Former AFL coach Brenton Sanderson has urged Carlton to make significant adjustments to its game plan, suggesting a change for star forward Charlie Curnow.
The Blues are currently facing the idea of missing finals, a drastic change from their early-season expectations with the side sidding third on the ladder heading into the bye.
With their last two games consisting of matchups against premiership contenders Melbourne and Collingwood, Sanderson believes Carlton must make big adjustments.
“Carlton normally take more marks than the opposition, they control the tempo, they share the ball around… we need to see more dare in offence now,” he said on SEN’s Whateley.
“What is their plan B?”
As their primary change, Sanderson suggested that the Blues play the Coleman-leading Curnow further up the ground for periods throughout the game.
Curnow has kicked 61 goals throughout 2022, five clear of Geelong's Jeremy Cameron in second.
“He’s got a great engine, he’s got aerial, he’s great around contest, throw him up on the wing for five or eight minutes if things aren’t going your way,” he said.
“A bit like how Richmond use Dustin Martin or how Collingwood use (Jordan) De Goey, why not do it with Curnow?
“Don’t be afraid to look at something different within the game, go smaller in the forward line, put Curnow up around the footy.”
Sanderson believes the Blues could pair this adjustment with a change in their midfield approach during the moments when Curnow would be playing his traditional forward position.
“They’re so good at contest and clearance you can even go one down at the contest, so play six forwards, play one (less) in the midfield at contest, at clearance, and throw someone (extra) behind the ball… free up someone like Saad,” he said.
“If you lose clearance, you’ve got the extra number, and then Adam Saad is free to run kamikaze, let’s take this game on like that last quarter against the Lions, and you’ve still got six forwards, you’ve still got even numbers.
“If you win clearance, even though you’re outnumbered by one there, you go to an even-numbered forward line… whoever is going to play as that seventh defender can then go back forward into the midfield and then equalise.”
“I wouldn’t be afraid to do something like that, to give the opposition another look.”
Carlton will look to secure their first finals berth since 2013 with a win over a dangerous Melbourne outfit in Saturday's marquee matchup.