Carlton's depth

[DIG]

As optimistic as i am about our young talent at the Blues and the improved attitude in general down at the club, I've just got serious concerns about our depth - look at this for a potential starting lineup:

B Carrazzo, Livingston, Teague
HB Saddington, Thornton, Lappin
C Stevens, Kouta, Simpson
HF Waite, Whitnall, Houlihan
F Fisher, Fevola, Betts
R French, Bentick, Scotland

I/C McGrath, Murphy, Walker, Mclaren

In comparison to other clubs, backline still looks weak but may be servicable as long as they can stand tall, midfield's adequate at best, forwards ok, rucks servicable.

Reserves:

Bannister
Sporn
Deluca
Davies
Chambers
Wiggins
Bryan
Setanta
Russell
Prendergast
Longmuir
Kennedy
And the others look unlikely to even play.


If we get some injuries and have to call up some of these guys, we could be stuffed. Really need some youngsters to surprise and some journeymen to recapture at least their best form.

I'd love to see us be at least competitive all year and there be no blowouts but I'm just worried and feel it's more likely that we could just be outclassed in a lot of areas as the year goes on and will finish bottom 2 again. Am i being too harsh??

 

[Kahuna]

Yes I think you are being too harsh. We should move Whitnall down to CHB he can control the backs. We have some problems in the midfield but hopefully we will find some good players. Our Forward line is probably our strongest point if Fevola has a good year we will do alright.

I don't think we will make the Top8 and we definately won't finish last if we do I will eat my hat. If we come about 10-12 we should be reasonably happy any higher would be great.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Missed a couple of young players that are physically read to play.

Hartlett
Bower

We can elevate Ryan Jackson off the rookie list at any time (or any other rookie for that matter) because we have one free spot.

From all accounts Hartlett would be closer to playing than any of the young guys. Blackwell has a chance too.

The beauty of it that although our depth is young, they are spread across the various positions. We won't be found out for positional depth as much. Personally I would love to see a couple of young guys get thrown in the side to find their feet now and then.

 

[Humpers]

I am hopeful of Russell, Hartlett and Blackwell stepping up this year.

 

[Chemical]

Depth is increasing. Maybe a year or two off from being very good

 

[Hu$$ey]

I would really love for Hartlett to sew up that FB spot this year. Then he and Thornton can cover the two main positions in the backline. On top then if someone gets injured then we can bring in Livo, push Whitnall back and Setanta forward. So I think we got good cover in the KP aspect, certainly in the future we might even have a glut of them, however our mids lack it really bad.

If Stevens goes down, we're ********ed!! Got noone to take his spot, or if some other midfielder goes down, we'll be playing sporn and wiggins in the midfield

 

[OZBomb]

If you think our depth is bad, it's lucky you don't support Melbourne.

We're starting from scratch, a little bit, given how our draft picks from before the restrictions weren't exactly prudent and the restrictions themselves obviously hurt.

I think every player taken in the last two meetings of the draft have been quality selections and that's all we can really ask for at this point... because you can't get blood from a stone, and you can't squeeze talent from Ian Prendergast.

 

[HBF]

I would really love for Hartlett to sew up that FB spot this year. Then he and Thornton can cover the two main positions in the backline. On top then if someone gets injured then we can bring in Livo, push Whitnall back and Setanta forward. So I think we got good cover in the KP aspect, certainly in the future we might even have a glut of them, however our mids lack it really bad.

If Stevens goes down, we're ********ed!! Got noone to take his spot, or if some other midfielder goes down, we'll be playing sporn and wiggins in the midfield

Hu$$ey, I know that Hartlett can play both back and forward, but I thought he was more accustomed to play accross half back. I haven't seen him play, just what i've read and heard.

Is he capable of playing FB in the AFL??

 

[Funkalicous]

I think the 2 greatest areas that we've lacked depth these last few years has been down back and in the ruck. Luckily we secured McLaren and Saddington over the off-season. With French, McLaren, and hopefully a stronger/fitter Bryan, we should now be able to exert some presence in the ruck.

The backline's still flimsy. Fingers crossed that Bower, Hartlett and O'hAilpin can make an impact early in the year. But for now we'll have to use Whitnall at CHB and Thornton at FB, which isn't where I want to play either of them.

 

[Funkalicous]

Hu$$ey, I know that Hartlett can play both back and forward, but I thought he was more accustomed to play accross half back. I haven't seen him play, just what i've read and heard.

Is he capable of playing FB in the AFL??

There's a huge difference between playing in the AFL and playing in a Carlton intra-club match.

 

[mediumsizered]

There's a huge difference between playing in the AFL and playing in a Carlton intra-club match.

Let's not forget the T-bird was holding down full back as a 19 year old and did it well. Hartlett turns 20 this year and is a taller and stronger build than Thornton. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give him a go at FB. He will get beaten at times, but so did SOS in the early days. We need to be prepared to take that risk, with a little short term pain and hopefully achieve a long term gain.

 

[Hu$$ey]

Hu$$ey, I know that Hartlett can play both back and forward, but I thought he was more accustomed to play accross half back. I haven't seen him play, just what i've read and heard.

Is he capable of playing FB in the AFL??

I think that's what the club are trying to turn him into, an arrogant bash and crash FB, if he can do that, it will be an absolute bonus. I've seen him play in the VFL and I liked his leap and hands, he just needs to start spoiling the ball more often and has that touch of arrogance about him too.

If somehow he doesn't come up to take that FB spot, then we can push him CHB, Thornton moves to FB. If that doesn't work, then he can go forward, Thornton FB and Lance CHB, so we can shuffle these players around including throwing Setanta back as well.

I think though that the club will be putting him in the backline in the NAB cup and I'd love to see him start at FB, if anything goes wrong, Thornton will be there for the cover.

 

[HBF]

There's a huge difference between playing in the AFL and playing in a Carlton intra-club match.

Funky, I never said anything about an Intra Club Match. I was just interested in if Hartlett can play at FB in the AFL, as I thought he was more of a CHF/CHB type player.

 

[Funkalicous]

Funky, I never said anything about an Intra Club Match. I was just interested in if Hartlett can play at FB in the AFL, as I thought he was more of a CHF/CHB type player.

True, you didn't. But a lot of the recent hype surrounding Hartlett has come through his performance during an intra-club match. I don't mean to play down his efforts. I just take trivial matches (including the pre-season cup) with a grain of salt.

But to answer your question, he has been training as a backman. Given his height, he'll definitely be an option this season.

 

[HBF]

True, you didn't. But a lot of the recent hype surrounding Hartlett has come through his performance during an intra-club match. I don't mean to play down his efforts. I just take trivial matches (including the pre-season cup) with a grain of salt.

But to answer your question, he has been training as a backman. Given his height, he'll definitely be an option this season.

Cheers. If Hartlett can be servicable at best this year, we could have the makings of a pretty decent backline. I just have this feeling that Bower could be something special.

 

[bibi01]

whitnall is not needed at CHB

its not difficult to play a sweepeing role across the backline, IMO he is wasted there

we have thornton who is being groomed as the general and with the addition of saddington who provides experience we don't need whitnall down there

whitnall is a smart footballer and his greatest assest is his mind on a footy field, knowing when to lead, where to lead, losing his player in traffic and making space for himself and others

taking whitnall out of the fwd line gives us less options up there and leaves us one dimensional.

 

[Effes]

taking whitnall out of the fwd line

Improves it's structure

 

[Pivot]

Let's not forget the T-bird was holding down full back as a 19 year old and did it well. Hartlett turns 20 this year and is a taller and stronger build than Thornton. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give him a go at FB. He will get beaten at times, but so did SOS in the early days. We need to be prepared to take that risk, with a little short term pain and hopefully achieve a long term gain.

Bingo! Absolutely spot on!

The question is whetehr Pagan will show faith in the kids. He doesn't usually but finally did give a few guys like Bentick, Simpson and Carrazzo a decent go in the midfield toward the end of last season. This sort of thing needs to happen more, along with a re-jigged game plan that is more high-possession oriented rather than low-possession/long kick and hope someone takes the mark. Hasn't worked and won't work!

 

[Snoozer]

whitnall is not needed at CHB

its not difficult to play a sweepeing role across the backline, IMO he is wasted there

Hooray... finally someone said it!!

Dead right. Saddington, Livingston, Thornton, Bryan are all sufficient tall backs, throw in Hartlett and Bower as well... Whitnall needs to play forward where he can be creative. He's a liability in the back half cos of his inadequate speed and can be exposed too easily.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Improves it's structure

Disagree. Whitnall up forward with Fev, Waite and Fisher is the perfect balanced forward line.

Over the past two years we have become reliant on one key forward (Fev) and designed our forward line and entries with this mind. This has been our biggest problem. Once Fev was injured and thus we had to redesign our forward line with Fish & Waite we looked much, much more potent. I am hoping this structure will be implemented by Pagan in 2006 and beyond, else we are in for more pain.

Whitnall "must" be played CHF to take the pressure off Fisher/Waite and give the opposition a nightmare setup. Whitnall, Fevola, Waite & Fisher are the perfect setup forward for now.

 

[mojo31]

I think that's what the club are trying to turn him into, an arrogant bash and crash FB, if he can do that, it will be an absolute bonus. I've seen him play in the VFL and I liked his leap and hands, he just needs to start spoiling the ball more often and has that touch of arrogance about him too.

If somehow he doesn't come up to take that FB spot, then we can push him CHB, Thornton moves to FB. If that doesn't work, then he can go forward, Thornton FB and Lance CHB, so we can shuffle these players around including throwing Setanta back as well.

I think though that the club will be putting him in the backline in the NAB cup and I'd love to see him start at FB, if anything goes wrong, Thornton will be there for the cover.

Very good post Hu$$ey. Spot on with all of that. If Hartlett shows good form in the pre season comp then he will get selected in the AFL side come round one. More good form means he will stay there. Poor form in the pre season will mean alternatives will be looked at.
The club prefers to play Thornton out at CHB and so does he . I think Lance will initially play forward (what I have been told anyway) and then see how things go before perhaps moving him back if there are problems.

Hartlett is in direct competition with Livo and they both know it for 1key defensive spot.

 

[defier]

The midfield still worries me,for a team that ranks very high in clearances we dont have the pace and class to make the most of our opportunities. Hopefully this year we let Walker and Simpson really become outside players to run and carry the ball.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Very good post Hu$$ey. Spot on with all of that. If Hartlett shows good form in the pre season comp then he will get selected in the AFL side come round one. More good form means he will stay there. Poor form in the pre season will mean alternatives will be looked at.
The club prefers to play Thornton out at CHB and so does he . I think Lance will initially play forward (what I have been told anyway) and then see how things go before perhaps moving him back if there are problems.

Hartlett is in direct competition with Livo and they both know it for 1key defensive spot.

Excellent News.