Past Robert Warnock

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11 – Robert Warnock
2012 Pre-Season
“He’s had a pretty decent whack in the pre-season.”- Andrew McKay on Rob Warnock.
Carlton’s tallest man entered the 2012 pre-season full of confidence, on the back of two great performances to end 2011, in particular his Elimination Final against Essendon where the Blues were bereft of talls. However, the injury curse which has lingered over everyone at the Blues who is over 190 centimetres struck Warnock again, having surgery on both shoulders soon after the semi final loss to West Coast. As a result of this surgery, Warnock’s pre-season was mightily interrupted and did not play a game in the NAB Cup, where Carlton went winless.

2012 Season
Along with missing the entire NAB Cup, Warnock missed the opening rounds of the season where the Blues made a great start, at one stage being 5 wins and 1 loss, yet the former Fremantle man did not make any impact. Whilst this was also due to his injury, the form of Matthew Kreuzer and the much improved Shaun Hampson, who was combining the ruckwork with impressive work in the forward line, meant it would have been difficult for Warnock to return to the side regardless. Warnock was named to play in the Round 6 game against GWS, yet another injury tweak meant that the ‘injured’ Kreuzer had to be recalled.

Warnock made his return to the starting line up in the Round 9 victory against Melbourne as the Blues’ injuries began to mount, along with form issues, as the Blues lost by 69 points to the Crows the week prior. Warnock’s inclusion meant that Carlton coach Brett Ratten was trying the use of the 3 talls, with Warnock, Hampson and Kreuzer all starting against the lowly Demons. This game in particular worked for all three ruckmen, as Hampson goaled twice, Kreuzer had 20 disposals and a goal, whilst Warnock had 34 hitouts.
The following week in the capitulation against Port Adelaide, Kreuzer was a late exclusion, and with Hampson up forward for the majority of the contest due to the lack of depth in forward options, Warnock was forced to ruck the majority of the game. Whilst he had 42 hitouts, Warnock only managed 5 disposals as the Blues were comprehensively smashed by the struggling side. With Kreuzer’s return the following week against Geelong, the three rucks were trialled again but with limited success, provoking Warnock being subbed off towards the end of the third quarter.

Warnock returned to Perth for the game against West Coast, where he was forced to go up against the might of Naitanui and Cox. Hampson didn’t feature in this particular contest due to the conditions, and with Kreuzer up forward predominantly, Warnock essentially rucked alone. While he managed 25 hitouts, his opponents amassed 61 between them, with Warnock only managing 2 disposals as the Blues were overrun in a tight affair. With pressure mounting on coach Brett Ratten, the Friday night game was another disappointment, with Carlton losing to Hawthorn by 50 points. Warnock essentially broke even with David Hale in the hitouts (27 to 29), yet this proved to be Warnock’s last game of the season with a further injury to his shoulder. This was believed to be aggravated in a contest with Cyril Rioli, where it looked as though Rioli used a variation of a chicken wing tackle, which was relatively low key, especially given the fuss stirred by the tackle of Chris Judd just two weeks later.

2012 stats
Games played: 5
Disposals: 35 (average of 7 a game)
Hitouts: 158 (average of 31.6)

Warnock’s average of 7 disposals a game was well below his career average of almost 11 a game. His return of 2 disposals (both from free kicks) against West Coast was easily the worst of his career, the next being 4 disposals in only his second game against Geelong back in 2007 for Fremantle.

2013 Season
"I can actually put some weight on, so it's a good feeling.”- Robert Warnock

Undeniably, Warnock’s 2012 season was hampered by injury, only allowing him to play 5 of the 22 games. However, despite the utter disappointment that was 2012 for both the team and the individual, Warnock displayed his loyalty to Carlton by turning down offers from other clubs such as GWS and reportedly St. Kilda and signing a 3 year deal in July, despite the competition for first team selection. Warnock was still subject to some debate and speculation throughout the trade period but nothing came into fruition, new coach Mick Malthouse expressing his desire to work with the same list as 2012.

Early in Malthouse’s tenure, he has already spoken about the expectation of and the situation regarding Warnock, who was believed to be struggling with confidence issues in 2012 following his injuries. This new found confidence is dependent on the fact that Warnock, in a situation completely opposite to that of last year, Warnock is yet to miss a session as of the beginning of February. Warnock, often maligned for his lack of bulk as a ruckman, has stated that with this being only his second full pre-season since being drafted, he has been able to put a focus on putting on some weight, with previous shoulder injuries restricting him from doing so.

With Warnock having a full pre-season, there are no longer any more excuses, with this being the case for essentially the entire Blues squad. It is time for the actions to do the talking, with Warnock itching to get back into the NAB Cup and hence the full season, starting on March 28 against Richmond.
 

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notthisguyagain said:
Does anyone know why robbie didnt play in the later part of the season was he injured or was it to give cam wood a game??
Click to expand...

He didn't handle his niggles very well.
Nearing the end of the year he was having amateurs leaping all over him, making him look a shadow of his best.

Has some lower leg niggles now and will want to sort the body out and have a really big year.
 
I'm surprised that this post at the top of the forum with everyone rejoicing his final departure.

He had a few good games early in his career, but after Rioli chicken winged him and screwed his shoulder, he hasn't been the same.

While he won't really be missed, he was for 7 seasons a Carlton player, and for that we should thank him.

Nice enough?

Now for my actual response... Cya witches hat... Hopefully ya end up on Norf's list and stinks them up.
 
Warnock had to retire with injury: his shoulder injury was the last straw. He had medical advice to retire.
I am disappointed: he was someone we spent a lot on, both in money and picks. He showed a lot at times, but never was the player we really wanted. Keeping Warnock cost us Jacobs at least.
I wish him well, but history will show we probably made a mistake with him.
 

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