The Positive posters amongst us are adamant that we have improved since last year. The splinter getters say we are about the same. The Negative Neds/Nells are whining about the Coach/Game Plan/Players etc. Who is right?

I have put together an analysis based on which players have improved/similar/slipped. For those players who were on our list before this season, it is fairly simple to assess, but the newbies are much tougher. Anyway IMHO, this is how I see our list after about a third of the 2006 season (Preseason +5 rounds).


Improved by 20% or more:

Andrew Walker: After learning to tag in 2005, has stepped up to KPP. Backs his judgement.
Marc Murphy: We got the 1st pick right. Slotted straight in. Gets his own pill. Lace out delivery.
Lance Whitnall: Defied all the critics by getting super fit. Brains over brawn. Very versatile.
Brendan Fevola: Pago Pago must have put Fev in his will. No sulks + chases have made the diff.


Improved by 10% or more:

Kade Simpson: Plenty of guts. Just keeps running. Once body develops he could be anything.
Eddie Betts: If only his fitness matched his ability and determination. Is already a Cult figure.
Jarrad Waite: 3.2 was good return last week from limited opportunity. Rising in stature.
Ryan Houlihan: Bulked up and puts head over pill now. Still sometimes indecisive.
Bret Thornton: Less hissy fits this year. Solid without starring. More support would help.
Adam Bentick: Really stepped up to be main extractor. Playing injured atm and needs help.
Andrew Carrazzo: Ball magnet, but better in defence and midfield. Gets yips in forward line.
Dylan McLaren: Solid backup ruckman. Gives Frenchy a rest. Fills holes when under seige.
Jordan Russell: Gamble by MC, but taken next step. Very quick. Needs more time in Gym.
Josh Kennedy: Ahead of schedule. Very determined to succeed. Will slot straight in.
Jason Saddington: Gives extra option down back. Still not fully recovered from injuries.
Jordan Bannister: Solid form in 2’s got him a chance. Fit and gutsy, but limited ability.
Luke Blackwell: From primary to high school. Will debut soon as Midfield rotation.
Paul Bower: When learns to play body on body as well as dashing off, will be special.
Craig Flint: Could be the pick of the rookies: Should be upgraded to bolster defence, but how?
Daniel Batson: Written off as a hack, but Coaches have persevered. 5 goals in 3’s. hhmm.
Aisake O'hAilpin: Picking up Aussie Rules quicker than Carlos. Could be a ruckman yet.


Similar output:

Nick Stevens: Statistics tell lies. Gets the pill but doesn’t punish the opposition enough.
Barnaby French: Slipped a bit. Injuries taking toll. Needs a week off, but risky to do so.
Bradley Fisher: Injury plagued. Has long arms and Gecko fingers. Will improve with time.
Cory McGrath: Serviceable, but must string together a number of top games to survive.
Setanta O'hAilpin: Samo Samo. Needs time in two’s to read flight of ball and positioning.
Justin Davies: Ready to rock and roll after suspension. Talented, but on last chance.
Adam Hartlett: Ran over a black cat: Was, is and may always be injured. Need him fit.
Anthony Raso: Starting to show something after glandular fever. Might step up down track.
Jake Edwards: Getting good reports on progress. Being moulded into defenders role.
Ryan Jackson: Looked the goods early, but slipped back a bit. Has to show improvement.
Jesse D. Smith: After tearing muscle off bone has made it back, but slipped in mid pecking order.


Slipped by 10% or more:

Anthony Koutoufides: Last of the 95 Premiers. Slowed right down as kids take over. Will retire!
Matthew Lappin: Dr Jeckyl? Had brain explosion a couple times this season. Will atone.
Heath Scotland: His stats don’t back up reality. Should use his right boot more.
Chris Bryan: Has an attitude problem. Shame because he is the pick of utility talls.
David Teague: Although gutsy, slowed down and exposed by leading forwards. Gawn!
Luke Livingston: Lost confidence. One dimensional. Appears on outer with MC.
Troy Longmuir: Looks good in VFL, but at third club and has no upside. Gawn!
Callum Chambers: Pacy, but fumbles without being under pressure. Gawn!
Adrian Deluca: Couldn’t catch a cold. Imagine his height with Fish’s paws. Gawn!
Ian Prendergast: Bottom of utility pecking order. Fit but not a natural ball player. Gawn!
Simon Wiggins: Another with plenty of guts, but substandard skills. Back to Tassie!
Trent Sporn: One dimensional. Not tall enough for defence, too slow for midfield. Gawn!


Will this be our Future Team?

B: Carrazzo, Thornton, Bower
HB: Lappin, Walker, Russell
C: Simpson, Stevens, Houlihan
HF: Fisher, Whitnall, Waite
F: Betts, Fevola, Kennedy
R: French, Bentick, Murphy

INT: McLaren, Flint, Hartlett, Blackwell

Emerg: Bannister, Scotland, Saddington


What think you?

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

Some of us believe we have improved but could be even better with a better gameplan or positional sense. I tipped 7 wins after going through everygame for every team, anything less is a failure IMO.

Great post Brizzy, as I said on the CSC version.

mjonc, check out the herald sun today if you have it, we've been pretty bad with clangers, which are essentially unforced errors. Straighten that up and look at the changes.

Geez...you spent some time on that!
Dont you work?

You pretty much got it all right.

Bryan worth putting afirecracker under.
He has the ability but not the attitude.

I will chip in to get Wiggins off the mainland.

Tell me about it. Work...hhmmm...what's that? LOL
Hope so. I thought that the Bear had arrived, but he gotta get his finger out else he'll be back at Frankston next year.
Wiggi was the first newbie from the 2000 draft that I met at a club function when the team came up to Brisbane early in 2001. Introduced me and Mrs Brizzy to Livo and Cal Beasy. Lovely bunch of kids, just can't play to the standard required...shame really.

_________________
2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

I think his first few weeks was better than anything he served up last year. Has struggled since injuring his shoulder.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Average Disposals 2006 2005 Change

Ryan Houlihan 27 16.94 +59%
Heath Scotland 23.6 19.74 +20.00%
Nick Stevens 21.4 21.82 -2%
Anthony Koutoufides 19.6 19.45 -1%
Lance Whitnall 18.8 15.41 +22%
Andrew Carrazzo 18.6 15.7 +18%
Andrew Walker 18.4 9.83 +87%
Adam Bentick 17.4 15.33 +14%
Matthew Lappin 16.8 16.82
Marc Murphy 16.6
Kade Simpson 15.8 11.6 +36%
Jarrad Waite 15.67 13.33 +18%
Brendan Fevola 13.75 10.37 +33%
Edward Betts 13 6.42 +102%
Bradley Fisher 12.33 12.71 -3%
Cory McGrath 12.25 11.53 +6%
Bret Thornton 12.2 11.81 +3%
Adrian Deluca 10.2 7.55 +35%
Jason Saddington 10
Callum Chambers 8 8.6 -8%
Trent Sporn 8 8.27 -4%
David Teague 8 9.86 -23%
Dylan McLaren 7.2
Barnaby French 6.8 9.87 -45%
Luke Livingston 6 7.22 -20%

I think you have done very well BB. Great work!!

I might have had Ryan Houlihan up another level.
Totally agree with you're comments on Craig Flint .... he might be the suprise packet of the year.

I agree - should be at least in the 10% camp. He was prolly our BOG in round 1.

some of those guys haven't played yet,so how can they improve.

_________________
Bang Bang.

Care to point out which ones have not played?

I think the emergencies are three of our better players who should be in the main squad.
Unless this team is meant to be 5 years down the track?

_________________
Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

How can he have slipped by 10%? He hasn't played AFL this year? You even admit he looks good in the VFL, so it is possible that he has improved ... and has something to offer. In fact the reports are that he is working harder defensively this year, an area that he was heavily criticized for lst year.

To say he has no upside is just false. He came to Carlton after an operation and did NO pre-season. This year is his first preseason with the Blues, so i would say that equates to the possibility of 'upside' (when compared to last year anyway).

It looks likely that T-Lo is behind the 8 ball to get a run with the Blues and will likely be gone at years end ... but that is not necessarily due to a drop in output so far this year - there are just others that have been preferred ahead of him.

Brizzy is taking VFL form into account here I think you'll find.