“WE'VE got to stop competing and start winning.”
Senior Coach David Teague is unwavering in his faith that the playing group is on the right track, but understand that the Club needs to keep the win column ticking over.
Speaking to media this morning, Teague admitted that they haven’t been playing the brand of football that they’d like and were focusing on getting that back against the Lions this weekend.
“We’ve probably got a bit away from it: I saw on the weekend and I think our fans got frustrated and our players got frustrated because we weren’t executing to the level we have done in the past,” Teague said.
“We just have to get back to doing the basics really well and playing a brand of footy that we know is us.”
"We challenge our players to grow and get better. He is someone I've gone to and now we've been able to formalise it, to help the other coaches as well."
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) April 22, 2021
With a number of solid AFL-listed contributors in the VFL last weekend as well as the potential for some players to feature in multiple positions, Teague mooted that there could be changes at the selection table this week.
However, while noting he had no issue mixing things up, he wouldn't confirm which levers the Blues would pull leading into the weekend.
“We’ve got some good depth, we’ve got five or six guys putting their hand up for selection at the moment,” he said.
“Zac Williams can go back, Mitch McGovern can play at both ends which we tried the other night, Sam Petrevski-Seton has been at half-back, we know he can play through the midfield so our team is quite flexible and we have lots of options.
“We’ll do what we think is best to beat Brisbane this weekend and play at our best.”
Understanding the frustrations of years gone by, Teague said that he was fully focussed on the present, with his main item on the agenda being conquering the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
That particular fixture would hold good memories for Teague, whose first win as Senior Coach of the Club coming against Brisbane at the venue in 2019.
“We haven’t been good enough in the key moments but that’s part of our growth,” he said.
“We’ve addressed it, but until we go out there and do it, people are going to continue to question us.
“It’s up to us to keep working, the coaches and players are working very closely. I think we’re very clear on what we need to improve on and how we’re going to do it.”
