Quote:The Blues' midfield coach John Barker is adamant that [Zac] Williams' speed makes him perfectly suited to playing an explosive role in a midfield already well stocked with raging bulls and endurance beasts.

"He is an electric footballer," Barker said.

"I don't think his tank is going to be an issue at all. We're happy with his burst ability and his repeat speed and it is great to have a midfield with a diverse mix of running abilities."

The 26-year-old Williams brings to Carlton a quality they have lacked, with skipper Patrick Cripps a big-bodied contested-ball genius and Sam Walsh emerging as an elite inside-outside hybrid.

Add to that trio some depth in Marc Murphy, Will Setterfield, Matt Kennedy, Ed Curnow and Jack Newnes, as well as some unfulfilled promise in Paddy Dow, Lachie Fogarty, David Cuningham and Sam Philp, and Barker has plenty of players who can ease the load that Cripps' surgically repaired shoulders have carried.

Whether Williams becomes a free agent to change the club's fortunes, as some others have, remains to be seen but the Blues aren't seeing him as that type of recruit anyway.

Barker said he adds to the mix which will make the Blues less reliant on Cripps to win contested ball in congestion in 2021 and more able to work their way cleanly from congestion than they have been able to in recent seasons.

The mix presents Carlton with the chance to move Cripps forward more often. Most importantly, it will allow Carlton to shift their shape around the ball, making them much less predictable to opponents.

Cripps didn't need much convincing as to what adjustments were necessary to improve the team.

"The great thing about 'Crippa' is that team is everything to him so he will play his role when he has to defensively and he doesn't always have to be the bull," Barker said.

"He is good with that because he knows there is a place we are trying to get to and that is going to help us get there."

The Blues' Jack Martin is also training with the midfield group at the moment as his toughness and versatility is an asset and Barker is supremely confident Dow can eventually become the player supporters hoped he could when he was chosen at pick three in the 2017 national draft.

"He's a good player. He just has to put it together," Barker said.

(01-20-2021, 11:57 PM)DJC date Wrote:Some thoughts from Johnny Barker:

So, Williams is shaping up as the midfielder we were hoping for and Martin will spend more time in the midfield.

I t would be helpful for our best 22 selections if we knew who was training with each group 

(01-21-2021, 12:54 AM)LP link Wrote:FWIW, I think playing Martin for bursts in the midfield is a no-brainer, as long as we do not expect defensive run from him, a stint in the midfield sets him free from defenders and there are few midfield opponents or taggers who could match him overhead if he floats into F50 as a option from out of the midfield.

Of course our lot hitting him as a target is a whole different kettle of fish! :

(02-17-2021, 05:13 AM)ElwoodBlues1 date Wrote:I think Durdin or Fogarty will play round 1 and would probably replace Cuningham in that team.

(02-17-2021, 05:17 AM)LP link Wrote:Cunningham looks surely to become another Carazzo type, and come good at another club!

He looks like he needs the shot across the bow.

(02-17-2021, 05:13 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:I think Durdin or Fogarty will play round 1 and would probably replace Cuningham in that team.

(02-17-2021, 04:30 AM)DJC link Wrote:The Inner Sanctum has the following as our Round 1 line-up:

B: Lachie Plowman – Liam Jones – Tom Williamson

HB: Sam Docherty – Jacob Weitering – Adam Saad

C: Jack Newnes – Patrick Cripps – David Cuningham

HF: Jack Martin – Levi Casboult – Marc Murphy

F: Zac Fisher – Harry McKay – Michael Gibbons

R: Marc Pittonet – Sam Walsh – Zac Williams

I/C: Sam Petrevski-Seton – Ed Curnow – Will Setterfield – Nic Newman       

https://www.theinnersanctum.com.au/afl-2021-season-preview-carlton/?fbclid=IwAR07ZnLETQKXZnVQkY33gddQSMbZMy1igVe8qGa021cRes4Nn-Qlljt7DGA

I reckon that's got to be close to the mark.