09-01-2018, 05:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-24-2018, 01:51 AM by crashlander.)
At the moment there are 30 players on the NB list. I presume that lists of this size must be close to maximal for VFL teams now that there is no 2nds level in this competition. Many of these guys have managed senior VFL games this year, especially late in the season, as there were few Carlton listed players available.
After many years of high player turnover, I am not expecting the same level this season. There appears to be a strong feeling among the young lads who make up the group. However, there WILL be some. The Preston people have become very good at sifting through the TAC Cup teams for young talent.
As such, I will not look at everyone available: I don’t know enough to predict who will stay and who will go at the bottom end. However, some of the guys coming in with AFL or VFL experience may be questionable.
Confirmed Departures:
None as yet. Certainly, we will not know before the Laurie Hill Medal. Nor will news be easy to determine.
Confirmed Additions:
Again, none yet. That will not be set until after the AFL Draft.
Potential Departures:
[1] Jesse Palmer – what happens to Palmer will very much be a function of whether or not he gets another chance at the AFL. He has done well this year, but questions over his pace and strength remain when thought of in AFL terms.
It is possible that we may offer him a rookie spot after a good year, but that is not a very high probability. I hope he decides to stay, but my hopes have very little sway.
[2] Sam Fisher – Fisher started poorly and looked very ordinary early in the season, but he really came good and was one of the best mids as we improved. He got good clearance numbers and his ability to move well through traffic impressed. He does have enough AFL attributes to be VERY probable to get a rookie listing from us, if no other club decides to draft him beforehand. I find it very unlikely that Fisher will be on the VFL list in 2019.
[3] Josh Hill – as an ex-AFL player he is always a chance to hang up his boots. However, I hope he doesn’t. Hill was terrible early in the season, a total non-contributor. However, when he was moved to HBF he became a different player and really did offer the leadership and experience that our bunch of kids required. Considering his own aims, as posted early in the year, I would find it far more likely that he would remain for at least another season. However, that is going to depend on what he does other than playing.
[4] Brendan Myers – this lad has not had the sort of year he (and we) were looking for. He was not a regular and only played in the last half od the season when our midfield was especially short. As such I am not confident that he will remain with the Baby Blues.
[5] Ethan Penrith – Penrith enjoyed a pretty good season with his pace and tackling standing out. As he is still zone listed to Carlton there is a quite reasonable chance that he will be promoted to the rookie list before the AFL draft occurs.
Potential Additions:
This is very much speculation at this point, but so much is at this time of year.
[1] Oskar Manton – A potential Carlton F/S, Manton has not enjoyed this year with the Western Jets. He was highly rated, but struggled with injury. In a year with the strong draft cohort, I can’t see him being picked up. However, due to his lack of real opportunity this season I see a real chance that Carlton suggest he heads to the NB’s for a year to see if he really does have what it takes. Not a really high probability, but not wishful thinking either.
[2] Michael Barlow – guys like Barlow probably are still good enough for AFL footy, and we would be stupid not to consider him. However, with his age and injury profile, he may miss out. If he does, then I could see a quite good chance that Carlton suggest he come to the NB’s to provide the leadership and experience that Alex Silvagni showed over the last 2 years. We need someone of this calibre, and his ability to win the ball would be a god-send to a team requiring midfield power. He is also an excellent clubman and would help the training and culture of the club. It may even open the door for him in the coaching system, which he is supposedly interested in.
[3] Will Hickmott – we did not select Will as a F/S option last year, but his form in WA suggests he has enough to seriously consider. He has done particularly well in the WA Colts. His brother, on the other hand, is a very high probability to be picked as a F/S as a rookie. I think they would come as a package. Therefore, Will would have a year or so in the VFL to get over the line (if he can). I think this is a high probability event, probably the highest probability of the options I have presented.
There are 2 other lads Carlton has been following as zone prospects, Brasier and Wild. I am not sure where they are at presently, but with so little profile I find it unlikely that we are serious on drafting them. However, they may well be considered for the NBs to gain experience and, hopefully, show enough to interest Carlton for 2020.
After many years of high player turnover, I am not expecting the same level this season. There appears to be a strong feeling among the young lads who make up the group. However, there WILL be some. The Preston people have become very good at sifting through the TAC Cup teams for young talent.
As such, I will not look at everyone available: I don’t know enough to predict who will stay and who will go at the bottom end. However, some of the guys coming in with AFL or VFL experience may be questionable.
Confirmed Departures:
None as yet. Certainly, we will not know before the Laurie Hill Medal. Nor will news be easy to determine.
Confirmed Additions:
Again, none yet. That will not be set until after the AFL Draft.
Potential Departures:
[1] Jesse Palmer – what happens to Palmer will very much be a function of whether or not he gets another chance at the AFL. He has done well this year, but questions over his pace and strength remain when thought of in AFL terms.
It is possible that we may offer him a rookie spot after a good year, but that is not a very high probability. I hope he decides to stay, but my hopes have very little sway.
[2] Sam Fisher – Fisher started poorly and looked very ordinary early in the season, but he really came good and was one of the best mids as we improved. He got good clearance numbers and his ability to move well through traffic impressed. He does have enough AFL attributes to be VERY probable to get a rookie listing from us, if no other club decides to draft him beforehand. I find it very unlikely that Fisher will be on the VFL list in 2019.
[3] Josh Hill – as an ex-AFL player he is always a chance to hang up his boots. However, I hope he doesn’t. Hill was terrible early in the season, a total non-contributor. However, when he was moved to HBF he became a different player and really did offer the leadership and experience that our bunch of kids required. Considering his own aims, as posted early in the year, I would find it far more likely that he would remain for at least another season. However, that is going to depend on what he does other than playing.
[4] Brendan Myers – this lad has not had the sort of year he (and we) were looking for. He was not a regular and only played in the last half od the season when our midfield was especially short. As such I am not confident that he will remain with the Baby Blues.
[5] Ethan Penrith – Penrith enjoyed a pretty good season with his pace and tackling standing out. As he is still zone listed to Carlton there is a quite reasonable chance that he will be promoted to the rookie list before the AFL draft occurs.
Potential Additions:
This is very much speculation at this point, but so much is at this time of year.
[1] Oskar Manton – A potential Carlton F/S, Manton has not enjoyed this year with the Western Jets. He was highly rated, but struggled with injury. In a year with the strong draft cohort, I can’t see him being picked up. However, due to his lack of real opportunity this season I see a real chance that Carlton suggest he heads to the NB’s for a year to see if he really does have what it takes. Not a really high probability, but not wishful thinking either.
[2] Michael Barlow – guys like Barlow probably are still good enough for AFL footy, and we would be stupid not to consider him. However, with his age and injury profile, he may miss out. If he does, then I could see a quite good chance that Carlton suggest he come to the NB’s to provide the leadership and experience that Alex Silvagni showed over the last 2 years. We need someone of this calibre, and his ability to win the ball would be a god-send to a team requiring midfield power. He is also an excellent clubman and would help the training and culture of the club. It may even open the door for him in the coaching system, which he is supposedly interested in.
[3] Will Hickmott – we did not select Will as a F/S option last year, but his form in WA suggests he has enough to seriously consider. He has done particularly well in the WA Colts. His brother, on the other hand, is a very high probability to be picked as a F/S as a rookie. I think they would come as a package. Therefore, Will would have a year or so in the VFL to get over the line (if he can). I think this is a high probability event, probably the highest probability of the options I have presented.
There are 2 other lads Carlton has been following as zone prospects, Brasier and Wild. I am not sure where they are at presently, but with so little profile I find it unlikely that we are serious on drafting them. However, they may well be considered for the NBs to gain experience and, hopefully, show enough to interest Carlton for 2020.
Live Long and Prosper!
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