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After dwindling near the bottom of the table for the past five or six years finally Blues fans saw some light at the end of the tunnel. ‘Captain fantastic’ Chris Judd, Nick Stevens and a few youngsters named Gibbs, Murphy, Kreuzer and Grigg have got tongues flapping again in Lygon St. The Blues finished the season in 11th after playing some mighty exciting football against some of last years better sides, most notably their win against the Pies where Brendan Fevola had a field day at the ‘G’ and their come from behind win over the Doggies at the Docklands lots of positives and improving youngsters for the Navy Blues and a whole lot to build on coming into ’09.
Midfield Judd, Gibbs, Murphy, Stevens, Simpson crumbing the ruckwork of Kreuzer and Warnock… Mouth watering stuff for any die-hard Carlton fan and scary for the rest of the competition. Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Carrazzo or Scotland rotating through at some stage and also Mitch Robinson the number 40 draft pick who coach Brett Ratten said after the draft they thought was a possible top 10 pick, Robinson impressed me during his couple of games in the NAB cup and would be the cherry on top to what looms as a mighty midfield that is also capable of kicking goals. Forwards The Blues have a couple of exciting crumbers in Eddie Betts who is back after a knee injury last and young draft pick Chris Yarran. Yarran was picked at 6 in the draft, he is quick and by all accounts has some very silky skills, much like Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli last year the Blues will be hoping for immediate impact. Then you throw in Andrew Walker and Brad Fisher and all of a sudden it looks like, with the near perfect delivery from the midfield that the Blues could generate some goals… lots of them. Rucks
6th – 8th BEST LINE-UP If all fit this will be the best line-up for winning matches for the Blues in 2009. B: Andrew Carrazzo, Bret Thornton, Michael Jamison
Waite, Thornton and Jamison will have to hold down the key forwards, Ratten (Coach) has also talked up youngster Paul Bower who stands at 192cm as a possible candidate to be a big part of the Blues backline. If there is a flaw in the young Blues it is probably their ability to hold big gun forwards down, Waite is a genuine big name who would probably play forward if the Blues had a decent big backline but the other big defenders still have question marks over their heads. Carrazzo, Scotland and Grigg provide fantastic and often quick run off the halfback line and will probably be rotated through the centre when required, all in all not fantastic but should be competitive if the midfield and forwards can provide a score to defend.
Two Words… Brendan Fevola, 99 goals last year I am sure he will be wanting to go one better this year but are the Blues too reliant on him? No other Carlton player kicked more then 25 last year. Now that Warnock has come to the club and will assume more of the ruck duties with Kreuzer it will bring Cloke down forward which (for the Blues) will hopefully take so much focus/pressure off big ‘Fev’.
One of the club’s weaker areas last year but one full of experience for Matt Kreuzer now with 206cm Fremantle recruit Robbie Warnock working in tandem with him the Blues will be ready for action against some of the better ruck combo’s in the league. We should also see Cameron Cloke chime in for the occasional bounce as relief for the two big men.
The longest finals drought in Carltons history will surely end this year. With not a player on the list over 30 and only seven players over 25 we could see another Carlton dynasty in the not to distant future and the start of something pretty special this year…. oh how that sends shivers down the spine.
HB: Shaun Grigg, Jarrad Waite, Heath Scotland
Tags: 2009 Previews, Brendan Fevola, Chris Judd
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