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[BigFrizz36]

Looked like he had plenty of smarts when he won player of the finals series in 2023. Think he was just struggling with his body last year.

Yep. I also thought that he won the Norwich Rising Star, Mark of the Year, came 4th in a brownlow etc etc.

People are quick to forget around here. If his body holds up this year they will be reminded as to his quality.

 

[Arr0w]

The fact of the matter is, as pointed out by Earls Smother, when we had all players available last season Hewett was dropped twice to the sub position. I think he is clearly not a 'lock' and we would like a more attacking midfield in many circumstances this year.

And when he was left out, we suffered as a side

Jagga essentially comes in for Kennedy, which does improve our pace, Doc also improves our speed

Will be interesting to see the make up of the side, but I suspect the focus will be on gameplan and ball movement, rather than just suffling players in or out of the side

 

[bradfisher14]

I think our midfield improvement will come from smarter blending together of complimentary skillsets for our on-ball rotations rather than pure ins/outs. It's also got to be very situation dependent. If we can get our balance right in the engine room, we will fly up the table this season IMO.

 

[Soapy V]

The game has changed in the last few seasons, it's more open and more of a running game with the ability to run up and back at pace and use pace to close down opposition ball carriers becoming more important. Cripps, Kennedy, Hewett etc would have been fine pre anti-congestion rules thought still a little slow/immobile.

I can see us using Cripps forward a little more. I can also see us using Smith forward and E Hollands forward and midfield.

Last year it was really evident the change when we had the mix right in the middle. Cripps Walsh and Cerra was a really mobile and balanced unit. Cripps, Hewett and Cerra/Walsh was good when the game was on our terms but it worked well. Cripps, Kennedy and Hewett was disastrous, we just got smashed. Our mix dictates how the opposition play against us. If we go too slow and immobile, teams would go out of their way to get the ball out wide and into space and just out run us. If we went too light sides would look to keep it in close so we need a structure where neither of those tactics work particularly well against us.

I can see Lord in the side at some stage. He's a big body and a good contested ball winner but he covers ground really quickly. Lord is by no means slow. His outside pace is decent but his inside pace is very good. He covers 3-10 meters much much quicker than Hewett and would even give Cerra a run for his money. This, along with his attitude, is why he racks up big tackle numbers. This sort of thing is what won Collingwood the flag a few seasons ago. This is why I think he is a really good shot at playing senior footy next season because he adds something that we lack, he brings a strength that as a team is a weakness for us.

There is going to be an onus on our midfield as to how well it performs when the ball is not in our hands. We don't chase well and that's become a big part of modern footy. I think we can hurt and do a lot of damage when we are winning the ball but otherwise this will be our barometer. I think this is the reason Lord could be elevated. He chases well, runs opponents down and he can also play footy and run on the outside as well as perform on the inside. He is what I would call a modern midfielder.

If it is between Hewett and Lord and Lord can elevate his offensive game to being similar to Hewett then it's Lord and it's not even close. This is where the modern game is at right now.

Hewett moves reasonably well when he's fit, his strength in the contest is good and he's a smart player but there are situations when he gets exposed and the coaches would be well aware of this. He doesn't get as exposed as Kennedy but he still does when it comes to defending/pressure application.

I think we are going to have to figure this out as the season goes on. Selection at this point will not be easy.

Great write up.

Lord also has elite hands.

Personally (and it won't happen) I'd love to see Walsh on a Wing. Cripps Hewett/Lord in middle with Cerra Elijah Smith with cameos from Docherty Motlop & Williams. I'd like to see Cincotta as well when fit. He has a burst of speed and is a lovely long kick

The smoky is Wilson but he is likely a year away from playing midfield as is Ben Campo

If Cripps is missing then Hewett is a must but if all fit there are times I would play Lord.

 

[JJBagger]

I think your point is fair. I don't buy this "lock" stuff. Hewett is a bloody good player but there is a sameness about our midfield and he does get exposed when we are defending in space. My concern is playing these inside players all at once. Fair to say Cripps & Walsh won't be dropped. A fit Cerra is a hybrid type, Smith will add some class and dash as can Docherty & Elijah. All pre season Motlop Durdin Williams have had bursts in the middle and I am sure that is Voss trying to add some more pace. I'm a massive fan of Lord but can't see him in same side as Cripps Walsh & Hewett

The question for me is around balance and the best mix

I don’t believe he’s a lock, but the notion he makes us worse, or is holding us back from winning a premiership is ridiculous

 

[gbatman]

Great write up.

Lord also has elite hands.

Personally (and it won't happen) I'd love to see Walsh on a Wing. Cripps Hewett/Lord in middle with Cerra Elijah Smith with cameos from Docherty Motlop & Williams. I'd like to see Cincotta as well when fit. He has a burst of speed and is a lovely long kick

The smoky is Wilson but he is likely a year away from playing midfield as is Ben Campo

If Cripps is missing then Hewett is a must but if all fit there are times I would play Lord.

Yep, Lord is very impressive for mine. Walsh would be elite on a wing but he is also elite in the middle. I would not mind seeing that. I think it was his second year he played wing and was unreal.

Cincotta would be a great sub. The tiny examples I have seen of him in the middle has been good. Hard at it and yes, he has pace and tackles really well.

Wilson will need to start playing on the ball in the reserves if this is his position otherwise it's half back for him. Could he play wing? Wing is like forward, you can't just put any old player there, they have to have the brain for it.

Ben will need to get bigger and stronger. Those big inside players take time, they are like talls, they need to physically mature. Fortunately he can run so maybe he can fit into a running outside role while he matures if he is good enough.

Definitely. When Cripps isn't in the middle, Hewett needs to be there, he's important for that. Sky is the limit for Lord. Have noticed his hands, he's good. To me he is a momentum changer. When things aren't working in there there were times over the last few seasons we just have to wait it out while we are getting hammered in the middle. While our group is very talented offensively. Defensively we are lacking. DeKoning is a player who can turn momentum. Love how he crashes into the opposition ruck and just takes their control and direction away. I think as followers Lord could be one of those players who could get stuck into the opposition, lay a heap of big tackles and just get control back because we don't get that from the others apart from Walsh at times.

The practice matches are going to be good to see. I just feel Lord could go past Hewett this season if he can match his offensive abilities because defensively he's ahead. His two way run and ability to run down players is as good as any we have and this was a key point in Collingwood's success and Brisbane were also no slouches in this area as well.

 

[BluStreak]

I have no problem with Hewitt in the middle or even when he and Kennedy were both there as they worked hard to get the ball. The issue for me was around who they could give it off too. Walsh tended to get sucked into the contest rather then spreading, he should be operating as a receiver, Cerra was Hamstrung, Cripps was focussed on bulling his way out of tackles rather than dishing the ball off, but who was there to dish it too?
To me our issues was not the Cripps, Kennedy Hewitt CB group but who was not presenting on the outside.

This season I see Jagga side step, twist and turn, shake and bake etc etc in traffic (ok its only match sims but this is what he did before being drafted). This is the difference he brings to the midfield group. Walsh not, Cerra not, Hewitt to some degree but even Cripps not.

 

[xDQ82x]

The fact of the matter is, as pointed out by Earls Smother, when we had all players available last season Hewett was dropped twice to the sub position. I think he is clearly not a 'lock' and we would like a more attacking midfield in many circumstances this year.

I'm pretty sure Hewitt was nursing a major injury at that time.

 

[Red_man2008]

Latest midfield review article on Carlton website has suggested Hewett is in career best fitness currently. Full preseason after two to three poor ones in a row which obviously has impacted his ability to remain consistent. I’d say he’s starting on ball 100%.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

And when he was left out, we suffered as a side

Jagga essentially comes in for Kennedy, which does improve our pace, Doc also improves our speed

Will be interesting to see the make up of the side, but I suspect the focus will be on gameplan and ball movement, rather than just suffling players in or out of the side

I don't necessarily agree we suffered because of Hewett's absence.

The point remains in your math that with Jagga coming in for Kennedy, you're missing one more 'out' in respect of Docherty. I see us trying to squeeze six midfielders (Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, Hewett, Docherty, Smith) into what is likely 5 main midfield rotations during this season. Yes Docherty may be on a wing, or half forward, or even a little down back, but I think there will also be times when he is in the midfield mix and Hewett will be on the outer, be that as a sub again or even as a reserve.

Of course the above assumes all our players are fit - which if they are, is a good problem to have and one we haven't historically had for much of the season.

 

[Arr0w]

I don't necessarily agree we suffered because of Hewett's absence.

The point remains in your math that with Jagga coming in for Kennedy, you're missing one more 'out' in respect of Docherty. I see us trying to squeeze six midfielders (Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, Hewett, Docherty, Smith) into what is likely 5 main midfield rotations during this season. Yes Docherty may be on a wing, or half forward, or even a little down back, but I think there will also be times when he is in the midfield mix and Hewett will be on the outer, be that as a sub again or even as a reserve.

Of course the above assumes all our players are fit - which if they are, is a good problem to have and one we haven't historically had for much of the season.

I think it's great that we have many viable experienced options

I really don't care who is in the starting 23, as long as tge side is performing

I still believe Hewett is a lock, but if someone else is playing his role to his level or better, then no one should be concerned

 

[Zlatan]

Latest midfield review article on Carlton website has suggested Hewett is in career best fitness currently. Full preseason after two to three poor ones in a row which obviously has impacted his ability to remain consistent. I’d say he’s starting on ball 100%.

Agree, I believe it will be Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, Hewett, Jagga (rotating onto a flank), Doc (rotating onto HB/wing) and Lij (rotating onto HF).

I’d love to see Lord immediately but he’ll either be sub or will need to force someone out.

 

[Aphrodite]

Have thought about it a while back, but opted to retain it as a symbol of the fact that the essence of the sig is the same today as it was when i joined back in 2008 when The Aints were "flying" and the coming "Juggernaut".

27

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[My Hat]

TLDR?

Footy smarts beats leg speed every time.

 

[Soapy V]

I'm pretty sure Hewitt was nursing a major injury at that time.

Hewett Walsh Cerra Docherty all underperformed last year because of injury. Elijah will be a lot fitter and we have added Smith and Lord

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Footy smarts beats leg speed every time.

While I'd like to agree with this, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler almost single handedly disproved this theory in 2017.

Footy smarts obviously plays a big part in footy, but raw athleticism/leg speed does play a part in the modern game.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Re Hewett I think he's fairly easily a starting on baller for us until proven otherwise. I'd really love Lord to come on as the defensive side mid for us this year simply for his superior running ability which would lend itself to helping us defend through the middle of the ground better and get back to support more.

Cripps
Walsh
Cerra
Jagga
Lord

To me that has a perfect mix of run, skill, contested ball winning and defensive spread. I'd be hoping this is our core midfield by the end of the season (although I acknowledge it may be unlikely)

Hewett does great stuff around the contest but once the ball gets on the outside he can get exposed a touch. Part of the reason he only really does 'cooler' jobs rather than full tags is that he doesn't have the run in his legs to stay with some of the elite mids once the balls exited stoppage. He can go to town on them while it's still in close, but Lord would be better for instance at shutting down a Nick Daicos or Butters type as he'd be able to keep up with them for endurance up and down the ground.

Either way, Hewett is a fantastic player and if he's still b22 at the end of this this year I'd have no issues with that. He's great at what he does, even if others may be a touch more versatile. Certainly won't be the reason we don't win a flag.

 

[JustaBattler]

While I'd like to agree with this, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler almost single handedly disproved this theory in 2017.

Footy smarts obviously plays a big part in footy, but raw athleticism/leg speed does play a part in the modern game.

Why do you think Costagna or Butler lacked smartss? Also wwhich players were smart enough to feed them the ball- also which coaches were smart enough to set up a game plan to suit the joe the goose game Richmond perfected?

For sure I'll take smarts and leg speed every day - buit I'd take smarts over (just) leg speed every day as well.

Anyway I dont mean this as a hyperbolic statement- it is just I am baffled at times watching the team do really dumb stuff - and it all makes winning such a grind compared to (even) lesser gifted teams. eg We have six forwards and yet it seems 90% of teh target are to 2 of them .

 

[DangerousD]

While I'd like to agree with this, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler almost single handedly disproved this theory in 2017.

Footy smarts obviously plays a big part in footy, but raw athleticism/leg speed does play a part in the modern game.

One could say Cartagena lacks skill/polish, he knows where to run and when, plays his role well

 

[katmanblue]

There is going to be an onus on our midfield as to how well it performs when the ball is not in our hands.

This is the litmus test.

On SM-F946B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[BlueTongue]

Latest midfield review article on Carlton website has suggested Hewett is in career best fitness currently. Full preseason after two to three poor ones in a row which obviously has impacted his ability to remain consistent. I’d say he’s starting on ball 100%.

You can see his fitness has improved. He looks rock hard. I think he'll ragdoll a few OP mids this year.

 

[Garters]

On the Hewett discussion - imo, Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, Hewett will/should be our 4 core mids. Jagga will play as much mid as his experience/body allows with the rest of time off a flank. Elijah will be the 6th rotating mid. We will then get bursts from other bursty smalls.

For better or worse, that is OUR midfield. It can be a fantastic midfield when up and running, as it has been when it has been up and running.

Lord and maybe Doc the primary depth mids.

For mine, Hewett is chronicly underrated. But everyone has their own leanings.

I personally can't see Doc as the Doc of old anymore. He has missed so much footy and his body has been through so much, that i see him as a shadow of the old Doc. To me, he is the one who will struggle to get in our "mythical" Best 23.

Whereas Hewett is integral.

Nail meet hammer. Think this is spot on. Be good to see EH have the odd crack in there as well to build out his game. Reckon he has the tools to do it.

 

[katmanblue]

Yep. I also thought that he won the Norwich Rising Star, Mark of the Year, came 4th in a brownlow etc etc.

People are quick to forget around here. If his body holds up this year they will be reminded as to his quality.

Doesn't stop him doing dumb stuff.

His see ball get ball is unquestioned.

His running is unquestioned.

His demanding the ball when he's clearly in an inferior position to his teammate with the ball, is.

There have been many instances he's demanded and received the ball only be caught holding the ball an instant later, when he could have just blocked/shepherded and released the man with the ball.

Or when he demands the ball while under immediate pressure and just bombs it forward only for it to come straight back over his head.

It mostly seems to be because he wants the ball all the time, but if he could temper that by 10-15% and trust his teammates more, we'd be a much better team overall.

On SM-F946B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Love the Drake]

All this talk about midfielders shows our list is in a pretty good spot. We are definitely a player with pace short though.

For me, the incumbents are still at the top of the tree and, injury/fitness allowing, will play round 1.
Cripps
Walsh
Cerra
Hewett

Looking at our preseason, Jagga, Doc & Elijah will spend time in there as well. That’s a pretty strong spread of talent across those 7 players. When we need speed, or a change up, Fog, Williams and Motlop look like they could be options.

I really like the look of Lord, but think he needs to prove himself in the magoos. Don’t think he displaces Hewett who, according to Tim Clark, has had his best preseason at the club and gets first crack. Will be a case of Lord developing in the 2’s and stepping up whenever a player is injured or out of form.

I still think we are short of pace, but our fastest player, my boy Billy Wilson, has been training down back and isn’t anywhere near ready to play midfield in the AFL.

Lucas and Ben can develop in the 2’s with Lord and Wilson (who could get a call up as a backman or sub).

Expecting we find a spot on the bench/wing for Binns, who provides that excellent two-way running, and is ready.

 

[JJBagger]

Doesn't stop him doing dumb stuff.

His see ball get ball is unquestioned.

His running is unquestioned.

His demanding the ball when he's clearly in an inferior position to his teammate with the ball, is.

There have been many instances he's demanded and received the ball only be caught holding the ball an instant later, when he could have just blocked/shepherded and released the man with the ball.

Or when he demands the ball while under immediate pressure and just bombs it forward only for it to come straight back over his head.

It mostly seems to be because he wants the ball all the time, but if he could temper that by 10-15% and trust his teammates more, we'd be a much better team overall.

On SM-F946B using BigFooty.com mobile app

No player is perfect. Lachie Neale does the same thing. It’s just what happens with good players who are natural accumulators. They demand the ball