Bronx Bomber
Club Legend
Carlton has got through a 50-minute intra-club match in Shepparton without incident, with the young and considerably bulkier Andrew Walker claiming the limelight.
Eye-catching performances from the now injury-free Jarrad Waite and Trent Sporn suggested they are primed for a strong 2005, and forward Lance Whitnall's new slimline figure saw him leaping and leading with ease.
Eighteen-year-old Walker, who played a memorable debut match last year, gathered 11 touches in the midfield over the two 25-minute quarters played in sweltering and gusty conditions at Rumbalara Oval in Shepparton.
Waite, who missed half of last year with stress fractures of the foot, collected 10. And Sporn, whose development has been stuttered by injury over a three-year career, gathered seven.
"He's probably put seven or eight kilos on since last year," Carlton coach Denis Pagan said of 15-gamer Walker, who played on-ball during Tuesday afternoon's match.
"I figure he's gone from a boy to a man now. He's only 18…he's matured a hell of a lot, I just hope it can carry on to the home-and-away season."
"Walker 18, Jarrad 21, are really going forward. You look at Jarrad and he's 96-kilos, six foot four-and-a-half, he's just your prototype and he's just what you want your recruits or new players to be like."
Whitnall had seven touches and kicked one goal, and having improved his fitness dramatically this off-season looked considerably more agile on the field.
"You can certainly see a difference. The amount of leading, how much higher Lance was jumping, and it was a real positive. I think that he could nearly be our best recruit, Lance," Pagan said.
Meanwhile, former West Coast Eagle Callum Chambers flaunted his pace in the midfield, picked up seven touches, kicked two snap goals and narrowly missed another. Ryan Houlihan, Simon Wiggins and Brett Johnson were other solid performers.
Brendan Fevola kicked two second half majors after having about five shots. But the most exciting goal of the match was scored by new recruit Eddie Betts, who after evading a pack snapped a seemingly fluky major.
"He did some exciting things in the first part of the game. There's no ceiling on Eddie, or a lot of the young players," Pagan said.
"He's got that sort of talent that only indigenous boys have got. He can make something out of nothing, he can turn on a sixpence, he's certainly some talent. I just hope he continues to grow and get better because he's going to be very exciting to watch for the Carlton supporters in years to come."
Matthew Lappin was rested, and Brad Fisher (knee), Adrian Deluca (foot) and Troy Longmuir (groin) didn't play. Captain Anthony Koutoufides and experienced midfielder Scott Camporeale only played a half each.
GOALS: Blue: Betts, S O'hAilpin, Pleming
White: Chambers, Fevola 2, Prendergast, Waite, Walker, Whitnall, Wiggins
Eye-catching performances from the now injury-free Jarrad Waite and Trent Sporn suggested they are primed for a strong 2005, and forward Lance Whitnall's new slimline figure saw him leaping and leading with ease.
Eighteen-year-old Walker, who played a memorable debut match last year, gathered 11 touches in the midfield over the two 25-minute quarters played in sweltering and gusty conditions at Rumbalara Oval in Shepparton.
Waite, who missed half of last year with stress fractures of the foot, collected 10. And Sporn, whose development has been stuttered by injury over a three-year career, gathered seven.
"He's probably put seven or eight kilos on since last year," Carlton coach Denis Pagan said of 15-gamer Walker, who played on-ball during Tuesday afternoon's match.
"I figure he's gone from a boy to a man now. He's only 18…he's matured a hell of a lot, I just hope it can carry on to the home-and-away season."
"Walker 18, Jarrad 21, are really going forward. You look at Jarrad and he's 96-kilos, six foot four-and-a-half, he's just your prototype and he's just what you want your recruits or new players to be like."
Whitnall had seven touches and kicked one goal, and having improved his fitness dramatically this off-season looked considerably more agile on the field.
"You can certainly see a difference. The amount of leading, how much higher Lance was jumping, and it was a real positive. I think that he could nearly be our best recruit, Lance," Pagan said.
Meanwhile, former West Coast Eagle Callum Chambers flaunted his pace in the midfield, picked up seven touches, kicked two snap goals and narrowly missed another. Ryan Houlihan, Simon Wiggins and Brett Johnson were other solid performers.
Brendan Fevola kicked two second half majors after having about five shots. But the most exciting goal of the match was scored by new recruit Eddie Betts, who after evading a pack snapped a seemingly fluky major.
"He did some exciting things in the first part of the game. There's no ceiling on Eddie, or a lot of the young players," Pagan said.
"He's got that sort of talent that only indigenous boys have got. He can make something out of nothing, he can turn on a sixpence, he's certainly some talent. I just hope he continues to grow and get better because he's going to be very exciting to watch for the Carlton supporters in years to come."
Matthew Lappin was rested, and Brad Fisher (knee), Adrian Deluca (foot) and Troy Longmuir (groin) didn't play. Captain Anthony Koutoufides and experienced midfielder Scott Camporeale only played a half each.
GOALS: Blue: Betts, S O'hAilpin, Pleming
White: Chambers, Fevola 2, Prendergast, Waite, Walker, Whitnall, Wiggins
