Carlton Supporters Club

Team Balance.

Not sure how many times i need to say the same thing before it starts to sink in.

People (read LP) think this is about some kind of favouritism towards Jack Silvagni. Which is spin and deflection and clouding his own judgement. Ignore Jack from this debate.

The reason we as a team don't require a dedicated 2nd ruck is because of a couple things.
1. Our #1 rucks ability is elite in terms of ruckwork and can ruck a full game (80-90%) with minimal help.
2. Our team is very top heavy with a-grade talent (key forwards and key back(s)), we also have some taller '3rd tall' types at both ends. Too much tall talent
3. Our options for 2nd ruck (be that TDK, Mirkov or whoever) can not play another position effectively....and must be 'carried' or benched.

Would i play TDK if Harry got injured? Absolutely.
Would i play TDK if Pittonet stopped performing? Absolutely.
Would i play TDK if we had an extended interchange bench? Absolutely.

Now.....would i play TDK if i was another team who didn't have the same team dynamics as us? Absolutely.

I said it in the pre-season and have stood by it all year. Based on team balance, we cannot afford a 2nd ruck who cannot play another position (or is providing the output TDK is while playing another position).

If i was another club like the ones being mentioned, i would absolutely trade for TDK.

Put simply, he is a luxury for us that we cannot afford.

Pittonet can't play any other position.

I dont think he has done anything special to warrant the hype other than take the odd speccy(he drops more than he takes too) and look flashy on occasions regardless of team dynamics. To be honest is he any better than Levi Casboult as a ruck/forward package?and I think some of the hype around him is based on his brothers achievements at Geelong.
He needs Pittonet to hold his hand in the ruck vs the mean hombres who want to push him around and his stats after 50 games are nothing outstanding...10 disposals, 2 marks, 0.32 goals and 0.12 goal assists, 16 hitouts......
The output doesnt add up to the hype, promise or money being offered by other clubs which in turn adds pressure to our list management. Bailey Williams the fill in ruck for WC has similar stats and he would be the lowest benchmark ruckman in the comp.
For me its an easy decision...we trade TDK while his market value his high and get a decent trade return we can use on something more vital and then look for another cheaper 2nd ruckman/forward.
If other clubs want to pay 800k a year based on promise and 50 games of joe average stats then be my guest...

Pittonet can't play any other position.

I like Pittonet, but he is what he is, and nothing more.

I like Pittonet, but he is what he is, and nothing more.

Tom De Koning is a quality project player, who still needs time. You know what's going to happen -  he'll leave and in a couple of years will be a superstar. I can just see it. Tall, athletic, mobile players don't grow on trees.

The money being talked about is not right IMO. If he went to Geelong on 800K he would be just south of Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron, and that ain't happening.

Correct. But he can play ruck a lot better than TDK. Until that changes, nothing changes.

Geel dont pay big money, they have scales of pay and you fit into one of them. Stevie J explained in on radio recently. Thats what you get, nothing more nothing less. Thats how they have managed to keep groups together and attract big name players via their success and chances of more. Talk of them rorting the system and paying outside the salary cap is utter nonsense. They have been one of the best at setting up for sustained success and we should aspire to be the same.

Herald Sun had Dangerfield and Cameron in the top ten best paid players in the comp that was around 850-950k this year.
Geelong relaxed their 500k max rule when they got Dangerfield from memory and I think Scott even went to the players and asked them if it was ok for the club to sign Danger on more money than anyone else...

I guess you could understand exceptions for players like Dangerfield and Cameron, my point is more about bewilderment around the money we pay for donkeys (by comparison) like Martin, Williams, McGovern etc. They wouldn't do that in a million years.

Fair points........Cameron actually took a pay cut to go to Geelong, not sure if thats a reflection on Geelong being an attractive club to play for or GWS being the opposite.

After the tap he is about as useful as a stuffed dummy hence why we can't win when rucks alone.