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Just a thread to discuss the big issue. What do we need to do to become the best team in the AFL? What improvements do you want to see and expect to see next year? What's got to change for us to be a premiership team?
Expected Improvements and Predictions
Waite will be fit. Was brilliant this year when he was going but got injured and that hurt. He'll be back and fit and in his prime for a tall forward.
Touhy will emerge and become the missing tough and classy midfielder. I've been curious about his onball potential and we got to see it recently. Could be very very good. Ratten has said it and I've been saying it, we are lacking at least one quick, tough midfielder who can win contested footy and play a running game.
Duigan, his second AFL preseason. Why wouldn't you think that he could make a slight improvement and have an even better 2012.
Gibbs will do what Murphy did this year and become a top midfielder in the AFL. His game against Essendon showed this. He was hard at the contest. He has been getting less "junk" possessions and more damaging ones. He's ready to take the next step.
Henderson and Jamison who both had injury interrupted seasons will be recognised as a top defencive pair. They looked very good lining up in defence. Henderson should really break out as a CHB in 2012. He's not a forward, he has a backman's build, not a forwards. He had the challenge of getting over a long term injury this season so there is a very good chance Henderson will be fitter and stronger in 2012. Jamison should have another top year and hopefully stay fit.
Kane Lucas will step up after having injury problems and add to Carlton's fast classy players. He's been forgotten but no doubt will work hard this summer and add some extra pace and class to our side.
Paul Bower who has been injured for two years has finished a season off in the VFL quite well which has prepared him really well to have a big preseason. Maybe he will be traded but if he doesn't he could be very important as that extra tall rebounding defender. All top sides have a really good athletic 3 tall who is genuinely tall. Bower got himself very big last preseason and seems to have lost a lot of weight and returned to his weight of a few years ago. I think we were trying to bulk him up to be a KPP but have found out that he can't carry the weight and is better suited to the 3rd tall role. I recon we'll see him return next season after coming off a different training regime and he'll be a slim and agile player who plays on the smaller forwards but will be able to use his height and give team mates the chop out.
Kreuzer who suffered from his reco will be super fit next season and will step up. All players struggle 1st season back from a knee reco and he is no different to any others. Hopefully see his running ability and contested work return as well as his agility.
Back up players like Armfield and Joseph will improve that little bit extra again.
Andrew Collins from Richmond who had a shoulder reco will make an impact. He's been a forgotten player but one thing is for sure and that is we rate him. I think we saw the worst of him last season.
Hampson will be the best back up ruckman in the league and will no doubt play plenty of AFL as he continues to improve. He will push Warnock and Kreuzer very hard for a spot.
Luke Mitchell who is a big tall forward will arrive on the scene. No doubt we will be playing him and pushing him hard in the preseason games. I think he could get a game, especially if he can ruck a little. I think he will get a few games and if Waite is in the team to take the pressure off him then he could kick a few. He's possibly the most interesting prospect going into next year.
Matthew Watson will be transformed into a CHF over the summer and will open some eyes. He will follow the path of Michael Hurley and be made a forward. He will follow Carlton players like Thornton, Yarran, Waite and Henderson who have gone to the other end. He's the perfect build and size for a forward. 195cm, powerful and the best part he is a long kick. good CHF's must be long kicks and he'll be able to put them through from 50+ meters. This is where our high profile coaches and development people earn their money as I hope they will work with him flat over the summer teaching him the ropes of playing as a forward because all he needs to do is learn as he has every other attribute right to turn into a top CHF. He doesn't have to win games of his own boot next year, just has to contribute and compete and progress in this role, same with Mitchell if he plays.
Jordan Russell who could not beat injury in 2011 will be fit and damaging again in 2012. Again there is trade rumors around him but the fact is he hasn't been fit enough to play good footy. The good Jordan Russell was missed this year but he will be pushed hard over the summer to get fit.
Mitch Robinson will take another step forward and will really start to be recognised. He's reducing the number of inconsistent games and quarters all the time. Will be fitter, bigger and stronger in 2012.
Carlton will pick up highly rated midfielder Dylan Buckley with the F/S rule. I don't see him playing in 2012 as we will be good and he is probably going to be pretty lightly built to play our hard style of footy. Waite never played a game in his first year. I recon it will be a development year but he might sneak the odd game in especially if he is as good as some are suggesting.
Chris Yarran will go up another gear and will be an AA player. As good as he was he can be better. Fitter, more mature and harder at it. I recon there is going to be no stopping him from making AA next season.
Ed Curnow and Brock Mclean are outside chances to add to Carlton's improvement as they will have the chance to get over their injuries and train hard this summer. They will be under the pump next year because it will be their last chance to remain on an AFL list I would think. Would hope to see them push for selection.
The best part is it looks like every one is on target to be there for the preseason unlike the last few years where many of the senior players missed much of the preseason. The long term injuries were all dealt with early in the season to make sure they make the preseason.
Where we have to improve to be a contender for number 17.
1.
Tall forwards, we need two of them. Forget grabbing a guy who can half play and paying over price for him during trade week. If we get anything it will most likely be a B Grader. Go for one in the draft and rookie draft and think of what we are doing down the track. We need to look at what we already have. Watson has played his footy as a back but all he needs is experience to learn how to play forward and he could be one of these sort of players who can win games off his own boot. Patty McCarthy is the likely future CHB, Henderson and Jamison have the key defence positions sown up and settled and if Bower plays then we don't need Watson pushing to play as a backman.
Waite should be back next year so that is solved.
2.
We need at least one genuine centerman. Judd and Murphy are our blue chip onballers. If we want to win a flag we need at least one more gun in here. The rest are mostly flankers, taggers or wingmen or not up to it who go through there. Gibbs I hope steps up from being a guy who plays the flanks and wings and gets a lot of easy kicks to the type of player he was against the bombers in the final where he was hard at it and played on ball and won a lot of footy and won possessions that really hurt the opposition. I think Gibbs should be having a similar output to Pendlebury at Collingwood in 2012. Touhy has the size, strength and power to step up into this role I think. We have tried to fill this role with one dimensional players like Mclean and Curnow who lack a lot of pace and in finals intensity would probably get carved up. Inside players must be able to run and create too if you want a premiership winning midfield.
3.
Ruckman/forward
We need a ruckman who can take a mark in the forward line. You can not have two ruckman if at least one of them can not take marks up forward with the 3 man bench. It would be good if Kreuzer steps up and starts holding marks in the forward line. Can Mitchell Ruck?
4.
Keeping assistant coaches.
With all the senior coaching vacancies that have become open you'd think it might be tough to keep some of them and they seem a good balanced and expierenced group that have had a good look at our list and for the first time have an oppertunity to begin to make changes to that list after a season with the team.
Conclusion
We finished 5th and just missed out on a top 4 spot. We did not beat a top 4 side which was disappointing but playing them we lost by a couple of points to Geelong, 3 and 4 goals to Collingwood, a couple of goals to Hawthorn and 3 points the other night to the eagles. Had we not have missed easy shots on goal then we would have beaten the cats and won last night against the Eagles so we are really close to the top 4 sides. We improve by 3 or 4 goals next year and all of a sudden we are beating those sides and are finishing top 4 and possibly winning the flag. We need luck and less injuries and a couple of tall young players to stand up.
Theoretical 2012 Squad
B: Bower Jamison Duigan
HB: Yarran Henderson Laidler
C: Simpson Judd Lucas
HF: Garlett Watson Robinson
F: Betts Waite Walker
OB: Warnock Murphy Gibbs
IC: Touhy Russell Kreuzer Carrazzo Ellard Thornton Scotland
Close: Armfield, Collins, Curnow, Mclean, Joseph, Thornton, Hampson, Mitchell.
Expected Improvements and Predictions
Waite will be fit. Was brilliant this year when he was going but got injured and that hurt. He'll be back and fit and in his prime for a tall forward.
Touhy will emerge and become the missing tough and classy midfielder. I've been curious about his onball potential and we got to see it recently. Could be very very good. Ratten has said it and I've been saying it, we are lacking at least one quick, tough midfielder who can win contested footy and play a running game.
Duigan, his second AFL preseason. Why wouldn't you think that he could make a slight improvement and have an even better 2012.
Gibbs will do what Murphy did this year and become a top midfielder in the AFL. His game against Essendon showed this. He was hard at the contest. He has been getting less "junk" possessions and more damaging ones. He's ready to take the next step.
Henderson and Jamison who both had injury interrupted seasons will be recognised as a top defencive pair. They looked very good lining up in defence. Henderson should really break out as a CHB in 2012. He's not a forward, he has a backman's build, not a forwards. He had the challenge of getting over a long term injury this season so there is a very good chance Henderson will be fitter and stronger in 2012. Jamison should have another top year and hopefully stay fit.
Kane Lucas will step up after having injury problems and add to Carlton's fast classy players. He's been forgotten but no doubt will work hard this summer and add some extra pace and class to our side.
Paul Bower who has been injured for two years has finished a season off in the VFL quite well which has prepared him really well to have a big preseason. Maybe he will be traded but if he doesn't he could be very important as that extra tall rebounding defender. All top sides have a really good athletic 3 tall who is genuinely tall. Bower got himself very big last preseason and seems to have lost a lot of weight and returned to his weight of a few years ago. I think we were trying to bulk him up to be a KPP but have found out that he can't carry the weight and is better suited to the 3rd tall role. I recon we'll see him return next season after coming off a different training regime and he'll be a slim and agile player who plays on the smaller forwards but will be able to use his height and give team mates the chop out.
Kreuzer who suffered from his reco will be super fit next season and will step up. All players struggle 1st season back from a knee reco and he is no different to any others. Hopefully see his running ability and contested work return as well as his agility.
Back up players like Armfield and Joseph will improve that little bit extra again.
Andrew Collins from Richmond who had a shoulder reco will make an impact. He's been a forgotten player but one thing is for sure and that is we rate him. I think we saw the worst of him last season.
Hampson will be the best back up ruckman in the league and will no doubt play plenty of AFL as he continues to improve. He will push Warnock and Kreuzer very hard for a spot.
Luke Mitchell who is a big tall forward will arrive on the scene. No doubt we will be playing him and pushing him hard in the preseason games. I think he could get a game, especially if he can ruck a little. I think he will get a few games and if Waite is in the team to take the pressure off him then he could kick a few. He's possibly the most interesting prospect going into next year.
Matthew Watson will be transformed into a CHF over the summer and will open some eyes. He will follow the path of Michael Hurley and be made a forward. He will follow Carlton players like Thornton, Yarran, Waite and Henderson who have gone to the other end. He's the perfect build and size for a forward. 195cm, powerful and the best part he is a long kick. good CHF's must be long kicks and he'll be able to put them through from 50+ meters. This is where our high profile coaches and development people earn their money as I hope they will work with him flat over the summer teaching him the ropes of playing as a forward because all he needs to do is learn as he has every other attribute right to turn into a top CHF. He doesn't have to win games of his own boot next year, just has to contribute and compete and progress in this role, same with Mitchell if he plays.
Jordan Russell who could not beat injury in 2011 will be fit and damaging again in 2012. Again there is trade rumors around him but the fact is he hasn't been fit enough to play good footy. The good Jordan Russell was missed this year but he will be pushed hard over the summer to get fit.
Mitch Robinson will take another step forward and will really start to be recognised. He's reducing the number of inconsistent games and quarters all the time. Will be fitter, bigger and stronger in 2012.
Carlton will pick up highly rated midfielder Dylan Buckley with the F/S rule. I don't see him playing in 2012 as we will be good and he is probably going to be pretty lightly built to play our hard style of footy. Waite never played a game in his first year. I recon it will be a development year but he might sneak the odd game in especially if he is as good as some are suggesting.
Chris Yarran will go up another gear and will be an AA player. As good as he was he can be better. Fitter, more mature and harder at it. I recon there is going to be no stopping him from making AA next season.
Ed Curnow and Brock Mclean are outside chances to add to Carlton's improvement as they will have the chance to get over their injuries and train hard this summer. They will be under the pump next year because it will be their last chance to remain on an AFL list I would think. Would hope to see them push for selection.
The best part is it looks like every one is on target to be there for the preseason unlike the last few years where many of the senior players missed much of the preseason. The long term injuries were all dealt with early in the season to make sure they make the preseason.
Where we have to improve to be a contender for number 17.
1.
Tall forwards, we need two of them. Forget grabbing a guy who can half play and paying over price for him during trade week. If we get anything it will most likely be a B Grader. Go for one in the draft and rookie draft and think of what we are doing down the track. We need to look at what we already have. Watson has played his footy as a back but all he needs is experience to learn how to play forward and he could be one of these sort of players who can win games off his own boot. Patty McCarthy is the likely future CHB, Henderson and Jamison have the key defence positions sown up and settled and if Bower plays then we don't need Watson pushing to play as a backman.
Waite should be back next year so that is solved.
2.
We need at least one genuine centerman. Judd and Murphy are our blue chip onballers. If we want to win a flag we need at least one more gun in here. The rest are mostly flankers, taggers or wingmen or not up to it who go through there. Gibbs I hope steps up from being a guy who plays the flanks and wings and gets a lot of easy kicks to the type of player he was against the bombers in the final where he was hard at it and played on ball and won a lot of footy and won possessions that really hurt the opposition. I think Gibbs should be having a similar output to Pendlebury at Collingwood in 2012. Touhy has the size, strength and power to step up into this role I think. We have tried to fill this role with one dimensional players like Mclean and Curnow who lack a lot of pace and in finals intensity would probably get carved up. Inside players must be able to run and create too if you want a premiership winning midfield.
3.
Ruckman/forward
We need a ruckman who can take a mark in the forward line. You can not have two ruckman if at least one of them can not take marks up forward with the 3 man bench. It would be good if Kreuzer steps up and starts holding marks in the forward line. Can Mitchell Ruck?
4.
Keeping assistant coaches.
With all the senior coaching vacancies that have become open you'd think it might be tough to keep some of them and they seem a good balanced and expierenced group that have had a good look at our list and for the first time have an oppertunity to begin to make changes to that list after a season with the team.
Conclusion
We finished 5th and just missed out on a top 4 spot. We did not beat a top 4 side which was disappointing but playing them we lost by a couple of points to Geelong, 3 and 4 goals to Collingwood, a couple of goals to Hawthorn and 3 points the other night to the eagles. Had we not have missed easy shots on goal then we would have beaten the cats and won last night against the Eagles so we are really close to the top 4 sides. We improve by 3 or 4 goals next year and all of a sudden we are beating those sides and are finishing top 4 and possibly winning the flag. We need luck and less injuries and a couple of tall young players to stand up.
Theoretical 2012 Squad
B: Bower Jamison Duigan
HB: Yarran Henderson Laidler
C: Simpson Judd Lucas
HF: Garlett Watson Robinson
F: Betts Waite Walker
OB: Warnock Murphy Gibbs
IC: Touhy Russell Kreuzer Carrazzo Ellard Thornton Scotland
Close: Armfield, Collins, Curnow, Mclean, Joseph, Thornton, Hampson, Mitchell.

