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End of Year Review
Players
Anderson
Has had a really good year in the VFL. Continues to show promise but has yet to translate this into AFL form. Is a handy depth player to have around. Lacks size and strength and tends to panic a lot. Will be lucky to stay on the list but his VFL form may mean he gets another year as a depth player. Perhaps another preseason and another chance and who knows.
Armfield
Tough, fast, hard running and attacks the ball with everything he has. Loves to take the opposition on and tackles hard. A really good, valuable player to have in defence. He’s improved his kicking too which is good to see. A favourite of mine for the way he goes about it.
Austin
We need him to stand up and get fit. There are questions over his pace and his leap. He lacks the size and strength to play AFL as he would need to play on the bigger slower forwards if he does lack pace.. He needs to improve his fitness and get a lot stronger. He also needs to improve his ability to hold leading players. He’s vulnerable playing out of the goal square. Needs to learn how to block leads.
Betts
Had a decent season and with the help of the extra work in the preseason but has lost a bit of his fitness towards seasons end it appears. Eddie needs to stick with the hard training during the preseason to keep his fitness at a good level. Desperately needs to work on his goal kicking and work on a set routine that he feels comfortable with.
Bower
Has been disappointing. Struggled with injury early and has not looked fit at all. Needs to add a lot more size and strength to his body. Also has a very soft approach to the game and refuses to make body contact. Needs to start laying body contact in spoils more bumping and more aggression with his attack on the ball and the man. Bower needs to have a big season in the gym, get stronger and put on some weight and come out with a more hardened approach to the game. His handballing is poor, doesn’t punch through the ball at all, looks terrible and comes off terrible. Has great potential, but that’s nothing if you don’t get there and don’t have a go.
Browne
Lacks elite hardness and intensity which he needs as he doesn’t have pace. Will really struggle to get a game in the Carlton team. His only chance is to make it as a midfielder but he needs to lift his work rate and his intensity and hardness at the footy. Will be lucky to still be on the list in 2011 but I think he will.
Carrazzo
Brilliant evasive skills and a very good athlete and runner. He’s a handy outside player, not over quick but uses his agility and evasive skills well and creates well. Kicking has improved a bit, more so with his decision making. Needs to keep doing what he is doing and we need to find a way to get him out of the center and onto a flank where he is more suited as he does not like to win the hard ball which is something you must do if you are to play in the center.
Davies
Looks really good. A fantastic build, good skills, good composure, is strong and tackles hard. Just needs another pre season and to build on that naturally strong body he already has and work on his game. Needs to increase his fitness and work rate and learn to get off his man to get more of the ball.
Ellard
Very impressed with how he goes about his footy. He’s still far too skinny. He needs to put on a lot more weight as he will get murdered by the bigger sides in that role. His concentration on the game is second to none, he never loses focus and his attack on the ball is consistent. His attack on the ball and the man is great. He’s actually quite good with his hands and handball in close. He’s not quick, big or skilful but he has it right above his shoulders and that’s what’s so good about him. He’s worth sticking with and would benefit from adding more weight to his frame.
Fisher
Just doesn’t have the size, strength, athleticism or kicking skills to make it at AFL level and will probably not be on the list next season.
Garlett
A recruiting masterstroke. Very talented and very valuable to our team. Hard to believe as a rookie pick he is better than the guy we took at 6 in the main draft that year. He needs to add more muscle to his frame as he gets pushed around a lot, also needs to learn to relax as he fumbles a bit at times. Soft hands are a thing he sometimes hasn’t got, but is improving and mostly does. Would be good to see less lairising like going for the ball one handed. This guy will have a big year in 2011, could be a real weapon on the wing too.
Gibbs
Valuable off half back but not suited to playing on the real good forwards or out of the goal square. Gibbs lacks a bit of body size and strength. Lacks hardness at the ball at times which is not good to see. Needs to go harder at the ball in dispute as he often holds back. More aggressive bumping and shepherding from him would be good. He’s really good when he’s going in hard and putting his head over the footy and using his body. His future is probably off half back, doesn’t have the appetite for the contested footy which is what a player must have if they are to play on the ball.
Grigg
Had a good second half of the season. Was handy around the contests winning the contested ball. Plays similar to Judd but needs to learn to run hard and take the opposition on like Judd does. He could be a really good player if he adds a bit more strength to his frame and lifts his work rate and takes the opposition on more and takes more risks.
Hadley
Sometimes plays well, often takes a while to get into the game. He badly lacks speed and he doesn’t have the size and strength to be a really good extractor and stand up in tackles and get the ball out. What is disappointing is his second efforts and his chasing. He’s a poor chaser, he goes to ground often and is slow to get back up, when he gets out of the contest he doesn’t work hard enough to get up and get back into it. He just lacks a bit of polish with his hands but is a valuable depth player for us.
Hampson
Lacks lower body strength and has poor balance. A lot of the marks he drops is because he gets unbalanced so easily by opposition body contact. He’s not as strong as he looks, lacks strength in his lower body. Needs to work on keeping balanced in contests and holding his marks. His height, leap and athleticism are his strength. His balance is his weakness.
Henderson
If he could hold his marks he’d be a star and one of the top tall forwards in the league. He’s athletic, agile, tall and a decent runner and reader of the play but he drops too many marks. I think his big problem is full concentration. A lot of the marks he drops is because his hands are on the wrong part of the ball and in the wrong place. Needs to learn to watch the footy harder into his hands and spread his fingers and get his thumbs behind it. He also needs to put on a hell of a lot more muscle if he is to play a key forward position. A bigger stronger frame will help with his marking. If he gets his marking right he could be another Jonathan Brown, if. Does he use ball grip?
Houlihan
Hasn’t had a bad year, injuries have finished him this year. He’s going to find it tough for a spot in the side next year with all the quality young candidates for his position on the list. He’s at an age where he doesn’t fit our side well and he is a player who lacks consistency, pace and a good attack on the ball and the man.
Jacobs
Will probably be traded at seasons end. Is a handy ruckman but is probably not in our best 22. He lacks a bit of size and strength compared with many of the other ruckmen out there. He generally marks well and competes well at ground level. His disposal is first class. He just doesn’t have the athleticism to be dangerous around the ground but he is still a more than decent ruckman.
Jamison
Has struggled to hold down full back. Doesn’t attack the ball enough. Has not been reading the ball well in the air lately. Could be more physical in contests. Lacks a lot of strength. He’s looked very lazy chaser. Doesn’t work for front position and doesn’t chase his opponent hard enough. Often lets his man have a few meters on him and doesn’t chase him hard to close the gap until it’s kicked to his man. Needs to learn to use his body to inhibit forwards leads and he needs to work harder at taking front position and to put on more muscle. He’s had a poor season and he needs to get these things right.
Johnson
Came into the side and looked good. Has the smarts to get the footy. Came with some hardness at the contest but he just couldn’t maintain any intensity. Perhaps has lacked fitness and perhaps lacks a bit of pace. While he was impressive at times he will find it hard to get a game.
Joseph
Has had an average season. Seems to lose concentration and aggression at the contest at times. Was played down back instead of midfield. He’s too weak in the air for the back line. AJ will probably improve on this and come out firing next year. A good pre season and a more mature body will do him good.
Judd
Judd has struggled with the hard tag and playing that inside role he does. His kicking seems to be really poor, was one of the guys who missed sitters in the final which turned out to be costly. Not sure what needs to be done to fix his kicking, perhaps a new style, he does seem to throw/force it onto the boot, doesn’t have a pretty ball drop. If he was a good kick he’d be a real weapon.
Kerr
Haven't seen much of him or heard a lot about him, should get to see what he's made of next year.
Kreuzer
We missed Kreuzer this year. His hardness at the footy around the ground and the way he follows up were sorely missed. I expect him to play forward next year a lot as he will be recovering and finding fitness and form from that knee injury. Many people say he can’t play forward but I disagree. He’s too skilful, big and has too good of hands to not be able to play there. Thing is as a ruckman he plays like well above his age but as a forward he is a typical tall 19-20 year old forward. If we stick with him like we have with Henderson and persist with him he will turn out to be a good forward. Thing is he has no idea how to use his body. He needs to learn to initiate body contact and where to position/plant his feet because he gets his feet in the wrong places and too close together and get too far under the ball and allows defenders to push him under it easily. Perhaps Kreuzer will turn out to be a great forward and Henderson can then go down back and be our answer to a big CHB…
Lucas
Really good pick up. Smart, quick and skilful and knows how to use his pace. Will be a valuable player for us. Is a natural wingman/half back. Will hopefully play a lot of games for us. Needs to add some strength to his body. We need to develop a hard edge to his game.
Mclean
Bit of a worry with his injury record. Was a real worry how he can’t play with a niggle. Seems to effect him mentally and he seems to lose concentration easily. When he’s fit he’s good. He’s the type we need in the midfield. Lets hope he can have a full preseason and get his body right. Needs to get a bit of intensity and a bit more run in his game. Needs to be injury free. I’d prefer to see him move more at stoppages rather than just standing still too.
Murphy
A real worry how he performed in the final against Sydney and many of the games this year although he was better in the second half of that match. Sometimes he doesn’t turn up. He can be very soft and his concentration is an issue. Sometimes he refuses to get the hard ball and go in hard for the ball in dispute. The first half against the Swans was unacceptable, especially in a final. When he goes hard at the footy he’s great but this part of his game is shocking inconsistent. I can’t stand seeing him stage for free kicks and appealing to the umpire, when he’s doing that he’s not switched on. He needs to but on more body size, improve his running, should be tethered to Judd all summer. He needs to show some leadership taking that soft part of his game out and winning more of his own ball, getting in the contest and putting his head over it consistently. He had an interrupted preseason which is a good excuse for average form but not for his poor attack on the footy and lack of concentration. He’s had good patches but is not playing to his potential and that is disappointing.
O’Keeffe
Is supposed to be a good long kick with a big strong body and every one has had high expectations. Looks like injury may finish him though, not sure what his current injury status is but he is a guy who needs a good preseason and needs to do a hell of a lot of hard running. I’m not sure where he is at but he might be lucky to get another go, he should.
O’hAilpin
To put it simply, can’t mark in his hands and won’t use his body. Doesn’t bump or crash packs. If he is going to make it as a full forward he needs to put on a lot of weight and improve his strength. He’s too light for a tall forward. Leads and kicks ok but his lack of body use and poor hands are costing him. Should stay on the list for another season or be traded if there is interest.
Robinson
His attack on the man and the contested ball is fantastic. If they all attacked the footy and man like this we would be a top 4 side. Mitch needs to work on his hands under pressure and the ball at ground level. He needs to bulk up a fair bit as he’s still a skinny kid. A big strong Robinson will be valuable for us. His endurance needs to lift and lift a lot. He struggles to maintain the intensity. I look forward to seeing a fitter, bigger, stronger Robinson go around next year.
Russell
Started well but finished the season poorly. His intensity and work rate dropped off. Turned it on for the final though against the Swans where he was fantastic. If I remember correctly he was excellent in last years final against Brisbane. Perhaps he is not an internally motivated player and needs a little extra to get him up. Should have a good season next year, he’s pretty much on track to make something of himself. Just needs to keep trying to get to the footy first and attack it with confidence.
Scotland
As good as he has been I think he will be on the outer from here on here. He’s 30 and he has looked to have struggled at the end of this season after starting so well. Because of his age he wont be getting any better and may find himself on the outer at Carlton. Really struggled in the final today against the Swans.
Simpson
Kicking is a think he can’t stop working on as every now and then bad kicking comes back and hurts him. Needs to add a bit of strength to his frame, slips too many tackles and gets knocked around too easily. Needs to work on breaking tags as he really struggles to beat any kind of tag. He’s had a pretty decent season but it’s lacked consistency.
Thornton
Not tall enough, strong enough and quick enough for AFL. Is a slow decision maker and not the best kick. Has poor body language and poor on field leadership aspects and consistently gets beaten by his opponent. Enough said.
Tiller
Seems to struggle at AFL level. A player I know very little about and haven’t seen play. I don’t know what his good and bad qualities are or what sort of player he is meant to be. Might struggle to remain on the list, will probably be rookied at best.
Waite
Has had an alright season. Now he has settled in to a position, and that is as a key forward, he needs to develop his body to fit the role. He lacks size and strength for that role, he’s easily beaten one on one so a big season in the gym is very important for him.
Walker
A very up and down season. Looked good as a forward in the Final against Sydney. His problem is he lacks size and strength. Gets pushed off the ball and doesn’t hold tackles well at all. He needs a good season in the gym. Has the ability to play really good football but sometimes he goes missing. Must get bigger and stronger. Marking technique looks dodgy, doesn’t look to use his thumbs.
Warnock
Has really impressed me of late. He’s so tall, had a great battle with Sandilands this year, he’s just a bit too skinny, needs to keep working on putting on as much muscle as possible. I’m impressed with his marking, athleticism, mobility and kicking. Sometimes he seems to run out of leap in the middle but considering it’s his first season in ages it’s not bad at all.
White
Impressive early with his ability to play tall and small and his ability to run and focus on the basics. He might suffer from a lack of size but he will be well in the running for a place in our starting 22.
Wiggins
A battler but injuries and deficiencies in his game have finished his career, will no doubt not be on the list next year.
Yarran
Started the year well. Skills are good but his fitness needs work and lots of it. Has an impressive build for a young player. He needs to be harder at the ball though but that will hopefully come with age. Should have a big season in 2011
Cachia
Heard good things about him in the VFL and might be a player of the future. Seems to be able to find the footy. Needs to focus on his roving and focus on attacking the ball hard and winning his own ball.
Casboult
Could be a player of the future. At this stage he’s just a fat kid. With a good preseason and some good conditioning and maturing he might turn out to be a decent forward/ruckman. Seems quite mobile, good hands but a poor kick. Needs to start kicking more goals in the VFL and get his fitness right.
Dare
Looks very light but is still very young. Looks to have the ability to find the ball and may also turn out to be a valuable player.
Donaldson
Very light, very raw, played mostly VFL reserves. Needs a big season in the gym and will probably be a late developing player.
Tuohy
I’m very impressed with Tuohy. Kicks the ball as well as any one, has a great style, loves it hard and tough and is very very strong and big. Has good pace and loves to take opposition and run with the footy. I am sure he will play next year and wont be surprised if he plays every game.
The Team
Started really well but injuries and poor attitude took it’s tole. The team was called soft and rightfully so. We are not a hard side. We have struggled with holes. We are lacking 1 really good tall defender. We are lacking at least one really good tough inside genuine center man. Our young tall forwards have struggled but have improved. If you could add a James Frawly and a David Mundy to Carlton’s list then we would have a complete list but that hasn’t happened… yet. The team needs to be more physical and in the off season we need to have a high shepherding game plan drilled into the players. The focus on blocking and shepherding must go through the season. Simply dropping players who don’t meet their quota of shepherds for the game. We don’t naturally block and shepherd and it’s costing us and making it thought for our players. The coach needs to address a poor attack on the footy and the man to the following players as the season goes on: Yarran, Murphy, O’hAilpin, Gibbs, Bower and Walker. They are individuals who often do not go hard enough at the man and the contested footy and can lose concentration and it’s up to the coaches to keep them up and firing.
The team carries a lot of light players. As a group the players lack size and strength. We must address this as many players are getting to that age where they should be bulking up. I think Ratten might be looking for the bigger stronger players next year. Would have been good to win a final but it didn’t happen. Was disappointing the way some of our more higher profile players went about playing in that final. All that aside I expect big things from Carlton in 2011 and if we have a good run with injuries a top 4 finish will be on the cards.
Predicted main players for 2011
Backs
Armfield Jamison Russell Gibbs Bower Davies Touhy Joseph Austin White
Midfielders
Simpson Mclean Lucas Warnock Judd Murphy Grigg Carrazzo Ellard Scotland Hampson
Forwards
Yarran Henderson Garlett Kreuzer Waite Betts Walker Robinson
Predicted Trade Options
Anderson
Austin
Hadley
Houlihan
Jacobs
O'hAilpin
Scotland
Thornton
For a Big Name:
Grigg
Walker
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