Carlton vs. Richmond preview | Strategy 2026 with Brenton Sanderson (12.03.26)

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Is we couldn't stop the momentum. That's the adjustment I think that we need to see tonight

from Carlton is when the swans got to run on is the defensive structure behind the ball just broke

down. When the swans started to surge, you've got to find a way. I've said this before, Jared,

to you, when a side feels like they have wrestled momentum from you, even if you don't score,

you've got to make sure that they don't score. It's almost like in boxing terms is when the punches

are coming, you can't let any of them land, but you don't throw any. You just go into full defensive

mode. I think that's what we've got to see the adjustment tonight with Carlton is if the

Richmond find moments in the game where they get a run on, they score a couple of quick goals,

is that Carlton can shut the game down. Yes, they might not score either, but we might have a one

goal each quarter, just while Sydney wrestled back momentum, sorry, while Carlton wrestled back

momentum in their favor, it's not just boxing either. I saw this not last weekend, the weekend,

before watching a cricket game at Mentone, where my open B team with three for three. The next

batsman that comes in, Jared, at three for three, balls on middle stump and he tries to hit it for

six. So then we're four for three, gets clean, bold. The next batsman that comes in also gets bold

playing the same shot. So we're five for three. So it's a little bit like in cricket where we get

taught as youngsters, when you're three for three, you've just got to block out the next few overs,

you just got to, you can't let that momentum continue. So there's a couple of examples there,

but I just think preventing that fast ball movement from half back, I thought Swan's counter

attack was excellent last week. Their counter punch was fantastic. And what that provided for

Carlton was some defensive one on ones, which they lost. So you can't let your defenders be exposed

to that 1v1 stuff too often. And as I said before, I love what Ross Lines said in his press conference,

was yeah, you can attack, but not at the expense of what's what you're giving up defensively behind

the ball. So it felt like the blues were just exposed to often on turnover. And then what happens

and you saw the players out on the ground, their decision making became uncertain. And that just,

they just felt like they were vulnerable. And it felt like they didn't want to make mistakes.

So I think the adjustment from Carlton's on field leaders was, was your needs to neutralise the

game a bit more when those opportunities are presented against you. So winning contest becomes

even more imperative and changing momentum back in your favour by attempting just to slow the

game down. Now the challenge you've got now is you can't go to a stoppage game as much as what

you used to because you can't, you can't possess the ball out of bounds anymore because it's a

freaky coming back the other way. So that's I think what we want to see a bit better tonight from

Carlton is when momentum is going against you, just don't get scored against. Find a way to

neutralise the game. And it's hard because their strength is stoppage and clearance is how do you

get the game back in that in that style? You reference the imbalance in their squads is just,

just detail that for us. Inside ball winners contested players and clearance specialist.

That's what Carlton are. They have got such great players around the footy. But I mentioned it about

the Gold Coast Sones. What I loved about them on the weekend or last week, so they have true

explosive outside speed. So they've got forward pressure players that just tackle relentlessly.

They force turnovers in their front half and they create almost chaos goals. At the moment,

that's where I think we need to see more of those role players for Carlton. But don't get me wrong,

I love their inclusions. I like Ainsworth is a seriously good player. Florent Haywood, their excellent

recruits. And Jagger Smith, he could be a future star. He was so good to watch. Harry Dane's going

to be really important for them as well. And there was some positive signs there for the Blues.

But I just think we need more of that true explosive outside speed from Carlton to put pace

on the game when it calls for it. But I think we'll see a response tonight as has been the storyline

all week. There are challenges of being unable to run out games and have those third quarter,

fourth quarter fade outs. They can't continue in 2026. But the challenge is the new rules might not

allow it. It might just be a faster season and faster game. So like I mentioned, getting the

game back into contest and stoppage and clearance might be a bigger challenge than ever for not

just Carlton, but for every team. Richmond's Adamouze here. So just a little hint of what how he's

thinking about tonight and the events of 12 months ago. Not to get excited for round one.

We've been waiting for this for a fair bit of locker boys. I've got a lot of training in them,

but now we can't wait. Obviously watching them playing opening the round last week. You get

a little bit jealous around watching AFL for you when you don't get an opportunity to get out there.

So we can't wait to get out there in front of our fans and hopefully put on a good show.

It was an amazing game, but we'll 41 points down. So we've got to be really mindful that we didn't

start the game the right way. And the way we reviewed that game is the fact that we probably shouldn't

want it based on numbers. So there's some excitement around it. We understand that when if we do

play our best footy, we're a show. So that's what we'll be thinking about the process and not the

result of last year. 30 year for Adamouze. Two wins, five wins. Just give us a broad expectation

for Richmond coming in. Yeah, I already like who's a I think he might end up being a really good coach.

I think he already is, but what we saw last year was some flashes of creativity. And I think there's

some great emerging young talent in that team and not all of them are playing tonight, but but banks,

trainer, Brown, Steely Green, Johnny Fall, Sims, Sonsi, Gibbcuses back tonight, obviously later

in the middle. So there's there's an element of who's a where he's he is developing that strong

brand around toughness and work rate. And we just saw last year the bodies were too young and they

couldn't run out as many games, particularly later in the season. But but yeah, what I what I like

about the Tigers is they've still got the that blend of experience there still to so hopper,

Lynch short, Toronto, Nan Curvis, I know, Boston and Prestige are out tonight, but they're going to

continue to try their heart out for Richmond. We know that and they're going to provide some great

mentoring for this young emerging group. But a couple of things, Joe, I reckon we need to see though

is they did give up big scores on the back of turnovers in 2025. So if I'm going tonight,

I want to see what the adjustments have been made in their offense. And I want to see that that

modern offensive plan. So so have they taken that next step? And I I'm really bullish on the

Tigers longer term. And I think they're going to really push Carlton tonight. So so yeah, I think

the Richmond fans and I've exactly where they're at. I think you got a good young coach who who's

who's training him up to play the right way. Yeah, I just I just really look forward to seeing

this young evolution of a of a really impressive young team. All right. So what are you expecting tonight?

I think Carlton will have the edge still though if they keep if they can get the game into contest

and clearance. And their inside 50 aerial stuff is an area that needs to improve with with

Carlton. I mean, obviously you'd expect Richmond to try and put speed on the game after what we

saw Carlton struggle with last week against the swans. But yeah, I if this becomes a four quarter

running race, it will play in Richmond's favor. But it just feels like the response from Carlton

is important. It feels like it would be a two to three goal win for the blues if they can get

the game on their term for four quarters. But yeah, we will learn a lot about the blues tonight. I'm

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