Hadley in 2010

[son of dominator]

How will Richard Hadley be played in 2010?

Not much has been mentioned about him in the media or on BF and I was thinking if and how he will be used this year. When he is playing well Carlton seem to play well.

He started 2009 in great touch, he was up there will the most tackles laid in the first few rounds but got injured and missed a number of games. He came back but struggled to regain that form until late in the season where he refound the touch he had in the first few games. He then unfortunately broke his arm, I think in the last or second last round, and was out for the finals.

Will his role of getting the ball out from the packs (getting in and under) and laying hard tackles be lost to Brock McLean, or will he be used in conjunction with Brock to feed the ball out to the likes or Murphy, Judd, Gibbs, Simpson etc... currently players like Judd and Murphy have been used to get the balls out of the packs. If he is used like this it will allow those players to play more creative roles and also allow them to push forward so they won't have to get into the packs and get the ball themselves.

Thoughts?

 

[Sin City]

If he can play his best footy he can create a spot for himself without a doubt. Started off the season last year in great form and also got 27 touches in his last two games before he broke his arms. Guys like Judd, Gibbs and Murphy will certainly appreciate having him around if he's going well.

 

[TOPBLUE_25]

My thoughts would be he would play In and under in the middle resting half forward flank

Mclean I would imagine has dibs on starting in the middle in this role but Hadley is an amazing player to have in a back-up role to this and has the ability to play tall also. By all report is having a great preseason and his best is very good.

 

[inyourcool]

no doubt, he is tough and great inside, but he is too slow for modern footy and can be a liability when the ball breaks from a contest

 

[BlueTongue]

My thoughts would be he would play In and under in the middle resting half forward flank

Mclean I would imagine has dibs on starting in the middle in this role but Hadley is an amazing player to have in a back-up role to this and has the ability to play tall also. By all report is having a great preseason and his best is very good.

This is I think his most likely scenario. I can't see him claiming a spot in the midfield and Hadley, Scotland & Hoops are all going to be battling for HF/HB positions. I don't think there is any chance of all 3 playing in the 22 at the one time.

 

[thylacine60]

Watched him at the Bullant huddles last season. Bloke's a brick. Welcome back, Harks.

 

[Kramer1]

One of my favourites, but I think opportunitites may be limited going forward. He just doesn't offer enough outside of his work at stoppages.

I can see him getting a gig anytime one of Judd or McLean aren't available though.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

We had Bentley, Wiggins, Cloke and Fisher in the one side last year, so who knows.

I have a lot of time for Hadley and don't believe we've seen the best of him at his time with us, to date.
I admire his character and I for one wouldn't be surprised for him to force himself into our side, with or without McLean being there.

I'm with you.

Hadley's an A grade player when he's fully fit. Made from cement. Good vision. Good skills with hand and foot. Not the quickest but oh well.

Will be a very handy player for us if he can get his body right and keep it right.

 

[gbatman]

I have been tossing up with the idea of having Hadley and Mclean in the same side. It's worth trying. Would be good to see Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson and Lucas able to get out in space more often.

He really lacked consistancy last year, too often he had shockers amongst his good games.

 

[BlueTongue]

This is I think his most likely scenario. I can't see him claiming a spot in the midfield and Hadley, Scotland & Hoops are all going to be battling for HF/HB positions. I don't think there is any chance of all 3 playing in the 22 at the one time.

On second thoughts, I'd forgotten about Murph playing forward this year due to injury so Hads & McClean may well both play.

 

[Bluebear]

The thing with Hads is we have seen some very good games and some really bad ones.

Sin mentioned he started last season really well..........for two rounds, he sure did. In his 50th game and our 3rd for the year though he got smashed by Jobe Watson and we lost a game we really should have won. His lack of game was a big factor.

Given his injury riddled year after that, I'd be surprised if he is able to suddenly turn on the consistency that would see him remain a regular in our best 22.

I would have him behind Carrazzo and Robinson in the midfield rotations, and beyond injuries I can't see who else he'd keep out. Good depth player for mine, unless his consistency turns a corner.

 

[jd2006]

Fit and firing he gets in the 22. But it just doesn't happen for long enough. Hopefully 2010 will be the year

 

[blueboy25]

If and its a big IF, Hadley can stay injury free all year he will be a very important part of out 22.

The more blokes feeding it out to juddy, murph, gibbs, simpson etc the better.

The eagles midfield with judd, cous and kerr were always well supported by stenglien, rowan jones and co doing all the grunt work so the guns could do their stuff.

We need that sort of support for our guns and I think hadley and brock will be playing that type of role.

 

[The Coach]

If I was a pessimist (talking for Alpha here) I would say that we only have to hope that Hads and McLean are not injured at the same time - going on previous seasons, this could be a lot to ask

 

[true blue19]

IMO hadley, mclean and joseph starting in the center with judd, simpson and/or walker on the wing. With gibbs on the hbf and murphy on the hff. Would be our best setup

 

[Alice]

The thing with Hads is we have seen some very good games and some really bad ones.

Sin mentioned he started last season really well..........for two rounds, he sure did. In his 50th game and our 3rd for the year though he got smashed by Jobe Watson and we lost a game we really should have won. His lack of game was a big factor.

Given his injury riddled year after that, I'd be surprised if he is able to suddenly turn on the consistency that would see him remain a regular in our best 22.

I would have him behind Carrazzo and Robinson in the midfield rotations, and beyond injuries I can't see who else he'd keep out. Good depth player for mine, unless his consistency turns a corner.

Jobe Watson had something like 9 possessions to 1/2 time on Hadley - granted he let him off the hook after 1/2 time but he then played little footy thereafter - injured perhaps???
Wouldn't it be possible, even plausible - that injury free, consistency would be easily attainable??

There is no doubt the MC wanted him firing for the tilt at the finals last year and I'd say they're rapt to have both him and McLean to do the grunt work.
I think Hadley and Carrazzo play different roles and he's streets in front of Robinson at this stage.

 

[Feva]

Was good today and at his best is in our 22.

If he is a depth player, pretty handy player to have as back up.

 

[celtic_pride]

The game's passed Hadley by, I think Mitch Robinson is his natural replacement, prefer to blood more kids, Hadley won't be a part of the next Carlton premiership side, and starting to get more tougher/inside mid-field types into the club, so I think just let him play out the rest of his contract at the Bullants.

The future is with the kids, not with Hadley, depth/injury replacement insurance at best.

 

[zeeCFC]

Disagree, will be an important part of our second tier midfield and showed why yesterday in the intra club match. Good luck to sir richard and hopefully he'll be injury free in 2010

 

[Sin City]

The game's passed Hadley by

When exactly did it pass him by? He got 27 possessions in each of his last two games. He was in good form before he broke his arm and has had a good pre-season.

 

[celtic_pride]

When exactly did it pass him by? He got 27 possessions in each of his last two games. He was in good form before he broke his arm and has had a good pre-season.

As others have mentioned, lack of leg speed is a problem, plus we have got younger recruits/rookies that can fill his role.
I'm sorry that injuries have robbed him of the best years of his career, but if you've got kids/rookies who are physically and mentally enough ready to step straight in, then I'd rather the club played them then Hadley.

 

[Sin City]

Apart from McLean i can't really think of any others that can fill his role, I don't think any of the young guys are ready to be full time inside mids yet. Yes he's not the quickest, I won't go on with contradictions and examples of players that also weren't, but he will be surrounded by Walker, Judd, Simpson, Joseph, Murphy, Grigg, Lucas etc meaning we are pretty well off for leg speed even with Hadley in the team.

 

[Buzz/Sticks/bryce]

As others have mentioned, lack of leg speed is a problem, plus we have got younger recruits/rookies that can fill his role.
I'm sorry that injuries have robbed him of the best years of his career, but if you've got kids/rookies who are physically and mentally enough ready to step straight in, then I'd rather the club played them then Hadley.

Ohh to have back that other slow midfielder from a few years back. if had's or Brock are bringing the younger/fleeter afoot team-mates into the game then bring it on. Every ablett needs a bartel. every judd needs a hadley/mclean

 

[BlueMania]

Ohh to have back that other slow midfielder from a few years back. if had's or Brock are bringing the younger/fleeter afoot team-mates into the game then bring it on. Every ablett needs a bartel. every judd needs a hadley/mclean

Diesel mk2

 

[celtic_pride]

One could argue St.Kilda's lack of leg-speed in the Grand Final cost them the premiership, that is why they recruited Andrew Lovett (yes a mistake in hindsight)

Also we've been blitzed in the last few years by Essendon because of their 'fast/pacey' midfield (admittedly Lovett has been a big thorn in our side in most of those games)

You have to get the balance right, personally I feel with the addition of Mclean, that is an signifcant upgrade on Hadley (and his body is in much better condition and is a lot younger) and I think adding more pace to the on-ball/midfield brigade is essential.