Mark Stevens in his wisdom has done a report card on Carlton for season 2008, will be interesting to see if we can prove him wrong...

Carlton 2008 Report Card

Also interesting to note in the actual Herald Sun itself, it has our centre half forward named as Adam Fisher... whoops!

Edit: thought Mike Sheahan wrote the article as he did Richmond's yesterday... turns out it is Mark Stevens. whoops (again)!

_________________
37°47'1.59"S - 144°57'43.30"E - Home

it's mark stevens - not sheahan. it's a bit too nice for him

_________________
hands up if you're a sycophant!

You sure Sheahan wrote it? It seems far too sensible for him. There's nothing in that article which I thought was wildly off the mark.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

I don't mind Mark Stevens. Casting my mind back to my high school days I actually did work experience at the hun for a week, and he was a really nice bloke. Quiet, softly spoken, calm, not like many of the other wankers in that office. I went on a couple of stories with him and he just seemed like a good bloke. He always writes with a level-head, and doesn't go for the eye-catching headline or statement.

A pretty accurate summation of where we're at

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

I have been to a few training sessions and am sure I have seen Mark Stevens at training so at least he has first hand knowledge of the boys rather than the others who get their information and report from who knows where.

'

Sounds fair to me. With or without Judd we've a large mountain still to climb.

_________________
Click here to follow TalkingCarlton on twitter
TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

I really like the idea of Carrazzo as a tagger...playing a Ling role.

He's certainly an attacking tagger. Good point Mr Stevens!

Setanta at FB? Why not? 199cm of athletic monster. He knows the game better than some give him credit.

I too believe Thornton has stalled. He has shown some good form early on in the preseason, but hasn't been overly impressive recently...even as a forward. But then again that may have someting to do with ratts' big picture and plan.

If our midfield isn't going to be a problem this year, then I think this is where it all starts; the revival is what I'm talking about. Better midfield equates to less pressure on the backline.

The ruck is another area of weakness; not in potential though. Hampson will get tired during the year, Cloke will try his guts out, but is injury prone and too short...so the question will be whether Aisake steps up. There's no indication atm that he will, despite my firm belief that he will be important for the Blues in the future.

My biggest concern is the forwardline without Fisher and Waite. With Fevola and possibly Kreuzer there, I think it is a deadly force. The midfield will have the ball more than in the past and they will drive it forward moreso than at anytime in the past 5 years.

If we kick the highest score of the day...we win!

Good article though.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I've been hoping for a while that we find a player to negate 2 players - Franklin and Brown.

These two are a massive problem and we need to develop someone just to take them out. Waite is definately not the answer.

Setanta is the #1 candidate. If he or his brother can develop into a 'Gorilla killa' we'll start winning flags.

Mark Stevens prett much got it spot on.

_________________
end of message

Defence- Jamison is potentially a 100 game player. I think if he plays at least 15 games this season we are going to reap the benefits in the years ahead.

Jackson - I have great faith in this lad. He can be a run with player or a half back flanker.

That should answer some of the critics of our defence. Houlihan, Scotland, Waite, Sentanta, Thornton, Jamison and Jackson is in my opinion a strongish defensive brigade.


If these players make the team regularly (and there are no injuries to other key personnel) I think we should look forward to a positive 2008. (fingers crossed)

This is the 22 Stevens chose for us



Agree with a lot of it. Although Thornton isn't a FB, nor does it look like he wants to be one. Carrots in the BP is a step backwards if you ask me, considering his ability to find the ball. I don't know about Bryce on a wing, either, he'd work better as a floater than as a runner. Fish ain't a true CHF.

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

He lost me as soon as he put RUSSELL in our best 22. Should be swapped with jackson and hartlett as an emergency and russell is BULLANTS material.

B Carrazzo, Thornton, Walker
HB Scotland, O'hAilpin, Houlihan
C Simpson, Stevens, Gibbs
Ruck , Hampson, Judd, Murphy
HF Fish, Waite, Hadley
F Kreuzer, Fevola, Jackson

Int Jamison, Betts, Pfeiffer, Bentick
Emerg Bower, Wiggins, Grigg

_________________
end of message

Agree with Donstuie....fair report card of where we are at and Stevens is a level headed journo compared with most of them and seems to write in a unbiased fashion.

Russell for Jackson....its all subjective and you are really messing with the Indians rather than the Chiefs......He got it right with Waite, time to deliver and lead the way...Waites form is more crucial than Judds IMHO...

_________________
"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Pretty much on the money there. Jarrod Waite - now it is time!

_________________
"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

from the looks of russell, he looks to have put on some weight. he looks fit and strong, and that what a tagger needs to be. I wouldn't be suprised if russell does a sewell this year.

_________________
cruise (Kreuze) missile:
a very accurate flying bomb.
SOURCE: http://library.thinkquest.org/3785/glossary.html

Hey i'm fit and strong but unfortunatlly it's not as easy as that to play AFL.
This kid does not have footy smarts or any awareness on the field.
Always panics with the ball and plays on when not needed way to often.

I'm with you Duke.

I have a big issue with the Club earmarking Fisher for CHF...I just don't see him as that type of player, and if it doesn't work, we lose him as a third tall.

I hope I'm wrong, but I am expecting some vigorous debate in the first half of the season about what to do with Waite, given that we will be falling down at CHF (even after Fisher returns).

Prove me wrong Fish!!

And FWIW...I actually think that the position that Setanta is best suited to is CHB (which doesn't mean he is our best option at CHB). Can be attacking and rebounding, without needing the precision to play FB, and without having someone close checking on him that he would have playing forward. And he has the athleticism to go with the Browns and Riewoldts.

_________________
Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

I'm with you, Fish needs to be a third target/floater. Harts can play CHF and will prove so this year.

Grigg has to be in our best team IMO.

Jamo is fullback by the length of the Flemington straight back to back.

Carrazzo as the tagger is perfect. He isn't damaging enough by foot, but if he can shut down opposition playmakers I'd be happy. The problem with comparing Ling and Carazzo is Ling is a damaging forward who can take advantage of his opponent in one on one situations and kick goals.

_________________
Mjonc signing off at 8888

The only thing I will do with that list is swap walker with hadley..prefer gibbs in the middle and stevens on the wing...swap russell with jackson ...fisher with kreuzer.