Jarrad Waite, New Kouta?

[gbatman]

Jarrad Waite, could he take koutoufides role as a genuine ruck rover? We have lacked that type in the midfield, a tall player with speed a good leap who can take a good mark and go forward and kick goals. Jarrad has the same physical attributes to Kouta. Agility, speed, body size, coordination, marking and great ball handling. Like Kouta he has done his apprenticeship at center half back and is ready to go into the midfield. With Bower, Thornton, Austin, Jamison, O'hAilpin and Bannister down back there is now plenty of height there. Also with a much improved ruck division we could do with this type in there.

I don't think we will need him forward. With Warnock there,cloke will be able to play as another tall (not tired from rucking), as we saw at the end of '08 (refer to brisbane game at Gabba), Jarrad would go forward as an onballer which would be even better IMO.

I don't see a reason why Jarrad couldn't be as good as Kouta, they are just so similar, especially at the rate Jarrad has been Improving. It's about time we gave the opposition a match up headache again and put a bit athletic skillful body in there that the opposition smalls wont want to get in the way of...

 

[Bluebear]

I can't remember which games, but he did go into the middle at times this year and did quite well.

Not the silliest idea, but for the fact that we don't have a CHB or CHF, and we have loads of talent in the midfield. His kicking is the other issue......needs to join the remedial classes with Russ, Fish and Murph.

Right now I'd go with down back, but it depends on how some of our youngsters develop.

Kouta did an apprenticeship at CHB?

Must have been quick.

 

[Blue Dimension]

Would like to see him attempt playing on the wing but floating up forward in an attacking role, kicking goals.

 

[Staaar_Blue]

If people have seen many of my other posts they will realise how much I love Jarrad Waite. I think he is the X-factor in our team and he could be a game breaker for us in the future. His confidence would play a large role in his disposal and with the side up and going hard this should be no problem for him. I would love to see him become as good as Kouta (My favourite player of all time) but wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't cause Kouta was a phenomenal player. I would love to see him more around the ball and across the half forward line to play his footy. I say we are yet to see his best.

 

[BlueYoss]

I just watched the Doggies game the other night, and one thing that stood out was what a good ballwinner Jarrad is. He just kept following the bouncing ball into a nest of 2 or 3 opposition players and came out with the ball or at least got out a handball to advantage. His agility and skills at ground level are as good as any mosquito in the game and yet he's 194cm, one of the strongest bodies on our list and has the kinda vertical leap that should see him pull down a car one of these days!

That game was a showcase for his sheer ball winning ability, he hits contests hard, reads the flight and bounce of the ball as well as anyone and his change of direction at pace leaves almost all in his wake.

When our other KPP's are winning their positions to allow Jarrad to roam from stoppage to stoppage we will really be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[Kramer1]

I've got another idea.

How about after playing one season of reasonably good football at CHB, we leave him their and allow him to keep developing as the tall, mobile defender we are in desperate need of.

Jamison is a full back. Setanta is less adaptable and could not be posted permanently at CHB. Austin is some time away from cementing a position, and Bower, at least for my mind, is a far better proposition running off the HBF. Waite was chosen to represent is state playing as a CHB, and whilst the decision was contentious for some, it's an indication that he goes alright in that position.

Kouta was a once in a generation footballer. Actually you could say he was a total one-off in that he was the prototype for the modern athletic footballer. Aside from the fact that Waite is not, and could not be as good as Kouta, I don't know why we would need him to play ruck rover to begin with.

 

[gbatman]

Kouta started hiscareer as an athlete with heeps of potential, he played as a wingman then Parkin played him at CHB for a while as he realised he wasn't the best reader of the game and this was a good position to learn the game while also getting plenty out of him, kouta then played on the ball for most after that. '99 Prelim. final, Kouta played very well at CHB and took some match winning marks, he also played well on the ball that day for a bit. How could you forget Kouta played a lot of footy early days at CHB!

 

[1981]

I don't think he is Kouta Mark 2. Doesn't have the body-on-body ability or nous to read the play in-tight at stoppages, and that was one of the strengths of Kouta.

Struggles body-on-body against the big gun forwards, but is good on the medium size forwards where he can zone off and intercept and then run it out.

Ideally we would have a strong, experienced backline, which would enable him to play HFF or on a wing pushing up to HFF where he can use his athleticism to present hard and kick goals.

With a still young backline we probably won't see the best of Jarred in his ideal role for another year yet. But that's OK, Kreuzer won't really mature for a couple years yet ditto Warnock and Hampson and whoever we take at 6 this year.

 

[Staaar_Blue]

I've got another idea.

How about after playing one season of reasonably good football at CHB, we leave him their and allow him to keep developing as the tall, mobile defender we are in desperate need of.

Absolutely not. To be a good side you need to have your best damaging players do their business to score goals. Look at what Dew does for the Hawks. Jarrad Waite SHOULD NOT be a bloody defender and if people can't see what he is capable of up the ground you should watch more footy. I hope people agree with me in saying for carlton to go forward we can't see Jarrad be left in defense for any longer.

 

[Kramer1]

Absolutely not. To be a good side you need to have your best damaging players do their business to score goals. Look at what Dew does for the Hawks. Jarrad Waite SHOULD NOT be a bloody defender and if people can't see what he is capable of up the ground you should watch more footy. I hope people agree with me in saying for carlton to go forward we can't see Jarrad be left in defense for any longer.

I've watched a lot of footy. I've watched four years of Jarrad Waite up forward and seen everything from the sublime to the ridiculous. He has plenty of attacking flair I'll grant you, but not the consistency, nor I think the football brain, to be the permanent answer to our forward line woes.

Throughout those four years we laboured with a stodgy, undersized, flat footed defence, lacking in run and the ability to turn defense into attack. We had a number of things go our way this year including the inclusion of one C Judd into the midfield, but one of the reasons we improved is because we had some size, some structure and most importantly some rebound from our defensive zone.

Just because a player has attacking instincts doesn't necessarily mean they should be played forward. In many cases it's the exact opposite. Kennelly, Sam Fisher, Andrew McLeod, Josh Drummond, Corey Enright, Davis Wirrapanda, Brendan Goddard, Luke Hodge...they are all attacking players, they just happen to do their best work in the back half.

I thought 2008 was easily Waite's most productive year in the Navy Blue, and I think for us to improve further, he should be anchored their again in 09. And I'm not just sticking to a steadfast opinion, because I disagreed with the move to defense at the start of last year...I suppose that's why Ratts is the coach and I'm still resigned to the Big Footy special comments role.

 

[BlueYoss]

I'm still resigned to the Big Footy special comments role.

At least you do well with the role that you've been assigned...

2008 has ben Waite's best year hands down, that could be due to his new(ish?) role in defence (people tend to forget that it was Pagan who first moved Jarrad to CHB in the 2007 pre-season) or on account of the consistency he finally seems to be developing in his game due to consecutive un-interrupted pre-seasons? (Relatively) un-interrrupted home and away seasons? Maturity? Better training regime (Cordy)? Most likely, some of all of the above and then some.

The question of whether or not to leave him there would hinge on two things, firstly, where is he most needed for team structure? Secondly, is he likely to play as well in a new role as he is playing in his current role or do we risk disturbing his newfound consistency?

On this basis, I'd say he'll probably be kept in his defensive role for 2009. If over the course of the season others stand up and demonstrate an ability to perform this role (Bower? Austin? Grigg? T-Bird?) then his role may be varied to elsewhere in the structure where his attributes could be utilised for maximum impact.

 

[gbatman]

A lot are saying Waite doesn't read the play well. I have to dissagree, he intercepted the ball a lot at half back which means he must be reading the play very well.

Also he lacks strength against power forwards but playing on the ball he will be much bigger and stronger than his opponent.

You can't compare the current Waite to Kouta in his prime, think back to Kouta in the 90's. I honestly think we need a match winner in the guts who can do it all, run and win the ball in any situation (ground, air, on the run, inside and out) like Kouta and Hird.

He will look good playing midfield, with a smaller opponent then running forward with an opponent unsuitable to stop him marking like Kouta used to do, he kicked a lot of goals playing on ball.

As for defence, Bower will be one of the best CHB's in the league when he fills out (already has beaten Franklin and Cloke) and O'hAilpin was just about ready before he started having problems this year.

 

[Kramer1]

A lot are saying Waite doesn't read the play well. I have to dissagree, he intercepted the ball a lot at half back which means he must be reading the play very well.

He was great at CHB, in the top ranked players for defensive rebounds and spoils, and as you rightly point out plenty of intercepts.

But that doesn't make him a great reader of the play. Playing in defense suits Waite because as a CHB you get lead to the contest. With his height, pace and reach he has an uncanny ability to keep himself in the contest when he is seemingly caught out of position. The modern trend of zoning off in defense also allows him to get a good run at a lot of aerial contests, and spoil or intercept. Once he gets the ball of course he's more often than not got the time and space to pin the ears back and go for a dash.

It's actually much harder at CHF. Because of defensive zones and players dropping back it's almost impossible to just run at the ball carrier unless you get right up the ground like a Nick Riewoldt. It's important to create space, time leads, and not just run to the ball or the contest. I don't think this is a strong point of Waite's game. he just wants the freedom to go for the ball, and not necessarily play the smartest brand of footy. Walker does this a bit too often aswell (resulting in a lot of frees against), and if Waite went forward again I can see Fev getting more than a little frustrated.

We'll agree to disagree, but I think Waite is at least twice as valauble to us in defence.

 

[Staaar_Blue]

Lucky that Ratten is coaching our team and knows what is best for Jarrad and our team. This year we needed him down back. In the views of the Carlton coaching department Jarrad's best position is around half forward. I'll just wait until Rats makes the move and see people's comments then.

 

[LordLucifer]

Jarrad Waite, New Kouta?

Might be better for him to confirm he is actually a consistent Jarrad Waite first before worrying about him turning into something else.

 

[Kruuuuuuuuuuezer]

I recon he needs to have a run on the wing next season. At least just to test him out

 

[Jeremias]

Waite will be used wherever we need him.

I suspect that his major spot will be in the backline as it was in season 2008.

However, according to match-ups he may be moved through the middle of the ground. He'll follow Richardson and Riewoldt into the middle as he did in 2008, and he may play on Pavlich if he also goes throigh the middle of the ground.

I don't expect Waite to play up forward much unless we need an urgent score or boost up forward. Much like what we saw in 2008.

 

[Amers]

Keep Waite @ CHB, although i agree that he could be useful in other parts of the ground.

As for Waite being the new Kouta, personally I have always thought that Walker is more like Kouta if you want to compare a current player. IMHO.

 

[Bomba Sheldon]

Let him get a bit more consistency first, he does some breathtaking and next thing he will kick it on the full or dropped a sitter - at this stage he isnt Kouta's bootlace.

 

[Blue_Boy43]

I said to one of my friends in Waite's first season he could become our next Kouta with his athleticism and skill, but he does not have the strong body as Kouta had, but still would love to see him in the middle or off the wing. He is much like Kouta though in that he can almost play anywhere...

 

[koutamarto]

I have always thought walker was more like my hero, kouta.

 

[gbatman]

I have always thought walker was more like my hero, kouta.

Walker is a bit like Kouta but isn't big enough, if I was to compare walker to a gun player it would be Judd. He has more potential to be like Judd than like Kouta.

 

[Monkey King]

He was great at CHB, in the top ranked players for defensive rebounds and spoils, and as you rightly point out plenty of intercepts.

But that doesn't make him a great reader of the play. Playing in defense suits Waite because as a CHB you get lead to the contest.

Waite took himself to ball more times than I can remember this year and IMO also read the ball coming into the backline very well. His bigger problem is assessing how the play will unfold when bringing the ball back out.

 

[blues4flag]

Waite took himself to ball more times than I can remember this year and IMO also read the ball coming into the backline very well.

Yep. Was sensational early on against the Dogs doing just that.

 

[OnceWeWereKings]

I've got another idea.

How about after playing one season of reasonably good football at CHB, we leave him their and allow him to keep developing as the tall, mobile defender we are in desperate need of.

Jamison is a full back. Setanta is less adaptable and could not be posted permanently at CHB. Austin is some time away from cementing a position, and Bower, at least for my mind, is a far better proposition running off the HBF. Waite was chosen to represent is state playing as a CHB, and whilst the decision was contentious for some, it's an indication that he goes alright in that position.

Kouta was a once in a generation footballer. Actually you could say he was a total one-off in that he was the prototype for the modern athletic footballer. Aside from the fact that Waite is not, and could not be as good as Kouta, I don't know why we would need him to play ruck rover to begin with.

Kramer,

Couldn't agree more....

Why move the All Star CHB after his most consistant season, just does'nt make sense.

You'll do as my Bigfooty special comments man.