Carlton youngster Nick Graham says he wants to be a nuisance to opposition defences in 2016.
With this year’s interchange cap reduced from 120 to 90 rotations per game, the 21-year-old midfielder admitted he’d be spending more time in the forward line in 2016.
But it’s a responsibility he’s already embraced.
“I’ve spoken to ‘Bolts’ (coach Brendon Bolton) and the other coaches pretty heavily about my tackling pressure. That’s got to really improve this year,” Graham told Radio Sport National on Tuesday.
“I went away and researched the top-10 pressure-act players in the competition to see how they go about it. It’s something that’s been on the forefront of my mind all pre-season.
“I need to be brutal when I’m resting up forward. Hopefully I can lay some big tackles and help lock the ball inside our forward half. The longer we lock the ball in there, the higher chance we have of scoring.”
Graham’s research, which he initiated, is already paying dividends.
He’s been arguably the Blues’ best in the NAB Challenge so far, leading the team for disposals (42), tackles (nine) and goals (two), while averaging 92 AFL Fantasy points.
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In the absence of Patrick Cripps, Dale Thomas, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs, Graham led an inexperienced Carlton midfield against Essendon with aplomb.
He said he and his teammates were taught some valuable lessons in the heavy loss to the Bombers, however.
“We took a lot out of it. Our defensive pressure wasn’t good enough and we didn’t get our hands on the ball around the stoppages enough to give our forwards a chance,” he said.
“We’ve been working on these areas a lot in training this week.”
The Blues take on Sydney in the final week of the NAB Challenge on Friday night – a huge test which Graham said he was looking forward to.
“Sydney’s an amazing stoppage team, so we’ll need to get our hands on the footy more and give our forwards an opportunity,” he said.
“Hopefully I can have a cracking game this week if I’m selected, and put my hand up for Round 1 and cement a spot in the side this year.”
