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Rohan "Struggles to win the footy and needs to be more involved for longer"
Cannot but agree with the Rohan assessment ... the Geelong game (sorry ... cameo) is often referenced ... and he has had a bad run with injuries ... but the guy seems to lack the ability to get involved and influence games ... low impact ... just look at the stats ... I don't have them but am comfortable that they paint a pretty ordinary picture. Hope to be proved wrong but have no great expectations.
I like the idea of a rotation policy and have narrowed the list to 26:
2 Rhyce Shaw - should be interesting to see how he holds up after LARS, deserves his spot.
3 Jarrad McVeigh - outstanding last year
4 Daniel Hannebery - had a quiet finish to 2013 after setting the world alight early, will be tagged and needs to work through it.
5 Ryan O'Keefe - looked to have really lost a yard and will struggle to maintain his midfield role despite his strength and fitness.
6 Tom Mitchell - started sensationally but lost some form and then had trouble regaining his poise. Injuries always a problem.
7 Harry Cunningham - has real speed and looks comfortable in seniors but too limited and needs to improve defensively to take on midfield role if required.
8 Kurt Tippett - will play in ruck with Pyke, et al. Wonder what sort of a role coaching staff have in mind when resting as forward.
9 Nick Malceski - was in great form until teams began to man him up. Needs to win his own ball more and be accountable defensively not just our best attacking defender.
11 Jeremy Laidler - not required at Carlton under Mick but has good qualities and could be used if key defenders go down.
12 Josh P Kennedy - contested possession and stoppages king, essential member of midfield.
14 Craig Bird - best tagger in side. Graet in and under player and ablosute mud-lark. Solid but lacks pace.
15 Kieren Jack - played below form in prelim but will use it as motivation to continue toward elite status
16 Gary Rohan - needs to regain confidence. Still has genuine pace and kicks superbly. Struggles to win the footy and needs to be more involved for longer.
20 Sam Reid - really missed him last year. Will be really keen to see how he fits into planning and how he may work whether iup forward, in midfield or down back.
21 Ben McGlynn - really needs big year. Still best small forward on list but could be used more in midfield if rotation policy used. Lacks real pace and is sometimes exposed as a consequence.
23 Lance Franklin - do not understand why we needed him, much less for 9 years but I'm sure glad we no longer have the problem of manning up on him.
24 Dane Rampe - showed real promise as a defender, and continued to improve. Hope he can play a more attacking role this year as he is a natural forward.
25 Ted Richards - another outstanding year and clearly one of our key players. Should have more tall support this year with LRT back and maybe Sam Reid, as well.
26 Luke Parker - took a giant step last year adding marking and goal kicking to his already formidable ball winning and tackling skills.
30 Lewis Roberts-Thomson - his loss to side balance cannot be overestimated. His role defensively whether in attack or back is vital. May be his last year.
32 Lewis Jetta - whether injured or lacking drive, last year was a return to the bad old days. Poor conversion and lack of possessions notwithstanding he just didn't look as sharp or switched on. Looking for renewed spark.
33 Brandon Jack - showed enough to recommend patience with Jack jnr. Real pace and good ball sense. Will get another chance probably at Benny's expense.
34 Alex Johnson - has definitely gained weight during rehab but has resumed running and should be back to playing weight soon. Doubt about early availabilty probably April/May.
37 Adam Goodes - also slow to resume full training probably on limited schedule due to importance to team and physio's looking to nurse him through the season injury free.
38 Mike Pyke - with the loss of Mumford, he becomes vital to all planning. Unfortunately he has a history of injuries and is currently still in rehab squad.
39 Heath Grundy - the enigma that is Reg; reliable and honest, tough and quick versus slow delivery and poor decision making, inaccurate disposals and dumb free-kicks. You gotta love him.
40 Nick Smith - best small defender in team. Always gets the job done, rarely beaten.
41 Lloyd Perris (R) - great prospect will get early oppourtunities, very fit and finds the footy, could be very good.
46 Shane Biggs (R) - showed real poise under pressure and deserves more oppourtunities.
Of the remaining players, injuries and form will dictate those most likely to be given an oppourtunity, but IMHO those who should be tried first are:
10 Zak Jones - really good looking prospect. Very focussed in pre-season and has excellent skills. Small but tough. Could be good.
13 Toby Nankervis - has looked very likely on track. Good marking and positioning, kicks well for goal and has good instincts. Fitness may be an issue and with our wealth of talls may have limited oppourtunites.
17 Tommy Walsh - still in rehab group but looks super fit and very intense.
18 Jordan Lockyer - probably last chance. Has not come along as well as some others but doing better on track this pre-season.
19 Tom Derickx - probably first choice as back-up if either Tippett or Pyke goes down. Has looked impressive at training.
22 Dean Towers - will need to improve defensively but looks exciting and could be best long term project.
42 Xavier Richards (R) - liked his efforts in Magoos last year resolute, dependable and had good timing. Could be used more this year.
2 Rhyce Shaw - should be interesting to see how he holds up after LARS, deserves his spot.
3 Jarrad McVeigh - outstanding last year
4 Daniel Hannebery - had a quiet finish to 2013 after setting the world alight early, will be tagged and needs to work through it.
5 Ryan O'Keefe - looked to have really lost a yard and will struggle to maintain his midfield role despite his strength and fitness.
6 Tom Mitchell - started sensationally but lost some form and then had trouble regaining his poise. Injuries always a problem.
7 Harry Cunningham - has real speed and looks comfortable in seniors but too limited and needs to improve defensively to take on midfield role if required.
8 Kurt Tippett - will play in ruck with Pyke, et al. Wonder what sort of a role coaching staff have in mind when resting as forward.
9 Nick Malceski - was in great form until teams began to man him up. Needs to win his own ball more and be accountable defensively not just our best attacking defender.
11 Jeremy Laidler - not required at Carlton under Mick but has good qualities and could be used if key defenders go down.
12 Josh P Kennedy - contested possession and stoppages king, essential member of midfield.
14 Craig Bird - best tagger in side. Graet in and under player and ablosute mud-lark. Solid but lacks pace.
15 Kieren Jack - played below form in prelim but will use it as motivation to continue toward elite status
16 Gary Rohan - needs to regain confidence. Still has genuine pace and kicks superbly. Struggles to win the footy and needs to be more involved for longer.
20 Sam Reid - really missed him last year. Will be really keen to see how he fits into planning and how he may work whether iup forward, in midfield or down back.
21 Ben McGlynn - really needs big year. Still best small forward on list but could be used more in midfield if rotation policy used. Lacks real pace and is sometimes exposed as a consequence.
23 Lance Franklin - do not understand why we needed him, much less for 9 years but I'm sure glad we no longer have the problem of manning up on him.
24 Dane Rampe - showed real promise as a defender, and continued to improve. Hope he can play a more attacking role this year as he is a natural forward.
25 Ted Richards - another outstanding year and clearly one of our key players. Should have more tall support this year with LRT back and maybe Sam Reid, as well.
26 Luke Parker - took a giant step last year adding marking and goal kicking to his already formidable ball winning and tackling skills.
30 Lewis Roberts-Thomson - his loss to side balance cannot be overestimated. His role defensively whether in attack or back is vital. May be his last year.
32 Lewis Jetta - whether injured or lacking drive, last year was a return to the bad old days. Poor conversion and lack of possessions notwithstanding he just didn't look as sharp or switched on. Looking for renewed spark.
33 Brandon Jack - showed enough to recommend patience with Jack jnr. Real pace and good ball sense. Will get another chance probably at Benny's expense.
34 Alex Johnson - has definitely gained weight during rehab but has resumed running and should be back to playing weight soon. Doubt about early availabilty probably April/May.
37 Adam Goodes - also slow to resume full training probably on limited schedule due to importance to team and physio's looking to nurse him through the season injury free.
38 Mike Pyke - with the loss of Mumford, he becomes vital to all planning. Unfortunately he has a history of injuries and is currently still in rehab squad.
39 Heath Grundy - the enigma that is Reg; reliable and honest, tough and quick versus slow delivery and poor decision making, inaccurate disposals and dumb free-kicks. You gotta love him.
40 Nick Smith - best small defender in team. Always gets the job done, rarely beaten.
41 Lloyd Perris (R) - great prospect will get early oppourtunities, very fit and finds the footy, could be very good.
46 Shane Biggs (R) - showed real poise under pressure and deserves more oppourtunities.
Of the remaining players, injuries and form will dictate those most likely to be given an oppourtunity, but IMHO those who should be tried first are:
10 Zak Jones - really good looking prospect. Very focussed in pre-season and has excellent skills. Small but tough. Could be good.
13 Toby Nankervis - has looked very likely on track. Good marking and positioning, kicks well for goal and has good instincts. Fitness may be an issue and with our wealth of talls may have limited oppourtunites.
17 Tommy Walsh - still in rehab group but looks super fit and very intense.
18 Jordan Lockyer - probably last chance. Has not come along as well as some others but doing better on track this pre-season.
19 Tom Derickx - probably first choice as back-up if either Tippett or Pyke goes down. Has looked impressive at training.
22 Dean Towers - will need to improve defensively but looks exciting and could be best long term project.
42 Xavier Richards (R) - liked his efforts in Magoos last year resolute, dependable and had good timing. Could be used more this year.
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