Cripps and Docherty both told the group that the performance against the Suns"was not acceptable"and pointed to the training track as the place to redress their failings,some of which were specified by Bolton in the rooms after the game.
In highlighting decision-making and skill errors,Bolton raised the fact that players had kicked to small forward Michael Gibbons repeatedly,when they had four tall forwards in the side:Charlie Curnow,Harry McKay,Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult – a problem that was highlighted by ex-Sydney and Melbourne coach Paul Roos in the commentary booth during the game,won by the Suns with a goal to Jack Bowes with seconds remaining.
Carlton's former triple premiership coach David Parkin,who commentated on the game for ABC radio,backed the view that decision-making and skill execution were"very ordinary".
"It got to the point in the last quarter where I thought we couldn't really lose it,but we still managed to lose it – that's quite sad because some of the decision-making was very ordinary and the execution that went with it was even worse,"said Parkin,a strong supporter of Bolton,whom he advised on occasion over the past couple of years.
"They've got the best player in the competition I think in Cripps and no one's trying harder or working in his role as captain doing what he has to do – he does incredibly good things in the difficult moments all the time ... so that's disappointing for him."
Parkin said the team had lacked composure in key moments on Sunday,adding"composure comes with maturity"and that the Blues"terribly"missed Docherty in that regard.