Callum Bartlett: A Study in Patience

[PattyKwasagun]

Three games to go in the season, I think this is starting to become the elephant in the room. Despite starting the year with high hopes for Cal, it's becoming more likely that he may be de-listed at season's end. Some have suggested perhaps picking him up in the rookie draft, but that doesn't often tend to happen with ex-senior listed players.

The question is, with quite a few players needing to be cut, does he lose his place? It is essentially his first full year of playing footy, so I personally think he's shown enough and would give him a one year extension to hopefully break into the team next season. Can we afford to do that though?

Starting to get a bad feeling his time may soon be up.

 

[ZoBlitz]

What do you the regular reserve watchers think about Cal? Has he improved as the season has gone on?

 

[Haso]

What do you the regular reserve watchers think about Cal? Has he improved as the season has gone on?

I saw him at the Mt Gravatt game a couple of weeks ago, and in the first quarter in the left pocket in a contested ball situation he gave a fifth and sixth effort in a 6 or 7 second period - smothering, tackling, scrambling, etc. He was a dead set monster.

Didn't see a great deal of him for the rest of that match, except maybe for a flash in the 3rd and another in the fourth. The skill and endeavour is there, but the fitness isn't. I would be surprised and saddened and then suddenly not surprised but still saddened if we was delisted.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I would be surprised and saddened and then suddenly not surprised but still saddened if we was delisted.

I think this is exactly how I feel about it. In a way I'd be shocked as he's been the next 'big thing' brewing for some time in many minds, but from a logistical perspective it seems to make sense that his time is up, sadly.

Seeing as fitness still appears his biggest issue, I really hope they give him a one year extension. Rookie listing him, if even considered, won't really end well I don't think, but one more year can't hurt... can it?

 

[Duritz]

So he's showing positive signs in his first proper year, and your answer is delist?

 

[whatboutbob]

How much of the pre-season did Cal do?

 

[Grimreepah]

I remember Voss tweeting to watch out for Cal this year. It seems he hasn't progressed as well as hoped.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

So he's showing positive signs in his first proper year, and your answer is delist?

I want him to stay on as I've mentioned, but I'm saying as it's his third year at the club and he still hasn't been able to crack a senior game, they may not agree.

I wonder how much of an influence him playing in the final three rounds or not would have on the decision. You'd think if they were considering de-listing him, they'd definitely do it just to give him one last chance. It probably says more about his longevity at the club for next season if he's not named.

 

[Toffee Lion]

I honestly believe that we will keep him on for at least one more year.

It's only been his first real season, A full pre-season and a few senior games next year will be his real test.

Would be a shame to delist this year.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I am all for giving him another year but I just get the feeling it is all she wrote for the poor bloke.

 

[Mr Ripper]

How much of the pre-season did Cal do?

A restricted one. Had a knee op late last season.

 

[mpal6]

Hoping for 1 more year. Club could give him a full preseason and see what he can deliver.

 

[blynd_freddie]

After under going a couple of knee recos [and as ripper has added - a limited 2012 pre-season] he certainly has had to be a patient patient…

Callum falls into the group of the five shortest players in our squad - Beams is listed at 182cms with Buchanan at 179, Bartlett 179, Green 177 and Zorko at 175cms. With the suggested ‘set to sign’ of both Beams and Green and recent recruitment of Zorko, those in control of list management may be of the mind that our quota of ‘smalls’ is adequate.

Although if one was going to base an extension of contract on the selection of last weeks side where Beams, Green and Zorko were all selected [read as currently all part of our best 22] and the general belief that Buchanan will not be extending his stay beyond this year, then Bartlett should be offered an extension of at least one more year purely as a precautionary back up of one of the afore mentioned IMO.

 

[cmt26]

I think he'll get another 1-2 year deal, the club has put 3 years of development, for him to finally play a full year this year. I'd very much doubt they would let him go know. He's effectively a first year draftee this year, get another full pre season into him next year and see what happens. I think we can still expect big things in future for Cal, provided his body stays right.

FWIW I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a game in the last 3

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I think he'll be on the list in some capacity. The thing that Cal has on his side is that he has a reputed good work ethic and so, with a good shot at a pre-season might be a different player next year.

Like others a games or two this season wouldn't surprise.

 

[cheekyLionsFan]

I would be upset of they did. his knees seem to be all good now. I would hate to lose him just to see him excel somewhere else

 

[3KZ is Football]

I would be upset of they did. his knees seem to be all good now. I would hate to lose him just to see him excel somewhere else

Based on the mail I am getting from some Geelong contacts, if we delist him, they will pick him up.
They were super impressed with him as a junior and were committed to drafting him before we picked him up. They wouldn't have to give up much to draft him, if we delist him and he could end up be a great player at the Cats. With that in mind, given where we are at, it might even be in his best interests for us to delist him.

 

[Mayestro]

He must get a one year extension. If he doesn't make it- no big deal- one list spot space for one year. If he does make it the potential talent he could add to the group is enormous. At the very least rookie.

 

[charles202]

Geez, I would be shocked if we cut him, I still think that he should get a two year contract so we can properly assess what he can do, given that this last season is the first proper football he has played for three years.

Its not like our list is overflowing with talent still that we can't afford to keep a project on the roster.

The big thing holding him back is the kms in the legs, which he should really be able to target in the off season. On the positives he has the benefit of spending a few years in the gym so he has a mature physique. Still has skill-set that we require in speed and footskills, for my mind is the ideal player to fill into McGrath's current role as small forward.

In addition to all the football abilities that he possess he also seems like a great clubman, hard worker off the track and an overall high quality character to have around the club. I think that we have seen an emphasis of the club targeting these type of players and I think it would be a mistake to cut him now.

 

[chopperduck]

I think we will keep him. I think we can find enough other players who are more cut worthy than Cal. He has had a significant time on the list, without any results, but this is due to injury. Tough calls need to be made on injury prone players, i think if Cal copped another major injury this year, his card would be punched, however, he has played the year and done pretty well for someone who has barely touched a footy in like 2 or 3 years. To me, if the option is keeping him on, or picking up another draftee, there is more risk in another draftee. I think he has shown enough this year to warrant staying on, trying to get a solid preseason and pushing next year with better fitness.

At the same time, because he has an injury history, i don't think the club itself is really pushing him to get to senior selection either. I think they are happy for him to stay on the park in the 2nds this year, get some footy into his legs and get his fitness up so he can have a crack.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Based on the mail I am getting from some Geelong contacts, if we delist him, they will pick him up.
They were super impressed with him as a junior and were committed to drafting him before we picked him up. They wouldn't have to give up much to draft him, if we delist him and he could end up be a great player at the Cats. With that in mind, given where we are at, it might even be in his best interests for us to delist him.

Except he could end up at most other clubs before Geelong...

 

[Mr Ripper]

Tough calls need to be made on injury prone players, i think if Cal copped another major injury this year, his card would be punched, however, he has played the year and done pretty well for someone who has barely touched a footy in like 2 or 3 years.

Cal's had two injuries in four years; unfortunately they were both Big Macs. He's not as injury-prone as it might seem.

 

[dlanod]

Except he could end up at most other clubs before Geelong...

If we delist him, he becomes a free agent and can sign for any club. Geelong could be a compelling option.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I'd be gobsmacked if he wasn't at least on our rookie list next year.

This year was always going to be about slowly getting his groove back and building confidence in his body again. He now deserves a full preseason and another year to start elevating himself.

 

[soupy66]

Actually it's 2 Big Macs Mr Ripper in 11 years of playing competitive footy.