The official home of the Saba Show, discussing all things sport related, from an Australian. Common topics will include the AFL, NBA and English Premier League. More specifically, the Carlton Football Club (AFL), the Brooklyn Nets (NBA), and Everton FC (EPL).
Great content mate. Your analysis is right up there with the best on RU-vid. Even as a swans fan I find your videos so interesting. Keep up the good work
It was a massive wake up call all right. Pressure is now squarely on the coaching team and the playing group to work smarter and rectify what happened in the last 8 games. We need to develop a real system where we can't be unpicked so easily. Think getting Houston would help moving the ball from the back line but need a tough quick younger mid who has decent disposal. Not sure we will find find one this off season..
Thoroughly agree with these points but I don’t necessarily feel Houston is the answer - think we need to be shrewd with our off-season activity, try find a d’ambrosio or a player that works to a similar effect. That said we’re banking on luck for that to happen and we don’t have time to bank on luck that doesn’t offer guarantees which adds to this predicament
Good stuff. My condolensces to your digestive system having to comb through this filth. Explaining all the defensive lapses and, let's face it, just poor instruction, also explains the room temperature pressure level. We weren't near anybody much of the time. I'm kinda guarding somebody but I'm doing spacing for the zone-ish, but I need to guard someone but I'm kinda covering this area but....🤮
Yeah I’d say that zone defence has been one of the biggest problems this season so a lot of work to do on that front - that first half was filth but I sign up for the gig every week haha
@@Sab.batical A while ago it seemed like they were trying to set up similar to Melbourne's forward half defensive spread - which was kind of a zone but with a plan - during their ascension and flag year, but somehow it changed to this half-baked mess. Baffling.
Great video. Think not one persons to blame as it was a failure from everyone involved. Would love Voss to be braver in selection next year and rotate more injury prone players to get new boys into the side!!
Agreed - think it has a lot to do with trust and a lack of experience playing in the seniors for the youngsters - but realistically they’re not gonna get that experience unless they get exposed to it are they? We’ll see if departures open the door for these guys to stake their claim
Ok its taken time to digest this loss but after belatedly watching your analysis it will be a good time to make some changes that have been wanting for some time. Based more on feeling than fact the two areas we have struggled at all year have been defence and clearances. So in terms of job integrity T Clark and A Hamill have to go. A lot of systematic errors in defense could have been averted by going man to man at deferent times. As far as clearances go simply some cohesion and continuity with personnel, and a better system in allowing them to get the ball from inside to outside would help. They never had trouble getting first use but were continually poached on the outside. Will be interesting to see the ins and outs over the off season but this will bring the recruiters and match committee under much needed scrutiny going into next year. As far as Voss is concerned the selection integrity is just the beginning...most coaches can get lucky tactically but he could prepare better, no matter how good a motivator he may be.
I agree with this, I think the system needs refining more than needing to upgrade our list. Sure get rid of all the dead wood and injury prone lads out of contract but I think we’ve gotta focus on trying to enhance our strengths more. For starters that defensive zone either needs tightening up or scrap it altogether - giving up ground far too easily especially from back to front, and Carlton are having to play out from the back - which as you know is not a strength of ours. Interested to see what version of Carlton rocks up after the extended break
First off, thank you for your excellent analysis all season long. I look forward to your videos every week and cannot wait to see what you do for the offseason. Taking nothing away from Brisbane, the execution errors and the low IQ play that you pointed out are just not going to cut it. What should be the positive coming out is serious introspection, getting rid of dead weight and finding players who want to win. Those remaining should have a fire in their belly from this mess. Unfortunately, I thought the same thing last year and it did not really happen. Yes, a good start but could not sustain it. They just do not seem to be able to leverage, from a mental standpoint, last year's failures into this year's triumphs. There does not seem to be that determination to win across the club and that needs to change.
Thanks for the comments on the videos across the year mate, appreciate the time put into them. Nothing is linear, just because we succeeded last year, it didn't guarantee anything this year. In the same vein, just because we fell off and showed mental weakness this year, means nothing for what the team could put up next year. I think there's a determination to win, sometimes the simplistic way is the best way of saying things and I just reckon they simply weren't good enough. to end the regular season, in that finals game. good benchmark for where they're at, and where they need to get to, as we've seen, that's worlds apart right now. gotta get to work
@@Sab.batical Maybe the question becomes what is the reason or reasons they were not good enough? Do the players lack the talent? Is the coaching scheme/style of play not good enough? Are they not willing to work hard enough? Is the chemistry off on the club, etc.?
He's definitely got some work to do but the end of season issues should be looked at holistically from multiple club levels (players, staff) - key to remember Voss had us 2nd not even 3 months ago - if the inconsistency becomes more consistent next year then there's issues
3rs year and we've gone backwards. Neither Bolton not Teague were given so much, both were set up to fail. Voss was exalted as the premier coach, he's nowhere near it and doesn't have any of the mitigating factors that Bolts and Teague had to deal with
Maybe we reset like Melb did after 2022 but the extent of the collapse says to me we are weak mentally and I don't see how this list given its repeated failure in big games bar the two nail nailbiters in 2024 can reform its mindset. Its leaders and job doers all fell away badly in those last 9 weeks. A huge challenge for the club to bounce back from this. Thanks for the year Saba
No worries mate. For those feeling down in the dumps, I'd say there's no set amount of times a team must face heartbreak and pain before success, so we could be experiencing more? Maybe we have experienced it all? Carlton fans would be the best placed to understand that but definitely can say nothing's linear - I mean look at the Pies, off a flag, don't think too many anticipated them missing finals but that's footy for ya
My take is that there is something wrong at Carlton, whether its egos or favouritism or both I don't know. We have some young players full of energy and enthusiasm who should be getting a game but aren't. We continually give non performing players a game when they shouldn't, they are not up to it and this has gone on for years. Good players are being punished. We played Fisher and Dow when it suited, they would average about 20 possessions each but get dropped all the time, they have then gone onto greener pastures. Are Kennedy and Hewitt the next Fisher and Dow?. There is definitely a morale problem at Carlton and it shows on the field. Had we played 4 1/4's of football against Brisbane we could have won. Just because Voss was a great player doesn't mean he is a great coach. Its a whole different skill set. Something needs to happen and happen quickly as our window of opportunity is closing, our key players aren't getting any younger. Thanks for the year Mr Saba, its a great site to watch and vent, as with some of the other Carlton supporter channels.
Thanks for the thoughts mate - I do think some hard & tough decisions await in the upcoming offseason through to the end of next year. I wouldn't necessarily say Dow and Fisher have gone onto greener pastures, Fisher's been dropped a few times at North & Dow the same at StKilda, I don't think they were putting up AFL level quality performances at Carlton most of the time nor do I think they'd enhance our performances this year. Definitely plenty of work to do that aside - from all club levels
@@Sab.batical There's a saying the grass isn't always greener. I liked Fisher and Dow and thought they weren't treated very well at Carlton but it might be their new sides are just not the right fit.
I hate to be negative here but it's reality for me. And i never sugar coat anything in my life. I don't think this team will win a premiership. They cannot take the the pressure, their not mentally tough enough. It cannot always be the coach. We lose one or 2 players and were not a good team anymore. Imagine if Cripps did his knee, A disaster would unfold.
That could be a very real possibility. I do think your final sentence is a bit contradictory. It's the responsibility of the coaching staff to create a system that's very plug and play - take out an important player or two but the system holds up to a reasonable extent & doesn't fall apart easily
@Sab.batical I can never understand when it's the coach or its the players fault, so if the system is not working then the coach must go, But I read a lot of comments from supporters saying "well he's got us into finals in the last 2 seasons, not his fault?". So the big question. Is it the coach or is it the players who cannot perform what the coach applied?
Happy about changing Andrew Russell. Hopefully we move on Martin, Marchbank and Cunningham. Need a healthier year as a start. Would also like a 2nd key defender and a speedy midfielder
I think one of the biggest things for me is selection integrity. That should solve the complacency issue and force the players to buy in to whatever the game plan happens to be. Also, can we please not play unfit players ever again! Thank you for the great work you do. You've been a shining light in the last 3 months which have been pretty dark.
The selection integrity would occur if the gameplan wasn't so dependent on the best players being avaliable and so they rush em back - the best teams don't win off having the 'best players' - take one look at collingwood's premiership last year. Appreciate the kind words
A lot of people have short memories. Walsh last year played one of the single best individual finals series in modern football. Carlton could easily "click" at any time, it will take a few more than just Walsh, but with Cripps already in top form and Walsh threatening, that is a bloody good start. This year has shown that good teams are capable of getting out of form slumps and it can happen quickly. Carlton's best this year has been as good as any other team's best. I hope they bring it, starting this week. I am a Hawks fan, I know I am dreaming but I would love to see you on GF day.
Definitely can’t have any passengers for sure - the regular season form is no longer relevant if they hard reset and flick the switch. The hawks looked primed but I fear they may have a bit of difficulty defending the dogs talls this week?
@@Sab.batical Yeah, it is the worst match up for an undersized backline. The three talls + English pushing forward. If they get clean ball forward of centre (Bont always plays well against us) and can isolate match ups, it will be a tough night. Weddle probably takes Ugle-Hagan, he kept him to a few touches last time, Frosty will try to take Naughton, which leaves Darcy on somebody a foot shorter than him. I am doing my best rain-dance every spare minute.
Another excellent analysis. As I was watching this, I could not help but wonder how much of what happened this year is on the players not executing and how much is on the coaching staff for not having a system that takes advantage of player strength. On paper, Carlton is plenty good enough to beat any team in the league. Yes they are particularly banged up although they lost when largely at full strength. Cripps and to a slightly lesser degree, Weitering, have been noticeable and impactful all season long. They have made a difference in both good and bad Carlton efforts. I have not seen that with Walsh and most of the other players. They have good games and bad games. For Carlton to win, Walsh (and others but since this video was about Walsh) need to have an impact on a much more consistent basis. And because of how good I think he is, he should be able to make a difference even if he is not being used to full advantage.
I'm not even gonna go there haha - I'm planning on doing some funny little recap type videos every month before doing some analysis sort of stuff. the collapse i put down to the team being absolutely gassed and dyche sitting on his hands
From your excellent video analysis, one of the things Walshy AND Crippa missed the WHOLE season were third tier mids blocking for him, ie CERRA. Hopefully Lord can learn this craft, because I think we are gonna get diddly squat from Cerra who has been a great disappointment with his f#ckn injuries. Kennedy and Hewitt will be important and missing TDK and relying on Pitto the big dope is a pain , especially when we play through the guts.
I wholeheartedly agree with the Cerra shout - his mid form has been sorely missed this year, & his presence too for that little distraction he serves as to allow Walsh to thrive
Walshy was building into some good form and then we saw the "arm free" tackle re interpretation. He seemed to get pinged a number of times over a few weeks and struggled to adjust while opposition locked down on Carlton using him as a first outlet receive. Excellent breakdown on how he can really bring some impact in the finals. He is back on the rise and born for finals footy. GO BLUES
Definitely agree with the opposition locking him down, maybe Vossy's tried to change it up role wise by getting him more involved in and under with contested footy to see how the opposition responds. Feel there's more respect for him these days from the opposition. Let's hope he can deliver Saturday night. Go Blues
One thing I’ve noticed about Walsh’s final kick inside 50 this year is that he appears to be over thinking it. He almost takes too much time and then tightens from “thought stress.” Hopefully in finals he has slightly less time and kicks based on natural fluidity
This is a decent call but in my view, I don't know if that's entirely his fault. what's going on ahead of the ball, are harry and charlie providing a clear path forward? are the smaller more mobile forwards doing the same? if it's not clear, imagine the difficulty for the kicker to need to decipher the way forward in quick time
I think Sam does not have the same burst power at the moment probably due to his ongoing back issues or lack of confidence in his body. He was pretty good last week so hopefully he has a big one against the lions.
It’s an interesting take because if he had a lack of confidence in his body and was hindered by back issues, I’d imagine he wouldn’t be doing what he’s doing on the contested side of the game. That’s why I dub this one of the most interesting narratives out of Carlton’s season, so much complexity to it
Great vid and summery of the game. But Carlton [even without injuries] wouldn't be able to keep up with Hawks game plan- far superior to the simple Voss game plan. Cartlon rely to heavily on too few to carry the team home.
