I'll be interested to see if they have they tried to ramp up the fitness of our ruck coach to see if his body stands up to the rigours?
It would be handy to have his guile and size around the stoppages at the moment. At 33 he's about 12 months younger than Goldstein or Ryder.
If he could fill a void until Pitto comes back later in the year, it may be worth the risk as a last list spot.

I understood the concept of playing Cripps in the ruck on the weekend so JSOS could spend more time up forward but it took away from Cripps game IMHO and it wont work against teams with 2 decent ruckmen. It would also allow TDK to spend more time forward whilst Harry is injured.

Hail Mary selection? Maybe but could it be worth a final list spot as it appears we'll have 2 selections if we want them.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/05/23/carlton-to-prioritise-draft-over-another-big-trade-period-swing/

Carlton will this year step back from the frontline of the trade and free agency windows to focus on the draft.

The Blues have been among the most active players in the exchange period in recent years, but are bracing for critical contract negotiations with some of their most important performers.

Carlton have already been linked with Port Adelaide free agent Karl Amon, but sources said the Blues would only be involved in trade or free agent deals at the lower end of the pay scale, if at all.

Star Blues Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay both fall out of contract next year and will command significant new deals at top dollar.

Blossoming forward-ruck Tom De Koning and No.1 ruckman Marc Pittonet will need new contracts, while Zac Fisher and Jack Silvagni headline a group of important role players who also need to be re-signed.

Carlton has not used a first-round pick since taking Brodie Kemp in 2019 as it set about picking off talent from rival clubs.

Established pair Adam Cerra (trade) and George Hewett (free agent) came in last year. In 2020 it was Adam Saad (trade) and Zac Williams (free agent), while Jack Martin was forced into the pre-season draft in 2019 and Mitch McGovern was traded for in 2018.

18 Carlton VFL players have nominated for MSD.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/767871/full-list-of-msd-nominations-ex-sun-blue-s-brother-among-the-prospects

And Finbar O’Dwyer!

We really need a tall with out first pick and possibly second. Ballenden & Strom would be my hope. Having said that I have been impressed by Will Hayes in the Reserves as a tough big bodied mid

Doesn't Finbar play for Williamstown?

Who do you like for MSD?

I would like a KPD but then again I really like Will Hayes too.

For me:
1. Cripps/Hayes
2. Cripps/Finbar

Wade Dersken is a big unit too, but he's been playing forward.

Yeah, Finbar is playing for Willi. Doc S provided an update on him recently. He is a ‘no’ from me.

Will Hayes has been excellent in the games he’s played in the VFL this year. You wouldn’t necessarily recruit him based on ‘need’ but he is someone who could step in and play AFL this weekend if needed and available.

It would be a great result if a mature age ruckman fell to us in the MSD. Someone to help us get through to the end of the season. Kreuzer would have been ideal, but he hasn’t nominated.

I guess the other need we have is for a KP, preferably one who can play at both ends but mainly in defence. A non-injured OMac basically. Having seen a fair bit of the reserves this year, I don’t think JGM or Cripps Jnr are the answer. I notice Michael Hartley has nominated - what do we think of him?

Not sure where to post this but I just had a look at the AFLCA Coaches Award and of the top 19 leaderboard that is listed, Melbourne and us have each got 3 players (us = Cripps, Curnow & Walsh). Richmond & Bris have 2 each.

In terms of All-Australians, I'd think we'd currently have Cripps, Weitering, and Docherty. And I reckon Hewett would be close and Walsh probably will get closer if his form continues its trajectory back to his best.

It is cool to see that the stats seem to be supporting our rise on the ladder - I keep getting surprised by this as I still feel we are not quite as good as our ladder position appears to place us. Anyway, we are certainly on a ride this season and I'd hope that we will be a much better team at the end of this season than we were at the start.

Not sure where to post this but I just had a look at the AFLCA Coaches Award and of the top 19 leaderboard that is listed, Melbourne and us have each got 3 players (us = Cripps, Curnow & Walsh). Richmond & Bris have 2 each.

In terms of All-Australians, I'd think we'd currently have Cripps, Weitering, and Docherty. And I reckon Hewett would be close and Walsh probably will get closer if his form continues its trajectory back to his best.

It is cool to see that the stats seem to be supporting our rise on the ladder - I keep getting surprised by this as I still feel we are not quite as good as our ladder position appears to place us. Anyway, we are certainly on a ride this season and I'd hope that we will be a much better team at the end of this season than we were at the start.