Senior 29. Cameron Polson

Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Posts
34,474
Likes
25,128
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
MUFC, LAL, PSG
Moderator #276
Good news - well done Cam. Disappointing that there are so many willing to write off a 20 year old off already.

Has thus far found the pace of AFL footy too much to handle, but he'll learn from the taste he's had and he'll continue to adjust with more experience.

A bit more composure with the ball and we're probably raving about his performances - had a few chances in his two games to impact the scoreboard, but it wasn't to be.

Needs more time and I'm glad we're giving it to him.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

mrjones

Team Captain
Joined
Nov 27, 2009
Posts
444
Likes
1,401
Location
South East Qld
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Arsenal
What I'm saying is that he's not made any mistakes, but the club has. Our future midfield will be pretty undersized around the stoppages unless we get to drafting more medium and tall mids.
Cripps, Kennedy, Dow, SPS aren't exactly midgets. What we don't have are many quality small pressure types (other than Fisher) that can actually contribute in midfield at times.
To me the signing makes sense but sure there's risk involved.
 

Red Bull

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
6,685
Likes
10,038
Location
mornington peninsula
AFL Club
Carlton
Interesting notion. I've not read anything demonstrating he's played through defence before, even while drafted.

Do you have any basis to think this could be a path for us to tread?
Just think he has the tools to make this position his own if he has the inclination and the club are prepared to give him the chance given that we certainly need one.
I'd say it'd be rare that a kid is specifically drafted as a small defender , more likely a mid developed along the way.
It's no longer just a position for a stodgy stopper , a classy small defender nowadays also rebounds and launches running attacks , hence , a good one is a very important player in the team.
I think Polson has the skills , smarts and pace to fill the role and is a genuine small as opposed to Docherty , Williamson , Plowman and Byrne who are more mid size.
We have a developing small mid in Fisher , the brutal nature of today's midfield game (as Murphy can attest) suggests that you can probably only play one so let's look outside the box , find a position for a promising young player and round out our backline going forward for the next decade.
 

Raging Blue

Team Captain
Joined
Oct 11, 2016
Posts
455
Likes
1,455
Location
Half Time 1970
AFL Club
Carlton
He is quick & stocky, a bit like a few Richmond pressure smalls.

In hindsight, his 3 games at AFL have not been the best to find your feet i.e. Port last year & Suns/Pies this year.

I trust in the eye of our footy department, very happy they have belief.

If Polson comes good, then a draft of SPS, Fisher, McCreadie, Polson & Williamson .................may be talked about for a long time
 
Last edited:

HARKER

Hall of Famer
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Posts
49,874
Likes
63,966
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Carlton
I think Polson has the skills , smarts and pace to fill the role and is a genuine small as opposed to Docherty , Williamson , Plowman and Byrne who are more mid size.
We have a developing small mid in Fisher , the brutal nature of today's midfield game (as Murphy can attest) suggests that you can probably only play one so let's look outside the box , find a position for a promising young player and round out our backline going forward for the next decade.
Are you seeing this?

upload_2018-5-24_19-7-50.png

upload_2018-5-24_19-8-0.png


OK. Interestring.
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2017
Posts
414
Likes
1,140
AFL Club
Carlton
A strong show of faith by the club. I’m a little bit surprised to be honest but it excites me that he is rated so highly internally. In his AFL games to date he appeared very nervous to me, which is natural. I’d love to see him again with those nerves (hopefully) behind him.

I’ve been guilty of initially mistaking him for Murph when he played earlier this year..... mainly because of his size and look (plus my very bad eyes from a loooooong way up in the stands). Fingers crossed the comparison can stretch to performances in time..... and a Murph sized vacancy is sadly drawing closer. No pressure lad :D
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

mediumsizered

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Posts
26,921
Likes
26,576
Location
Queensland
AFL Club
Carlton
A big vote of confidence in the kid. This gives him the opportunity to work on any deficiencies without having the extra pressure of trying to retain his spot on the list.

Draftees in their 2nd year, who haven't cemented a position in their team's best 22, can fall into the trap of trying too hard & ultimately do themselves a disservice. Hopefully this deal will lead to Polson getting the best out of himself.
 

BlueGum

Dadadadadadaist
Joined
Jan 16, 2016
Posts
4,138
Likes
6,515
Location
Tangled up in blue
AFL Club
Carlton
A big vote of confidence in the kid. This gives him the opportunity to work on any deficiencies without having the extra pressure of trying to retain his spot on the list.

Draftees in their 2nd year, who haven't cemented a position in their team's best 22, can fall into the trap of trying too hard & ultimately do themselves a disservice. Hopefully this deal will lead to Polson getting the best out of himself.
This. At first I was surprised but its this vote of confidence in his work ethic and potential that makes sense.
 

MileHigh

Club Legend
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Posts
1,792
Likes
2,688
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Carlton
He just seems too rushed. Hes sharked the ball a few times in the forward 50 and as silly as this sounds, hes missed some easy half chances. He kicks those and itll be a different story. That said theyve signed him so they see him getting there in time. Just needs to learn to manic but composed. Dow suffers the same thing. Hopefully he gets there. Maybe seen as long term replacement for Wright whos 28 1/2 and will be 31 when Polsons new contract ends.
 

Jimmae

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Nov 4, 2003
Posts
13,287
Likes
17,884
Location
Earth, near Carlton.
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Tennessee Titans, Tottenham Hotspur
Cripps, Kennedy, Dow, SPS aren't exactly midgets. What we don't have are many quality small pressure types (other than Fisher) that can actually contribute in midfield at times.
To me the signing makes sense but sure there's risk involved.
SPS is actually below the AFL average for midfielders, both in height and weight.

We've probably only got 7 genuine midfield prospects on our list that sit on or above that height average, with three more that we're hoping for. Now height's not everything, but it's a decent predictor of weight in this setting. That being said, of those 7, 2 are first year players and 2 are players you wouldn't expect to have much of a contested game (O'Brien, Thomas).

It's not great below the line other: Lang is the only decent contested mid in this category. So we've got to improve our general stoppage setup with some quality speed/strength combinations. Sunny Brazier might prove to be one, Jack might be another. We might get lucky with Williamson and Schumacher, but with Ed and Murphy over 28, we've got to invest in some options for 4 years from now.

We can't afford to draft a bunch of Marc Murphy clones and hope that it transforms our stoppage issues (outside of the centre bounce, which is a different setup to general stoppages).
 

RedFury

Club Legend
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Posts
2,277
Likes
5,941
AFL Club
Carlton
I sense he's possibly the Ed Curnow type in terms of attitude and workrate, will always strive to get the best out of himself and, like Ed, will probably surprise a few here with how good he can become.
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Posts
288
Likes
518
AFL Club
Carlton
Personally I like it, would have signed him for pretty much a ham sandwich, has obviously shown his work ethic is exactly what the coaches are looking for and shows the rest that if they do what is asked of them, rewards are on offer.

Think he will turn out to be handy for us, finding his way like all other youngsters and came to the club massively underdone due to injury.
 

Styxx

Premiership Player
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Posts
3,515
Likes
5,536
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Chicago Bulls
One of my favs, and my most anticipated pick from that draft. And I won't deny he's shown a little bit.

...But 2020?

It's a standard two year extension so not entirely uncommon, think one year would have sent a more negative signal.

Seems to be developing well as far as VFL goes, is young and importantly by signing on shows he is committed to the club and rhe vision, urinating on those "Bolton is losing the players" tripe peddled as rumor
 

Metalcrusher

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jan 22, 2015
Posts
6,701
Likes
15,790
Location
Kalgoorlie
AFL Club
Carlton
Other Teams
Blackburn United EPL ... sorta
Interesting ….. thought about it … still a little MEH … on it …. still, I wouldn't imagine it would have cost big $$$. Time will tell.
 

WFGodot

Team Captain
Joined
Nov 3, 2017
Posts
340
Likes
617
AFL Club
Carlton
I believe that even after just one quarter of him, SOS was sold.
Haileybury has some awesome kids, note that Juddy has kids there. Matty Lloyd coaches the 1sts. To be captain there must mean you have talent but also are well rounded. Lots of ex footballers send their kids there. Trust me if you’re any good you’ll get noticed. Watch out for the King twins 2018...
We are yet to see the best of Polson, a late pick who we think enough of to sign up til 2020. Go Blues...
 

passmark

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 26, 2012
Posts
17,426
Likes
32,591
AFL Club
Carlton
Personally I like it, would have signed him for pretty much a ham sandwich, has obviously shown his work ethic is exactly what the coaches are looking for and shows the rest that if they do what is asked of them, rewards are on offer.

Think he will turn out to be handy for us, finding his way like all other youngsters and came to the club massively underdone due to injury.
Hmmm, ham sammich.
 
Top Bottom