Rd 8: Post Game Euphoria!: Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[crashlander]

Jamo is shot and Walker is another servant of the club who needs to retire with him...got some good spoils in late in the game when he went back but I thought he looked
off the pace of the game, lacks depth in his kicking and doesnt have the initial speed he once had to beat players on the lead...

If anything showed that the guard is changing, it was today's game. Next week we will probably have to replace 4 players, unless our medical staff are REALLY impressive. It puts us in a very poor position, as these are key players, but....
If anyone in the VFL had really stood up, it would not feel so bad. But that is another tale.

Jamo: the guy is doing everything he can, but he is just a shadow of the player he was. He was terrible early. But when Rowe had to go forward (and then into the ruck), Jamo stood up. He kept the tall Port forwards under control, even if he did drop a mark an U10 player would have held.
His retirement is not far away: those saying his body is shot unfortunately have the right of it. He has lost the closing speed and the leap that made him so effective in his prime. How his shoulders still manage to allow him to play is amazing. When Port were winning in the middle early, he just couldn't maintain contact.
Walker is looking somewhat similar. The things that made him dangerous as a forwards are just not there at the moment. When he had his big year as a forward he kicked effectively and accurately: the most accurate in the comp that year. Now he struggles inside the 50 and rarely get it straight. He isn't holding his marks and he is not breaking contact on the lead. He is also getting caught from behind: unheard of in his prime.
I would not play him in the forward line any longer, except, perhaps, as a shock tactic. He did much better in defence when moved there.
He needs to play out the season, but #1 is going to be available sooner rather than later.