Okay.

Russell has been picked.

Hooray for Jordan, hooray for the youth policy.

Some of us (me included) feel that Jordan hasn't really put his hand up enough to be selected and it may be too soon. Others feel we won't know any answers unless we ask him the questions - fair enough.

Regardless of that - can we all please agree to avoid bagging the kid out if he doesn't have a great performance? For all our hopes and expectations of the kid, lets appreciate that it takes time with some kids to develop, and it could be a few years yet before we see the best of the kid.

Some players like Eddie and Murphy seem to slot seamlessly into the framework, while others take a while to figure out their roles and expectations (eg Simmo, Bentick). I suspect that Jordan will be one of teh latter type.

That said, it's clear the youth are taking charge down our way, and I am sure JR is busting his arse to be part of it.

Let's support Jordan no matter what, hope he has a good game, picks up some possies, and impresses the coach enough to get another week in the seniors.

Good luck JR!

yup best of luck to him - hopefully he gets a LOT of game time and opportunity to show something.

or at least enough game time to help him develop (like simmo obviously got)

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

That's right I for one will not be critical of youngsters, it's other morons on this VERY site (And they know who they are)who aint give YOUTH a chance to be properley nursed into the AFL. In saying that any Youth coming into the side can better than Sporn or Chambers!
Great Post!
Good luck JR i'll be there supporting u 2moro nite!

Good luck to the kid...I'll support him as if he was a Longmuir

Dannyboy
It's all about balance and hunger. Pagan knows what he is doing but simply has not had the talent nor youth to work with in previous years. I for one has questioned his logic at times, but by saying this Im sure Pagan knows how and where to play not so confident youngsters.Simpson had f*ck all game time to start with as you would no doubt already know, however I still believe he has a long way to go in A) Consistency B) Being a Man.
I can see patches of briliance from him and I think he wil eventually be better than that scum Campo in
A)As Player on the field B) Player off the field and C) REAL love of the jumper. Met him a couple times and is great kid! RUssell will come good!

Cheers
Achilles

Like any team, Carlton fans see different things in some players, when they watch them. OCcasionally players are standouts for all, or they can be standouts unsighted like Ratten with 30 stats unbeknownst to most who watch it.

take Whitnall - some here repeat the idea - a myth to my eyes - that Whitnall plays as a loose defender at Carlton. To me, he is just another zone-off defender like Pickett in his hey-day, and Rivers now - when the oipportunity arises he runs off to create opportunities.

What's my point?

I think some Russell watchers have been unfair. I saw 6-8 VFL games last year and after a shaky start Russell was finding his feet. Importantly he offered a number of things we don't have:

- dash from half back (now Walker is cast in this role)
- height for that dash (Prenders has height and courage but no sprinting dash)
- an ability to play back pocket on zippy opp. forwards (our list is clearly deficient in this regard, with Simmo having to play that role at times in 2005).

Then, in this pre-season I saw his starting to try to use his body and some nice kicking coming through - my main fear for Russell.

Im no recruiter but I've watched a lot of VFL and I think Russell will make it. He may have been picked for his attributes over his form for this week, but

a) so had De Luca, Sporn, Chambers etc. so far this year
b) as a second year player there's no harm in this.

So I welcome the move with a passion. This guy has toe and if he can make it work, and release Walker to midfield, we'll be a much better team.

I'll be at tonights game so anyone who wants to bag him, feel free to come see me

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

I am a bit surprised he was chosen, but as other people, am looking forward to seeing how he goes.

Although seeing him in a few bullants games last year, the only time i have seen him play this year was in a intra club, and he and walker really went at eachother this game. I also notice that he looked more of a man than a kid this year. I am not saying he is muscle bound, but his body is more apt to dealing with afl footy now than what it was in his first game.

I also noticed his quickness, which is up there with walker, and his skills, which are probably better than walkers. I think the main test for russel will be his hardness at the footy.

I was at the intra club game too Bozman. He and Walker had quite a few little spot fires around the ground. It was very interesting to watch. He kept AW pretty quiet I thought.

Should play every game regardless of form.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Hack. Delist him!!

Wait ... sorry, I thought I was in a Wiggins thread.

Good luck JR.
I love the sense of excitement/ expectation that comes with the kids coming through. Hope things fall into place for him tonight.
Regards Pedro.

I just hope that all those who demand and are happy for the club to play the kids are not going feral if we loose. Playing the kids is the right strategy, but it also comes with pain. You can not have cake etc.

Prefer that scenarios rather then watching the Teagues/Chambers/Longmuirs/Bryans going around

Should that be a board edict???

Ridiculous. If a player isn't performing, regardless of age, he shouldn't be playing seniors.

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In WADA we trust

I think synbad's remark was a bit tongue in cheek - i think

Anyways, do u guys also get the feeling that pagan is slowly creating a team that is much faster than we have had in probably the last 20 years or so.

The drafting and playing of simpson, carazzo, waite, walker, russell, betts, (mcgrath & murphy to some extent), means we have genuine speedsters throughout our team. I think this pattern will continue with the introduction of bower in a season or two. I personally like watchng a quick team.

I don't think he should be dropped immediately if he has a bad game, at least give him a set time of 3 weeks or a month then decide to keep him in the team or not. Good luck though JR, he really talks a lot at training, always the one calling out to tired players "CMON nearly done now, HEAD UP", i really like that about him, leadership type qualities.

good post ponk!

agree 100%, he's probably not ready but i'm still glad he's in the team and getting his chance.

same goes for satny. hope they go okay tonight.

See whilst you say that youre assuminmg each week we have 22 players performing or each and every one that dopesnt perform will be replaced by someone who will perform.

Unfoirtunately if a kid like Russell doesnt make it were another step back in our development because we won 10 gamesd and had a pr\ercentage of 70% instead of being where our list should have dictated us to be.

So if Russell doesnt get the games and development in him at the highest level and is allowed to flounder you can scratch out another draft

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.