Pick your 22 for Rounds 1 and 12

[PaulP]

With the possible exception of Rowe, that back line is not shabby by any means.

FB: Plowman  Rowe  Docherty
HB: Simpson  Weitering  Marchbank

[Amers]

Gee I reckon Rowe cops an unfair whack from people at times.....

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2017-03...s-sams-way

Through 2016 Rowe primarily sought consistency of performance, “and for the most part I was getting that”. The good judges saw that too, and so it was that Rowe finished equal sixth alongside Matthew Wright in the John Nicholls Medal.

It’s a matter of record that Rowe appeared in all 22 club matches and tallied the most game time of any of his Carlton contemporaries, averaging 95.45 per cent a game. It’s also a truism that Rowe was the AFL’s numero uno for one-percenters with 215 through the season proper.

IMO he has well and truly earned his spot in our best 22, as a KPD.

[PaulP]

Yes, he has earned his spot, but earning a spot is relative to who else is competing. He's an honest trier who has no doubt improved. But his ball use and decision making are both suss, and is the worst of those back 6 in these two aspects.

[DJC]

Yes, he has earned his spot, but earning a spot is relative to who else is competing. He's an honest trier who has no doubt improved. But his ball use and decision making are both suss, and is the worst of those back 6 in these two aspects.

... and first in the AFL for 1%ers

I certainly wouldn't rate him as the worst of that back 6 in terms of ball use and decision making.  Have you ever taken note of how many times Docherty turns the ball over?  And he plays as a loose man most of the time.  Rowe has a different role to the other defenders and he does it very well.  As the website article notes, those who vote on our B&F had him as our equal sixth best player.

[PaulP]

... and first in the AFL for 1%ers

I certainly wouldn't rate him as the worst of that back 6 in terms of ball use and decision making.  Have you ever taken note of how many times Docherty turns the ball over?  And he plays as a loose man most of the time.  Rowe has a different role to the other defenders and he does it very well.  As the website article notes, those who vote on our B&F had him as our equal sixth best player.

Yes he was 6th, but Doc the Turnover Merchant was 1st.

I'm not anti Rowe. If we want to be the team/club of our collective dreams, of our collective aspirations, we can't keep glossing over players weak points. Watch Rowe when he takes possession - his first instinct is for the quick hand ball or short pass off to a team mate. Whether by instinct or instruction, I know not. Maybe he simply needs to back himself more. 

[Thryleon]

The reason Carlton have been a struggling football club for the last 20 years, is because we look too much at what blokes don't do, rather than what they can and will do.

There is almost nothing wrong with Rowe's game.  He has a role, he plays it week in and out to the best of his abilities.

He doesn't get a game because there isnt a better alternative.  He beat out and out lasted Jamison who's body let him down, for the last few years.  He has battled adversity to get to where he is now.  Went from Sydney to Norwood and took the long hard road back to AFL footy.

Rowe will be superceded in time.  Not because he is found wanting, but someone will beat him out of the side, and there is no shame in that, but he will make players earn that spot irrespective of relative quality.  more talented players have come through Carlton and been found wanting, and its about time we celebrate attitude over ability because thats the only way we are going to get anywhere as a footy club.

[cookie2]

Rowe has his limitations without doubt but he is far from being the main reason we find ourselves in the current predicament. He has played in a defence that has been mercilessly exposed week in week out by very poor defensive efforts and skill errors further up the ground.

[LP]

Rowe has his limitations without doubt but he is far from being the main reason we find ourselves in the current predicament. He has played in a defence that has been mercilessly exposed week in week out by very poor defensive efforts and skill errors further up the ground.

x2

Having pace, smart players, or well drilled and motivated slower players, won't help you when the chases don't happen.

Good AFL teams only need one opponent running forward and not chasing for the flood gates to open up, we've offered most teams way more than one of those options each week. I won't name them, you all have your favorites!

It has nothing to do with pace, stamina or strength, it is all about attitude.

[DJC]

Rowe won't be rucking with Casboult there, who did it with Kreuzer in the first JLT game. Yes, Weitering may well play forward.

Yes he will!

I should have said that Rowe will give Kreuzer AND Casboult a chop out but with with Phillips and Gorringe out of contention, Rowe will be used in the ruck from time to time as he has been throughout his career.  He actually mentions it in his interview and talks about training to play in the ruck.

Rowe is actually a better tap ruckman than Casboult but the latter is more effective around the ground.