CARLTON General Manager of Football Brad Lloyd has been impressed with the start the Blues have given the season and the growing maturity of the playing group.
Here's what Lloyd had to say on the team under Michael Voss, the mid-season draft and on a growing list.
On the first seven rounds:
"It's been a great start. The boys have all gone pretty well, we’ve had a couple of close ones but we’ve got a brand new coaching group and everyone is coming together.
"We’ve been good to hold on but it gives us a bit of momentum and played a good four-quarter game on the weekend so we're looking forward this week against the Crows."
On Michael Voss:
"He’s just massive on contests. He really celebrates the contested ball.
"He's been really strong on trying to build that. It'll take a little while: we've let a few goals in on transition.
"He’s huge on the compete side of it and teaching some really good habits for the playing group. The boys seem like they’re enjoying working with 'Vossy'.
On durability and injury:
"Durability is absolutely critical. We’re getting a bit of maturity in the group now: we had some really good older players go out like Marc Murphy and Eddie Betts and those types.
"Our younger core have gone through, they’re starting to get to their mid-20s which is good, but then you want the durability.
"With big 'Pitto' going down, that hurt but then Tom De Koning last week was good I thought.
"Then from a key position point of view, Oscar McDonald showed a bit and was teaming up well with Weitering and Mitch McGovern showed something across half back with his decision making, athleticism and ball use but he’s out for a fair chunk.
"It was critical to get Lewis Young out of the AFL Tribunal and we did that: he played his best game on the weekend."
On selecting a ruckman in the mid-season draft:
"We’ve got Tom De Koning, who is important for us and 'Pitto' will be back and we’ve got Alex Mirkov running around in the VFL.
"It’s important, you want to fill list management needs as possible but you also need to find a player so you don’t want to go too far away from getting a player you think can play AFL footy.
"Our list management team are working pretty hard at the moment and having some meetings so we’re not very far away on making a decision: we’re looking forward to using a pick in that draft."
On Jesse Motlop being named in the extended squad:
"He’s been named in the [extended] squad: he’s a beauty.
"He was in pretty good shape when he landed at the Club and he’s explosive, he’s got some class, everything you want in a small forward.
"He can go up the ground as well so he hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s in the squad and we’ll see if he gets an opportunity, he’s going really well, a great young fella."
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