The structure of Carlton's key positions is becoming clearer.

It is really beginning to look like a case of:

Livo :: Full Back
- expectation would be to put in solid if not spectacular performances hopefully for 22 games

T-bird :: Centre Half Back
- this man is just too creative to be stuck at full back, give T-bird more room to move and the spectacular plays he is capable of beginning multiply

Whitnall :: Centre Half Forward
- doing it in the way he knows best, he is not bash and crash, he is not an intimidator, he floats around gathering possies, kicking goals and setting just as many up

Fevola :: Full Forward
- another year of improvement in aspects of the game such as tackling and contested marking bodes well for more goals per game, expect the rotationwith Whitnall we have seen so far in the wizzer cup to continue during the season

Based on current form, if these four players can play the majority of season our finals chances may become probable rather than possible.

Yep. It'd be nice if Livo was a bit taller though.

How did he go today against Melbourne?

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Know what you are saying camelboy, I am not sure whether it is an optical illusion but he does look 'short' for a key position player.

Tonight, Neitz was held to 6 possessions and kicked 3 points all of them very gettable. So worse case scenario it could have been a 3 goal game on Livo. He played in a very negative way, meaning that possessions were not his priority, rather stopping Neitz getting the ball was the modus operandi. To this extent he was effective, and this is the type of game I would be happy for him to play every week. No great expectation of drive or run from full back, just try your best to shut your opponent down and let the rest of the backmen create the play.

That's good. Something noteable stands out from the last time we played Melbourne ... didn't Livo do really well on Neitz that day. Either that or he got towelled up.

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Oh, one more for the tommi rain dance ... garry lyon!

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So this'd be our spine:

Livo
T-Bird
Stevo
Big Red
Fev

Gees if Livo can hold down purely as a negating full back, we're not looking too shabby are we?

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Very, very happy about our spine.
Livingston are starting to believe.
Norman can be used down there also with the freedom attached which can only be good for us.

One more tall forward (DeLuca ) and we are away.

We need Frank's positives thread!

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Melbourne bombed the ball cos we matched them in the midfield and pressured their ball carriers..made Livo's job easier...its going to be the three pronged tall attacks like Lade, Tredrae, Thurstans...Gehrig, Kosi, Reiwoldt etc that will worry us.....
Norman has to cement a spot and play as a genuine tall defender..cant have players like Teague winding up on taller players...wont get away with that against better teams.....Karl has to be better body on body and forget about looking for easy kicks....

Any sign of Sir Francis Camel?

Don't know Elwood, I felt Norman was taking the bigger Melbourne bodies when required last night and doing very well.

from memory livingston and thornton are now both around the 192-194cm mark (was posted last year sometime)

Anyone else notice the kid in the crowd on TV with the Carlton logo painted on one cheek, and the big #4 on the other?

Looks like Livo is starting to win fans outside of TC too! (Get used to "TC" instead of "TBV" people! )

Livo standing shoulder to shoulder with Neitz, on TV there was no perceptible difference in height and surprisingly very little in terms of bulk and weight.

Our midfield needs work, though we have more depth in KPP with Deluca and Fisher still to return and Morrell and Norman as back-up (Hartlett and Raso - both can play either end of the ground). Our midfield must support our KPP.

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So the Livo-Lovers are starting to come out? Perhaps thats jumping the gun a little - maybe he's just been given another chance to redeem himself.

FWIW, two of Neitz's shots on goal came from kicks to leads, where the kick came from a Carlton turnover in the middle / half back. Livo didn't stay on him during these times, and was caught out really on the turnover.

Yours,

Livo-Lover
Molsey
(ex Vacant no.50)

agree - but also you have to look at where livo was forcing netiz to have his shots on goal as well. Everyone of them except one was to the pockets. Very happy wiht Livo

Oops Scott, probably not explained as well as I could have. I love Livo, mainly because we need him firing to allow Thorny at CHB, but I'd love to see him cement his place.

The comment in my second line was that I thought he only got caught out on 2 of those shots at goal because of someone elses turnover - not really his fault.

Livo's tackling was fantastic; great to see him perform.

There will be a few Livo updates with Mike & Dan & the Ghost through the year - if he keeps on doing OK. Of course, if he stuffs up, we'll dump him like the cannon fodder he is.

Ahhh... Good times. Good times...

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