We've been toweled by good small forwards for what seems like an eternity now. As decent a player as he is, Carrazzo just doesn't cut the mustard for me down back. He's more of a midfielder in mind and spirit, and seeing him get torched last year by a hack like Monfries nearly tipped me over the edge.

But I liked what I saw of Army against North, and apparently he went good again yesterday. Seems to have improved his field kicking, and from what I saw against North he is an exceptional runner - there was one bit where his ability to run at fuill speed with hisn opponent had to be seen to be believed.

So my question is, is he the close checking, hard running, quick small defender we have been craving for 10 years now? He's just about got my vote (remembering of course it's just his second year so he has scope to improve still). I wasn't convinced last year. I saw him do some exceptional things (like his run and carry against the Pies), but I also saw him muffed his kicks trying to kick while running at full pace. And I also saw him get run off his feet by some of the games better small players. But he seems to have addressed both of these weaknesses over the summer. And looks afar better player even though it's only March. It's early days I know, but the signs are promising.

What do others think?

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I love Armfield, the thing I like about him most aside of his defensive ability - is that he seems to be a great rebound defender. He can find himself on the half back flank/wing in an instant - in space - and provided he has the creativity and the options, launch an attack from there.

That IMO is just as important as defending - being able to mount an attack from the backline.

Plus he's fast. That's a good thing too.

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Yes that's the thing isn't it, once he gets it he can be off and running like a frikkin rabbit.

I take it that's a Yes vote from you Sparky !?

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A tough position to pick this year with Army, Browne, Anderson, Carrazzo and even Joseph putting them names in the hat.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

His disposal got consistently better across the season last year. By the looks at training and the last 2 games, he's continued improving ... not sure who's been working with him but the coaches concerned need a pat on the back.

To add the ability to dispose accurately on the run to a player with Army's speed and tenacity makes him a real weapon coming out the of D50.

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Armfield has shot ahead of Browne & Anderson now I reckon . He is really starting to look the goods .
Carazzo will play further down the ground , and Joseph is still a rookie , so won't get a senior gig for a while .

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He almost kicked an exceptional goal yesterday, at speed, under pressure .... until Fev buggered it up by being too selfing to shepherd it through.

I'd rather we Army develop into a wingman and a Chance Bateman run with player down the track.

A very hardnut who could teach Simmo a thing or two about tackling with his Union background...

Army's pace reminds me of Campo as a rookie who could kick running flat out and not turn it over.

Campo wasn't a money grubbing frontrunner in 1995 and ran down Matera and Ricciardi in games.

Executed a great kick on his left foot against the Roos when he kicked across the body under pressure and didn't turn it over.

And Talking Players...

Too early to call mate, but those aspects that I mentioned are ones that need to be utilised by the team if we are to go forward.

A tentative yes.

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Yeah, nice work coaches. Cudos to Army for rising to the occasion. I though Browne was a shoe in for back pocket but Army may have overtaken him.

Gee our recruiting has been good these past few years.

As far as setting an example for his teammates ( in terms of defensive effort), Armfield makes a much better VC than Stevens.

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Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

saw him running off half back last night and look awesome.
he seems to have bulked up a bit and I saw him ride a bump spin round and run off with the ball with blistering pace.
Going to be an important player for us over the next few years IMO.

Plays with that intensity as well, 100% of the time. He's always running hard and you rarely see him just jog along.

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For me I still see Browne as my back pocket player, and Armfield as a rebounding tagger, shutting down a player while running off them when he gets the ball, utilising his pase to break free of his opponent and his tackling to shut them down when they have the ball.

yeh he looked great the other night.
needs a haircut though

really like the look of armfield, echo the sentiments of those who have high hopes for him.

highlight of his short career thus far was when he nullified cyril rioli in rnd 22 last year, especially when a hawthorn nuffie behind dad and I said when jnr boy got the ball "oh, give up, youre not going to catch *him*". sure enough army chased him down and crunched him in a tackle over the boundary line.

i reckon he's got a very bright future in the navy blue.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

I don't really see Armfield as being a small defender, certainly not that back pocket type.

He's obviously come a long way in a year, but something that stuck with me in last years NAB Cup against Hawthorn was he wasn't strong overhead at all, which you need to be in that role.

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I must admit i always saw Browne as our future back pocket, but I have been extremely impressed by Armfield lately.

I thought he was very good against the Hawks and would be more then happy to see him in the 22.

Good comments all round.

Worth noting is the internet recruiting guru Wiseby rated Armfield in then top 10 in the year he was drafted.

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The Judd deal could go down as the greatest trade ever