Can anyon remember when French was injured in 2005?
According to that most esteemed of footy mags Inside Carlton, French polled votes in Rounds 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 20. Was he injured in Round 6?

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

French played in Round 1-9 and Round 17-22. As he is a first choice selection I can only assume he hurt himself in Round 9 v Melbourne but can't remember specifically. So he missed 7 losses in a row, and played in each game where we won some points.

Barney injured his left knee just before quarter-time in the Round 9 Optus-Oval-Farewell game against Melbourne. At quarter-time, we were 17 points down. Melbourne had Jamar and White playing.

We turned to Deluca, and you might remember that we were smashed out of the centre especially late in the 2nd quarter and in the 3rd quarter. But we have to be careful about rubbishing Deluca for his performance. He was carrying a stress-fracture to his foot (after having been restricted in the preseason with the same injury to the opposite foot). He played only one more game, immediately after which a scan revealed the injury and he was forced to use a moon-boot. He wasn't able to return until the last game of the season.

And their midfielders were well on top of ours anyway (leaving aside Robertson tearing apart Teaguey).

Some good points by all in this thread.


I have hope for Chris Bryan - anyone who can kick the ball that well needs to be perservered with (even with the weaknesses that Synbad mentioned in a previous thread)


I also don't hold out too much hope with McLaren. I recently watched the 2004 grand final and thought he got well and truly beaten in that match. I hope he produces the goods though. Maybe with a bit of fire in the belly he can...


I like Barnaby French. I watched the 2002 SANFL grand final and thought he should have got the best on ground medal. Uses his body well. Can cause a bit of damage out there.


Also, he is the only player in our team who has played in 4 premiership teams... although he still needs a medal in the big one.

2002 - sturt in the sanfl.
2001 - port adelaide pre-season g/f
2002 -port adelaide pre-season g/f
2005 - carlton pre-season g/f

You were spot on then as you are now in your appraisal. When he came across to Carlton to say that he was underdone is an understatement. Could not ruck, read the play, got outbodied by opponents half his size in marking contests etc etc. It was embarrasing watching him play.

It has taken him three years to develop into the fine ruckman he is today.
Has developed into an allrounder (didn't we miss him) and like Synbad believe he will play for many years to come because of his fitness and late entry into the game.

Hopefully Setanta can complement French because I have strong reservations about the other ruck prospects. I hope McClaren has a great vertical leap because he looks awfully short to me. Deluca cannot use his body in rucking contests and Bryan can't time his jumps.

Deluca and Bryan are both younger than French was when he joined Carlton. Yet, you're writing them off because they have significant weaknesses in their game? Even though you've said yourself that French looked all at sea in his first performances in the navy blue?

Timing especially is something that can be corrected. Both Bryan and Deluca seem willing to work hard, and do the most that they can to improve themselves. While this is no guarantee either of them will come good, I think it's far too early to overlook them for younger options.