My Team

FUCK! I hate losing to essendon, but what goes around comes around, I'm sure the 1999 semi final hurt a lot more. When the Blues were the 'B team'. It is to these memories I turn in my time of need. But it is true then... the anger I feel now is because yes... I am emotionally involved in my team again, Carlton, The Blues, The Blue Baggers, The Good old Navy Blues.

Like an Australian threatening to go to Scandanavia, or an American threatining to go Canuk, or a Carlton fan threatening to buy a Bulldogs membership... well exactly like that I haven't ever made good on the threat and Carlton is the only team I really care about.

Yes, I'm proud of the parade of arseholes that are the Carlton presidents, I love Sticks, Silvagni is the slickest hair in football history and stuck doggedly felt good for Kouta when he won dancing with the stars and admired his stalwart determination not to have a stupid nickname in the ill advised 'Gladiators'.

But here though is what I like about the team this year:

The Coach -

Brett Ratten has played under Parkin as Coach, and Wayne Brittain admittedly recieved the rough end of the stick in his tenure, Ratten is that workhorse player that has become a workhorse coach.
Pagan had his idiotic, 'In my day we kicked to contests and I'll be damned if I see any different' approach that never happened for Carlton and probably only happened for North because of Wayne Carey. Ratten has simply said 'pressure' and that was what dumped Brisbane and Richmond. I love fundamentals, except for NBA's 'big fundamental' Tim Duncan, because without some garnish they do become boring. But the fundamentals of pressure create room for Judd, Betts and Fevola style play.
This is the coaching that was always needed for rebuilding, Pagan approached Carlton as if they where a premiership paddock of Shinboners. Ratten get's me excited.

The Captain -

I believe Judd is the best leader in the post Lloyd & Voss league. Lloyd in turn was the best leader in the post Kernahan & Tuck era. Judd doesn't have the build/speed combo of Kouta (arguably the Magic Johnson of AFL or equally the Penny Hardaway of AFL) so yeah, he can't play ruck, full forward or full back like Kouta could. But he is one of the finest midfielders. Crucially though, Judd shys from the media, has a brain, speaks well, presents well and has a girlfriend that exhibits some signs of taste, so rare in 'footychicks'.
Unlike Nick Stevens he doesn't chuck it in under pressure from a decent tagger, and after Eddie Betts is probably the most dangerous man to take your eye off in Carlton. He can run forward and boot goals too, but with Fev this probably won't be happening much.

The Goalsneak -

Eddie Betts is probably my favorite player in Carlton. He is just plain dangerous, and unflappable. He is probably the most reliable goal kick on the team too. 93/45 behinds through snap kicks and off the ground play is phenomenal when compared to Fev's 493/322 (considering Fev has 10 years pro vs Betts 5) for accuracy. Fev going from set shots and considered best Full forward in the league.
Bett's along with Judd is reassuringly close to the action 90% of the time. He creates hope, and is reliable as a small forward. Something rare for...

The Spearhead -

Fev is a bit like Lebron in the NBA. His talent, strength and skill is unquestionable. He probably is the best full forward in the league. But like Lebron, before having any real support in the forward line was labouriously predictable and over celebrated when he probably was the factor that made defending Carlton so easy compared to weaker teams whose midfield ran the ball into the forward 50 and used a combination of 3 mediocre forward options.
The thing though is that there isn't a single reliable Full Forward in the league. Lloydy can kick, but lets speak the unspeakable, Mathew Lloyd's career is built on pushing people in the back and the obvious reason for his recent dropoff isn't age, lack of strength or anything mental, its that the rules have changed and you cant push your defender in the back.
And Buddy Franklin would shit all over Fev and probably will in a couple of years if he wasn't such a terrible fucking kick from set shots.
Fev is best on the lead and pretty accurate, but you just can't count on any Full Forward when you need to. And Fev should have enough ingame experience now to be accurate. Carlton need to look at the devestation Fev can reap on oppositions off the ball, like Jordan in the triangle offence of Chicago, opening up opportunities just by wandering around with a triple team. Fact is though, Fev isn't dominant enough to warrent a double team unless its crucial flooding time.

Houlihan -

Ryan Houlihan is probably my favorite player in Carlton next to Betts its a toss up. Betts is more obviously likeable he can kick goals, tackle, run, mark the works. Houlihan can Mark, kick, tackle and wear euro-style haircuts. He's just a good strong meataxe. I like him, enough said.

Thornton -

Not the defensive asset Jarred Waite is, having played for Carlton throughout it's crappiest years he has come up through the school of hard knocks. He is also not the psychological liability that Waite is. He has an honest face. I like that.

The Injured Guy -

Knowing that Carazzo hasn't even entered my rebounding team yet, fills me with hope for a brighter tomorrow. Carazzo is a cornerstone of Carlton's future. A defensive minded midfielder, and he also keeps Carlton's ethnic fanbase advantage pleased.

Sure there are far better teams in the league. but this team will compete this year, and hopefully make a finals appearance. Its time to develop the players Carlton has, not recruit more 'potential' thats for Port Power, Brisbane and other powerhouses of yesteryear to enjoy the cellar time. Carlton will not be a St Kilda*

*a 'never was'