GOOD signs.
On the final day of February, Carlton officially finalised its pre-season block with an AAMI Community Series win over GWS in Canberra.
Looking to continue to fine-tune things for the season proper, there were a number of positives for the Blues to take out of the 58-point win, with one of those being the display from Brodie Kemp.
Following a permanent move to the forward line over the summer, Kemp proved to be a focal point in attack, hauling in five marks inside 50 while kicking three goals: the most of any Blue on a night where they had 14 individual goalkickers all up.
Speaking to Carlton Media post-match, Kemp said it was nice affirmation for all the work done over the summer as the season proper approaches.
“It’s a good blueprint on how we want to play our footy. We’ll spend these few weeks reviewing what it looks like, I think we can take a lot of positives out of it,” Kemp said.
“We’ll review it thoroughly and it’ll make us go into the first games with confidence, knowing we can play a powerful brand of footy.”
For Kemp, who has spent the majority of his 44-game career to date down back save for the final three games of last year, he’s hopeful that the transition to the attacking part of the ground can allow his natural strengths and flair to shine.
One of nine Blues on Friday night who had played less than 50 games, Kemp was quick to credit his mates in the forward line who he has spent recent months building synergy with in the lead-up to the upcoming campaign.
“It’s a cliche, but I’m a product of my environment. I’ve got some good people around me and the team today played really well: we got our contest right up the field, the mids were really good at getting it inside 50 and I was able to go for my marks.
“Guys like Lachie Fogarty, Jesse Motlop and Zac Williams were blocking my man so I could get a run and jump at it, and I was fortunate to get on the end of a few.
“As a kid, I loved running and jumping for marks, and you can probably do that a bit more freely as a forward.”
