Blues can make AFL top four in 2013: Waite
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Carlton comeback forward Jarrad Waite says the Blues are already eyeing a top four finish next AFL season, despite this year’s injury-hampered failure to reach that goal.
Waite, who returned from a 12-week injury absence to kick three goals in Sunday’s loss to Sydney, conceded there was no more than a glimmer of finals hope for the 11th-placed Blues.
“We really needed the win to sort of keep our season alive,” he told reporters on Monday.
Despite Carlton declaring pre-season they would make the top four, Waite said, given constant injuries to their big men this year, the season shouldn’t be regarded as a complete failure.
“(It is) a little bit, but a lot of things were out of our control,” Waite said.
“You look at Hawthorn a couple of years ago, they lost all their big men, they didn’t make the finals.
“They come out a couple of years later and they’re dominating.
“We can take those signs out of it.
“We (aimed) high, we wanted to finish top four, it didn’t go our way, but we’re confident going into next year that it’s still a massive chance.”
Waite admitted during his long absence, caused by a “squashed disc” in his back, he had wondered how different the season might have been had he been fit.
“That’s probably been the most frustrating thing, I think we lost every one of our big fellas at least one stage this year,” he said.
“It’s very hard to play consistent footy when you’re losing big fellas.”
His back was in such a bad state that he couldn’t even sit early in his time out of the game and will require management.
The 29-year-old is confident it won’t stop him playing good football but he had earlier been worried how the injury might affect his life after football.
“I don’t want to be 35 and, if I’ve got kids then, not be able to kick the footy with my kids,” Waite said.
“It was more that side of it going forwards, that’s why I was really patient with the whole scenario.
“I don’t want to do it again, you don’t know if it will go ten times worse.”
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August 8th 2012 @ 1:27pm
Bludgers said | August 8th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
They should have been top four this year and last year.
Really, I am fuming about Carlton’s performances this season.
There were games we lost before the injuries really set in. The St. Kilda, the Essendon. We got stiffed on the West Coast game by their little arrangement with the umpiring fraternity and the Geelong game was down to shocking kicking for goal.
We need new management to take another look at the list, change coaching methods and see if they can extract something out of this group before it is all squandered.
At the moment it all appears to be going up the swannie. I am angered by this.
August 10th 2012 @ 2:44pm
Tony said | August 10th 2012 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Yes Bludgers
Agree with you M8
I think most of our supporters echo your thoughts!!!
August 10th 2012 @ 4:17pm
brendan said | August 10th 2012 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Carlton need to let there football do the talking.We had this year anything less than top four is a failure.The what are we cooking up slogan and they know were coming in recent years.I agree with Bludgers a review should be undertaken of all areas of the football club particularly including the playing list.Perhaps ,even including injuries , the playing list isn’t good enough and/or the coaching staff aren’t up to it.Carlton used to be the club you hated but admired as a non-supporter they had more talent , system and camaraderie than most teams now i feel sympathy for my mates that support them.