Pre-Game Possibilities: AFL Rd 7: Carlton vs North Melbourne

[Thryleon]

The problem with Kennedy is that he’s not working hard enough yet.  The last thing we need is a slow midfielder who doesn’t apply defensive pressure.  O’Brien may not be getting much of the pill but he’s working his butt off to apply defensive pressure.

On last VFL match, Willo shouldnt come in for being undisciplined.

Stocker is probably the one who we should gift a game to at this stage to give him a taste of the big time, and because he is a bigger body who seems to work his way through traffic really well even when the pressure is on.

O'Brien is not AFL ready yet, and its time for him to get a reprieve and build some form in the VFL.
https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-c...ie-o-brien

His pressure acts might be fine, but you can't dine out on those with those sorts of statistics.

He has played 4 matches.

averaging 9.2 disposals, 1.2 tackles a game, 0.5 goals a game, and 2.2 clangers a game.

If he wasnt a newbie he would be in deep trouble, and he isnt playing in starvation corner like some of our other small forwards have.  Food for thought:

Fasolo's stats:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-c...lex-fasolo

He has played 2 matches.

averaging 7 disposals,  3 tackles a game,1 goal a game, 2.5 clangers a game.

Jarred Garlett:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-c...od-garlett

he has played 2 matches.

Averaging 11 disposals, 3.5 tackles a game, 0 Goals a game, 3.5 clangers a game.

Fasolo and Garlett are playing very different roles to O'Brien too.  The clangers for Jarrod are a real concern, but he is getting more of the footy and tackling more on average, and playing a role that is a bit different to what he is used to.

The only reason O'Brien gets a game is because he is young and has a future, but I dont think that warrants playing AFL level footy ahead of others who are more likely to impact a game.  Lets not pretend that Garlett and Fasolo played in matches against Port and Richmond which we lost, whilst O'Brien has had the benefit of better chemistry from our team as well as playing a role more conducive to getting his hands on the pill more frequently in games where we were a better chance to win and where the team synergy was improving.  We should get better every week from here.

This week I wouldnt necessarily drop O'Brien due to simply weight of numbers going in and out of the team, but he is in the gun.  4 matches with those sorts of stats is just not good enough for a player who should be helping our outside game.