TruBlueBrad wrote:
I'm pretty disappointed with some of the comments here to be honest. A lot of these guys were longshots anyway, pulled together when we were at rock bottom.
Justin Davies was a kid who battled home sickness and then basically had his last chance torn away with injury in his final season.
Glen Bowyer set a terrific example on and off the field for his younger teammates. Correct me if Im wrong but he may have even won one of the players awards in 2005. Bluseum says he won the Bullants B&F and 2005 Equal Women of Carlton Player of Ambassador of the Year. I'm sure if you asked people at the club they'd say he had a positive impact at the club in his time there.
I need to stress this is my opinion as a poster, not a moderator, but I don't see the point to threads like this, they add nothing.
I obviously disagree
As a supporter who pays his membership and travels up from Geelong nearly every week I have often wondered why do I put myself through it.
I love supporting the Blues but clearly our recruiting has left a lot to be desired.
Success on the field is the bottom line.
Some of the players I have mentioned for one reason or another just should have been let go earlier or not even been considered because they were not good enough.
Mansfield is a classic case. He was let go by Geelong for pick 31(as it turned out Chapman) because he was finished. He along with a few others are in this boat yet picked up a bit of Super with us because we were stupid in recruiting these guys. Half their luck.
Bowyer had a terrific attitude, but why did we pick this guy up. He was a shit kick and too slow. Given many games were played at the dome he stood no chance being a regular. Thats why Hawthorn didnt redraft him.
Deluca came from the same club as Davey, yet we went for Deluca who really didnt have his heart in it.
The draft penalties cost us dearly, yet I believe we could have recruited smarter and younger. You never going to have a 100 percent strike rate, but there were players available.
It seems that Justin Davies causes the most debate here. I remember the last game of the year against the Pies when we won by a point and Davies and Walker killed them. Davies had a home sickness problem yet was getting a good wage not for staying in the Goulburn Valley. He may have [REDACTED] his back up the last year,but clearly he was a risk because of his attitude. If he was homesick, that says to me that he didnt have the hunger to succeed. Talk to the recruiting man at Geelong and he will tell you it was the attitude and hunger that made him choose Enright at pick 47 yet he is a country lad.
I believe the post has merit because it highlights the important traits that a player needs to be a success in a sarcastic way.
I also believe the club is learning slowly.
I would have been pissed off if Whitnall had been kept. We have delisted well with IMO the exception of Saddington who is not good enough as a defender. I would of kept Raso for the same reasons you said about Davies. He hasnt had any luck with injuries. In the few games I saw him play for the Ants he had something special. Given the fact that he was drafted one year earlier he was worth one more year.
And the post would get readers thinking about what recruiters look for when recruiting players and when a player should be let go or not.
Walker is a case in point. This guy has heaps going for him but given what we saw in 04 he hasnt kicked on enough. He lacks footy brains and his kicking is not up to standard. When do you start thinking about his future. Injuries have not help him either but I hope we see an improved Walker in 2008.
Why is it that the Saints thread on Talking AFL is still going. Well the Saints recruiting team have gone for old hacks and will go nowhere in 08 .
We might not have played the game at the highest level but us supporters arn't dumb. You run a multi million dollar business and cheat the system repeatedly, you are going to come a cropper. That is what happened to us and our recruiting was restricted which is why some of the players in post one are mentioned.
It also highlights what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Attitude plays a huge part. That is one of the reasons why Geelong have won the flag this year. Sure they have made mistakes in the past but they have learnt from them.
Has Carlton learnt from their mistakes. I think we have to some extent.
And to rock up every week and see some of the cattle that has worn the navy blue the last 6 years requires a certain sense of humour.I hope the post has given some a laugh.
So Brad I disagree that the post adds nothing.