Kennedy needs to work on his endurance base if he's going to tag. Needs to get to more contests and stay with the top players, none of whom you'd call less than elite athletes.
I've seen a bit from Setterfield to suggest he could be handy. Kicks the ball to smart places, and involved in a lot of scores. Still needs to tidy disposal, work on pace and agility.
Yes Kennedy does need to improve his endurance. One way to find out what's required, go with the best of the best to take you from contest to contest time and again.
I agree, Kennedy and SoJ both have a footy brain and I suspect the discipline of tagging suits their focused way of going about stuff!
Plus, if or when we manage to get on a roll they are players who can also make themselves dangerous and hit the scoreboard!
Given recent insights into Jones and how he goes about preparation, I wonder if he could tag someone like Dangerfield or Bontempelli, he's got the speed and strength, when he was rucking at VFL level he looked OK in traffic?
Yes Jones at VFL level when rucking was like another mid.
I must admit, I think long term this is potentially the best role for a Kennedy or SoJ type as I can see the other mids going past them if they naturally improve! Further both are capable in medium forward roles if needed, very Ed like!
Correct. Not everyone is/will be a genuine offensively driven midfielder at AFL level. We need role players all over the park, but certainly in the midfield. eg. Ed Curnow types. Give Kennedy a role at the next level. I get a feeling he could be a better role player, a dog chasing a bone type.
Setterfield has a go and puts himself in the action but isnt pretty to watch, he needs game time to tune his disposal under pressure. I couldnt work out why he was dropped when we knew Cripps would have Steele and Dunstan on him all day, neither of them are pretty players and Setterfield could have been a good assistant for Cripps, Kennedy needs more game time too but I'd look to play him off half back and use the good kicking Newman in a more attacking role further up the ground.
Agree with all this mate.
Newman to a wing to pin the ball inside forward 50 more often. He's creative and can win lots of the ball.
Setterfield I'd play as a genuine inside mid at AFL level. Think he, and Davey Cuningham, can find their way through traffic really well. When Setterfield plays at AFL level, he seems on the outside of the contest, or at half-forward way too much. He's a natural inside ball winner with great touch and hands IMO.
Agree keep Kennedy in the team.
Some of the players need new challenges, roles, tasks.
Could someone like Fisher, and/or SPS, spend more time across half-back?
Sorry haven't read all the posts and haven't ben on for a while, but I'd have Peter Handscomb back in the Test team. Very tempted to keep Marnus Labuschagne in. I love his versatility and that he can bowl leggies. Marcus Stoinis is a superstar in the making. Needs a run at it at Test level IMO.
There are a bunch of superstar kids coming through who are teenagers or 20 21 years olds. We're going to be set if they continue on their merry way at Shield level! I'm hoping we bring some in to the international ODI and/or Test team. Still reckon ODI's, you blood a bunch of your next Test level players, as we did many moons ago.
Polson was great. His intensity was top shelf stuff. Played a very good inside/outside blend of midfield craft and, apart from his u18 days, this was the first time since being a Carlton footballer that I was quite excited by what he brings. Played a tough brand of footy too, which could also be said for a few others such as Schumacher, De Koning and Jack Silvagni. They kept putting their head over the footy and their bodies on the line. Impressive fro kids against quite a physical team of hard nosed men, who tried to bully and beat our kids up from the get go. Though this was the biggest sign of improvement from our big group of young kids. Their resilience, toughness, unity and intensity. Top notch stuff! Now to back in up this week!!!
Cuningham not playing and being omitted is a bloody down right disgrace! Of the highest order!!! Is this a joke by Bolton and his match committee? Are they taking the p!ss? Am I missing something here? He has not even been named as an emergency! Bolton is having a lend surely?!
Otherwise, the other changes were exactly how I went mid week when speaking with a mate.
Think, we must play more man on man, keepings off, possession football. We are not ready for this 'free wheeling' attacking offense style of footy that Bolton has been romanced into by the media over summer. Talk about being persuaded by outside noise!
And last week, Harry McKay was not ready according to Bolton and not going to be gifted a senior AFL game. Then due to the out pouring of emotion from fans and jounos that Bolton must play him, from during the week, then what happens? McKay in. Bowing to public pressure again.
Look, I want McKay in but I can not have a senior coach bloody well bowing to public pressure, fans on talkback and wankers like Robbo taking king hits at us every single bloody day. Feel there is some flipping going on with Bolton and the match committee.
By the way, that 'double page spread' in the HS on Tuesday was absolute sh1T. Is that Cavanagh bloke actually being paid money fore listing players? Surely that was the work of a year 4 student with an AFL Record in front of him/her. He literally just listed them with Super Coach points or some such rubbish next to their names. Hahahahahaha! Joke yet again by the worst media outlet in Australia. Though, what do you expect when your Head of Football writing is Mark Robinson! Really, anyone could list who we drafted/traded with no actual story or being able to articulate any point or view on the player listings. Incredible 'journalism' right there! Wow!
Also, where in the world is Cain Liddle? Is he still our CEO at Carlton? Can't believe the little amount of strong leadership going on down there! Scary!
Our midfield certainly needs more talent and depth. That is clear to me, and has been for a while.
Thinking the 2nd half of this year will be an exciting one, and certainly next year. Docherty will be back, the kids have another AFL season into them (2018) and then another pre-season. Should be exciting.
I'm interested to see if we'll go to the 'Super Draft' this year, or throw some coin at Ollie Wines, Tom Lynch and some others as we need bolstering in many ways. The good thing though for me is that we went to the National Draft again last year, and also snared two young mids in Kennedy and Lang, and now get to play the kids predominately this year. The inroads could be huge by the time round 23 is complete.
Right now, we need some more starting 18 footballers in the AFL team. By the end of this year, we will probably still need some, but you never know with youth. The goal posts could change somewhat!
Current Blues Youth: Backline - Docherty, Williamson, Plowman, Marchbank, Weitering, Macreadie, Schumacher, Byrne, Glass-McCasker (r), McDaid (r).
At this VERY early stage, apart from rookies in Glass-McCasker and Lebois, I'd imagine all of the other young blokes I've listed above will remain for 2019, including International Rookie McDaid. The rookies could improve as the year gets going and remain also. We'll see.
We currently have one x 1st rounder and two x 2nd rounders for this years National Draft. Very good start. The potential top 5 all look like superstars in the making, and maybe more kids, though again we'll see how the year pans out.
I rated Daniel Venables a couple of years ago in his draft year. He went to the WCE and kicked 3 round 1 or 2 this year. Like him. Wouldn't mind snaring a couple of 20-22 years olds like that to top us up more, and without giving away much.
I'm interested to see what Jordan Gallucci from the Crows does this year also. Another Vic kid with some talent in his 2nd year of AFL footy, ala Venables.
Potentially some lost Dogs. Dahlhaus, Wallis and Smith could be handy. I do like Lukas Webb and Bailey Dale too. They'd fit our Club nicely.
Then add a potential top 5 pick - could be any of Lukosius, Max Kind, Ben King, Walsh, Rankine or Hill. jets all of them!
To be honest, and I have been quite frustrated already this year, we are playing kids so we look and play footy at the top level just that way. We look small and skinny, slow at times and without confidence, or looking to the skipper or someone to make a stance. Charlie C, Cripps, Fisher and Marchbank are doing the job thus far. Others will improve. We will know more in the 2nd half of this year, our 3rd year of the reset/rebuild, IMHO.
If it's niggling inside F50 I agree, he's one of very few at Carlton that creates opportunities without having to get hold of the ball.
It seems to come naturally to him, taking out the right opponent at the right moment, taping the ball here or there without taking possession. At the moment the kids are not switched on to his tricks, which is why in the first few weeks we have only seen Wright and Daisy taking advantage of Lamb's work. Lamb working besides some experienced small forwards would be a real pleasure to watch because he would create goal scoring opportunities for them. Most people do not see it, most only see the bloke who kicked the pill last! But Lamb is providing chop outs which at the moment we do not take any advantage of!
I reckon Lamb will be a Grigg type for us in years to come, as long as we don't kibosh him before he gets the chance to develop his skills further and have them taken advantage of by somebody, hopefully!
Yep good call.
Really loved his games against the Hawks and Sicily last year. As you said it comes naturally to him as he seems a pest, in the best way possible...for us!
I think the Hawks games was a bit of a turning point for him last year, and I like that he pushes into the midfield a bit also.
I wouldn't be rushing to drop Lamb. He wasn't too bad last week, and ditto the week before. Others more worthy of demotion than he is. He is one of the only players in the side who offers genuine aggression as well. We need that, lest we become punching bags.
He should be playing that niggling defensive role more often IMHO. That's his go. Forward and even onball/wing at times.
