Carlton Supporters Club

I watched Cripps' first game,  for the NBs,  and he was horribly slow,  and looked unfit.   But he stood up in the last quarter, won vital clearances and took a big mark in the square to win the game.   He dragged that team across the line.   He clearly had "it", although he wasn't ready physically. The kid was clearly a footballer looking to develop athletic prowess. He knew where to go for a kick,  and just how he hard to go to get it.    He had footy smarts, understood the physicality required and spent his petrol tickets wisely.

Some of our kicks have had injuries which have stymied their physical development and game time,  but I can't believe we'd draft spuds and lazy blokes in the first place.   Given Walshs'gut running I don't see our kids lacking in that area. For some they just need time to develop the base, injuries haven't helped.

My worry with OBrien is he looks an athlete first and footballer second.   Like so many kids he looks shocked by the speed and physicality of senior footy.  So why hasn't he been given a grounding to redress this?  I know that physicality and being an outside runner seem to be mutually exclusive, but it's not kiddie football, the reality is that it's a hard game and you need to be mentally and physically prepared for it.

No doubt about it B4L. Lets not forget, Crippa didnt set the world on fire early. Many said he was too fat, too slow etc etc. We all know how thats turned out.

I watched Cripps' first game,  for the NBs,  and he was horribly slow,  and looked unfit.

My worry with OBrien is he looks an athlete first and footballer second.   Like so many kids he looks shocked by the speed and physicality of senior footy.  So why hasn't he been given a grounding to redress this?  I know that physicality and being an outside runner seem to be mutually exclusive, but it's not kiddie football, the reality is that it's a hard game and you need to be mentally and physically prepared for it.

So there is no debate - O'Brien should not have been playing senior footy last year and at 17 other clubs he wouldn't have gotten a game (most likely). But he clearly went past Dow last season and by the end of the year put in 2 exceptional performances that showed me why SOS drafted him.

If memory serves me correctly, many had the same knock on Josh Kelly early on. Not suggesting for a minute that he will turn out like JK, but given time, he may develop into a decent footballer.

What's the success rate for athletes turned into footballers, and is that somehow reflected in the other skills of the game?

Is this conversion concept the real reason no feckas can kick the football anymore?

The thing that goes against what you are saying re kicking is that the Irish imports have a reputation for being such great kicks.

The theory I’ve heard postulated regarding the Irish guys and even Cox is that they have never developed bad habits so they are basically learning the correct way to kick from day dot.
I don’t really know either way, I am really just regurgitating what I hear.

Minor point...and I don't want to crucify him because just because I didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
But did anyone see Buddy shake Jones's hand after the game?
From the TV as the siren went they were in a contest that left Jones on his haunches and Buddy just walked away.
Jones had a funny look as he watched him go.
In the post match interview Buddy did give Jones some faint praise however King said to him as the interview concluded "I'll let you go and shake Liam Jones's hand"....which made me think it didn't happen....and was noticed.

I hope it's just a case of forgetting, rather than Buddy's bruised ego sooking it up because he got toweled up by someone he considers to be an inferior opponent. Maybe he thought he would simply show up and kick another bag ?

Buddy sooked up IMO and chose to ignore him........