Stars, surprise packets & strugglers in 2008

[Blueinblood]

Future remains bleak down at the Blues. No matter how many years of tanking you do to gain the high/extra picks, it doesnt replace the fact you set in motion a losing culture which has been going on for 6-7 years down at the Blues. Murphy looks a good prospect and you've got Fevola, Fisher to kick some goals, but the defence is a rabble and if Fevola goes down the forward line is significantly weakened. Same can be said about the midfield if Judd gets injured which is now not highly unlikely. Pplayers still need the experience of a couple of seasons. Expecting another bottom four finish for the Blues, with improvement throughout the youngsters. I see Carlton fans with much optimism and good on them for it, but once the season starts it will be much the same IMO as the past few years. Looking at 2010,11 for the Blues to make finals.

if your talkiung about bleak futures then have a look at your silly excuse for a midfield......... when jobe and stanton are your front runners..well.. your screwed

 

[Kooley]

You're a ******** and a troll.

and you're sook who can't post for crap.

 

[swannies]

Wayne Hughes (recruiting mgr) said Army was going to play a specific role next year.
It has been been mentioned that he did consistantly well picking up small forwards in the WAFL last year.
At his first training session he was part of the defenders group ( and did well ) in competitve drills.
Carlton have a definate lack of small defenders, especially with pace.
Carltons small/mid defenders of last season (Scotland & Houlihan) have been training with the midfield group, and really were not ideally suited playing back. Most of us are expecting these 2 to be moved out of the backline next year.

For these reasons many of us are expecting Army to be initially tried as a defender. We are also in need of an explosive small forward.
Nothing is set in stone and time will tell where he is best suited.

Thanks Aisassin, OK, now I understand the reasoning. He generally played a rebounding half back role with Swans, can't remember him taking too many small forwards. We'll see how he goes.

 

[audas]

My stars, surprise packets and strugglers for 2008.

Stars.

Judd - just the consumate professional and will be ready to go in round one.

Simpson - he's just the road runner who goes in hard, puts his head down, his bump and is gone before they even know it. His acceleration in the wet and the punishing long kick on the run with a wet ball was breathtaking. Will give the B & F a shake.

Fevola - he will go close to kicking a hundred goals if Judd, Stevens, Murphy, Gibbs, Walker, Carrazzo and Scotland play onball next year.

Scotland - Heath looked very sharp when he was training with the midfielders on Monday and is just a natural footballer. I think he'll have a huge year playing in the midfield when Judd, Stevens, Carrazzo and Murphy drawing most of the opposition's attention.

Gibbs - Bryce had a better first year than Pendlebury and played every game as a bottom ager, so we can expect a similar level of improvement from this rising star as we saw in Pendlebury in 2008.

Walker - Walker looked like a cage lion on the training track on Monday and was aggressive, so I'm expecting 2008 to be his break out year in the AFL. Walker playing midfield with Judd, Gibbs, Murphy, Stevens, Carrazzo, Simpson and Scotland will be a luxury when they draw the taggers and the opposition's focus.

Carrazzo - just a ball magnet and showed clean hands below his knees in the wet yesterday. Looks like he'll have another good year and is reportedly working with Ratten to improve his kicking.

Surprise packets.

Clinton Benjamin - Benji moves a bit like like Walker in his running style and is a unit for a 19 year old. So he is one player who could provide a lot of excitement for the fans next year if he gets a game.

Ryan Jackson - he should displace the slower Bentick out of the side as our number one defensive midfielder after his fine game on Harvey. AB is in the injury group ATM and Jackson's skills looked sharp yesterday, so he'll be in our best 25 for the pre-season cup and will get a foothold ahead of AB for most the year IMO. He has the aggression to make it IMO and isn't a plodder like AB who is an old fashioned in and under player.

Jake Edwards - this choice might surprise a few people, but he's a nice size for someone who doesn't turn 20 until next year and moved very well at training for a man as tall as Waite.

Shaun Grigg - another tall midfielder with pace who will hurt sides and get under their guard if they only pay attention to our star midfielders.

Armfield - will play down back early with Anderson out and allow Walker, Scotland and Houlihan to play up the ground.

Hampson - Hammer is the young player I'm most looking forward to seeing next year with his pace, spring and mobility around the ground.

Strugglers.

Bannister - I can't see him getting a game ahead of Jackson, Grigg, Hadley and Bentick next year. Insurance for injured players and will only be played when we have to stop Chad Cornes.

Blackwell - I can't see him playing many games in the midfield next year with his lack of size and speed counting against him.

Russell - he trained alright yesterday and might show some improvement as a result of sticking by Walker's side at training. But I think we will use Houlihan through the forwardline next year and he might struggle to get a game as a forward. The likes of Benjamin and even Edwards might push up next year to push him out the side if he doesn't take the chances he's given.

Anderson - has only just started running and has alot of catching up to do with Armfield fit and ready to go.

Ackland - Please leave. Cloke is up and running, aggressive and will keep him Ackland out of the side if he doesn't re-injure his shoulder.

Saddington - Waite, Jamison, Thornton and Bower will make Saddington insurance like Bannister in 2008.

Hartlett - At start of yesterday's training session he was blowing very hard after one end to end drill and sucking in deep breaths with his hands on his knees. Adam will need a miracle and to play at least ten games to get another contract.


I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that Stevens recovers from his injury, so I'm not expecting big things from Nick given the nature of his injury.

Cheers, good summation.

I thought Stevens was good to go and we were just being cautious, correct me if wrong. PLEASE.

I hear Eddie Betts is training well, and although some of us...ahem... SOAP (ha, ha, never thought of that...Sharks)..dont rate Betts at all, I dont mind him as a crumbing forward.

Waite and Fish have been very significant prospects for us, one of them getting the stamp out will be awesome, and the next step for either of them is stardom. I say both.

Gibbs should do well next season.

Walker is my pick for most talked about player of 2008.

 

[Pie_squasher]

IMO - picked 3 in each

Stars
Carazzo - will back up 2007 in a big way and show why he's best value pick up Carlton have taken in the last 5 years
Gibbs - will step up to the plate and blossom through the middle/wing in 08
Murphy - no explanation required apart from the leadership that Judd and Co. will add to his game

Suprise Packets
Hampson - can see him developing into a cult figure this year with his speed and mobility
Armfield - got this feeling about this kid
Jackson - will step up big time

Strugglers
Cloke - I know some will disagree but I don't think he'll make it
Ackland - wish he'd just f**k off
Wiggins - will be curtains for the chief next year

 

[Bluebear]

Stars:
Judd - Despite not being fully fit he will do damage
Murph - heat off somewhat and will start to do what other guys his age are doing.......NOT being the number 1 mid. he will enjoy it immensely.
Gibbs - Will be only slightly older than a lot of the first year players this year........expect him to take another huge step and start to hurt teams that don't mind him.

There are plenty more but its lunch time and I'm hungry.

Surprise packets:
Hampson - hieght and extreme pace will account for some deficiencies in disposal skills..........will have an impact.

Jamison - Will nail down FB, 2nd tall depending on match ups.

Jackson - there is something about this kid I really like.

Strugglers:
Hartlett - will try to nail down CHF but I'm not sure his body will allow him to.

Ackalnd - no surprises here.

Russ - I think Stevens will spend more time pushing forwards along with Betts, Russ has a very small window of opportunity to show us something or he will be overtaken by the new kids on the block............NKOTB?

Bentick - like Russ will need to go to the next level pretty damn quick or risk being overtaken.

 

[Barry Zuckercorn]

Future remains bleak down at the Blues. No matter how many years of tanking you do to gain the high/extra picks, it doesnt replace the fact you set in motion a losing culture which has been going on for 6-7 years down at the Blues. Murphy looks a good prospect and you've got Fevola, Fisher to kick some goals, but the defence is a rabble and if Fevola goes down the forward line is significantly weakened. Same can be said about the midfield if Judd gets injured which is now not highly unlikely. Pplayers still need the experience of a couple of seasons. Expecting another bottom four finish for the Blues, with improvement throughout the youngsters. I see Carlton fans with much optimism and good on them for it, but once the season starts it will be much the same IMO as the past few years. Looking at 2010,11 for the Blues to make finals.

Carlton's 2nd-3rd string midfield >>> Essendon's best midfield

i.e.:

Bentick, Bannister, Blackwell, Russell >>> Peverill, Watson, Winderlich, Stanton

Bit embarassing really.

If you guys had kept Bannister, no doubt he would currently be the leader of that pitiful midfield group and the go-to-man on matchday

 

[Silvagnis]

and you're sook who can't post for crap.

I'll stop posting as soon as you start a few threads as insightful as these threads and show us your stuff.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=219830

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232173

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233864

 

[HBF]

Stars:

Chris Judd - How many examples of his brilliance do we need. Perhaps that he voted in the first 8 games for West Coast in '07, before sucumming to injury.

Nick Stevens - Would expect a massive year from Nick in 2008. Won't get the best tagger each week, and will be very very hungry to prove that he can still play at the top level after coming back from a neck injury

Marc Murphy - Like Stevens, will greatly benefit from having Judd at the club. Could have a serious impact in 2008 as well.

Others in this category would be Fevola, Simpson and Fisher

Surprise Packets:

Shaun Grigg - Showed us in a couple of games last year that he has what it takes to make it in the AFL. Good size, decent pace and backs himself ala Kade Simpson. Just needs to work on his kicking when he is on the run. Just needs to take a couple of steadying steps before kicking

Shaun Hampson - Possibly the guy I am most excited to see next year. Like Grigg, showed he can play at the highest level, and with his game against Melbourne in round 22, has all of us licking our lips. He and Kreuzer could be unstoppable in a few years time.

Joey Anderson - Could be the hard nosed BP we have been looking for for quite some time. Looked good in the games he played during the year, and I would expect him to be in the senior team in round 1.

Strugglers:

Jordan Russell - Been here for 3 years now, and really hasn't made any impact at all. Perhaps a change of coach will be good for him, but 2008 will be a crunch year for him if he wants to remain at Princes Park

Adam Hartlett - Very much the same as JR.

Adam Bentick - With Judd and Hadley arriving at the club, and Stevens returning from injury, I suspect AB will find it hard to be a regular in the best 22. Could very well play the majority of the year with the Bullants.

 

[Silvagnis]

I reckon murphy could easily fit in the stars section with this being his 3rd year of AFL and not getting the number tagger anymore

Also fisher could have fit in there

Needs a touch more polish on his kicking after he pushed one kick wide when under no real pressure.

Small fault and nothing to worry about, but a fault nonetheless that he needs to work on.

Gibbs will be a better player than Murphy because he has more poise and class by foot.

Walker's size, pace and aggression at the contest and the man more than compensates for his poor kicks.

 

[blues4flag]

I don't know, I feel that Russell is set for a big season. Coming into his fourth season and hasn't done much, although I do think he showed gradual improvement over 2007 and will take it to the next level in 08. Probably his last chance and competition for places will be tough, but I'm hoping he gets a go at it early in the season to try and cement a spot in the 22.

 

[HBF]

I don't know, I feel that Russell is set for a big season. Coming into his fourth season and hasn't done much, although I do think he showed gradual improvement over 2007 and will take it to the next level in 08. Probably his last chance and competition for places will be tough, but I'm hoping he gets a go at it early in the season to try and cement a spot in the 22.

He would have to show something in 2008. Hasn't exactly set the world on fire since he has been at Carlton.

 

[Korn]

i'd give a ? for Carrazo, don't know if he's a one-year wonder type of player yet, i hope i am wrong.

 

[btdg]

Stars:
- Judd and Fevola, for obvious reasons
- Muphy. Over the second-year blues, we'll start to see the real Murphy
- Grigg. Break-out year from a guy who could be anything

Surprise packets
- Bentick. You need a guy like him who can go in and tackle
- Houlihan. I despise the bloke, but he's destined to go forward and have a 40 goal season at some point
- Kreuzer. No-one expects much in year 1, but he'll rise to the challenge and be better than anyone expects at this point

Strugglers
- Stevens. Coming back from injury, no longer the leader of the midfield, getting on in years and has never treated his body all that well
- Hartlett. I just don't see it.
- Gibbs. We'll have to wait 1 more year before he really shows us what he can do.

 

[Blue Dimension]

Stars

Judd - Pretty obvious really. He's a champ through and through
Murphy - This kid will tear the AFL apart this year and will be the talk of the town. Mark it in.
Fevola - Back to his form of 2006 with a stable and performing side. Consistency may well see him win the Coleman

Surprise packets

Jackson - Slips under everyone's radar. Will be fantastic for us next year, hopefully as that tagger that the CFC really need. He's definately one to look out for.

Hartlett - Quite a lot of doubters on this forum, but i am a firm believer. If he can't knuckle down CHF will be a very good backman for us if staying injury free.

Blackwell - Doubters for him too. Theres no doubt this kid can perform - he just needs to take it up a notch at AFL level. Imho we'll see it next year. Should now feel more confident into his fourth (third?) year at the club. There's something about him I've liked for quite a while now, just can't put a finger on it.

Strugglers

Saddington - Will really struggle this year. My guess is that he'll be a permanent fixture in the Bullants. Just can't hold his man down, which is what a backman needs to do, and what the CFC desperately need in a backman.

Cloke - ahhh, now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of his - but i honestly think he may find it very hard this year to cement a position in the side. I hope for his sake he can, as his tap work shows marks of brilliance at times, but he just isn't tall enough to compete consistently against taller opposition.