mojo31 said:
Rucks left to go.
They are tall and they get tap outs.
The end.
Okay have expanded a little on this. They are all still tall though. Not retracting that statement at all.
Rucks
Barnaby French
Much improved player since coming across from Port Adelaide. Provides a physical contest in the middle and we are a 5 goal better team when he plays. The games he has missed in the last 2 years has basically coincided with Carlton being uncompetive.
Is a leader out on the field and a barometer for the club. Always encouraging others and providing the body work we need. Improved his tap work and was flying in the first few games in 2005 before getting injured.
Superbly fit and regularly beats some of the midfielders in the time trials. Worked on his kicking but it is still effective rather than classy.
Would like to see some more marks taken around the ground but it is not a natural thing for French. More as a ruck who plays a kick behind play or following around another ruckman.
Not a player wjho likes the limelight but would just babout me our moist important player. We lack onfield leadership and he gives us that on the ground as well as good ruckwork and some presence out on the ground.
Is 30 but is still improving and barring any more knee injuries will play for at least another 3 years. We need to give him a rest every quarter and make sure we don’t work him into the ground. Because if he does get injured then we are looking at another spoon almost definitely if he misses a significant part of the year.
2006 : First choice ruck. 22 games and improved form.
Future : Injuries to his knees will decide how long he plays.
Aisake O’hAilpin
Looking at him at training this year for the first time I had to check it was Aisake. The tall beanpole had been replaced with an even taller player and the beanpole had developed muscles. 10kgs heavier and grown to 203 cms.
Smooth mover and smooth skills. Not awkward like his brother and is a much more natural player. Same desire as Setanta to do every single session and anything extra the club will let him.
A huge leap which blew me away when I saw him doing the ruck drills with Dempsey and the bags. Biggest leap at the club and was able to finish almost top 10 in the time trials.
Is improving his ruck skills and is able to tap both hands comfortable. Rarely misses at target by foot. Of course still is lost in games with new situations but is improving rapidly.
Lovely skills and a clean grab of the ball. Nothing awkward about him. Superb trainer and both he and his brother have increased the enthusiasm and desire around the club immensly.
Will need to continue to bulk up and continue his development. Is a long term ruck and needs to play there whenver possible. Might be ready for some VFL this year and would like to see him playing VFL reserves also and playing most of the game apart from a brief rest.
Does not get down on himself like Setanta who is the more intense individual.
2006: VFL and VFL Reserves in the ruck.
Future : Is able to be retained on the rookie list for another year as he is an international rookie. Wont be ready for AFL in 2007 so would make sense to keep him there as far as list management goes. Think he will make it. Terrific long term thinking from the club and taking a chance.
Daniel Batson
Going into his second and final year on the rookie list. From country Victoria (long way from Melb) and is a shy and introverted person. Well liked around the club. Hard worker and very coachable.
Is an absolute giant at well over 2 meters and has bulked up significantly in the pre season. Still only 19 and will take a long long time before he is ready for the AFL. A project player and well suited to the rookie list. Runs in a slightly awkward manner and at times looks a bit lost out on the ground.
His kicking skills are fine at training but during games he struggles to drop the ball and needs a long time to get his kick away. Consequently he gets caught a lot. Not physical enough yet and just growing into his body and learning how to use it.
Was only playing VFL reserves. A huge step up to AFL standard but what he does have is the size and work ethic to make it. Not really overly athletic but has enough to get by as long as his ruck skills improve and he learns to use all of his size for maximum benefit.
He is exactly where he should be at his size and age as far as development goes. Most young rucks wil take a long time. Anybody who is expecting much more has unrealistic expectations of him.
Even if he does make it might be 5 years of being ready for AFL. That’s the nature of players at his size.
2006 : VFL reserves and a run in the VFL depending on injuries. Needs game time and to be played in the ruck. Better to do it at VFL reserves level and not on the bench in the VFL.
Future : Might make it but will need to improve a lot. Good chance of being promoted at the end of the year. But would still be a few years of AFL level even when promoted to the senior list.
Dylan McLaren
PSD pick up for Carlton. Undersized ruck and basically KPP size and not overly built. Tremendous bloke and has fitted in well. Honest player who gives his all and will keep working regardless of the position of the game. Good leap and very athletic. Good pace and endurance. Competes but is limited in the ruck. Pushed aside to much but cant be helped with his lack of bodysize.
A decent judge of the tap outs and it is not for that he is beaten but for bigger player jumping over him. Does his best work around the ground and providing a contest. Something we sorely lack. Has played back before at Brisbane. Not really shown an ability to take a strong mark and is a more defensive rather than someone who will kick goals.
Not sure it is a step forward for the club in going after him. I realize we desperately need a back up for French and they need to play now but just don’t feel McLaren is the right player. Right age and yes he is a ruck from a very strong club. Passes the character test and has the work ethic we need. Just don’t think he is good enough long term to add much. I know the club went after a few other ruckmen and would have preferred a few others.
2006 ; Play most games in the AFL.
Future : Will struggle in 3 years to be on the list.
Chris Bryan
Suprising late draft pick in 2004. Finally got himself into the shape needed to be put onto an AFL list and is a mature aged recruit at 23 at the time.
His trademark is his huge roost of the ball. Beautiful field kick and has some touch with it also to be able to pinpoint a low pass from 50m away easily.
Small for a ruck and struggled to get his hand to the ball against some of the giants of the AFL. Misjudges his timing when going up for the tapouts to much and also does not keep his body in line enough. Consequently other teams had numerous easy tap outs against him and the ball was swept clear too easily.
Brushed aside to easily for a player of his size and continually nudged under the ball in boundary throwins.
Needs more core strength to hold his ground and keep his centre of gravity lower and set himself before the ball is thrown in. Then move and stretch up when the ball is in flight and not get caught out.
Showed some signs of having good hands and being able to take really clean and strong marks with an honest jump at the ball. Looked sensational in the Sydney game on debut where he was able to clear the ball from the stoppages and rove from his own tap outs. Did not really show this skill to much after that game and needs to do more around the ground and use his decent mobility and long kicking to advantage.
Got short arms which does not help him either.
Not a great leap. It will come down to timing for him and being able to stay in the contest.
Would like to see a more physical game from him and better use of his body to clear the path for other players. Shepherding and some strong tackling and second efforts.
Has put on more size and improved his fitness in the pre season. Will need to be taking some strong marks up forward and kicking some goals to justify a position in the AFL team. A back up ruck at best but will need to develop those skills more but also to take every opportunity he gets to kick goals.
On the last year of his contract this year. Will need to improve by 25% to get another 1.
2006 : Backup ruck. A few games. Will need to kick goals and do more around the ground to play more than that.
Future : Will have to move in front of Deluca (is not in the coaches eyes at the moment) who has a 2 year deal at least to get another contract. Long term must develop as a marking target.
All the rucks will benefit from the appointment of Gary Dempsey. More 1 on 1 sessions and tactical work on body positioning and around the ground work.
Especially Aisake and Batson who are thriving.
Dempsey might be an old man but does not stop him from showing up most of them (apart from French) on a pretty regularly basis with everything he knows.
Would have liked Rehn but Dempsey is a good appointment by Carlton.
All done now.
Anybody have any criticisms (be gentle please) or want some more detail (surely not) or want to ask something else then go ahead and when I have time I am happy to try my best.
I concentrated more on the senior players rather than the kids drafted this year as I already have written about them before.
Looking back I don’t agree with some of the things I wrote and I could have tidied things up a lot but most of it is around the mark. Did not want to fill it with fluff and generic comments but tried to pinpoint areas of improvement needed and where the player fits into the club long term.