Despite what opposition fans may say, we certainly have a squad full of potential and I think it is premiership material in a few years. After the 3 great youngsters we drafted today, looking through the team list, you can't help but get excited. Remember, the key word is potential. We have it, but it is a matter of using it.
Let's taken a look at the areas of our team.
Ruck:
Jeff White will be 27 when the next season starts. It's now or never for him. We know what he can do, but injuries and bad form meant he hasn't shown his full potential. If he can, then it's great for us. If he can't, then we have two very capable back-ups. Darren Jolly is 22 years old and ready to step up to the big time. Last year, he showed lots of promise and was more influential than White at times. This year, expect to see him step up even more. Mark Jamar is only 19 but has developed well and is able to play seniors this early in his career. Both these two youngsters are strongly built ruckmen, unlike Jeff White who is more of an athletic type. These are pretty much the only three ruckmen on our list.
Midfield:
Yze is a gun and with the right supporting cast and a fully fit year, he will show his true value. He is a match winner on his day and is vital to our success. Johnstone is undoubtedly the best talent in the team, but hasn't fully showed it. If he can, perhaps with the help of champion Brett Ratten in the midfield coaching staff, then he has the capability to set the league on fire. Yze is 26 and has plenty left in the tank, and Johnstone is only 23. Chris Heffernan also has stacks of talent, but like the other two, needs inside players around him to help his game. A great talent at only 25 years old, he should become a more important player in his second season at the club. Cameron Bruce is another gun, and is future captain material. He is 24, has great skills, a smart head on his shoulders, is very versatile and can kick goals.
James McDonald is one of our inside midfielders who had a great season. He is 27 and has limited potential, so I don't know how many more years he will have at the club. Simon Godfrey is similar to McDonald, except he is more of a tagger/scrapper, but has less skill. He is only 23 but will have to work hard to keep his spot at the club, especially with these youngsters coming through. Guy Rigoni is the veteran of our team at 29 years old. He is a tough player with a booming kick, but injuries have prevented him throughout his last few seasons. He has maybe on or two years left in him, but certainly helps out when he plays.
Now to the youngsters. Steven Armstrong is an exciting player with class written all over him. He is an outside midfielder and will probably find himself playing on a wing or up forward. Turns 20 soon and will start more games on the field hopefully. Scott Thompson is a young, tough midfield who turns 21 next year. Hopefully he will get more game time too, providing strength for our classy midfielders. He could be very good for us after some promising seasons. Adam Fisher is another tough midfielder, who turns 20 next season. Yet to taste league action, he looks like a prospect who will come on to the scene in the next season or two. Daniel Bell was taken last year after Woewodin was traded off. A 19 year old who is pretty powerful and skillful, should expect some more game time next year and is rated very highly, possibly a future captain as some have claimed. Cameron Hunter is a lightly built player who could be exciting for us. Got some playing time late this year, but needs time to develop. He will be 20 years old next season and is the son of former Carlton great Ken Hunter.
Finally, the draftees of today. First was Colin Slyvia, the highly rated midfielder who is strong, smart, courageous, skillful and a good leader. He is such an exciting player that certain people have already proclaimed him as God.
Brock Mclean was taken today at number five. Toguh as nails and a body bigger than most his age, he has a great fighting spirit and nevers gives up in a contest. Could be ready to step into league footy straight away. Chris Johnson was taken under the father-son rule. He comes about a decade and a bit after his father Alan retired. I am not too sure about his style, but he as touted as a potential top 20. So a great value deal there.
Other players who can add something to the midfield are Brad Green, Matthew Whelan, Peter Walsh, Daniel Ward, Luke Williams and Nathan Brown, but except for the first two, they don't generally play there.
Other positions soon.
Let's taken a look at the areas of our team.
Ruck:
Jeff White will be 27 when the next season starts. It's now or never for him. We know what he can do, but injuries and bad form meant he hasn't shown his full potential. If he can, then it's great for us. If he can't, then we have two very capable back-ups. Darren Jolly is 22 years old and ready to step up to the big time. Last year, he showed lots of promise and was more influential than White at times. This year, expect to see him step up even more. Mark Jamar is only 19 but has developed well and is able to play seniors this early in his career. Both these two youngsters are strongly built ruckmen, unlike Jeff White who is more of an athletic type. These are pretty much the only three ruckmen on our list.
Midfield:
Yze is a gun and with the right supporting cast and a fully fit year, he will show his true value. He is a match winner on his day and is vital to our success. Johnstone is undoubtedly the best talent in the team, but hasn't fully showed it. If he can, perhaps with the help of champion Brett Ratten in the midfield coaching staff, then he has the capability to set the league on fire. Yze is 26 and has plenty left in the tank, and Johnstone is only 23. Chris Heffernan also has stacks of talent, but like the other two, needs inside players around him to help his game. A great talent at only 25 years old, he should become a more important player in his second season at the club. Cameron Bruce is another gun, and is future captain material. He is 24, has great skills, a smart head on his shoulders, is very versatile and can kick goals.
James McDonald is one of our inside midfielders who had a great season. He is 27 and has limited potential, so I don't know how many more years he will have at the club. Simon Godfrey is similar to McDonald, except he is more of a tagger/scrapper, but has less skill. He is only 23 but will have to work hard to keep his spot at the club, especially with these youngsters coming through. Guy Rigoni is the veteran of our team at 29 years old. He is a tough player with a booming kick, but injuries have prevented him throughout his last few seasons. He has maybe on or two years left in him, but certainly helps out when he plays.
Now to the youngsters. Steven Armstrong is an exciting player with class written all over him. He is an outside midfielder and will probably find himself playing on a wing or up forward. Turns 20 soon and will start more games on the field hopefully. Scott Thompson is a young, tough midfield who turns 21 next year. Hopefully he will get more game time too, providing strength for our classy midfielders. He could be very good for us after some promising seasons. Adam Fisher is another tough midfielder, who turns 20 next season. Yet to taste league action, he looks like a prospect who will come on to the scene in the next season or two. Daniel Bell was taken last year after Woewodin was traded off. A 19 year old who is pretty powerful and skillful, should expect some more game time next year and is rated very highly, possibly a future captain as some have claimed. Cameron Hunter is a lightly built player who could be exciting for us. Got some playing time late this year, but needs time to develop. He will be 20 years old next season and is the son of former Carlton great Ken Hunter.
Finally, the draftees of today. First was Colin Slyvia, the highly rated midfielder who is strong, smart, courageous, skillful and a good leader. He is such an exciting player that certain people have already proclaimed him as God.
Brock Mclean was taken today at number five. Toguh as nails and a body bigger than most his age, he has a great fighting spirit and nevers gives up in a contest. Could be ready to step into league footy straight away. Chris Johnson was taken under the father-son rule. He comes about a decade and a bit after his father Alan retired. I am not too sure about his style, but he as touted as a potential top 20. So a great value deal there.Other players who can add something to the midfield are Brad Green, Matthew Whelan, Peter Walsh, Daniel Ward, Luke Williams and Nathan Brown, but except for the first two, they don't generally play there.
Other positions soon.
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