Ins and Outs rnd2

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Totally agree re:Benjamin as soon as he is over injuries he plays for mine.

From what I have seen: Clinton Benjamin has kicking issues.

His kicks tend to float - much like Andrew Walker.

At first I thought it was due to his pace (100 meres in 10.8 !!!) that he was unable to balance himself properly when he kicks on the run, but then at training I've noticed that he kicks floaters even off one step.

This needs to be corrected ASAP if Clinton has any hope of playing senior footy this year - and worst of all, who has CFC put in place to help teach him not kick floaters? - That's right, your guessed it - David Teague

 

[Salaryman]

From what I have seen: Clinton Benjamin has kicking issues.

His kicks tend to float - much like Andrew Walker.

At first I thought it was due to his pace (100 meres in 10.8 !!!) that he was unable to balance himself properly when he kicks on the run, but then at training I've noticed that he kicks floaters even off one step.

This needs to be corrected ASAP if Clinton has any hope of playing senior footy this year - and worst of all, who has CFC put in place to help teach him not kick floaters? - That's right, your guessed it - David Teague

If you had of been at the Ants game last week , you would have seen Clint was hitting his kicks beautifully......I dont' just mean he has improved his kicking, but I think all but one had penetration, were flat, spun properly and hit their mark, would have thought it was Gibbsy kicking them.....time to give credit where credit is due. He has to back it up week to week, but you can't ignore that last week Clint's kicking was sublime.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

If you had of been at the Ants game last week , you would have seen Clint was hitting his kicks beautifully......I dont' just mean he has improved his kicking, but I think all but one had penetration, were flat, spun properly and hit their mark, would have thought it was Gibbsy kicking them.....time to give credit where credit is due. He has to back it up week to week, but you can't ignore that last week Clint's kicking was sublime.

Good to hear - he should get a gig in our side next week.

 

[Salaryman]

Good to hear - he should get a gig in our side next week.

I suspect Clint is one that might need to be eased into the pressures of senior AFL footy a bit more slowly.....just a hunch based on his personality.....doesn't quite have enough pr*ck in him. Was great to see him get the ball on the wing, closely pursued by Shane Edwards (who isn't slow), and have the confidence to take him on, take a bounce, run away easily from Edwards and deliver a perfect pass across the corridor to IIRC Davey Ellard. I reckon he needs quite a few more instances of displaying this type of confidence in the Ants and then blood him towards the end of the year

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I don't mean to turn this into another JR slanging match.. BUT

By Ratten's own admission Benjamin would have lined up last season (<insert tanking debate arguments here>).

Ratten includes JR after a whats noted as a fairly average VFL game, why not Benji ?

People say JR is included for pace - what about Benji !!!!!!

But I can appreciate that Clinton does need to be eased into the pressure of senior AFL footy. The question is: is time running out for him? (i.e. will he be offered another contract?)

 

[Salaryman]

I don't mean to turn this into another JR slanging match.. BUT

By Ratten's own admission Benjamin would have lined up last season (<insert tanking debate arguments here>).

Ratten includes JR after a whats noted as a fairly average VFL game, why not Benji ?

People say JR is included for pace - what about Benji !!!!!!

Yes, but we were "blooding youngsters", I suspect you would have been given a game if you were on the list to see how you would go . I think it is a slightly different set of circumstances at the beginning of a season. JR has been on the list a lot longer and had more senior experience...as many people gleefully point out (in fact any enthusiastic criticism of our list really disturbs me), it is time he stepped up a gear and we need to give him ample opportunity to do it in the ones.

 

[judd5]

But I can appreciate that Clinton does need to be eased into the pressure of senior AFL footy. The question is: is time running out for him? (i.e. will he be offered another contract?)

If this is the case then it would surely come into the club's min at the end of the year that he has been eased in and still has much improvement left in him.
You wouldn't just get rid of someone so cheaply after putting so much work into him.

 

[btdg]

Is bringing in Russell an admission that our forward line was drastically Fev-centric last week? Fisher will help as a linkman up the ground, but we need something else.

I reckon Russell goes up forward this week, and then gets dropped for Kreuzer if he doesn't show anything much. We'll see though

 

[Salaryman]

Jeeeeeez louise......come on C4, you are beginning to believe some of the negative rubbish the loonies on Talking Carlton are espousing. How many times do people need to be told, you simply don't judge the kids like that so quickly. Fact.....the kids really aren't even judged on performance when extending their original contracts. I mean how can they, most kids at most clubs barely play a senior game in their first two years....you look at their attitude on the training track, attitude to being dropped if they do get a senior game, work ethic, etc... etc.... Any talk of Benjamin not staying on the list is utter lunacy

 

[Jeremias]

But I can appreciate that Clinton does need to be eased into the pressure of senior AFL footy. The question is: is time running out for him? (i.e. will he be offered another contract?)

Now, by my own admission, I haven't seen much of Benjamin.

BUT, from all reports, he is really starting to show a fair deal of improvement of late. We hear he had a great preseason unfortunately hampered by an injury (IIRC hamstring) which prevented him from playing in South Africa.

He's now back from that and from the sounds of things showed a fair bit of promise on the weekend for the Bullants. His kicking was a huge issue when he came to the club but it sounds as though he's been working on it a huge amount and that his hard work is starting to pay off.

He was close to getting a game at the end of last season, and he was, prior to injury, in the mix this preseason. That alone shows me that he really isn't that far off, especially considering his improving skills.

One of our major problems currently in the senior side is pace. Benjamin is one of, if not the quickest on our list. It's absolutely absurd to think that he might not be on the list aftet this year.

My tip is that Benji will get a taste of senior footy but towards the end of the year. Whilst it's highly encouraging that he's showing signs of promise, he needs to put these efforts in consistently for the Ants before being a chance. He may get a game here or there, however, because he is the type of player that needs to be seriously eased in to AFL football.

I'm looking forward to seeing his progress this year because from all reports he's on his way, and god knows we need a player EXACTLY like him in the seniors.