and Newman have played a lot of footy – these aren’t kids. It’s really bewildering to me … I know they are a trade-up team, but they get it wrong so often and it’s killing them.”
Montagna said without Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Harry McKay this weekend, it’ll be tough for the Blues to kick a winning score. So they have to “bunker down defensively and find a way to just stop the opposition from scoring”.
Doing that, though, will be easier said than done, considering Carlton’s poor defensive profile. This year, the Blues are ranked 15th for points against, 13th for inside 50s against and 11th for opposition scores per inside 50 percentage.
“If they can keep West Coast to under 80 points, they absolutely can win the game. If they defend like that, their season’s over,” Montagna said.
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