Teague - Selecting Battlers over talent.

[ElwoodBlues1]

and this is what's wrong with selection. I'm sure if you put anybody who a Carlton member out there they would have passion, but passion doesn't win you game. Ball control and skill does. Most of the season we've had Newnes on one wing and Cotrell on the other, neither gives you more than 12-15 touches a game, sure Cottrell runs around all game long, but is tirelessly predictable as he runs in straight lines. How can we win with inept wings, when the game has progress into a play on game and a quality wing is very important.

We have O'Brien who has proven that he is a two way runner, and a much better kick than Cottrell, but when he gets a low disposal game, he's dropped, in fact he's played two game over the past two seasons, hardly a fair go for a former pick 10 to prove his worth.

That being said his papers may be stamped, but if that's the case why didn't we trade O'Brien last season when Collingwood came knocking for him?

I like Owies and think he has something, but Gibbons doesn't play with passion and his games this season have been poor, Parks is not an AFL Level player yet and possibly won't ever be, but because he has passion he gets a game? No wonder we're at the bottom of the ladder again.

Cottrell is consistent with his attack on the ball and chasing/tackling.
Agree he doesn't get enough ball or hurt with his kicking etc.
O'brien isn't consistent with his attack on the ball or chasing etc, ditto for SPS.
Dow attacks the ball ok but his skills are poor,
Gibbons is a better package than the others but is small and is your depth handy Indian but won't ever be a chief.
Owies..not sure.

Too many light bodied non contested types in an era of contested high speed footy where pressure is king.
Richmond said they wouldn't have picked O'brien because he didn't fit their profile which is a kind way of saying he isnt hard enough... We just don't seem to be able to draft enough players who are complete enough in the important areas of the game.