mjonc wrote:
Well seasons over and we know who is coach. We don't know if Pagan has control over list management, but I believe he will decide who stays and who goes. So this is my list changes for 2007:
French - Retired
Chambers - Delisted (If he doesn't fumble the paperwork)
Longmuir - Delisted
Davies - Delisted
Prendergast - Delisted
Livingston - Delisted
Bryan - Delisted (Not a Denis type - IMO our number 1 ruckman now)
Saddington - Contract Payed Out.
Teague - Contract Payed Out
Lucky to stay:
Bannister - Some good performances during his extended run in the seniors will give him another year.
Deluca - For some reason Denis sees talent in this guy. With French retiring he will be kept as insurance IMO. Poor decision if so.
McGrath - Next year will be his last. Has given his all since arriving, but is only going to be a top up player when the kids come on.
Promote:
Jackson
Flint
So leaves us with 7 draft picks, 6 in national draft and 1 PSD. I wouldn't think Pagan will renew Batson and Smith's rookie contracts. Jnr Carlos remains under the international rookie list so we should be able to recruit 5 rookies next year including 1 over 23.
If Pagan wants a mature body for next season, he has the option now with the over 23 pick instead of wasting a primary list spot in place of a youngster.
Interesting to note we will only have 4 players over 26 if these changes take place. Remove McGrath and we seriously have a young list that Pagan has two years to take somewhere.
I agree with your views mjonc - however, i dont think they will promote flint yet - he still has to start dominating with the bullants before promotion. I think they will possibly promote batson, who needs to be promoted or delisted. Of course, it would have been much better if they actually played him in the ruck in the ones or the twos, so carlton could get a better idea about him. But he has shown he can take a mark and kick goals in the twos - and i think carlton might promote him based on that. That leaves flint with another year on the rookie list.
In respect of smith, i;ve got a feeling they will delist him - i hope they keep him at the bullants so they can keep an eye on him - but i think his lack of pace - and the presence of blackwell and bentick will make him redundant at carlton.
I think u r right about mcgrath and bannister - however i have a funny feeling that one of them might get delisted - not sure which one tho. I suppose we all know that both players are just useful for depth, and not much more, and really arent part of carltons future plans. but they might get one more season to fill any gaps that we have.