NEARLY a year since polling three Brownlow Medal votes in his first Carlton game, Adam Cerra is ready to go again for season 2023.
A key cog for Carlton’s midfield group last season, Cerra is now one year into like as a Blue — but he still feels as though he has a point to prove.
While acknowledging “a year of growth” for both the individual and the collective, Cerra said he would continue to aim to earn the respect of his contemporaries at the football club.
Shutting out external noise and focusing on the opinions of those who have a direct bearing on his performance is how Cerra has always gone about his business — and that won’t change.
“Coming into a new club with a lot of changes, I just wanted to earn respect, fit in as quickly as possible and nail my role for the team,” Cerra said on 1116 SEN’s Captain’s Run.
“I just think about what my teammates and my coaches need from me. They’re the expectations I look at — I don’t look externally.
“I felt I could be more consistent in my production, and that’s what I’m trying to achieve every day I go to work.
“I focus on what I can control.”
Some talk around Carlton this pre-season has been about their breadth of goalkicking options outside of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, the last two Coleman Medallists.
Patrick Cripps was Carlton’s next most prolific with 20 goals for the season — when asked whether he was looking to add more goals to his repertoire, Cerra said he wouldn’t stray from what role he has been asked to play.
Averaging just under five tackles per game last season, Cerra - who was arguably Carlton’s best player in their opening practice match against Collingwood - said his natural game has always been one of a defensive midfielder.
“I’m not going out on a game day focusing on goals: I’m trying to support the backline, get my fold-back patterns and be a strong defensive midfielder for the team,” he said.
“That’s where I feel like my role is valued. We have other midfielders that get forward hard and impact the scoreboard: that’s one of our strengths.”
