Speaking on today’s episode of The Blue Print, streamed live through carltonfc.com.au, Rogers gave a fascinating insight into the club’s thinking on talent, as he answered a series of questions put to him by co-presenters Andrew Maher and Mark Maclure (and later Carlton members on a Google+ hangout) in respect of the draft.
Responding to Maclure’s question “What do we need?” in the countdown to the next recruitment ballot, Rogers responded: “My personal view is ‘Speed is the king’”.
“If we can get more quick players into our team we see that (such players as) Jeff Garlett and Denis Armfield have a real impact at AFL level,” Rogers said, adding that the capacity to kick and basically be competitive were also prerequisites for any prospective Carlton draftee.
Rogers explained that Carlton’s five-man list management committee - comprising CEO Greg Swann, General Manager Football Operations Andrew McKay, Senior Coach Brett Ratten, Recruiting Manager Wayne Hughes and himself - met fortnightly to discuss matters draft.
When asked by Maclure if he’d protest a recommendation from the committee to trade for Collingwood’s Travis Cloke, Rogers replied: “I would if I didn’t agree with it, yes”.
To Maclure’s follow-up “Would Cloke meet the club’s current needs?”, Rogers said: “It’s interesting. From week to week it changes depending on who you play”.
“Some weeks you actually need a big, strong key forward, other weeks you need a speedy medium-sized players, about 190 (centimetres), who can play multiple roles,” Rogers said.
“I’m not trying to dodge the question, but it’s funny - footy changes a lot. Levi Casboult, Sam Rowe and Luke Mitchell are on our list, and Tommy Hawkins has been on Geelong’s list for six years. Now Geelong’s one of those clubs who draft and just sit and wait, and Carlton is at that point. They haven’t been used to that before - it was more ‘There’s the best player, let’s go out and buy him’. The rules have changed and we’ve got to embrace the draft, both the supporters and the footy club.”
Rogers also declared that:
· Carlton retained an interest in international markets including Ireland, but was still committed to home grown talent as the priority;
· the club boasted significant talent, “but we’ve got a fair way to go”;
· Bryce Gibbs was sometimes as much-maligned as Mark Waugh, but as an elite midfielder was “a super player and we wouldn’t change him for the world”
