Carltons' Future Midfield

[mediumsizered]

I think Ray is quality and will show what a gun he is this year. Russell in my view struggles to win the ball unlike Ray who has no problem getting the ball. Power could be useful if given confidence that he will not be dropped.......pace and skill........might lack hardness but he'll have quite a few feeding it out to him

Ray, after 2 seasons, in which he has managed a total of 21 games, is averaging a touch under 10 disposals per game. This hardly would give you confidence that he is going to be a 'gun' this year. It certainly does not substantiate your comment that he has no problem getting the ball. Also,he is yet to become a regular player in the Bulldogs' best 22.

Russell was held back by Pagan last season. But his performances with the Bullants demonstrated he has a good football brain and with a bit of extra muscle on his body this year should see some more senior action. He will ultimately end up with a stronger body than Ray and therefore just may fare a bit better in the long run.

 

[Silvagnis]

Walker>Ray

Give me the potential of a Russell over the 22 year old Power who hasn't done anything in his 51 games, 2 midfielders/runners in Dal Santo and Kelly were overlooked by the Dogs and have already blossomed into matchwinners.

But then I am biased!

 

[OZBomb]

Aisake is a better long term prospect to me at the moment than either Deluca or Bryan. Both are footballers recruited from the VFL and as such if they don't improve next year... well there will be quite a lot of young ruckman up for grabs in next years draft.

Atleast one will be kept because Barnaby will retire likely before Aisake is ready. If they could get Setanta pich hitting there as well that'd help in that transition.

 

[HBF]

Bryan isn't up to rucking IMO; not only does he not have the height, but his leap is not big enough and his timing is woeful. Deluca has the height, but not the muscle/strength or timing.

Hopefully French remains fit and given that he only really started late can play on for 3-4 more years while Aisake who is quite promising and someone like Leunberger can develop.

Will be interesting to see Pagan's philosophy on drafting ruckmen - we had the chance to pick Cameron Wood at 9 in 04 but chose Russell. You could argue that French is probably our most important player

Getting onto the midfield, we still lack the skills and running power that is required to beat many teams. You only have to look at the amount of skillful, quick runners that the bulldogs have to see how far behind we really are

Cooney, Griffen, Eagleton, Faulkner, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Johnson, McMahon, R Murphy, Morris, Ray, Power, Smith, Birss

Whereas our skillful runners are Stevens, Simpson, Houlihan (not overly quick), Murphy, Carrazzo (more a linkman than runner), Chambers (not at the level required), Lappin, Scotland, Russell, Walker

You compare the number of A graders the bulldogs have and then see we only really have Stevens as an A grader.

I still like Bryan as a rucking option. The guy is only relatively young and still has a lot to learn about ruckwork. If the great Garry Dempsey cannot get the best out of him. no one will. He's only been at the club for 1 year, so we need to be patient.

 

[Pivot]

Agree with you HBF on Bryan. He is young and learning the trade, Dempsey likes him and says he has improved a lot already ,and IMO he is better at this stage than De Luca, and did a very good job by himself rucking all game for a few matches when he played last year.

Prendergast is rubbish in the ruck, Setanta can pinch hit but thats it at this stage. Batson and Aisake better than De Luca and Bryan? No way as neither of Aisake or Batson have done anything for the Bullants seniors yet!

I like both of De Luca and Bryan and find Bryan just ahead of him. At 197cm he is tall enough to ruck, would struggle against the bigger guys like Cox, Sandilands and Everitt but most ruckmen do but he is mobile enough and reads the play well enough. Good below his knees for his size, improving, great kick (a real weapon), and a good strong mark (way better than De Luca).

He might have a better year than most think and become a good back-up this season with stints up forward.

 

[Snoozer]

Averaged 17 possessions in 2005 (some cheap!). Wouldn't call that too mediocre - just needs to be harder at the ball. I have high hopes for him and Bannister.

I've said this numerous times before... statistics are complete garbage. 17 possessions sounds fantastic, but how many of those are ineffective?? I'd say a fairly high percentage. For someone who is supposedly renowned for his skills, he duffs a lot of kicks.

A good stat to get your hands on would be 'how many white-flagged contests per game', or how many half-hearted efforts... he'd lead the comp for sure.

All Carlton supporters recognise that he oozes talent, but he's been there what 6 years (?)... hasn't done an awful lot in that time.

 

[Funkalicous]

All Carlton supporters recognise that he oozes talent, but he's been there what 6 years (?)... hasn't done an awful lot in that time.

I recall him being a match winner against your mob.

 

[Chemical]

I've said this numerous times before... statistics are complete garbage. 17 possessions sounds fantastic, but how many of those are ineffective?? I'd say a fairly high percentage. For someone who is supposedly renowned for his skills, he duffs a lot of kicks.

A good stat to get your hands on would be 'how many white-flagged contests per game', or how many half-hearted efforts... he'd lead the comp for sure.

All Carlton supporters recognise that he oozes talent, but he's been there what 6 years (?)... hasn't done an awful lot in that time.

Increased his disposals per game in those 6 years from 10 to 17. Remember he still is pretty young and started early. He has shown that he is a quality player, sometimes at the wrong times (see the flogging from the Demons).

Apart from that all I read was blah blah blah Chainsaw blah blah boundary line blah blah raining

 

[WTTF]

I recall him being a match winner against your mob.

I think you'll find Snoozer is actually a Carlton supporter..........found it hard to beleive myself, as he doesn't have anything good to say about the club.

 

[Snoozer]

I think you'll find Snoozer is actually a Carlton supporter..........found it hard to beleive myself, as he doesn't have anything good to say about the club.

Thanks for clearing that up.... didn't realise people on this board might struggell wiff Inglish.

Look, I used to be a bit of a rap for 'Patches', but he is grossly unaccountable, soft and weak, not to mention lazy. I'd like him to become a good player (which he is not at the moment), but I can't really see him changing his ways.

Oh, and we are on the bottom of the ladder with no prospects for success in the forseeable future... I'm not gonna sugar-coat our situation and kiss our guys arses. We're *hit.... only a fool would think otherwise.

 

[Chemical]

Thanks for clearing that up.... didn't realise people on this board might struggell wiff Inglish.

Look, I used to be a bit of a rap for 'Patches', but he is grossly unaccountable, soft and weak, not to mention lazy. I'd like him to become a good player (which he is not at the moment), but I can't really see him changing his ways.

Oh, and we are on the bottom of the ladder with no prospects for success in the forseeable future... I'm not gonna sugar-coat our situation and kiss our guys arses. We're *hit.... only a fool would think otherwise.

Please be godsmack