Midfield needs to be Priority 1

[murphster]

As much as i would love to pick a good defender like Hansen it won't help us next year if we keep getting smashed in the middle of the ground, the ball will still be coming in at a million miles an hour and 3 Hansens won't be able to stop that, our defence will look much better when we start at least breaking even in the middle of the ground, plus we are one of the best teams at kicking goals from quick clearances so imagine what we could achieve score board wise with a class midfield that wins the clearances more often than not, the mind boggles and Fev and Co would be salivating at the prospect.

Midfield Midfield Midfield everything starts in the midfield and thats what we need to get right first before we can properly assess the worth of our defence or our forward structure. Gibbs and another couple of midfielders are a must and if the gods are smiling on us and we get the PP first, Leuenberger is a must. Its all upward and onward from there.

With the likes of Bower(running off half back), Hartlett(with a full uninterupted pre-season), Setanta O'Halpin(see Adam Goodes), Craig Flint(Dour as the day is long) and in time the most exciting prospect Aisake O'Halpin(again see Goodes) plus our current defence we have a lot of options as far as defence goes in the future.

Our forward structure with Fev, Waite, Fisher(if he stays fit look out), Kennedy(another pre-season under his belt), Betts(just gets better and never stops running and chasing) and Kouta going forward to rest as well as Murphy resting forward we have one hell of a forward structure to build on. Another pacy crumber would be handy, boy would i love Betts and Jetta crumbing in the forward line and switching in the middle(dream on). Other than another crumber our forward structure is more or less in place and just waiting for a class midfield to win it in the guts and kick to it, we saw the difference this year going forward with Murphy delivering the ball lace out, Fev was wetting his pants with anticipation every time Murphy went near the ball, imagine Gibbs and another one this year say someone like Collard delivering the ball up on a platter, Fev will be pissing himself non stop.

Yes i've convinced myself of the value of building our midfield in this years draft as it is essential if we want to move forward next year and we have to start the climb next year, we can not afford another year at rock bottom, another year of losing will destroy the club membership wise and the confidence of the young players coming through will be hammered, the depth in class midfielders in this years draft demands that we build up our midfield depth this year with pacy skillfull ball winners and carriers of which there is an abundance ready to step straight into the breach for us next year. If Collard is still there at pick 17 we have to take him, class aboriginal midfielders like him don't come around that often, he can be the next Shaun Burgoyne or Danyle Pearce and quickly to.

Our best chance at producing a winning culture from next season is with the strengthening of our midfield, and more than anything our club needs to win games and get back our pride asap before we develop a losing culture that could take years to overcome. We have been down to long already we need to restore the status quo and to do that we need to start at the heart and work our way out, the heart of Carlton has always been it's midfield might.

Go the Mosquito Fleet!!!!!!!!!

 

[drusswaylander]

Totally agree even more than ever the midfield is the key
Gibbs is a no-brainer at one. The only fly in the ointment being the Buckley like scare campaign over him returning home

I'm not as convinced though that the quality mids will still be there at our second round picks. I really think Renouf is worth a punt with one as I don't think the mids left would be that much better than him if at all. Renouf is a potential Dean Cox... with a bit of work ...maybe , but all the picks are a risk.

 

[Pafloyul]

I know it's been said Ad Nauseam but I think we should be drafting the best available players. We need more 'A' graders at the club and if that means drafting some players in positions that we are not exactly short on then so be it. It is not as if they are all going to make it.

 

[deluxeman]

I know it's been said Ad Nauseam but I think we should be drafting the best available players. We need more 'A' graders at the club and if that means drafting some players in positions that we are not exactly short on then so be it. It is not as if they are all going to make it.

Exactly, we are in no position to be choosing players due to the position they play in the early rounds. Rounds 1 and 2 should be devoted to taking best avaliable as simply we have holes in all areas. The later rounds is when we can recruit for need and take a ruckman and such if haven't got one yet.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Agree completely. We need to take the best avalable the ENTIRE draft, we have too many holes to draft for need. Once some of these kids develop we can sit back and assess our needs, but at the moment, positional needs = all of them. Having said that, I wouldnt mind getting a Sam Mitchell type with a late pick if we can.

 

[marcmurphy3]

Agree completely. We need to take the best avalable the ENTIRE draft, we have too many holes to draft for need. Once some of these kids develop we can sit back and assess our needs, but at the moment, positional needs = all of them. Having said that, I wouldnt mind getting a Sam Mitchell type with a late pick if we can.

I think Craig Bird, Tom Hislop and Garry Moss are Sam Mitchell types. I think we really need some extractors who can win the hard ball. We have a lot of soft recievers with average disposal on our team.

 

[FieryNayta]

Agree completely. We need to take the best avalable the ENTIRE draft, we have too many holes to draft for need. Once some of these kids develop we can sit back and assess our needs, but at the moment, positional needs = all of them. Having said that, I wouldnt mind getting a Sam Mitchell type with a late pick if we can.

I agree with you.

I know we have alot of terrific talent in our side like any other positive carlton supporter. However i belive we tend to OVER-RATE some of our strength around the ground as a WHOLE.

We arent in a strong enough position to pass up the more talented player, or the more promising player simply because we believe it will benefit our structure.

If we draft the best, they will fit in somewhere, dont worry about that.

 

[whippety boy]

This looms as our most important draft ever. Wayne Hughes better get it right.

 

[sunwin]

Pick the best players available and then decide what can be done !!!!! Once we have drafted the best, then we can take stock and decide what is possible !!!

 

[HBF]

This looms as our most important draft ever. Wayne Hughes better get it right.

I think that's fair enough. I'm sure we'll all be watching the draft very closely come draft day.

 

[Effes]

I know it's been said Ad Nauseam but I think we should be drafting the best available players. We need more 'A' graders at the club and if that means drafting some players in positions that we are not exactly short on then so be it. It is not as if they are all going to make it.

Agreed Paf

 

[Kooley]

This looms as our most important draft ever. Wayne Hughes better get it right.

bloody oath. the russell and hartlett draft have yet to be fruitful imo.

 

[HBF]

bloody oath. the russell and hartlett draft have yet to be fruitful imo.

Exactly right Kooley. I'd like to think Russell will step up next year and take Walkers spot off the HBF. As for Hartlett, just looking forward to him debuting next year.

 

[drusswaylander]

I don't think it is about picking a player who is a lot worse than another.

If one player is a lot better than another one then of course you take the better one no matter what the position

This though is an even draft with a number of players in the second round who could have gone top ten in previous years.

If there is not much to choose between a ruck or key defender up against the mids still available then I say go the big blokes

That is assuming we take Gibbs at one of course

 

[WTTF]

With the likes of Bower(running off half back), Hartlett(with a full uninterupted pre-season), Setanta O'Halpin(see Adam Goodes), Craig Flint(Dour as the day is long) and in time the most exciting prospect Aisake O'Halpin(again see Goodes) plus our current defence we have a lot of options as far as defence goes in the future.

And if Thornton leaves?

Bower - played 2 games
Hartlett - can't get on the park
Setanta - played a dozen games..........Goodes comparison???
Flint - played half a season in the VFL.
Aisake - played half a season in the VFL seniors...........Goodes again????

 

[as0l0]

agree that the key is the midfield. If we're winning the ball out of the middle and stopages, then defence is less of a factor.

 

[BlackGoanna]

Agree to an extent. We need 2 more quality mids in this draft that it. Maybe a speculative lower down

However.

If we take Gibbs at 1 and the next best midfielder at 17 (Collard, Obrien, Petterd, Hurley) we need to assess our needs at pick 19 and 35.

If we take say Gibbs and Petterd, we would have plenty of young onballers/ running players. Murphy, Gibbs, Petterd, Walker, Simpson, Betts, Russel, Blakwell and a few handy older players, Stevens, Kouta, Houlihan.

I think we would be loaded up. If we draft all midfielders where are they going to play?? In the ruck at CHB, get real!

We need to take Renouf at pick 19, his stocks have gone up and he will be around that mark IMO. We will be rooted if we dont go for a quality ruck in the next 2 drafts. Pick 35 should be used on the best available key position player who is ranked between 30 - 40 in the draft. You can never have enough on your list.

I will feel alot safer if we have an even spread of players as long as they are ranked around the pick.

 

[murphster]

Agree to an extent. We need 2 more quality mids in this draft that it. Maybe a speculative lower down

However.

If we take Gibbs at 1 and the next best midfielder at 17 (Collard, Obrien, Petterd, Hurley) we need to assess our needs at pick 19 and 35.

If we take say Gibbs and Petterd, we would have plenty of young onballers/ running players. Murphy, Gibbs, Petterd, Walker, Simpson, Betts, Russel, Blakwell and a few handy older players, Stevens, Kouta, Houlihan.

I think we would be loaded up. If we draft all midfielders where are they going to play?? In the ruck at CHB, get real!

We need to take Renouf at pick 19, his stocks have gone up and he will be around that mark IMO. We will be rooted if we dont go for a quality ruck in the next 2 drafts. Pick 35 should be used on the best available key position player who is ranked between 30 - 40 in the draft. You can never have enough on your list.

I will feel alot safer if we have an even spread of players as long as they are ranked around the pick.

When i say midfield that includes a ruck option as no midfield is complete without a quality ruckman, so assuming we don't get a first up PP and take Leuenberger we would have to look at using either 2,3,4 pick for a ruckman, although next year Kreuser will be in the draft and he has quality written all over him, also this draft runs pretty deep as far as KPP goes so we should be able to snare a reasonable one a bit later. Also i think we should be trying to trade for some more picks in the top 20-30. We have to also watch for the player that is highly rated before the draft and that for 1 reason or another doesn't get picked early and try and grab them as there is always one or two that slip through the first couple of rounds, i am hoping that player will be Collard but we will see.

 

[murphster]

I know it's been said Ad Nauseam but I think we should be drafting the best available players. We need more 'A' graders at the club and if that means drafting some players in positions that we are not exactly short on then so be it. It is not as if they are all going to make it.

It is all good and well to say draft the best available but once you get outside the top 10-15 it is almost impossible to split them so you have to draft to your needs and to what is going to give you the best value, and with Carlton we need to win games starting next year so we need to improve in the area that will give us the quickest results and that is the midfield, we have a forward line capable of kicking big scores with the right delivery coming in and coming in quick, once we have that half of the ground working properly we will be able to see clearer what our needs are defensively.

 

[murphster]

And if Thornton leaves?

Bower - played 2 games
Hartlett - can't get on the park
Setanta - played a dozen games..........Goodes comparison???
Flint - played half a season in the VFL.
Aisake - played half a season in the VFL seniors...........Goodes again????

I would hate to lose T-Bird but realistically in a proper defence he would be playing on the 3rd tall not KP.
Ive watched the other players that you have mentioned all year for the Bullants and while not the top level it gives you pretty good idea of there abilities, Bower may have only played 2 senior games but he played well with the Bullants for most of the year and has definate ability which we will see at senior level next year, also has good pace and could play on a wing.
Hartlett has had a bad run but i am hoping that is behind him and there is no doubting this boys ability forward or back and he is big and strong, i watched him during the pre season when he was first drafted, before his injury, playing on Fevola and beating him 1 out, he has talent.
The O'Halpins i know is a big call comparing them to Goodes but the attributes these 2 possess are priceless, Setanta at 199cm and 98kg is big enough for KP or Ruck for short bursts but his biggest attribute is his pace
and agility for a man of his size.
In a Carlton game during the year i can't remember who it was against but anyway the opposition on baller, and one of the quick ones to, took possession on the wing and looked over his shoulder and saw big Carlos in pursuit so he thought i will blow this big joker away and turned and put his head down, but let me tell you Carlos had him in 4 big strides and the look on the onballers face was priceless, and the best part is that his heart is as big as an Elephants and in time he could be as talented as Goodes, Aisake is even taller at 202cm and 90 something kg's and is also as quick and agile as his brother, some of his work in defence this year for the Bullants was sensational and he plays a similar style to his brother as well.
Players of that size and speed and agility are as rare as hens teeth and there value in the future is immeasurable IMO and it is only my opinion, but i rate these 2 very highly due to there afore mentioned attributes but more than anything it is there commitment to work hard and improve that is the most impressive of all.
Flint admittedly i haven't seen as much of but what i have seen is impressive he has great courage and never shirks the issue, is in a similar vein as Andrew Mackay again only my humble opinion.

I hope that answers your queries.

Again i would hate to lose T-Bird because as a third tall defender he will be A-Grade.

Go the Mosquito Fleet!!!!!!!

 

[Salaryman]

Agree to an extent. We need 2 more quality mids in this draft that it. Maybe a speculative lower down

However.

If we take Gibbs at 1 and the next best midfielder at 17 (Collard, Obrien, Petterd, Hurley) we need to assess our needs at pick 19 and 35.

If we take say Gibbs and Petterd, we would have plenty of young onballers/ running players. Murphy, Gibbs, Petterd, Walker, Simpson, Betts, Russel, Blakwell and a few handy older players, Stevens, Kouta, Houlihan.

I think we would be loaded up. If we draft all midfielders where are they going to play?? In the ruck at CHB, get real!

We need to take Renouf at pick 19, his stocks have gone up and he will be around that mark IMO. We will be rooted if we dont go for a quality ruck in the next 2 drafts. Pick 35 should be used on the best available key position player who is ranked between 30 - 40 in the draft. You can never have enough on your list.

I will feel alot safer if we have an even spread of players as long as they are ranked around the pick.

Careful, you'll get HugeBluesFan aroused

 

[BlackGoanna]

When i say midfield that includes a ruck option as no midfield is complete without a quality ruckman, so assuming we don't get a first up PP and take Leuenberger we would have to look at using either 2,3,4 pick for a ruckman, although next year Kreuser will be in the draft and he has quality written all over him, also this draft runs pretty deep as far as KPP goes so we should be able to snare a reasonable one a bit later. Also i think we should be trying to trade for some more picks in the top 20-30. We have to also watch for the player that is highly rated before the draft and that for 1 reason or another doesn't get picked early and try and grab them as there is always one or two that slip through the first couple of rounds, i am hoping that player will be Collard but we will see.

The AFL has rejected our first round PP. So we are left with pick 1,17,19,35,51.

We will be taking Gibbs at 1.

Pick 17 best available mid who slips through.
Pick 19 Renouf
Pick 35 (Best Available KP)N.Brown, K Tippet, G.Weeks, A Everitt, J Morton
Pick 51 Best Available

 

[trueblue_91]

The AFL has rejected our first round PP. So we are left with pick 1,17,19,35,51.

We will be taking Gibbs at 1.

Pick 17 best available mid who slips through.
Pick 19 Renouf
Pick 35 (Best Available KP)N.Brown, K Tippet, G.Weeks, A Everitt, J Morton
Pick 51 Best Available

That would be great.

Gibbs, a good midfielder lets say pettard,Renouf( ruckman) and N. Brown i really like this kid. Would be delighted with those kids

 

[marcmurphy3]

If we did trade Thornton would you be happy with picks 14 and 24 in a trade? While I would hate to lose Thornton (who I agree is really only a third tall defender), the following draft is mouth watering.

Imagine

Pick 1: Bryce Gibbs
Pick 14: Clayton Collard (love this kid)
Pick 17: Ricky Petterd
Pick 19: Brent Renouf
Pick 24: Nathan Brown
Pick 35: Garry Moss

 

[Smell The Glove]

Who here thinks Renouf is worth pick 19? As in, if we had pick 25 as well, would we wait until then? If so, forget him. I dont care if he is a ruckman, if there is a better player avalable at 19, pick him and forget Renouf. Waste of a pick otherwise.