In days of old authoritative commentators and coaches (think Parko) occasionally, but not often, gave an accolade to a player by saying he "can play”.
Equal emphasis on the last two words.
Then it was he "can play a bit”.
What is today’s equivalent accolade in terms of decision making, skills, reading the play, intent, hardness etc?
And which players on Carlton's list would you say “can play”?

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Bawditawaba

Never thought i'd say this ...but i think JR can play

Big Kruez .....can play

the skipper.....can play

we also have a shitload of others who can play.....just not consistently. And thats our biggest issue.

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I see you watching me watching you.

All of em.


I reckon all of em can Play.

Some of them just don't believe they can. But i think we've got a GREAT young list. We just need some belief.

Im not sure who's responsible for ensuring that 'belief' in them (apart from themselves of course), be it our coach, captain or us - the supporters? But i reckon if these kids get a bit more confidence in themselves then the sky is the limit for the CFC!

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Judd.

Carrazzo
Simpson
Russell
Armfield
Scotland
Murphy
Gibbs
Special K
Warnock
Joseph
Garlett
Waite
Henderson
Hoops

Ones that need to prove they can play consistently and to a game plan. Have the potential, just need some confidence or conviction in their games.

Betts - Just needs the confidence to nail set shots at goal
Jamo - Just needs confidence and no more injuries
Bower - Just needs confidence and no injuries
Thornton - Just need to pull his head in and do what he is told to do
Hammer - Just needs confidence
Lucas - Just needs time
Ellard - Just needs time

There are a few others, but as stated by others, they all need consistent performances and doing the one percenters every game. Keep the intensity high for 4 quarters, and allow the new coaches to develop them into real AFL footy players. Time is probably what they need and we might need to be just a little patient. Jacobs was up there in the first list and a loss for us.

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Bring the season on already. The wait is killing me.

+ Yarran.

According to the old definition (did anyone know exactly what it meant?) my guess is that it includes consistency and reliability, rarely makes mistakes or is caught out, thus ruling out anyone from another code learning the game like Hammer, Setanta, Toohey, and Peter Labi. Army is an interesting one from another code as IMO with a good season he may approach the status of "can play". Bower is a fair way off "can play" but could change with a good season. Lucas appears to be heading that way and most of our other first round draft picks are there.

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Bawditawaba

I have confidence that all of the boys on our list 'can play', we have one of, if not the most talented list in the competition.

From other clubs, well evidence suggests that Nick Dal Santo 'can play'

Good thread

Juddy only definite that can really "play".

Others who hopefully will step us to that level this coming year

Gibbs

Murphy

JR

MK

and then in a couple of years

Jeffy G

Chris Yarran

Kane Lucas

then a lottery after that.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

Waite shouldn't be overlooked.

His hard hits and suspension is just a remnant of the past and that's what he needed to do to suggest he know's the game and the hard game. I'm sure we've sen the last of his heavy hits after the ball has been released by his opponents. But I tell you what...I really enjoyed his heavy hits on the opposition...should be counted as 2 possessions....made his opponent hurry the disposal because they shat themself when the panther Waite was closing in on them, and 2, because he took them out of the game for while whilst they recovered.

I know the game has changed for the better by taking out the snipers in our game.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Players that have brain fades can't be included in the list of those that can "play". Sadly Waite fits in that category. On the cusp though.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

IMO "can play" includes a bit of hardness to get the job done.

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Bawditawaba

You're a bit tough there Taff, but that's your opinion.

I bet most football followers regardless of which team they barrack for would consider Waite as a bloke who knows the game and can play...in fact to such an extent he can turn a game with his own boot. He has good pedigree stamped all over him; father son selection.

Brain fades for Waite have happened in less than 0.000001% of game time, and imo it's really irrelevant.

Oh yeah, he was selected as the Victorian CHB in 2009. I'm pretty sure every Carlton supporter sorely missed him when he was suspended. There's a reason for thet...something to do with the fact he can play the game.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Waite 'can play' footy just as Mitchell Johnson 'can play' cricket.

Can play to me suggests a guy who will get the job done almost every time. A player you don't have to worry about.

Harvey, Scarlett, Hayes, Black, Van Berlo etc.

We've really only got one bone fide canplayer and 12 possibles. Murph is close, Gibbs is close and JR, even Jeffy is close. The rest have some work to do, some have been injured (Krooz) some are still finding their feet.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Jeffy and Yarran are a couple of the most naturally talented footballers I've seen go around lately

Is this thread for real????????????????

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SIGNATURE

Is the off–season for real???

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Bawditawaba

This thread serves no purpose, you only got to look at talking players to gain an opinion on who can play and can't... I would like to think that all players on our list "can play" or we would have no chance at a premiership, just a thought..................

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SIGNATURE

Maybe so but I have been watching quite a few games from over the past few years during this miserable Beijing winter. Given the limitations of watching videos rather than live games, his propensity to over commit takes him out of the contest too often is but one example. Would love to see him be top drawer. 2011?

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.