The Blues would begin Season 2007 with a bang by winning the 2007 NAB Cup against the Brisbane Lions, our fourth Pre-Season / Night Series Premiership.
The Blues started the better and were playing with greater skill, purpose and intensity than in 2006. Just before half time they held a 38 point lead but 2 late goals to the Bombers brought the margin back to 22 points. They struggled to maintain their intensity in the second half, while the Bombers lifted theirs but unlike so many occasions in 2006, managed to hold on to record a 4 point victory, thanks to vital last quarter goals from the experienced Nick Stevens and Matthew Lappin. A couple of errors deep in defence in the last quarter kept the Bombers closer than we would have liked (Alwyn Davey converted only one of the two), but the Blues would prevail.
2006 Coleman medalist Brendan Fevola picked up from where he left off, kicking 5 of his team's 11 goals, the only multiple goal scorer. Jarrad Waite made a promising start to a new role at centre half back, reading the play well and providing plenty of rebound, while keeping Lucas quiet. Setanta Ó hAilpín looked like he had a future at full back, keeping Lloyd to just 2 goals. Ryan Houlihan with 25 possessions and Andrew Carrazzo with 23 were the major ball winners.
Nick Stevens led the midfield with 29 disposals, while Marc Murphy had 23 classy possessions (15 contested), including a 'supergoal' from outside 50m.
It was the first time from their six meetings that Carlton had defeated Hawthorn in a "Night/Pre-Season" match (two of these defeats had been in the 'Night' grand finals of 1977 and 1986). It was also the third time that they had played in Tasmania in a "Night/Pre-Season" match for Carlton's second win, the only defeat was in 1998 but the first in Launceston and under lights- the other two games played at the North Hobart oval during the day.
Brendan Fevola kicked 8 goals including one supergoal- the third time that he had scored 8 goals in a pre-season game (the others were in 2004 against Sydney and the 2005 Night Grand Final against West Coast). Eddie Betts and Marc Murphy each kicked 2 classy goals. Ryan Houlihan with 29 possessions and Heath Scotland and Nick Stevens with 28 were the major ball winners. Setanta Ó hAilpín was again effective at full back, this time having the better of Nathan Thompson.
Nick Stevens earned his second Michael Tuck Medal for best afield in a pre-season grand final (the earlier one with his former club Port Adelaide in 2002) and fourth pre-season premiership (two each with Carlton and Port Adelaide) in a game high 26 possession performance. Marc Murphy was also prominent with 22 and both players also had the most tackles- 6. Setanta Ó hAilpín, with a little help from Carlton's promising new defensive unit (see below), was again able to shut down Lions' powerhouse Jonathan Brown. Up forward, Brad Fisher and Brendan Fevola each kicked 4 goals. Fevola has now scored 85 goals from his 22 'Night/preseason games' since his 12 goal debut against Collingwood in the Millennium match on New Years Eve 1999- the most of any Carlton player.
The big question now was whether the Blues could continue that form into the season proper, rather than see a repeat of what happened after its 2005 Pre-Season Premiership.
Carlton achieved several 'firsts' during this 2007 Pre-Season campaign:
It was the first time that they had defeated either Hawthorn or Brisbane in a Pre-season match, won a Pre-Season game in Queensland and the first time that they had won consecutive Pre-Season matches interstate, which were also against sides that either played or were going to play some of their 'home' matches at the venues that these matches were played.
To put Carlton’s win in perspective they defeated sides that had finished in the 2006 season in 11th and 13th to 15th positions on the League Ladder.
During the 2007 Pre-Season all except one match was won by the side that finished lower on the League Ladder after the 2006 Season, the exception was the Geelong and Port Adelaide game in Darwin that had the scores level at full time and extra time was played where Port blow two changes to win this game in the tropical downpour.
For some images of this great evening, click here.
NAB Pre-Season Cup Round 1
|
Venue: Telstra Dome (Twilight) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sat 24 February, 2007 | Result: Win by 4 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: G Bandy, T Keating, S McBurney & S Ryan | Crowd: 28,568 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: NINE POINT: E Betts 1 SIX POINT: B Fevola 5, J Kennedy 1, L Whitnall 1, M Lappin 1, N Stevens 1, R Houlihan 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
While some sides treat the NAB Cup as a practice run and rest most of their stars, this clash between the two arch rivals was played with all the intensity of a regular game, with both sides determined to make up for poor 2006 seasons. Both went in with their best possible line ups, with very few regular players missing. The Bombers went in as favourites but the Blues would continue their tradition of upsetting their arch rivals by less than a kick.The Blues started the better and were playing with greater skill, purpose and intensity than in 2006. Just before half time they held a 38 point lead but 2 late goals to the Bombers brought the margin back to 22 points. They struggled to maintain their intensity in the second half, while the Bombers lifted theirs but unlike so many occasions in 2006, managed to hold on to record a 4 point victory, thanks to vital last quarter goals from the experienced Nick Stevens and Matthew Lappin. A couple of errors deep in defence in the last quarter kept the Bombers closer than we would have liked (Alwyn Davey converted only one of the two), but the Blues would prevail.
2006 Coleman medalist Brendan Fevola picked up from where he left off, kicking 5 of his team's 11 goals, the only multiple goal scorer. Jarrad Waite made a promising start to a new role at centre half back, reading the play well and providing plenty of rebound, while keeping Lucas quiet. Setanta Ó hAilpín looked like he had a future at full back, keeping Lloyd to just 2 goals. Ryan Houlihan with 25 possessions and Andrew Carrazzo with 23 were the major ball winners.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 4 Bryce Gibbs |
| C: | 12 Matthew Lappin | 24 Nick Stevens | 29 Heath Scotland |
| HF: | 6 Kade Simpson | 8 Lance Whitnall | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 14 Brad Fisher | 25 Brendan Fevola | 5 Josh Kennedy |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 2 Jordan Russell | 19 Eddie Betts |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 9 Jason Saddington | 44 Andrew Carrazzo |
| 41 Ross Young | 28 Cameron Cloke | 38 Ryan Jackson | |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Quarter Final
|
Venue: Aurora Stadium (York Park), Launceston (Twilight) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sat 3 March, 2007 | Result: Win by 7 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: M Ellis, M Head, S Jeffery & H Kennedy | Crowd: 15,412 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: NINE POINT: M Murphy 1 SIX POINT: B Fevola 2, C Ackland 2, A Carrazzo 2, J Kennedy 1, B Fisher 1 & E Betts 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
After an even first quarter, the Blues gained the ascendency in the second term, taking a 10 point lead at half time. They remained slightly ahead (8 points) at the final change but a 'supergoal' from the Hawks early in the final quarter tied the scores up. The Blues responded with Andrew Carrazzo kicking an important pressure goal, his second for the game, to run out 7 point winners and advance to the semi finals.Nick Stevens led the midfield with 29 disposals, while Marc Murphy had 23 classy possessions (15 contested), including a 'supergoal' from outside 50m.
It was the first time from their six meetings that Carlton had defeated Hawthorn in a "Night/Pre-Season" match (two of these defeats had been in the 'Night' grand finals of 1977 and 1986). It was also the third time that they had played in Tasmania in a "Night/Pre-Season" match for Carlton's second win, the only defeat was in 1998 but the first in Launceston and under lights- the other two games played at the North Hobart oval during the day.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 29 Heath Scotland |
| C: | 12 Matthew Lappin | 24 Nick Stevens | 2 Jordan Russell |
| HF: | 14 Brad Fisher | 8 Lance Whitnall | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 5 Josh Kennedy |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 44 Andrew Carrazzo | 6 Kade Simpson |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 9 Jason Saddington | 4 Bryce Gibbs |
| 7 Adam Bentick | 28 Cameron Cloke | 38 Ryan Jackson | |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
| In: | Adam Bentick | ||
| Out: | Ross Young | ||
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Semi-Final
|
Venue: Gold Coast Stadium (Night) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sat 10 March, 2007 (Night) | Result: Win by15 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: R Chamberlain, S Grun, M Stevic, M Vozzo | Crowd: 7,228 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: NINE POINT: B Fevola 1 SIX POINT: B Fevola 7 M Murphy 2 E Betts 2 B Fisher N Stevens 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
After an even one and a half quarters, the Kangaroos kicked 8 unanswered goals to take a 6 goal lead and seemed to have the game in control midway through the third quarter. But the Blues refused to give in and kicked the next 10 in a row to end up winning by 15 points and make their second Pre-season cup Grand Final in 3 years. The Roos were kept scoreless for all but the last minutes of the final quarter, such was the Blues domination.Brendan Fevola kicked 8 goals including one supergoal- the third time that he had scored 8 goals in a pre-season game (the others were in 2004 against Sydney and the 2005 Night Grand Final against West Coast). Eddie Betts and Marc Murphy each kicked 2 classy goals. Ryan Houlihan with 29 possessions and Heath Scotland and Nick Stevens with 28 were the major ball winners. Setanta Ó hAilpín was again effective at full back, this time having the better of Nathan Thompson.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 2 Jordan Russell |
| C: | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 24 Nick Stevens | 6 Kade Simpson |
| HF: | 14 Brad Fisher | 23 Adam Hartlett | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 8 Lance Whitnall |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 29 Heath Scotland | 44 Andrew Carrazzo |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 12 Matthew Lappin | 18 Paul Bower |
| 7 Adam Bentick | 28 Cameron Cloke | 38 Ryan Jackson | |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
| In: | Paul Bower, Adam Hartlett | ||
| Out: | Jason Saddington, Josh Kennedy | ||
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Grand Final
|
Venue: Telstra Dome, Docklands (Night) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sat 17 March, 2007 | Result: Win by 25 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: Stevic, Vozzo, Ryan, Jeffery. | Crowd: 46, 094 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: NINE POINT: B Fisher 1, A Carrazzo 1 SIX POINT: B Fevola 4, B Fisher 3, H Scotland, A Koutoufides, J Russell, N Stevens & L Whitnall 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
There was little in the game early, the Blues a little more efficient and the Lions gave away a 9 pointer from a 50 m penalty, which saw the Blues 8 points up at the first change, despite having fewer possessions and inside 50's. The Lions appeared to then take control and were 14 points up just before half time. But the Blues kicked 7 unanswered goals to take control of the match. The Lions fought back, to get within 12 points but the Blues had the answers and went on to score a 25 point victory, their second Pre-season Premiership in 3 years.Nick Stevens earned his second Michael Tuck Medal for best afield in a pre-season grand final (the earlier one with his former club Port Adelaide in 2002) and fourth pre-season premiership (two each with Carlton and Port Adelaide) in a game high 26 possession performance. Marc Murphy was also prominent with 22 and both players also had the most tackles- 6. Setanta Ó hAilpín, with a little help from Carlton's promising new defensive unit (see below), was again able to shut down Lions' powerhouse Jonathan Brown. Up forward, Brad Fisher and Brendan Fevola each kicked 4 goals. Fevola has now scored 85 goals from his 22 'Night/preseason games' since his 12 goal debut against Collingwood in the Millennium match on New Years Eve 1999- the most of any Carlton player.
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Premiership Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 29 Heath Scotland |
| C: | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 24 Nick Stevens | 6 Kade Simpson |
| HF: | 14 Brad Fisher | 8 Lance Whitnall (c) | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 5 Josh Kennedy |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 2 Jordan Russell | 7 Adam Bentick |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 12 Matthew Lappin | 34 Simon Wiggins |
| 23 Adam Hartlett | 28 Cameron Cloke | 44 Andrew Carrazzo | |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
| In: | Simon Wiggins, Josh Kennedy | ||
| Out: | Ryan Jackson, Paul Bower | ||
The big question now was whether the Blues could continue that form into the season proper, rather than see a repeat of what happened after its 2005 Pre-Season Premiership.
Carlton achieved several 'firsts' during this 2007 Pre-Season campaign:
It was the first time that they had defeated either Hawthorn or Brisbane in a Pre-season match, won a Pre-Season game in Queensland and the first time that they had won consecutive Pre-Season matches interstate, which were also against sides that either played or were going to play some of their 'home' matches at the venues that these matches were played.
To put Carlton’s win in perspective they defeated sides that had finished in the 2006 season in 11th and 13th to 15th positions on the League Ladder.
During the 2007 Pre-Season all except one match was won by the side that finished lower on the League Ladder after the 2006 Season, the exception was the Geelong and Port Adelaide game in Darwin that had the scores level at full time and extra time was played where Port blow two changes to win this game in the tropical downpour.
For some images of this great evening, click here.
Multimedia
Mike and Dan Article
Apples and Oranges: The Blues of 2007
So Carlton has again won a Pre-Season Premiership, but the 2005 precedent means that this means nothing, right? Or does it? Well, last week’s press spent a fair amount of time rehashing the stunning 2005 Pre-Season Premiership by rubbishing our equally stunning failure to convert the win into anything other than Marc Murphy (Incidentally, that’s a conversion I’m happy to take). But this week, in the aftermath of our 4th Pre-Season Flag the press has cottoned on to what most Carlton diehards have been focusing on for a while now – the emergence of our younger brigade and the beginning of our much-anticipated Carlton revival.
Now no one is talking as though we are formally back in the game...yet. All we are saying is that we’ve improved, we’re improving, and that you should jump on board as the top kids picked over the last few years take the game on and learn to win. Yes, we all know that we beat 4 Bottom 8 teams of 2006 in coming to the Flag but if you always beat Bottom 8 teams…Guess What? You are likely to make it to the finals! That’s the challenge.
The Blues of 2007 are a far different story than that of 2005, and there’s a few key reasons for that. Let’s have a look at who is in and who was out from a simple 2 year time comparison between Pre-Season Premiership teams:
In:
Out:
Adam Bentick
Adrian Deluca
Adam Hartlett
Barnaby French
Brad Fisher
Callum Chambers
Bryce Gibbs
Cory McGrath
Cain Ackland
David Teague
Cameron Cloke
Digby Morrell
Eddie Betts
Ian Prendergast
Jarrad Waite
Jordon Bannister
Jordan Russell
Justin Davies
Josh Kennedy
Luke Livingston
Marc Murphy
Scott Camporeale
Setanta o'hAilpin
Trent Sporn
Only 12 of the Blues who took the field on Saturday night also took the field 2 years ago. That’s half the team in just on 24 months – quite a turnover. There are some current senior players who were absentees from 2005, but if you can recall Fish was still in ‘ACL-Land’, Waite was injured and Cloke and Ackland were donning the ugly colours (Cloke can’t even say that) of others. The other 8 inclusions are all recent draftees and rookies to the Blues. Of the ‘Outs’ only 2 remain at Carlton, Bannister and Teague.
In fact, looking through these two lists and one thing that is very noticeable is the relative ages of the groups. On respective game days, the ‘Ins’ are a massive 3 years younger than their ‘Out’ counterparts were in 2005.
Out:
DOB
Age as at 12/03/2005
In:
DOB
Age as at 17/3/2007
Luke Livingston
11/04/1982
22.9
Setanta o'hAilpin
18/03/1983
24.0
Jordon Bannister
31/10/1982
22.4
Jarrad Waite
4/02/1983
24.1
David Teague
5/05/1981
23.9
Cameron Cloke
20/02/1984
23.1
Trent Sporn
23/09/1982
22.5
Adam Hartlett
22/04/1986
20.9
Callum Chambers
19/11/1979
25.3
Jordan Russell
6/11/1986
20.4
Scott Camporeale
11/08/1975
29.6
Marc Murphy
19/07/1987
19.7
Digby Morrell
10/10/1979
25.4
Josh Kennedy
25/08/1987
19.6
Barnaby French
25/11/1975
29.3
Cain Ackland
16/03/1982
25.0
Cory McGrath
4/02/1979
26.1
Brad Fisher
9/04/1984
23.0
Justin Davies
7/07/1983
21.7
Eddie Betts
26/11/1986
20.3
Adrian Deluca
15/05/1982
22.8
Adam Bentick
13/06/1985
21.8
Ian Prendergast
2/09/1980
24.5
Bryce Gibbs
15/03/1989
18.0
Average
24.7
Average
21.7
Most noticeably above the Blues hit the Grand Final with 3 teenagers and a further 3 fellows just shy of their 21st birthday. Of course, the 12 players who have played in both Pre-Season Premiership teams (Koutoufides, Whitnall, Carrazzo, Thornton, Stevens, Houlihan, Walker, Fevola, Lappin, Scotland, Wiggins and Simpson), have aged 2 years in that time. But even the simple among us can see that if half your team are 3 years younger on average and the other half are 2 years older….funny, I’m having flashbacks to Grade 5 Maths classes so perhaps we should just leave that.
The second point you may notice is the relative height of the new Blues. Now back in 2005 we had two pretty tall ruckmen take the field for us, with Barnaby French and Adrian Deluca manning the ball-ups. These days we have 2 smaller ruckman in Cloke and Ackland taking the ruck. Before adjusting for the ruck, the heights of the 2 groups are almost identical – basically ½ a centimeter to the ‘New’ guys. But if you adjust for the 2 ruckmen, the new Blues are almost 3 centimetres taller. As you’ve probably picked up, the Blues are building a taller and faster outfit, with all 2007 Draftees (National Draft) 188cm and above – and pretty fast for their heights. So in addition to the list above you have a handful of youngsters chomping at the bit to add to that comparison, plus the yet-to-be-seen Jake Edwards who will make an impact – don’t doubt that for a second.
We’ve already touched on the third point – pace. This is a bit harder for us to measure from the outer but the press is agog with the pace of our new defence, with Setanta and Waite being supreme athletes in the back half and up-field Betts and Russell joining the reaction pace of Murphy and Gibbs. Again, add some of our younger Blues that we’re yet to see including Edwards, Benjamin and Anderson and you realise that the story you’ve seen is only the opening chapters of a Big Blue Book that surely has a happy conclusion.
Finally, and there’s no other way to put it, but the ‘Ins’ are better than what we had in 2005. Consider the inclusion of class inherent in being able to select 2 #1 draft picks plus a further 2 top 10 picks (Kennedy and Russell) and what that means for the talent levels of any team.
In a world first linking of a football article to the artistic talents of Guy Sebastian, the Blues are ‘taller, stronger, faster’ and better than a few years ago. Now, the challenge has to be to convert the hope on our list and from the weekend’s performance into the real season. To paraphrase Denis Pagan - we’ve come a long way and there is a long way to go, but the journey itself is filled with a gush of new blood that promises much for the future of the Carlton Football Club.
Mike & Dan have sourced the information for this article from the Blueseum, particularly the 2005 Pre-Season and the 2007 Pre-Season links.
Now no one is talking as though we are formally back in the game...yet. All we are saying is that we’ve improved, we’re improving, and that you should jump on board as the top kids picked over the last few years take the game on and learn to win. Yes, we all know that we beat 4 Bottom 8 teams of 2006 in coming to the Flag but if you always beat Bottom 8 teams…Guess What? You are likely to make it to the finals! That’s the challenge.
The Blues of 2007 are a far different story than that of 2005, and there’s a few key reasons for that. Let’s have a look at who is in and who was out from a simple 2 year time comparison between Pre-Season Premiership teams:
In:
Out:
Adam Bentick
Adrian Deluca
Adam Hartlett
Barnaby French
Brad Fisher
Callum Chambers
Bryce Gibbs
Cory McGrath
Cain Ackland
David Teague
Cameron Cloke
Digby Morrell
Eddie Betts
Ian Prendergast
Jarrad Waite
Jordon Bannister
Jordan Russell
Justin Davies
Josh Kennedy
Luke Livingston
Marc Murphy
Scott Camporeale
Setanta o'hAilpin
Trent Sporn
Only 12 of the Blues who took the field on Saturday night also took the field 2 years ago. That’s half the team in just on 24 months – quite a turnover. There are some current senior players who were absentees from 2005, but if you can recall Fish was still in ‘ACL-Land’, Waite was injured and Cloke and Ackland were donning the ugly colours (Cloke can’t even say that) of others. The other 8 inclusions are all recent draftees and rookies to the Blues. Of the ‘Outs’ only 2 remain at Carlton, Bannister and Teague.
In fact, looking through these two lists and one thing that is very noticeable is the relative ages of the groups. On respective game days, the ‘Ins’ are a massive 3 years younger than their ‘Out’ counterparts were in 2005.
Out:
DOB
Age as at 12/03/2005
In:
DOB
Age as at 17/3/2007
Luke Livingston
11/04/1982
22.9
Setanta o'hAilpin
18/03/1983
24.0
Jordon Bannister
31/10/1982
22.4
Jarrad Waite
4/02/1983
24.1
David Teague
5/05/1981
23.9
Cameron Cloke
20/02/1984
23.1
Trent Sporn
23/09/1982
22.5
Adam Hartlett
22/04/1986
20.9
Callum Chambers
19/11/1979
25.3
Jordan Russell
6/11/1986
20.4
Scott Camporeale
11/08/1975
29.6
Marc Murphy
19/07/1987
19.7
Digby Morrell
10/10/1979
25.4
Josh Kennedy
25/08/1987
19.6
Barnaby French
25/11/1975
29.3
Cain Ackland
16/03/1982
25.0
Cory McGrath
4/02/1979
26.1
Brad Fisher
9/04/1984
23.0
Justin Davies
7/07/1983
21.7
Eddie Betts
26/11/1986
20.3
Adrian Deluca
15/05/1982
22.8
Adam Bentick
13/06/1985
21.8
Ian Prendergast
2/09/1980
24.5
Bryce Gibbs
15/03/1989
18.0
Average
24.7
Average
21.7
Most noticeably above the Blues hit the Grand Final with 3 teenagers and a further 3 fellows just shy of their 21st birthday. Of course, the 12 players who have played in both Pre-Season Premiership teams (Koutoufides, Whitnall, Carrazzo, Thornton, Stevens, Houlihan, Walker, Fevola, Lappin, Scotland, Wiggins and Simpson), have aged 2 years in that time. But even the simple among us can see that if half your team are 3 years younger on average and the other half are 2 years older….funny, I’m having flashbacks to Grade 5 Maths classes so perhaps we should just leave that.
The second point you may notice is the relative height of the new Blues. Now back in 2005 we had two pretty tall ruckmen take the field for us, with Barnaby French and Adrian Deluca manning the ball-ups. These days we have 2 smaller ruckman in Cloke and Ackland taking the ruck. Before adjusting for the ruck, the heights of the 2 groups are almost identical – basically ½ a centimeter to the ‘New’ guys. But if you adjust for the 2 ruckmen, the new Blues are almost 3 centimetres taller. As you’ve probably picked up, the Blues are building a taller and faster outfit, with all 2007 Draftees (National Draft) 188cm and above – and pretty fast for their heights. So in addition to the list above you have a handful of youngsters chomping at the bit to add to that comparison, plus the yet-to-be-seen Jake Edwards who will make an impact – don’t doubt that for a second.
We’ve already touched on the third point – pace. This is a bit harder for us to measure from the outer but the press is agog with the pace of our new defence, with Setanta and Waite being supreme athletes in the back half and up-field Betts and Russell joining the reaction pace of Murphy and Gibbs. Again, add some of our younger Blues that we’re yet to see including Edwards, Benjamin and Anderson and you realise that the story you’ve seen is only the opening chapters of a Big Blue Book that surely has a happy conclusion.
Finally, and there’s no other way to put it, but the ‘Ins’ are better than what we had in 2005. Consider the inclusion of class inherent in being able to select 2 #1 draft picks plus a further 2 top 10 picks (Kennedy and Russell) and what that means for the talent levels of any team.
In a world first linking of a football article to the artistic talents of Guy Sebastian, the Blues are ‘taller, stronger, faster’ and better than a few years ago. Now, the challenge has to be to convert the hope on our list and from the weekend’s performance into the real season. To paraphrase Denis Pagan - we’ve come a long way and there is a long way to go, but the journey itself is filled with a gush of new blood that promises much for the future of the Carlton Football Club.
Mike & Dan have sourced the information for this article from the Blueseum, particularly the 2005 Pre-Season and the 2007 Pre-Season links.