Rd 15: Pre Game Prognostications: Carlton vs Collingwood

[crashlander]

Just watched that classic game v The filth they have on the CFC website.

How much straighter did we look with Fevola running out from FF. Those who say traditional FF are no longer needed just need to watch that.
Break out of the backline a couple of handballs then a pass to a leading forward on the 50. Then BANG. How straight was his kicking, you forget just how good he was.

Fev would still be potent today if he had been playing at senior level. He had an excellent combination of traits: enough pace to break contact more often than not, a kick that was a weapon from outside 50 m, the self belief that he could do the job, the ability to win the ball on the ground as well as in the air and a nice pair of hands. An open forward 50 and a couple of smart smalls running down to assist (not to mention getting the ball out of the centre!) and we look a different setup.
Our problems in the day were considerable: lack of skill to get it to him and too much focus on Fev with too few alternatives are the ones that stick out to me.

We did do a very good job of covering Fev when he left, but Ratten never really had the cattle to be a real contender (no matter what the club thought). But a rampart Fev would still kick 50 goals per season today at 34. What a pity he couldn't hold his life together.