Carlton rookie Tom Fields is emerging as one of the Blues’ best key position finds after a brilliant start to the season with the Northern Blues in VFL.
Recruited from South Adelaide, Fields has been trusted by coach Luke Webster with roles on some of the VFL competition’s most imposing forwards in the first three rounds of the season.
The Blues’ one-point loss to Williamstown in Round 1 saw Fields allow 2014 VFL Team of the Year centre half-forward Scott Clouston just two marks and 1.1 from his seven possessions, before blanketing ex-Brisbane Lion Jordan Lisle (one goal, two behinds) when the Blues fell to Port Melbourne on Anzac Day.
Fields was again one of the Blues’ better performers in his side’s breakthrough six-point win over Sandringham on Sunday, collecting 23 possessions while opposed to former Geelong Cat Mitch Brown, who booted 2.5.
Part of the back six that weathered a fast-finishing but inaccurate final-quarter Sandringham onslaught, Fields said he was appreciating the faith shown in him to play the big roles.
“I go through the roles with ‘Webby’ and John Barker during the week. I find that’s where I play my best footy playing those roles,” Fields said.
“(I enjoy) helping the team win in any way that I can. Mitch played pretty well (on Sunday), but I felt it was a really good battle.”
The 22-year-old’s willingness to set up attack has been just as impressive as the defensive side of his game; his penetrating left foot regularly sought after when the Blues are on the counter attack.
Fields further credits Carlton development coach and Northern Blues teammate Kieran McGuinness, in what he’s brought to the defensive unit and his own game.
Carlton rookie Tom Fields in action for the Northern Blues. (Photo: Jason Heidrich)
“Kieran’s calmness and his skill…is just incredible,” Fields said.
“He’s another of my defensive coaches and we do a lot of work during the week.
“With him coming over from Norwood and me from South Adelaide, he’s been an absolute ripper.”
As a rookie-listed player, despite his promising form, Fields knows it will take a senior-listed player being put on the long-term injury list for him to earn a chance at AFL level.
Yet the defender isn’t fussed.
He’s instead hell-bent on ensuring the Northern Blues can build on their maiden win on the weekend, when they travel to Frankston to meet the Dolphins.
“We just can’t get ahead of ourselves now, we’re 1-2,” Fields said.
“If we want to be there in finals, we’ve got to get it done (this week).
“If we go to Frankston with the right attitude that we have been for the past few weeks and give it a red-hot crack, we’ll be alright.”
