2014 List Review
Walker
Despite being injured played some ok footy but not his best by a fair way footy. Very valuable player to us with his speed, ability to play on quick forwards and play at both ends. Kicking which is usually good let him down this season. Hope to see him kicking goals next year or tearing up the middle out of defence, hitting guys lace out while blanketing good forwards.
Menzel
Starting to see his class, his field kicking is usually spot on and his goal kicking is good. Needs to get fitter as he's still restricted to the permanent forward role. Strength in the air, speed and skills are spot on. Ability to go through the middle will be important as he's struggled with this. Consistency is a big thing for him.
Murphy
Probably his best season or there about. He's played better footy before but he had the hard tag and he finished the season beating the tag. Has to turn up next season much the same. Needs to change his goal kicking technique, misses too many easy goals and it's cost us games.
Gibbs
Coming off his best season, has become a damaging midfielders. No doubt he could take it to an even higher level next season.
Judd
Just a bit of a rest, had moments towards the end where he petered out during games but it was astounding just how well he played considering the long lay off. His classic one touch ball handling and dead-eye field kicking were back along with his pace. Could have a big year next year and if that is the case could have seasons ahead of it.
Simpson
Bit of an up and down year, had a few games where some of the classier small forwards lowered his colours but also had some very big games where he found a heap of the footy. Midfielders who can slot into either end have long careers and ones who avoid injury have even longer ones. Has lost a touch of pace and kicking isn't always great but he makes up with it with his approach to the contest and competitiveness. A wingman who can play back is valuable, especially if they are quality like he is. Probably one of the bravest and toughest players in the game.
Buckley
Getting injured hurt us a lot. This guy has loads of talent. Being small is ok if you're quick, tough and aggressive and he is. Showed a hell of a lot with his ability to shut down really good small forwards which means he more than has a role in the best 22. Run and carry and accurate kicking just adds to what he brings to the team.
Kreuzer
Missing this year was bad for the team but even worse for the player who still has a long way to go to becoming a star of the league. While we found a player in Wood through his absence, Kreuzer has missed a whole year of important learning. Malthouse hasn't been shy when stating that he believes he must become a forward which is going to take time and may fail. In the past Kreuzer has lacked a fair bit with his approach to marking, often misjudging it, not planting his feet right for body contact and running under the ball but he does have good hands and under Mick, Whiley etc Kreuzer has a good chance at improving his game as a forward and becoming the player that we were all under the impression he would become. Next year is a really big year for him with genuine competition coming from Casboult and Wood for the forward/ruck role and the number one ruck spot. Achieving a high level of fitness and a lot of one on one training sessions I think are on the cards for Kreuzer in what will be an interesting journey. If Kreuzer does succeed at becoming a marking forward then Carlton will improve out of sight.
Lucas
It's not ability or athleticism that is holding him back it's fear, lacking that super competitive nature and a lack of aggression. He played ok against Essendon but there was one moment where he went down to pick up the footy but came up with out it and left it behind because there was another player around who might make contact with him. If you aren't willing to put your head over the footy and take the odd high contact then you won't make it in the AFL. You can't be scared of getting tackled or caught high like that. Not putting in when chasing at times will do you no favour either. It's a shame because he was a high draft pick who does have talent and plenty of speed but doesn't have it between the ears. I think he'll be very lucky to be on the list next year.
Watson
I said years ago he's not a defender. Arms are too short, lacks too much pace and gets caught behind too often but with his strong build, nice kick and good hands he could be a decent forward and so far this seems to be on the money. Good game against Essendon. Needs to find more urgency with his second efforts and how he follows up the footy when it hits the ground rather than stopping once it's been contested in the air and work on his forward pressure but there is plenty to like about his abilities as a forward.
Warnock
Can see us trying to trade him but can't see him being anywhere near the best 22. Doesn't do enough when the ball is in open play, just stands in the middle and stays out of the road. Doesn't read the play at all, doesn't identify when space opens up and he should be leading for the ball. Gives us a bit at around the ground ball ups but that's it.
Robinson
People Suggest he should be traded but I think he brings enough to our team for there to be a role. His kicking, ball handling and decision making can let him down but that improved a bit last year towards the end. A few suspensions and silly things off the field shouldn't mean the end of him. Could be an upgrade on Mclean. He can go through the middle and kick goals up forward. He can win the hard ball but also run a bit. If there is a good trade involving him then yes, but otherwise he stays.
Yarran
Had a really good season but still had his moments where he disappeared however he seemed to really grow mentally as a player. His kicking improved a lot whereas he nearly always turned it over after taking off on a run last year. One of our better players for the year. Could really improve his aerial play, doesn't take too many marks, doesn't like being under the footy and doesn't spoil that well but this is all getting better.
Mclean
Bag him out all you want and suggest we should get rid of him, no one has stepped up to replace him. Graham is nowhere near forcing Mclean out of the side, he's still one of our more prolific midfielders when he is fit. Can't kick very far and can't run very fast but he keeps going all day, gets to the right spots and gets the footy. Defensive pressure is still an issue though but he's probably still there abouts our best 22.
Docherty
Bit of a steal for us, can play all over the ground and generally has good skills though he does make a few out of the blue mistakes. Looking forward to seeing what he can do next season, hoping to see him become really fit. Just fits into the AFL really well.
Cripps
Looks promising but I think he'll take a while to crack it. Fitness needs to lift, often looks slow because he's not really pushing hard, not because he is slow which he isn't, this comes back to fitness which is often the case for first yearers, particularly the bigger guys. Needs to develop a few extra strings to his bow, at his height he aught to be good at going forward, taking a grab. It wouldn't surprise me if he is tried in key positions in the VFL a bit next year to see what he can do and to educate him (like how we played Kouta at CHB). I think he'll play a handful of games next year but we'll be working on his versatility and fitness a fair bit.
Rowe
Outstanding season. Just improved every week in every aspect. Ball handling improved which was good and he became really hard to beat. Strong spoiler, started to mark the footy a bit and he's super athletic.
Temay
Skills are fine but just didn't look hard enough at the contest and tended to stay out of things a bit rather than get involved. You see a lot of guys come and go in the AFL system just like this. Think he'll be delisted.
Giles
Never got a chance to prove himself with that injury. I think this guy has what it takes skill wise, athletically and build wise. Just comes down to what's between his ears from here on and his body holding up. Will probably take a while to make it but he looks a very skilful, tall and athletic guy, just needs time, will be one to watch, will have a bit to learn though.
Holman
Did alright getting a game and being named emergency a few times. Will want to see his name mentioned as one who gets in the higher possession getters a bit more next year. Has a bit to learn when it comes to playing in the ends, didn't look too comfortable down back in the AFL, I guess he hasn't played there a lot. Looks to have the potential to make it.
Henderson
Started the season having to get fit, got fit then got injured. Will be hoping for a better run than all that. Looked ok up forward. Hasn't got the vice like hands of the really good forwards and does drop a fair few he should hold but he offers heaps with his smarts, leading, skills and ability to run. Could play either end next year but more likely forward.
McInness
Just from what I saw lacks body strength and speed. Tackling isn't strong enough and you don't really see him cutting the footy off and taking marks like you do with a lot of guys who play that role like White for example which suggests he doesn't read the play to get in the right place early like the elite do. Not sure he has the speed to match it with some of the AFL forwards he'd have to take at times either. With a bit extra strength he could be a good honest medium size defender at AFL level. Doubt he will be listed next year.
Armfield
Had a poor year fitness wise, finished the season half fit and played some ok VFL/AFL footy. Really lost a lot of pace and couldn't play 4 quarters this season. Is not best 22 but I think will be useful enough to be a pretty handy reserve player. Could either stay or go.
Bell
Showed enough to suggest he has a role in our best 22. Needs to work on his short kicking. Kicks it nicely when he kicks it long but the short stuff needs work. Just looking at him you'd think that he'd be a bullocking inside midfielder but he isn't. Doesn't rank up there in clearances and doesn't really work that well in close at all, probably due to having poor hands under pressure, not gathering well off the ruck taps and lacking pace off the mark but what he/Carlton have worked out is that he's a good receiver. Has pace when he gets wound up, has been getting on the end of more handballs and can run through tackles when he does. Not clean or pretty but he's useful.
Waite
Start of the year I thought he was gone. He looked lazy, couldn't run, wouldn't chase, wasn't finding the footy or working very hard at all. Got dropped and came back a new man. Applied a heap of defensive pressure, chased, tackled, second efforts were there and he started out running opponents and the results flowed thick and fast for him. Unfortunately a lack of supporting talls stifled him towards the end but he has put his hand up for another year. Change of attitude or fitness who knows. Seems to be one who is 50/50 on staying or going and I get the feeling we aren't too worried.
Graham
Is taking small steps towards becoming an AFL player and it was good that he played a few games this year. Did ok without setting the world on fire. Struggled to find a heap of it at AFL level like he does in the VFL. Work Rate, size/strength, intensity and second efforts will all need to improve to become an AFL player. Really impressed with his clean ball handling and disposal looks ok. Will be looking to become a 40 possession VFL player or an AFL play next season.
Everitt
I reckon he'd be a coach favourite. Can play all over the ground, is an excellent kick and he's capable of playing any role asked of him well. Tagging, attacking half back, wingman, forward you name it. Could improve his linking up, I reckon he aught to be a bit better at receiving the footy than he is otherwise he's a very useful player.
Curnow
We're poorer without him. Plays one on one with the best players and still finds plenty of the ball himself. Very reliable tagger. Very good at what he does.
Garlett
Would have probably kicked goals and done ok at AFL level this season if we were willing to put up with the bad stuff but his attitude and competitiveness have been miles away. Played a fair bit of soft footy this year, failed to chase with intent and apply defensive pressure. Doubt he'll be around next year but if he is you'd hope he plays a different brand of footy and does the team things.
Thomas
Dog of a year, couldn't run or kick but things came together when he got fit only for another injury setback. Should be cherry ripe for 2015, hope to see what he can really do.
Jamison
Declined in a big way this season, not sure if it was injury, fitness or something else. He didn't get beaten but was seen caught trailing behind forwards who were willing to work him over a bit. He also never ran off his man a lot and hence didn't provide the rebounding overlap run he so often does or find a lot of the ball or get in positions to take marks. Would benefit from a harder running preseason. Was very quiet this season without doing a lot wrong, just didn't do those extra things.
Casboult
Had a decent year, as a ruck or a forward alone he probably isn't good enough to make it but his ability to do both at a adequate level is valuable. That poor patch at the end where he dropped a lot of marks was a worry but generally he has really good hands. Rucking is a bit better than part time. Kicking is woeful. His kicking is bad because the ball swings with from left to right or right to left, that is why they are trying to get him to run in an arc, so that he can develop a kick that consistently swings from right to left but it's not there yet. I recon it might have a bit to do with how he's holding the ball. Needs to play around with this a bit until he finds something that is natural and results in a consistent swing of the footy. Needs to improve his defensive work, doesn't always put in when he chases and he gets out marked quite a lot. His efforts to bring down poor kicks and to spoil when he's caught out of position must improve.
Tuohy
Had a bit of a down year, to me he looks like a guy who could be fitter. Probably had bigger jobs and better opponents. Leaked more goals than you'd like him to and found less of the footy than you'd like him to but it was a good year educational wise. You'd hope he'd come back leaner and fitter, he slowed down quite a lot this season.
White
Had an excellent year as a tall/medium sized defender. Beat some quality opposition of all types and showed a lot of versatility, skill and athleticism.
Carrazzo
Quiet year often interrupted by injuries for him. Just needs to try to get really fit and if it all fails then give it away but apart from that his year was ok.
Ellard
He's small, slow and doesn't have too many tricks but he plays a role. Another horrible year injury wise and when he got the chance his kicking let him down which is not usually the case. Reckon he is a coaches favourite because he does the defensive things and tackles well. Would like to see his crumbing improve as a small forward. Think he's 50/50 for being listed next year.
Reynolds
Didn't see a lot of him, looked like maybe he'd go ok in a better team of with senior players around him but I get the feeling he hasn't done enough to stay listed.
Wood
Really impressive. Guys is a natural footballer. Gets involved in general play, can take a mark, rucks ok and gets around the ground well, could perhaps be a little fitter and work on his defending a bit but really impressed with him and he'll push hard for the number 1 ruck spot next year.
Cachia
Was never really required or was injured. Probably too many of his type on the list up and going this year.
Johnson
Big tick for his season. I see him as a guy who might not be the quickest, biggest or have a heap of tricks but has to and likely will make up for it by being an aggressive competitor. Perhaps similar to Hickmott. Needs to bring a few other things to his game such as crumbing and being able to pinch hit other positions.
Sheehan
Another big find for us this season, gone from a fringe player to probably best 22. Big strong guy with very very good skills and pace. Reads the game as you often see him linking up with team mates. Will probably be in our best team next year or close to it. Would like to see him experimented with in other positions. One of our better kicks. Isn't a young rookie so kind of had to make it soon which he has and has proved he's ready to go. slotted in very nicely to AFL.
Byrne
Would nearly bet he'll debut next year. Is a guy who looks to have a few tricks and nouse that separates the forwards from the backs. Looks a skilful clever player.
Possible best 22 for 2015
B: Buckley Jamison White
HB: Docherty Rowe Tuohy
C: Yarran Murphy Simpson
HF: Gibbs Henderson Thomas
F: Walker (Waite/Watson) Menzel
OB: Kreuzer Judd Curnow
IC: Casboult Everitt Carrazzo Robinson
EM: Sheehan Mclean Bell Wood
Would be very happy for those emergencies to be best 22, particularly Sheehan who very well may be.
Can definitely see how a resurgence could come about, a bit of luck with injuries, some clever trading and a bit of luck, perhaps a good free agent and we are in a good position.