Carlton Supporters Club

I reckon all 3 will be given all the chances they need. By season's end, or perhaps sooner, we'll know who will stay and who will go.

Wood's ability to catch the aggot and kick straight is a big up side. Neither of the other two can do that and one of them at least must start doing that this year.

Wood was only taken because our current rucks are so fragile. I'm not expecting him to play outside of an injury to a ruck, it would be bizarre for him to play in any other circumstance IMO.

All the talk about Wood being a good mark and being a good kick of the footy might indicate he may have a role up forward at some point in time in this squad.

In one of the biggest surprises of the 2013 AFL Rookie Draft, Carlton selected 27 year-old former Brisbane and Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood in the second round, at number 28 overall. After being delisted by Collingwood in 2012, Wood had enjoyed a solid 2013 in the VFL with Williamstown, but few expected him to be given a third opportunity at elite level.

However, the departure of Shaun Hampson to Richmond a few weeks earlier had forced the Blues to re-assess their stock of big men, so Wood was picked up as insurance against long-term injury to Matthew Kreuzer, Robert Warnock and Levi Casboult. Although another ex-Collingwood ruckman – the vastly-experienced Premiership player Darren Jolly – was also available, Carlton’s recruiting team opted for the younger man, largely because he had already established a strong rapport with Blues coach Mick Malthouse during their five seasons together in black and white.

Way back in 2004, Wood had been working his way up through the ranks at West Adelaide when he was drafted for the first time. The Brisbane Lions called his name at number 18 in the National Draft, and Cameron packed his bags for the tropics. He played his first senior game early in 2005, but from then on his opportunities were limited and, despite gaining a Rising Star nomination in round 2, 2007, he had played only 16 matches in three seasons before he was traded to Collingwood later that same year.

Wood went on to play another 48 games for the Magpies between 2008 and 2012, although he was never able to shake the tag of back-up ruckman and his entire career in black and white was spent in the shadows of Josh Fraser, Darren Jolly, Leigh Brown and Chris Dawes. In October 2012, Collingwood delisted Wood, so he crossed to Williamstown in the VFL and enjoyed perhaps his most effective season as he helped lift the Seagulls into a Preliminary Final.

Upon his arrival at Princes Park, Cameron credited his previous good relationship with Malthouse and high performance manager David Buttifant as the key to his recruitment. He knows that the challenge facing him at Carlton is huge, but is also determined to give it his best shot. "I'm under no illusions that I've been recruited as insurance,” he said during an early interview. “But if I didn't think I could play the number one ruck role, I wouldn't waste people's time and be here for the sake of being here."

He'll be one of the better ruckman in the game soon enough. Whether he'll be a great ruckman... hard call. Injuries seem to have the better of him ATM.

Getting rid of Hammer makes him untradeable if he wasn't before IMO

Wood couldn't cement a spot at Brisbane or Collingwood, played a reasonable season in the VFL and kicked a goal in a NAB Cup game and he's challenging Kreuzer and Warnock for a spot in the 22?  

I know he hasn't pulled on the navy blue yet but, if he goes alright against the Bulldogs and with the NBs, I'd like to see Luke Reynolds take the LTI elevation.

Ive accepted that he is unlikley to reach the potential most expected. IMO its clear we should have taken Cotchin, and also clear that its dangerous take a ruckman with early pick. The problem now, is the investment trap, its far harder to part with something/someone/ideal in which youve invested heavily in for smaller return, because doing so means you have to accept a loss. I think he'll end up going nowhere because he wont command high value. I reckon the club will stick with him, and with the exception of a few good patches,he'll slowly wind down in effectiveness with each season.

Its to late IMO, we should have acted earlier

Quote from: denimundies – on March 05, 2014, 06:10:56 pm

Ive accepted that he is unlikley to reach the potential most expected. IMO its clear we should have taken Cotchin, and also clear that its dangerous take a ruckman with early pick. The problem now, is the investment trap, its far harder to part with something/someone/ideal in which youve invested heavily in for smaller return, because doing so means you have to accept a loss. I think he'll end up going nowhere because he wont command high value. I reckon the club will stick with him, and with the exception of a few good patches,he'll slowly wind down in effectiveness with each season.

Its to late IMO, we should have acted earlier

Or kept Kennedy and traded picks 1 & 3 for Judd instead.

I was thinking the same thing myself with both of the last 2 posts.