Specific reasons for improvement in 2009

[Shambolic]

The vibe is positive but why so is my question - we know as a list that we should improve and we know that in 2008 we improved but what are the key reasons you think we'll be better - lets say a finals team - in 2009?

5. Chris Judd's fitness has improved - We all saw the impact he had on us in 2008 and it promises to be even more 12 months out from surgery.

4. Continued improvement of Gibbs - my view is that he is the next star and will show he is the best young player we have

3. Ratten and the Coaches should have had more time to work up some forward line options than what we saw in 2008

2. Cloke losing weight - this COULD be a big benefit to become our second forward (BIG IF).

1. At least breaking even in the ruck. Not sure who will do this and dont want to pressure Warnock but somehow out of Kreuzer, Hampson and Warnock we should be able to improve our standing to the top 8 of the comp for rucks and ruck clearances.


Sorry if this has been done before but I havent found such a thread.

 

[4blues]

Cordy having a full pre season to get our guys in shape.

 

[jj1978]

1. Another pre-season into the likes of Kreuzer, Gibbs, Bower, Jamison, Browne, Hampson.

2. Houlihan and Bannister back... as much as we sometimes find grievances with these 2 both if used appropriately (which I think Ratts will do) are very beneficial good players.

3. Warnock, at 206cm if he gets a couple kg's on and has that extra pre-season of skills and developments given to him he should be able to out-tap at least 75% of ruckmen out there.

4. Wiggins and Cloke... both I think now finally really have developed some confidence and feel like they have a future with the CFC (esp. Cloke) I think this will show in their further continued passion and grunt in 2009.

5. Stevens - if true he's been on the pain killers for his thumb injury and also should now be hopefully over the psychological and physical issues of his back injury, he should now become the senior player he's destined to be.

6. Judd - in the last 5 games of 2008 we started to see the real Judd return... looking at how he's going in pre-season and is preparing himself this man will be the 2009 brownlow medalist, 2009 AA captain, 2009 CFC B&F, 2009 Leigh Matthews Medalist, and hopefully 2009 Norm Smith Medallist.

7. Andrew Walker - Judd's praises on the boy of recent times must mean something.. plus when he returned late in the season we saw good glimpses of things to come.

8. A settled backline - Waite, Thornton, Bower, Jamison all seemed to start to read each other well and develop the cohesiveness that our 95 backline were reknowned for.

9. Hunger - you can sense the team is hungry for finals... none of this banning the "f" word like most teams do.... these boys want to play finals and I think Ratts and co. will be drilling it into them.

 

[Subliminal_Revolution]

1. Another pre-season into the likes of Kreuzer, Gibbs, Bower, Jamison, Browne, Hampson.

2. Houlihan and Bannister back... as much as we sometimes find grievances with these 2 both if used appropriately (which I think Ratts will do) are very beneficial good players.

3. Warnock, at 206cm if he gets a couple kg's on and has that extra pre-season of skills and developments given to him he should be able to out-tap at least 75% of ruckmen out there.

4. Wiggins and Cloke... both I think now finally really have developed some confidence and feel like they have a future with the CFC (esp. Cloke) I think this will show in their further continued passion and grunt in 2009.

5. Stevens - if true he's been on the pain killers for his thumb injury and also should now be hopefully over the psychological and physical issues of his back injury, he should now become the senior player he's destined to be.

6. Judd - in the last 5 games of 2008 we started to see the real Judd return... looking at how he's going in pre-season and is preparing himself this man will be the 2009 brownlow medalist, 2009 AA captain, 2009 CFC B&F, 2009 Leigh Matthews Medalist, and hopefully 2009 Norm Smith Medallist.

7. Andrew Walker - Judd's praises on the boy of recent times must mean something.. plus when he returned late in the season we saw good glimpses of things to come.

8. A settled backline - Waite, Thornton, Bower, Jamison all seemed to start to read each other well and develop the cohesiveness that our 95 backline were reknowned for.

9. Hunger - you can sense the team is hungry for finals... none of this banning the "f" word like most teams do.... these boys want to play finals and I think Ratts and co. will be drilling it into them.

Spot on, chief

 

[tigertiger]

I think Carlton are on the improve but I still dont think they will make the finals next year the differences between your best and worst players are glaring, good teams have stars but the second string of players are also very consistent. I just don't see this with Carlton yet leaving them very vulnerable if injuries happen to any of Judd, Fev or Stevens.