Alright folks, here we go again.
This time it's from that goliath of football journalism
David Hastie. Yes, "who?" I hear you ask....
More like David EVANS
Henry Slattery Happy to lead WayQuote:
ASK Essendon*'s Henry Slattery what 2010 has in store for him, and he'll tell you it's going to be a "massive" year.
On and off the field it promises to be the biggest year of his life.
Ask Carlton's Henry Slattery what 2010 has in store for him, and he'll likely tell you that after clinging on to his place on the list by a fingernail last season, this year would need to be a Brownlow winning one for him to survive at AFL level.
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With the departure of several senior players last year, the courageous defender acknowledges he has to help fill the leadership void.
With the departure of senior players Nick Stevens and Brendan Fevola, who battled lack of fitness and a string of alcohol related off-field incidents respectively, the struggling back pocket fringe player acknowledges that leadership is sorely lacking at Carlton, and he will need to step up.
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Slattery, who turns 24 next week, will marry Sophie Weckert in South Australia's Clare Valley in October.
Carlton coach Brett Ratten is believed to be concerned that Slattery, who at 24 is at the crossroads of his AFL career, will likely face heavy distractions throughout the Home and Away season as a result of his upcoming marriage in October.
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While a post-season hip operation grounded him last October, he is now back to full fitness.
Along with teammate David Hille, Slattery will tackle the gruelling 1.2km Portsea Swim Classic today.
Ratten is also said to be concerned that members of his list are putting themselves at risk but competing in social sporting pursuits, and fears that - like Geelong's Brad Ottens' water-skiing accident - his players are selfishly not giving themselves the best chances to succeed.
Adding to this concern is the traditional post-Portsea Swim Classic celebration, held at the Portsea Hotel. With a recent string of off field alcohol-related incidents, Ratten and the Carlton board are worried that a repeat of the trouble that landed Andrew Walker, Eddie Betts, Mitch Robinson and Ryan Houlihan in hot water could be just around the corner.
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"I'd say this is one of the most important years for me," Slattery said. "You want to improve every year, and we've got such a young list and I'm one of the senior players now.
"When you have older blokes like Scotty Lucas, Lloydy (Matthew Lloyd) and Adam McPhee go, it's another reason for you to step up.
Slattery, who now finds himself one of the senior players on a debilitated Carlton list hit by suspension and alcohol related sanctions said that this is the most important year for him.
"We've had experienced guys like Fev (Brendan Fevola) and Stevo (Nick Stevens) finish with the club for whatever reason, and the rest of us have to step up" said Slattery, in what was clearly a swipe at the recruiting staffs inability to fill the holes left by the two champions.
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"Fitness isn't too bad at the moment and the hip is going well.
"I might be young in age, but I feel pretty mature in what I've learned, and what you know and what's expected of you. AFL footy doesn't know how old you are."
Slattery, whose fitness due to a hip injury is still in question, speaks like a man who knows his AFL career is hinging on the next 12 months. With these latest developments, Ratten must decide whether the defender is worth the risk.
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