Ratten puts Crows loss out of sight - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Ratten puts Crows loss out of sight

By Leonard Siragusa 06/08/2008 04:41:33 PM Comments (0)

The pain of Carlton's eight-point AFL loss to Adelaide was so great that revisiting the match was too much to bear.

Blues coach Brett Ratten was left to bemoan his side's poor disposal and missed opportunities in front of goal.

The team had 72 ineffective kicks, 61 clangers and when the game was up for grabs they kicked six straight points to fall short of what would have been another great comeback win.

But such was Ratten's frustration, a normal Monday review was ditched for a one-on-one debrief.

"We didn't watch the replay of the game for the first time this year," Ratten said.

"All the coaches do the individual tapes but I got involved this week.

"I sat down with players to watch their tapes and we went through everything individually, so we wiped the team aspect about sitting back and watching the execution of the footy. We took that out."

"To have one mark inside fifty with 39 seconds to go in the second quarter - we had our chances, numerous chances. That was the most frustrating part about it.

"We were one point in front at half-time, we could have been four or five goals in front."

Ratten's displeasure also stems from the fact making the finals will now be much tougher.

The club is 11th on the ladder but would have to win all four remaining matches to take part in September.

Their run home starts with a danger game against 14th-placed Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome on Saturday.

"It's a must win for us," Ratten said.

"We are running out of chances to keep our season alive and this is a big game for us, at home against Port.

"We played them at pretty much the same time last year over there (round 19), when we were out of finals - we got a free hit at them last year, they get a free hit this year.

"They've got nothing to lose, a lot to gain, young list, players fighting for careers.

"They are very quick, they use the ball very well, skilful, their players are really starting to find some form."

Ratten said livewire forward Eddie Betts, who injured his hamstring against Adelaide, would be given until Friday to prove his fitness.

He said the club might use a hyperbaric chamber in a bid to increase his chances of playing.

Ratten also hoped Steven Browne would not be mentally scarred after his hit on Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia, which left the Crows player with bruising to the brain.

Browne beat a rough conduct charge and four week suspension but Ratten was concerned Browne would be more hesitant in future physical encounters.

"It's another part of footy, a learning curve but he was very confused and bewildered by the incident because he thought he did nothing wrong," Ratten said.

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