Blackers was getting 30 touches a game and paying no attention to his opponent in his first year at the ants. He wasn't given a heap of senior opportunities then so I can't see how people think he's going to get his way into the team now playing the same game?

Notice how we've managed to play a season without losing a game by a three figure total? How our opposition rarely score over 100 points?? It's on the back of our young players becoming accountable; guys like Gibbs, Grigg and JR - yes JR - tackling hard and becoming defensively minded. Does Blackers have the skill to break into the team and use his ball accumulating skills and also do a job or nullify his opponent? Clearly the MC don't think so.

Like Cazz said, clearly the club are backing JR to iron out his problems, and could you blame them when he has the potential to be a legitimate goal a game lead up HFF who tackles hard.

It didn't stop Diesel Williams either.
Bentick and Blackwell are both only average players.
Russell isn't anything special yet but has the potential to be a good player which neither of them do.

I'm shocked.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Categories where Bentick is better than Russell

Volume 1......

Contested possessions
Tackles
Goal assists
Possessions
Clearences
Brownlow votes
JNM votes
TC votes

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/Stats/tabid/4325/default.aspx

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end of message

At this moment Bentick is the better player, it's a matter of who will be better in 12 months time.

And Jamo is a better Full Back than Fev but who would you pick 1st. Lets compare apples with apples.

Does AB currently deserve a game infront of our midfield rotation in Judd, Stevens, Murph, Gibbo, Simo, Eddie, Grigga, Scotland and Carrots?

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

In twelve months one of them won't be there.

In the end it probably doesn't matter given that Judd/Murph/Fev/Kreuz/Gibbs will win us a flag regardless of the soldiers we put out there.

WCE have proven you only need 4 or 5 top line blokes to take you all the way. We'll have more than that in the years ahead.

Just a pity blokes like Blackwell didn't really get a chance given their future relies on opportunities. I'd be pissed if I were him.

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WCE and Sydney were probably the worst two premiership sides in living memory.
Don't count on being that lucky.

But Duke,

you see what I don't understand is this. Blackwell has had 23 games. He's been on the list since the 2004 draft. What more chances does he need? He's had them and obviously hasn't impressed those that matter.

You'll no doubt say that JR was in the 2004 draft and has played probably about double the games, so therefore he's had opportunities Blackers hasn't had. But there's two points to that. First, JR has obviously done enough to impress those that matter. Second, they are vying for different spots in the team. Blackers obviously has more in the queue ahead of him than JR.

I just don't understand the arguments that Blackers has not had a chance. He has, he's been on the list for years, and obviously has not been impressive enough to those that matter for him to get a game this season. I have no problem with a delisting at the end of the year without us seeing any more senior action from him.

Bentick is a scrubber.

Molly, surely as a true blue Carlton fan and one based in Brisbane you got to see Blackwell's stunning game at the gabba afew years ago?

He, he, he Molesey! Stop stirring!

For those who don't know, I was driving to Brisbane to live on the very night that Blackers' tore Brisbane a new ring at the Gabba and therefore didn't see the game! I have now made the famous quote (in Mike and Dan circles)... 'that's Blackers' career - blink and you'll miss it'.

play jacko!!

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

he's been named in the best in the VFL week after week this season and always gets plenty of the footy. what more can he do?

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

+1

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

+1

I admire your enthusiasm Shuffagus!

Unfortunately I agree with you that there is nothing more Blackers can do. He has shown himself time and again to be a player at VFL level, but is too slow and his disposal is too poor for seniors.

I watched all of Blackwell's 23 games.

He showed more in his first 23 games than most of our debutants have shown in the last few years.

I can understand the 'victim of our improved midfield argument' that is fine, but he has been a bit unlucky. When you consider that this time next year it will be very likely that Nick Stevens will have gone from being our best midfielder in 2007 to our 4th best midfielder you can see how quickly things can change in a footy team.

Let's not forget that Blackwell has missed a large chunk of this season with a thigh injury.

Good luck to him, I hope he can find a place on our 2009 list.

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- 1

Russell has a place in our 22 and is doing more than enough to hold it.

Stats are massively overated in footy.

That would be a sluggish team i reckon wouldnt win too many games.

All depends on what Ratts wants. A good running team or a tight lockdown team. I can see them blokes playing a part in a lockdown team if drilled right but in a fast running team then id go with Russell based on what he is doing now and what he is going to be capable of once it all clicks.
It may never all click but fortune favours the brave and Russell is worth the punt on what i have seen so far in glimpses during games and at training.