There has been plenty of discussion and dissection of our list over time. We have debated the Draft decisions, penalties, ready-mades, duds, kids, projects, guns etc. Irrespective of who has come and gone, the only thing that matters now, is which players are on our list and have the opportunity to don the Navy Blue.
The big question is:
"Do we have enough quality on the list to really make us competitive in the next couple of seasons?" The common held belief is that to become a serious contender, a club needs about 20% of its list which was sourced from the pointy end of the National Draft. The other obvious prerequisite is that kids need at least 3 years in the system to really cement their place in a winning combination. Astute trading, clever contract negotiation, enticement of out of contract players to enter the PSD and visionary Rookie selections are also big parts to ensuring depth and eventually quality lists.
Looking at our list as it now stands, some amazing factors seem to be starting to fall in to place.
We clearly do not have enough of the cream from the top end of the draft….but there is at least
6 Potential Top Guns in this lot:
National Draft Picks 1-20:
#1: Marc Murphy…Bryce Gibbs
#2: Andrew Walker
#4: Josh Kennedy
#9: Jordan Russell
#15: Simon Wiggins
#17: Shaun Hampson
#19: Shaun Grigg
#20: Paul Bower
We might have performed poorly at the National Draft table with early selections, but some of the later picks we have on our list have been revelations. I reckon there is about
8 Top Picks here as well.
National Draft Picks 21+:
#22: Matthew Lappin (Traded from Saints + #53)
#25: Adam Hartlett
#35: Heath Scotland (Traded from Pies)…Mark Austin
#36: Jake Edwards
#38: Brendan Fevola
#41: Luke Blackwell (F/S)
#45: Kade Simpson
#46: Jarrad Waite (F/S)
#50: Jason Saddington (Traded from Swans)
#51: Clinton Benjamin
#67: Joe Anderson
#69: Jordan Bannister
#72: Bradley Fisher
#73: Ryan Houlihan
#77: Anthony Raso
We have also done well in the PSD, which has created some depth that we didn’t previously have. At least
2 Quality Boys here:
PSD:
Nick Stevens
Eddie Betts
Dylan McLaren
Cain Ackland
Cameron Cloke
We have done fairly well in the other recruitment areas too, picking up 3 B & F Winners: Teaguey is shot and Kouta is on borrowed time…sad! Whittas just might follow up his handy 2006. I expect that he will play in the front half a lot more in 2007:
Lance Whitnall: (F/S) [Prior to 3rd Round selection being required].
David Teague: (Traded from Roos)
Anthony Koutoufides: (Local Zoning before ND)
I believe that the Rookie Draft has also served us very well. Definitely
4 Crackers in this lot too:
Rookie Draft:
Bret Thornton
Adam Bentick
Andrew Carrazzo
Setanta O’hAilpin
Craig Flint
Ryan Jackson
Aisake O’hAilpin
Sam Jacobs
Michael Jamieson
Ross Young
A number of
2nd, 3rd and 4th year players are now stepping up and look ready to challenge. So to summarize, with about
20 Quality Young Men all up who can actually play, we have the foundation of a good young team going forward, but we still need more depth to really make our mark. Recruits from the 2004 and 2005 Drafts need to take the next step and hopefully Gibbo’s class won’t take as long to push for honours. I expect to win about
8 games in 2007 (any more will be a huge bonus) and make a serious assault on the
Finals in 2009. We just gotta be patient my Blue Brethren. For those of us fortunate enough to have experienced the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, we know what its like to be feared. For those of you who are younger and haven’t seen much if any September glory, get ready for the
Giant Navy Blue Phoenix to rise from the ashes. If the football world thought that Carlton and its supporters were arrogant before,
let me tell ya; they ain’t @#$%&! seen nothing yet!!!
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