Red alert on Blues midfield : Rawlings

[Aphrodite]

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=65597

HE'S STEPPED back from a negating role in recent weeks, but midfielder Brady Rawlings may become his usual miserly self when North Melbourne meets Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Carlton's run to the finals, boosted by the form of captain Chris Judd, Nick Stevens and young guns Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs, has gathered momentum through the work of its talented ball-winners.

Add their primary target in attack, full-forward Brendan Fevola, and the Blues at their best are a formidable outfit.

That showed in last weekend's 66-point defeat of Port Adelaide, which kept Carlton in touch with the top eight.

But a win to North could dash those chances.
"I don't see Carlton as being a side that's below us," Rawlings said. "I think their footy the last few weeks has been exceptional.

"Their midfield's really their strength and also with Fev (Brendan Fevola). It's going to be a big game ... because I reckon if they make the eight they're as good a chance as we are."

Rawlings, North Melbourne's best tagger and the most effective in the competition in 2004 and 2006, has run with Judd and Stevens before but may find a younger opponent this time.

No. 1 draft picks Murphy and Gibbs have taken giant strides in 2008, while Shaun Grigg earned last round's NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

"They've got plenty of blokes through there that'll win them the ball with Judd and Stevens and Murphy and Gibbs and (Andrew) Walker," Rawlings said.

"Then you've got Kade Simpson and Grigg was great on the weekend as well. That's definitely their strength and I'm sure I'll be playing on one of them, but I'm not too sure whether it will be a purely tagging role or not.

"But [I'll] definitely set myself to be in for a lot of work this week."

Rawlings, who signed a two-year contract extension in June, has moved away from his early season stopping jobs and, since round nine, has had no fewer than 21 possessions.

"It seems to have changed a bit this year," he said of his role. "I think probably the first four or five weeks I was purely tagging blokes and wasn't getting any of the ball myself.

"When you're playing through the midfield you've sort of got to get your hands on the ball. You can't be really going through there and just worrying about the one bloke and not getting any of it yourself.

"If there's a player that's pretty dangerous out there, I've still been going to them at stages in games but it hasn't been for the full match.

"With (former Bulldog) Sam Power in the side as well, we can both do that sort of role during the game. We might play on a bloke for a half each."

 

[HBF]

Who's he trying to kid, he'll play on Judd.

 

[thylacine60]

Crikey, A. You're out of bed early! Fair article, makes you wonder if that's really the player's thoughts or more of the same old "for Christ's sake don't give them any ammunition" sort of stuff. They should be reasonably worried if we bring our A Game though.

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

What a far cry from a few years ago when our midfield used to consist of Stevens, Kouta, Brett Johnson, Daniel Harford, Corey McGrath and Callum Chambers

 

[Revenge I Seek]

What a far cry from a few years ago when our midfield used to consist of Stevens, Kouta, Brett Johnson, Daniel Harford, Corey McGrath and Callum Chambers

I compare that to reminiscing about an ugly chick I once dated... like, "What the hell was I thinking?!"

In regards to the article, it's nice to see we have earned the respect of the footy community. Props like that from the Kangaroos shouldn't be sneezed at.

 

[griggisalegend]

What a far cry from a few years ago when our midfield used to consist of Stevens, Kouta, Brett Johnson, Daniel Harford, Corey McGrath and Callum Chambers

i dont even remember these players!

 

[Aphrodite]

Crikey, A. You're out of bed early!

That damn electric blanket thy. Had to get out of bed . It was like a sauna

 

[Aphrodite]

Who's he trying to kid, he'll play on Judd.

he'll be tagging Judd all day .............

Would love to see Gibbs on Harvey ..............

 

[thylacine60]

That damn electric blanket thy. Had to get out of bed . It was like a sauna

Sorry hon. I'll keep it off tonight if you prefer.

 

[THE AISSASSIN]

What happenned Thy.....where did u score the yellow card ?......was it worth it.... ?

 

[thylacine60]

Why I rarely travel.

What happenned Thy.....where did u score the yellow card ?......was it worth it.... ?

Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthBhoy
Confident lot, aren't they? You'd think being so ****ing shit for so long would dampen any arrogance that might have bubbled away, but they only need to be almost a finals chance for it to re-emerge. Old school Carlton people would be disgusted at the celebration of mediocrity. It's Richmond-like.

North by 321 points.

You ever get sick of the patronizing attitude people have towards North? Ever wonder why it exists? Old school Carlton people would be delighted we have survived our darkest period, self-inflicted as it was. You've got quite a mouth for someone whose team's most memorable moment happened in a backyard dunny.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

Why I rarely travel.



Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthBhoy
Confident lot, aren't they? You'd think being so ****ing shit for so long would dampen any arrogance that might have bubbled away, but they only need to be almost a finals chance for it to re-emerge. Old school Carlton people would be disgusted at the celebration of mediocrity. It's Richmond-like.

North by 321 points.

You ever get sick of the patronizing attitude people have towards North? Ever wonder why it exists? Old school Carlton people would be delighted we have survived our darkest period, self-inflicted as it was. You've got quite a mouth for someone whose team's most memorable moment happened in a backyard dunny.

That's a fair retort there Thymaster. Nice one

 

[HBF]

You ever get sick of the patronizing attitude people have towards North? Ever wonder why it exists? Old school Carlton people would be delighted we have survived our darkest period, self-inflicted as it was. You've got quite a mouth for someone whose team's most memorable moment happened in a backyard dunny.

One of the best comebacks i've seen in some time Thy. You little ripper.

 

[ctacp]

That damn electric blanket thy. Had to get out of bed . It was like a sauna

more like a dutch oven...

ctacp
curlier than a catoggio pube

 

[THE AISSASSIN]

Why I rarely travel.



Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthBhoy
Confident lot, aren't they? You'd think being so ****ing shit for so long would dampen any arrogance that might have bubbled away, but they only need to be almost a finals chance for it to re-emerge. Old school Carlton people would be disgusted at the celebration of mediocrity. It's Richmond-like.

North by 321 points.

You ever get sick of the patronizing attitude people have towards North? Ever wonder why it exists? Old school Carlton people would be delighted we have survived our darkest period, self-inflicted as it was. You've got quite a mouth for someone whose team's most memorable moment happened in a backyard dunny.

It was worth it

 

[thylacine60]

It was worth it

Where'd you get sunburnt, A?