Carlton 2017 Season Thread

[Mat0369]

I thought he was depth all along. Last year he butchered the ball a lot but we needed him inside to help Cripps out. He also ran both ways which certainly helped him hold his spot. I think with Murphy back this year and some quality young guys running around it's pushed him out.

I think Bolton is going to emphasise that guys need to be sound in their defensive structures and pressure. If either of those lack you're out. He will reward strong performances regardless of who you are. If Sam works on this aspects and plays within his limitations offensively he will be back in. He is no worse than Graham/Daisy.

Speaking of Graham, as good as he was against the Pies he was putrid against Freo. It was a tough day weather wise but the conditions were made for him. I don't think he impacted the contest enough when the ball was there to be won and when he did win it he turned it over. You aren't dropping him off the back of 1 game, but he really needs to be better this week against a 1 paced Roos side. I'd give him the job on Cunnington and tell him to make a statement. It's make or break season for Graham being out of  contract and not being an established player in our best 22.

It might be worth getting Carrots to the club as a midfield specialist coach now that the umpiring is over. He was in a similar situation to both these guys. Could win the ball, strong defensively but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He was able to fix his kicking to a point where he went from butcher to reliable. It was through hard work that he fixed that deficiency and was able to not only become a major part of our midfield but be the vice captain of the club and win a B&F. If they can become a similar cog to Shiels or Sewell in their Hawks prime we will have done well.

[elephants]

Amazing insight Mat, very interesting as an outsider 8)

[Money Shot]

Okay thanks Mat, always good to see your thoughts on these kind of things.

Kerridge, Graham and Buckley are the three I want to have big ends to there seasons as they all have a lot of potential but have never really reached it.

[Mat0369]

Buckley is the one that hurts. He is a player we need to step up with his outside pace but he has never found a settled position. He has had so much potential from his junior days but has always had injuries disrupt any continuity. We have a boatload of un-contracted players and a list manager who isn't afraid to turn the list over. These guys need to realise it's now or never. They aren't going to get a chance elsewhere. They need to play with some mongrel and urgency or they very well could end up on the scrap heap.

[fanTCfool]

Woohoo! 6 re-signings confirmed today,

Charlie Curnow til 2019
Ed Curnow til 2019
Sam Petrevski-Seton til 2021
Zac Fisher til 2020
Harry McKay til 2019
Andrew Phillips til 2019

Can't be unhappy with any of those, bring on the next few years

[Mat0369]

It will be interesting to see what direction we head in the off-season. Those 6 signings are great but I think we still have another 14 out of contract. We could make 8+ potential list changes at the end of the year. Our 22 in a couple of years should look like this

Plowman, Weits, Willow
Doc, Marchbank, Macreadie
Curnow, Cripps, Cuningham
SPS, Curnow, Fisher
Wright, McKay, Silvagni
Kreuz, Murphy, Gibbs


The bench is where it gets interesting. If guys like Pickett/Polson start to develop they will fit in there. We have a couple of guys in Sumner and Lamb that could be depth options for us down the track. More importantly we have a couple more first rounders to add in the mix over the next couple of years.

[Mat0369]

Byrne got through his first VFL match unscathed.

I just realised he is only 22. I also forgot to add him to our 22  :P

[Toga]

Awesome to hear Mat - reckon he'll slot back into that backline in the next few weeks?

[Mat0369]

You would think he needs a month minimum in the reserves. When he comes in I think Simmo spends even more time on the wing and we run Willow a bit more through the midfield.

[Mat0369]

Cuningham was nominated for the rising star this week.

[Mat0369]

This is just a reference for how much Carlton have moved towards youth this season.

Eligible players for the NAB AFL Rising Star 2017

Charlie Curnow
Zac Fisher
Harrison Macreadie
Caleb Marchbank
Sam Petrevski-Seton
Jarrod Pickett
Jack Silvagni
Tom Williamson

That's just the guys that have played. We also have

David Cuningham
Cam Polson (likely to debut this week)
Harry McKay (likely to debut in the next fortnight)
Pat Kerr
Jesse Glass-McCasker
Kym Lebois (was likely to debut R1 before injury)

Just looking at this again. Polson and McKay should be eligible again next year. Willow, Silvagni, Curnow and Fisher I expect to get nominations at some point. Macreadie might as well if he comes back in for Silvagni and if the injury is long term. That's a lot of potential nominations for one season

[fanTCfool]

Reckon Charlie Curnow would have to be all but guaranteed a nomination at some stage.
Fisher, Silvagni, Williamson all good chances, we must be a show to break the record for nominations, which IIRC is 7.

[Mat0369]

I was thinking we would be close but I remembered that GC and GWS would have had a buttload when they first entered the comp. If we do break that record it just shows you were our list is headed. So many guys under 21 getting games.

[Mat0369]

If Preuss wants out of North, what do you think he would cost us? A third?

[Vinny]

Exciting times ahead.

We'll also take your next 10 first rounders, Laird and Sloane for Gibbs. Cheers Adelaide.