Despite some rumblings from frustrated Carlton supporters and media headline seekers, our new recruit Zac Williams was only one of 3 players ranked as "elite" in their position by Champion Data.

Same can be said about Saad.

These 2 I'm expecting to rock the AFL world in 22.

"We still feel like, for the now, he's about playing across half-back and developing his skillset there. There's been no real further discussion outside of that. He's really clear on that. In fact, he's pretty keen to get stuck into it.

Heard Stocker now out for 10 with a cracked tibia

Is it true? Poor bugger

If Charlie’s in then Harry is out.

That’s the rule yeah?

Carlton assistant coach Tim Clarke has spoken highly about a pair of youngsters at the club.

Second year midfielder Jack Carroll has impressed at Princes Park, with Clarke confident we will see the 19-year-old at AFL level in 2022.


Carroll was the 41st pick in the 2020 National Draft and impressed in patches in the VFL last year as a tall, athletic, left-footed midfielder.

“He’s been super impressive. He just slipped into last year’s draft. I think he was the youngest kid in the draft, he could very much be in his first year,” Clarke told SEN WA’s The Run Home.

“It’s been terrific how he’s approached pre-season in his second year.

“He got injured and missed a week, but he would’ve played last week against the Saints, he’s in terrific form, he’s complimenting the other players through the midfield and forward really well.

“He’s a player that will definitely play senior footy this year if his body is fine and he’ll be a good player to watch in the future.”

yep - they are actually the same person...

Cripps said with the arrival of Adam Cerra and George Hewett in particular the Blues were looking to build their own midfield in the mould of the great Brisbane midfield that Michael Voss had been involved in. Called the Fab Four, the Lions had three Brownlow medallists: Voss, Simon Black and Jason Akermanis, along with another elite player Nigel Lappin, who was the only one of the four to be All-Australian in each of the team’s premiership years.

“You talk about that talented midfield - that’s something we really want to create. He [Voss] played in a really great midfield and we feel like that’s something we want to build as a group as well,” Cripps said.

“We did a lot of work over the summer especially, adding George and Cerra in to combine with myself and Walshy, Matty Kennedy, Paddy Dow, the rucks, there’s a lot of different dynamics. Will Setterfield, there’s a lot of different dynamics.

“Look at the age demographics. We are at a really good age to build something for a long time.”

After a lean couple of seasons through injury and form, Cripps said he was determined to return to his best.

I’m not totally confident in the McGovern experiment, but it seemed ok in the praccy match. So, until they figure him out, I’ve got him in a deeper defensive group.

As the side evolves, all going well, that group of nine can be trimmed back to seven or eight (Kemp in Gov’s spot & Newy gets the arse), with the balance being committed to transition and scoring.

Until then, I think this is the group:

Def: Weitering, McDonald, McGovern
Def/Mid: Saad, Stocker, Williams, Kemp, Docherty, Newman
Ruck: Pittonet
Mid: Cripps, Walsh, Hewett, Cerra, Kennedy, Dow
Fwd/Mid: Martin, Fogarty, Ed Curnow
Fwd: McKay, Charlie Curnow, Silvagni, Durdin

It will be very revealing to see if we have a plan b for when sides inevitably shutdown Guv as a rebounding/intercept defender.

We may even see this as early as next Thursday.

By Group you mean Team, given there's 23 in your group.

In the "Group" of possibles, I'd add TDK, Owies, Setterfield with a good chance of selection.

I've got no idea how the MC view Plowman.

I can't see Fogarty in the "Group" let alone in the "Team". Very underwhelming in the practise games, seniors and reserves.
I don't think you'll see Stocker for a few weeks yet. Nothing to indicate he's even fit again or training with the team.
Hard to leave out Ed, but if he's not fit enough, as he hasn't been in the praccy games, he will be rested imo.


I am really suss on Jack's shoulder too. He tackled well vs Saints, but not against the Dees. Can't see him missing coz nothing has been mentioned of it, but if his shoulder isn't right he can't be expected to put his arm up to tap and crash into Nankervis. Just the smell of blood and Nankervis could do some more damage to him.

I meant group, as in the group that makes up our best 23.

Obviously the likes of Stocker, Kemp, Docherty, Walsh & Ed have some question marks against their names this week. That’s a discussion for a different thread.