"Grounds for Optimism in Blues Hitout"

[marcmurphy3]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/optimism-after-blues-hitout/2008/02/03/1201973741261.html

Pretty positive article with only this bit dissapointing me:

"The shame of Hampson's hit and the difficulties a visit to the tribunal may present for his pre-season was that he was playing well and was among Carlton's best."

Good that he played well though (but already knew that) but we may have just lost our number 1 ruck for the 1st couple of rounds.

The most I ould imagine him getting based on reports of what happened is 2 weeks but I haven't actually seen it yet and am hoping that he gets away with it.

 

[Silvagnis]

Bradley is an unco and the ground had a rock hard cricket pitch in the middle according to that report, so Hampson will get off IMO.

Gibbs played.

 

[THE AISSASSIN]

TRhey said Hammer was a little late with the bump but his shouder was down and Bradley hit his head on the ground.

If he is suspended does he work it off in the NAB cup ?

 

[Silvagnis]

Stevens: Game felt like my first

Stevens: Game felt like my first

NICK Stevens played just 1 1/2 quarters of the weekend practice match against Fremantle in South Africa, but it was all coach Brett Ratten wanted.

It was Stevens' first hitout since seriously injuring his neck early last season, and the fact he emerged unscathed means he will play in the Blues' opening NAB Cup match at Football Park against Port Adelaide in two weeks.

"I just wanted Nick to get out there and run and direct traffic, cop a few hits and grow in confidence," Ratten said.

"He has played at intra-club level. Now he's played here and he will probably play three-and-a-half quarters against Port Adelaide."

Despite fitting the mould of an older player who would rather miss practice matches, Stevens was desperate to play against the Dockers.

"It's like my first game all over again," Stevens said.

"It has been a tough road back, but I feel I am getting there. I am nearly back to full fitness and as fit as I was this time last year."

Just playing football again was a bonus after, at one stage last year, he feared the worst for his career.

"We didn't know how I would come back after the operation, and there was always the risk that something might have gone wrong and that I couldn't play again," Stevens said.

"The surgeon pretty much said I would be right, that I would make a full recovery and, touch wood, that's how it has turned out.

"I had a shattered disc in my spine, so he fused two of my vertebrae together. He took bone out of my hip and put it in the back of my spine and fused it together.

"The week I got diagnosed with it, on the Tuesday I did a running session, then on the Wednesday I really struggled to move.

"I had good days and bad days, and leading in to the operation I was in a fair bit of pain and just really bad headaches.

"But once I came out of the operation, it was pretty much like they had cut a release valve and I was right.

"I've been fine since. I've had a little bit of stiffness, but that is about it. But considering the extent of the injury, there really hasn't been an issue since the operation.

"I've copped some good knocks on it and that's all been good. The good thing was I went at the ball like normal. It was probably just instinct that kicked back in.

"That was the thing that I had been worried about."

Another Blue to return from long-term injury against the Dockers was Cameron Cloke.

The former Collingwood big man, entering his second season with Carlton, knows that another serious shoulder injury will probably end his career.

Cloke didn't accumulate many possessions against the Dockers, but was solid throughout the game.

"We're pretty mindful that with Clokey being our most experienced ruckman (in this match) not to tax him too much, knowing that Cain (Ackland) is out for a little while as well," Ratten said.

"We got him assessed two weeks ago from a shoulder specialist and they said his shoulder was in fantastic nick, so they gave him the green light.

 

[audas]

Re: Stevens: Game felt like my first

Stevens: Game felt like my first

Significant stuff.

Stevens is more and more showing why he should be skipper.... dedicated bloke, notice to pumped.

Why are we seeing so much of hammo and others yet we are still seing a reliance on cloke and ackland ......swings and roundabouts or a genuine reliance. ?

 

[thylacine60]

Only a small thing but I think Stevo actually copped his neck injury against Richmond and played another couple of games, finishing up against Essendon.

 

[ctacp]

stevo's neck was injured against dees the previous year i think, i think neitz may have crunched him front on, then it flaired against the tiges or something & he copped another wack against the dons..

so i think the three teams vying for this years spoon (& the next few after that) all contributed to it..

ctacp
curlier than a catoggio pube

 

[HBF]

Pretty promising article that, and the wraps on Hampson just keep coming. Hopefully he won't have anything to worry about with the tribunal, as I have heard that he contacted Bradley around the shoulder, and the main damage was done when his head hit the rock hard ground.

 

[HBF]

Terrific to see that both Cloke and Stevens got through the game injury free. Will give them a great deal of confidence going into the Port game in a couple of weeks.

 

[judd5]

Heard that the reason that Bradley was knocked unconscious was because he smashed his head on the ground, so it is not like it was Hammo's shoulder or arm that caused it.
Hope that he gets off coz i can't wait to see him play.

 

[borissey]

Heard that the reason that Bradley was knocked unconscious was because he smashed his head on the ground, so it is not like it was Hammo's shoulder or arm that caused it.
Hope that he gets off coz i can't wait to see him play.

Hes the same player as last year, so dont laugh when you see his running style which is still sort of bouncy. But its fast.

And dont laugh when you see him kick coz its still James manson like. But its getting better all the time.

And dont laugh it he drops a mark or two because he will end up taking his fair share.

 

[audas]

He wasn't reported at the time, has there been anything since ?

 

[MBIB]

Very optimistic stuff. Great to hear all the youngies (and oldies) getting some experience and avoiding any injuries.

This headline is a million times better than the intro by the nuffy on Sports Tonight - something along the lines off 'This game proved Carlton still have a long way to go if they think their youngsters will get them over the line.'
He made me angry...