CARLTON Senior Coach David Teague provided a matter-of-fact assessment of where the Blues needed to improve after Saturday night’s loss at the MCG.
In front of over 32,000 people at the home of football, the Blues were outclassed by Port, with the visitors doing the damage in the middle two quarters.
Carlton matched Port Adelaide at the source, but the Power’s ability to amass uncontested possessions and the Blues’ inefficiency around the ground and in front of goal kicked them out of the game.
Speaking to media post-match, Teague said it was an indication of where the Blues were at and where they needed to be.
“At the end of the day, we learned a lesson,” Teague said.
“In terms of how clean they were with the ball, their ball use hurt us and their ability to defend us on both sides [stood out].
“When they got their looks, they went forward and scored: at the end of the day, we had 75 chains and kicked 4.11, they had 72 and kicked 10.1. That’s the game in itself.”
On a number of occasions on Saturday night, Carlton got itself into a good field position, but was unable to capitalise due to errors by foot and its connection coming out of defensive 50.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Blues, who largely drew even in the contested indicators: the differentials in contested possession (-7), tackles (+9) and clearances (+4) were all tight.
Teague outlined skill execution as a big factor in determining the result, both around the ground and in front of goal.
“When we had the ball in hand, [we lacked in] our decision making and ball use versus theirs,” he said.
“I think our ball use hurt us most: we gave the ball back to them and had to defend a lot in the first half because of our ball use.
“Against the good sides, you can’t hang in there when you’re not at your best: you need to be at your best. We’ve got to get better.”
Attention now turns to Carlton’s home game at Marvel Stadium next Saturday against Brisbane.
With the Lions having won two of their last three matches, Teague said it was a test which the Blues needed to rise to.
“You want to play in these games and you want to compete against the best,” he said.
“At the end of the day, you want to beat the best. That’s where we’ve got to get to.”
