David King has highlighted four defensive lapses which cost Carlton dearly in Sunday’s loss to Sydney at the SCG.
Trailing by just three points at three-quarter time, the Blues faded badly in the final term as the Swans kicked four goals to one to run out 22-point winners.
Carlton’s seventh loss of the season leaves them two games outside the top eight with the prospect of playing finals becoming increasingly unlikely.
Speaking on SEN’s Whateley, North Melbourne champion King called into question the defensive efforts of three key Blues – Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps and Adam Saad.
“The problem that I’ve got is the work that needs to be done is from their co-captains and their gun recruits, the big-money boys,” King said.
“I’d love to be in their meeting today, absolutely love to be in their review … and I wonder if it starts with Docherty getting up the front and saying, ‘You know what guys, I’ve let you down probably at eight crunch moments this year which have all cost us goals. We lost again by four goals on the weekend and I’ve made two howlers that have cost us goals’.
“One looked really jittery. Really, really wobbly under genuine heat coming from the front and he fumbled really poorly – it’s a bad look for your captain. Does he take responsibility for that?
“Patty Cripps stands up and says, ‘You know what, I couldn’t go with Josh Kennedy when he charged down the middle of the ground and I was five metres off him the whole way and I couldn’t get there. Next time, I might have to call say Jack Martin to go with him and when I nominate you, you've got to go, don’t question me, no second thoughts, you go’.
“Then you’ve got Adam Saad who decides he doesn’t want to defend his man.
“He wants to drop back to the goal square because we’ll win it back and then someone will give me the ball – has he seen what’s been happening with Brad Hill? Waiting for someone to give him the ball, it doesn’t come. He’s man gets the ball, snaps a goal … that’s just unacceptable for a $800,000 spend.
“Those four moments all cost them goals, they lost by four goals. This is not a hard fix, but you’ve got to have hard conversations before you get anywhere.”
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
King remains confident Carlton can become a top eight side if they rectify their defensive frailties.
“It’s not really a David Teague issue, it’s a full leadership issue situation at Carlton that needs to be corrected,” he said.
“I can see them next year being a top four or top six team.
“You’ve got an All-Australian full-back (Jacob Weitering), All-Australian full-forward (Harry McKay), you’ve got an All-Australian young midfielder (Sam Walsh), you’ve got Patrick Cripps, you’ve got the tools.
“Get the rest of it right, get the attitude right and it will come together. I’ve got full faith in it.”
Carlton (4-7) now turn their attention to a clash with injury-hit West Coast (6-5) at the SCG on Sunday.