Carlton’s current 6-0 run of form is more sustainable than their 8-2 start to 2022, according to Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne.
The Blues got off to a blistering start last year under Michael Voss, based on clearance and stoppage dominance.
However, Hoyne believes their current make-up, which includes wins over Collingwood and Port Adelaide, is one that sets them up for long-term success.
“The transition game is the game we constantly talk about on this show and if you haven’t got your transition game order, you’re not going to have much success,” Hoyne told SEN’s Sportsday.
“Your transition game is your turnover game. Denying your opposition moving the ball from one end to the other and your ability to be able to win it and be able to punish the opposition back the other way.
“So, rounds one to 10 last year when everyone was in love with Carlton, it was purely and simply off the back of what they were doing at stoppage. They still had a below average transition game. That was a red flag despite them being 8-2.
“This last six weeks, this is why if you’re a Carlton supporter, it’s a far more sustainable brand of footy.
“In terms of punishing the opposition over the last six weeks, they’re top five in the competition. Last year after Round 10, they were eighth.
“In terms of denying (the opposition), they’re top five again. Last year they were 11th. That was concerning.
“Their ball movement game was 10th and 13th offensively and defensively last year. It’s now top six on both sides of the ball.”
Hoyne believes this is partly thanks to role players like Matt Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty and David Cuningham, who are filling half-forward roles and pushing up the ground to cut off ball movement chains.
Earlier in the year, the Blues had a more traditional forward setup, with two key forwards, a ruckman and genuine small forwards, none of whom applied a great deal of forward pressure or the ability to go through the midfield.
“We speak a lot about these role players. If you haven’t got these high half-forward flankers in your team, the ability to then be able to compete in the transition game makes it so hard,” Hoyne said.
“So the last six weeks, Matt Cottrell has come into the team to play this role, David Cuningham has come into the team to play this role and Lachie Fogarty has come into the team to play this role.
“In the first 13 weeks of the year combined those players played one game.
“You go to Friday night and we have lauded Collingwood’s ball movement and that’s why they are the most dangerous team in the competition.
“They had 68 opportunities on Friday night to be able to that from the back half and they kicked three goals. Collingwood have been kicking nine or 10 goals from that alone.
“This is why it’s such a more sustainable brand of footy. You can take it to the bank that this is going to generate some success for Carlton, whether it’s this year or next year. It’s a great launching pad for 2024.”
Carlton can’t quite get ahead of themselves just yet, still needing at least two wins to lock in a top eight spot.
They play St Kilda this week before taking on Melbourne, Gold Coast and GWS to close the season.