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Can Carlton's lesser lights lead the way?

Roar Rookie
5th March, 2014
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Roar Rookie
5th March, 2014
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1173 Reads

With 12 (13 if you include the Suns) sides legitimately able to make an argument that they will play finals in 2014, trying to predict where any club will finish is difficult but I would argue predicting Carlton’s place is harder than most.

Many pundits have the Blues out of the eight after a relatively lacklustre 2013 but for me (and yes I am biased) the case they will play finals isn’t hard to make but their success rests on a few key players – although not the ones usually trotted out.

My best crack at Carlton’s best 22 would be;

FB: Zach Tuoy, Michael Jamison, Andrew Walker
HB: Chris Yarran, Matthew Watson, Dylan Buckley
C: Dale Thomas, Brock McLean, Kade Simpson
HF: Troy Menzel, Jarrad Waite, Chris Judd
FF: Jeff Garlett, Lachie Henderson, Matthew Kreuzer
R: Robbie Warnock, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs
Int: Tom Bell, Andrew Carrazzo, Ed Curnow, Andrejs Everitt

While the likes of Thomas, Gibbs, Murphy, Judd, Waite, Henderson and Jamison are obviously massive parts of any success Carlton will have, the players the Blues really need to stand up in that ‘best 22′ are Buckley, Menzel, Watson and Bell.

Buckley has been in great touch over the NAB challenge and his run from the backline has impressed most judges but most importantly he would allow Simpson to spend more time in the midfield, which provides greater depth in that area and his run and ball use can be damaging.

Menzel is a real talent who can play as a marking forward or a small and gives the Blues a great replacement for Bett’s but with possibly more flexibility due to his greater height.

Watson is possibly the most important; he showed late in 2013 he can hold down centre half-back, which means Lachie Henderson can play forward where he has shown he can be very damaging.

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With Henderson forward with Waite (probably playing higher) and Kreuzer (probably playing deeper) the Blues will have plenty marking power for their quality midfield to aim for.

Tom Bell has possibly been the most impressive player of the Blues’ pre-season and, together with his form from late 2013, it indicates he is ready to have a breakout year – his size and running capacity could make him a formidable force in the Blues midfield and as his hip-and-shoulder on Trent Cotchin last year shows he could offer a lot of protection for the Blues’ classier mids.

The other benefit of the emergence of these four players (plus the addition of Thomas and Everitt) is that if the Blues put their ‘best’ 22 on the park, the likes of Heath Scotland, Mitch Robinson, Dennis Armfield, Andrew McInnes, Sam Docherty and Levi Casboult are pushed out, which creates a lot of pressure on everyone for spots and gives the Blues a lot more depth.

While I am by no means predicting the Blues for the premiership, I do believe the finals beckons and if they can make the most of a reasonably appealing first five games it could set up a push towards top four.

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