Riewoldt: Carlton’s young midfield brigade must step up to support Patrick Cripps
Despite Carlton’s improvement, the Blues have won only four of their 10 games. Nick Riewoldt names the brigade of young players who need to step up and help turn promise into results.
Carlton
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Carlton has become the team that almost never lets you down.
They are close. They are almost there. But they are still 4-6.
In recent weeks, months and even years there has been constant talk about development, growth and green shoots at Ikon Park.
Call it what you like, they are on the precipice of success.
In 10 matches they have played this season, they have been in every game — they have won or been a chance to win. That is a good sign.
That being said, no one at Carlton or inside the club would be happy with a 4-6 scoreline.
In the past when we looked at Carlton’s win-loss ratio the noise of discontent among the Blues faithful became deafening.
That disquiet was almost always directed at the coach. Particularly in recent times.
But now it is time to look at the team’s emerging youth.
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When you take a close look at Carlton and its identity as a football team, there is a lot going right.
Offensively, they are easy on the eye, they move the ball forward well, they take territory, and their style is conducive to the type of forwards they have in Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult.
And they are scoring. The Blues rank No. 7 in the competition for scoring and they can do so in a variety of ways — from the back half and the front half.
They play the turnover game well, which is the modern game, and they play the game in their half of the ground.
It’s a simple style, it’s efficient and they have laid the foundations for a solid offence.
So, that is a tick.
There’s a bit of concern on the way they play defensively.
But that part of the game generally takes more time, particularly with a new coach.
Key defender Jacob Weitering is having an All-Australian year, and Caleb Marchbank is arguably a more bankable player than Charlie Curnow when he’s fit.
So with so much going right at Carlton why are they only four and six?
They are well balanced up forward and still have Charlie Curnow to return.
He’s not yet the superstar that his reputation might suggest — he’s never been able to put it together consistently — but clearly he has that potential.
To my mind, they are inconsistent during games and their midfield is a concern.
Their midfield is a worry because it is still void of young talent. Look at all the great midfields and they bat five, six or seven deep.
Patrick Cripps is a superstar. But he needs help.
Despite investing heavily in this part of the ground, the gaps appear when you look at their under-23 players.
Weitering and Sam Walsh are locks in this age bracket, but outside of that it is a sea of question marks.
Zac Fisher is a nice player, but has only appeared twice this year.
Sam Petrevski-Seton started the season well, but he has dropped off. At this stage, he is inconsistent.
Matthew Kennedy and Will Setterfield are going OK, but would you consider them completely trustworthy?
And will any of Paddy Dow, Liam Stocker, and Lochie O’Brien make the grade?
At this stage there’s no evidence that any of them will be the answer to Carlton’s midfield consistency issues.
Perhaps that is why they drafted another three potential midfielders in last year’s draft — Brodie Kemp, Sam Philp and Sam Ramsay.
One argument that gets tossed around is now that they are 4-6 it is time play the kids and find out if they are good enough.
But history would suggest this is a formula that does not stack up.
Veterans Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow are still providing valuable roles. They are old heads needed to steer the ship.
There is also something to be said for making young players force their way into the team.
What is clear is that Carlton is desperate for two or three members of that under-23 group — Kennedy, Petrevski-Seton, Dow, Stocker, O’Brien, Setterfield and Fisher — to emulate the rise of Weitering.
They need to make that leap and become genuine, reliable midfielders and provide a level of support to Cripps and Walsh through that part of the ground.
Carlton is really close. They are playing a good brand. They have the right man in the coaches box. They have great key pillars at each end. They have a young warrior and genuine superstar as co-captain.
What happens next depends on these fringe players.
If they don’t develop, a lot of draft capital and patience will have resulted in a team that is almost there but still can’t take the next step.
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