Senior coach Josh Carr says Yartapuulti is preparing for Carlton’s best football ahead of Saturday night’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash at Adelaide Oval, with the Blues’ midfield strength and contested game front of mind. 

Carr also spoke about Todd Marshall’s return to the forward line, Zak Butters’ upcoming 150-game milestone, the club’s midfield mix, and the continued growth of young forward Joe Berry. 

Addressing the media at the club’s annual Santos Aboriginal Power Cup, he also praised the impact of the program, highlighting the importance of community connection and the club’s commitment to creating strong role models on and off the field. 

Yartapuulti has welcomed close to 600 First Nations students to Alberton this week to celebrate their commitment to school attendance and the successful completion of the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup. The students will also perform a special cultural dance ahead of the club’s clash tomorrow night under lights. 

Carr on preparing for Carlton 

“I think it obviously starts with their midfield, they're a very strong unit in there, and you know all year they've been consistent in there in their games. They’ve obviously fallen away at the back end of the games, and obviously bought it together last weekend, so we're aware of what their game can look like, and what their best looks like, and that’s really centered around the contest.” 

“We treat every team the same in our preparation, and you're always preparing for an opposition's best football, and so that's no different for Carlton. It doesn't really matter who the coach is, the evidence is more around the style of game that they've played. Has there been some changes? It’s probably too early to be able to know that. They have hung on to the football a little bit more, and that's been probably a pattern over the last month.” 

“Winning is good fun, so we like doing that. I guess it doesn't change when you review a game, you look at it and what you need to work on, but no doubt I'd say more for the supporters. The supporters deserve a win, and it's something that we go out every weekend trying to try to take a win away, but more about we're on our home ground on a Saturday night, and it's exciting to play in front of our people.” 

Carr on Todd Marshall’s position in the side 

“This weekend it's forward, and we came together as a coaching group, and had a few conversations around what that looked like this weekend and going forward for the next month, and in consultation with the players as well, we thought we'd go with Toddy forward. 

“There's a bit in that (helping Mitch Georgiades), not just helping George, there's helping Whitters (Jack Whitlock) as well, and a bit of leadership and support in that forward group. I love what Todd brought to the backs, and there's been some challenges there, but also, we've seen some gain as well. So, with the two talls with Allir (Aliir) and Sav (Esava Ratugolea) down back, we know that if we need it, we can put Todd there.” 

“I think for the individual it's more important to lock the position down. You don't want to be throwing players around too much, and Toddy has experienced that a little bit when he's been back to go forward, and we've seen that with probably a couple of players. Preference is to lock a player down and make sure that they can be settled. In games that can change with injuries and form, so you know, I think every player needs to have some wriggle room to help us out as a team, but in the end, it's preferred to lock someone down. The great part about Toddy is he wants to do what's best for the team, I would say naturally, he hasn't really expressed it too much, that he's a natural forward, and he’d feel more comfortable there.” 

Carr on the team’s midfield performance 

“We won clearances and the the stoppage scores last week. If you're looking at possessions, then yeah, our game isn't based on that. Can we lift in that area, and can we have players that can lift in that area? For sure, but it's not centered around Zak, it's centered around our team and what's best for the team. We've thrown Joe Richards through there at times, and obviously Christian Moraes has had some goes in there. Look, it'll be the main group that will play through there with maybe a pinch hit for some other guys that we've been doing this year so far.” 

Carr on Zak Butters and his 150th milestone game 

“I’m super impressed. He plays the game one way, he trains one way, he only knows one way to play footy. So, it's been a pleasure to coach. My experience with him as midfield coach, you know, growing with him over the last few years, and seeing the player that he is now, is a huge credit to him, and the footy club as well, in the development of him over the years.” 

“He's had a couple of quieter weeks, he owns that, he owns what that looks like when he's in the midfield. We just want him to compete at his absolute best. Last week he had moments, it's about bringing those moments closer together.” 

Carr on how he’s approached Zak Butters’ future at Yartapuulti 

“I've approached it in the way that we're building a football club, with a culture that is great for everyone to be around, and that you want to be here. Specifically for Zak, it's about the team, it's about him enjoying his football here, and enjoying the people around him.” 

“I think Zak’s been a big part of that (building a positive culture at the club), he's a leader of our football club, and the culture that everyone's created. It's not about just me as a coach or us coaches. It’s about the whole football club, its upstairs, downstairs, and the environment that we create together.” 

Carr on playing two rucks 

“The only reason it's not happening this week is because it hasn't worked the last couple of weeks, and you know, from Vis’ (Dante Visentini) point of view, he hasn't quite performed, I guess near where he did through that month that he had with Sweety (Jordon Sweet), where we're going okay. So, it comes down to the individual's performance, and how we're looking as a team. And now the last couple of weeks it hasn't worked.” 

Carr on Joe Berry’s growth as a player 

“His last two weeks, he's getting high score involvements, he's growing more confident in his game. He's starting to understand, you know, when he's under pressure and when he's not. Still got lots of growth in him, but we're seeing is that he plays with speed.” 

Carr on the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup 

“I was lucky in the off season to go up to APY Lands and experience the schools and the programs that we run up there, and for everyone to get an opportunity to come down to Adelaide to be a part of the program. To be a part of it, you have to commit to 80 per cent attendance at school, and we've obviously seen that they get an opportunity to play today and then get to play grand final tomorrow. The support that's been given from Santos towards the program as well, we appreciate that. I can't speak for other football clubs, but to be a part of the Port Adelaide Football Club, you have to be a good person with a good character, and you've got to give to the community.”