Oh
Sam Edmund, it's your turn today to make Sam Lane look like a Pulitzer Prize winner, and Sam Newman look like a member of Mensa...
It's not even tricky anymore...
Bomber Seeks Year Two TreasureQuote:
IT WAS a debut year after which it may have been easy for David Zaharakis to get ahead of himself.
Twenty-one disposals in his first game, multiple goals against Hawthorn and Richmond and of course, a miracle, match-winning major to sink Collingwood on Anzac Day before 84,829 fans.
Inexperienced Carlton rookie David Zaharakis has raised the collective eyebrows of AFL-watchers by declaring he will tear up the competition in 2010.
After the youngster - identified by Robert Walls as being in Carlton's bottom 6 - enjoyed a debut free from any physical pressure that allowed him to rack up valuable SuperCoach numbers, he went on to score opportunist goals against two struggling clubs in Richmond and Hawthorn. His famous kick to win the game against Collingwood, thrown onto the boot and helped through by a strong wind is one he'll remember, despite the club sanctioned celebrations that followed long in to the night, where alcohol was plentiful.
Quote:
Indeed, don't expect this 19-year-old to lapse into second-year blues when he admits increasing his size and aerobic fitness remain a work in progress.
"It's a bit risky in the sense that you can have a pretty good first year and then drop off second year, but the club's been good and 'Knighter' (coach Matthew Knights) is really big on always improving and always getting better," Zaharakis said.
It's believed that Carlton coach Brett Ratten is worried about the 19 year old adding unnecessary bulk to his frame, fearing that it will add weight to a young body and increase the risk of injuries. Injuries Carlton can ill afford after trading away troubled forward Brendan Fevola after a string of alcohol related incidents, and losing Nick Stevens to a long term neck injury.
The brash Zaharakis laughed off his coach's concerns, cockily declaring "I had a great first year, in fact I was pretty unlucky not to win the Rising Star. Most players expect to drop off a little bit, but I reckon I'll just get better. 'Ratts' (Ratten) doesn't know my body like I do."
Quote:
Zaharakis's 10 games in 2009 came between Rounds 2 and 11, before the sizzling start gave way to a form slump, fatigue and a recurrence of the groin problems that bothered him last summer.
Zaharakis' 10 games in 2009 came early in the season, before what all in football circles describe as 'crunch time' in the second half of the year. Performing when the pressure is off is one thing, but once sides started to hit their stride, the Carlton rookie went missing. His form slump, whilst not necessarily put down to a lack of effort at training, poor eating, or alcohol, came at a bad time for the club, who were believed to be furious that a player returning from serious groin problems was not fit mentally and physically for the important second half of the season.
Quote:
And the midfielder, who signed a two-year contract extension in August, declared the Bombers "a lot more advanced" than at this time last year.
"We're pretty confident we can make the finals again and have an impact in that top eight," he said.
"There's no arrogance, but a good confidence about making finals and once we get there doing some damage in September."
The midfielder, who surprised pundits and raised questions over Carlton's contract management by signing a 2 year extension last August, declared the Blues are 'certainties' to make the finals and go deep into September in 2010.
"There's no arrogance" said Zaharakis, clearly contradicting his earlier claims which are sure to drive a wedge between him and coach Brett Ratten, "but we know we'll make the finals and at least make it to the 3rd week".
Quote:
Zaharakis and his Bomber teammates will add a bit of friendly competition to their open training session next Monday with a knockout goalkicking contest.
Zaharakis and his Carlton teammates have, in a shock decision, elected to avoid any match simulation at their open training session on Monday, preferring instead to hold a 'kick and giggle' goal kicking contest. While clearly a nod to the fact that the team will struggle to kick goals this year following the departure of Fevola, it's believed club offIcials would prefer the fledgling utility let his football do the talking rather than his mouth, particularly after an off season where the Blues have endured a number of high profile alcohol related incidents...
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
