Despite a disappointing loss to Essendon this week, the game had no shortage of individual highlights for the Blues. The one that stood out for us this week was Jordan Bannister’s exciting banana kick goal from 45 metres out in the second quarter. We got the opportunity to talk to Jordan on the eve of his 50th game for the Carlton Football Club.

Your Player of the Week award is for your fantastic banana goal, have you practiced that type of kick at training?

I have practiced it a little bit at training, mainly with Fev and Betts, not one of my strengths but lucky enough to see it go through.

As a veteran of 63 games now it must be exciting to see new players come into the team, what were your impressions of Matthew Kruezer’s first game for the Blues?

The young boys coming though are great, just seeing their enthusiasm. Kruezer was fantastic with his one percenters, shephards and smothering. It inspires the other members of the team.

This is now your third interview with M&D. Do you know consider us to be the best footy journalists in the land?

Oh mate nothing compares to M&D! Such good reading on the website. I encourage everyone to have a look at it.

Last season you did not manage a game until Round 10, this year you have been in the side from round one. What was your pre-season like this year compared to seasons past?

My pre season was pretty similar actually; it is usually one of my strengths with plenty of running. I guess just in the practice matches Ratts gave me the opportunity. I did not get as much of a go in practice games in 2007. Up in Alice Springs I got a good opportunity and that has helped with getting senior games at the start of this season.

This game will be your 50th game for Carlton, what does this mean to you?

Mate it means everything to me, the club is awesome. All the boys around the club the trainers, the head trainer, Ray Spiteri and everyone who helps out at the club make it a great place to be around. I would love to get my name on the locker and play 100 games but we are just concentrating on the game this week at this stage.

In 2007 you won the best clubman award, in the old days this award usually went to the biggest party boys in the club. Things are different these days. What do you have to do to get the best clubman award in modern footy?

I don’t drink alcohol so it was not given for that reason! I guess it was more to do with talking to the young guys and being positive around the club and vocal at training. Not coming into the club in a bad mood.

Is there an instant hatred of Collingwood as soon as you join Carlton or does it take time to develop, especially after growing up as a Collingwood supporter?

No, when you play in the big games that is when you start to get a ‘hatred’. When you play in front of big crowds you do anything you can to get your mates over the line for a win.

We are fading towards the end of quarters and the game. How is that so in Rd 3?

Might be just from having the youngest side in the competition. Also, with Judd and Stevo being not quite 100% just yet. They both should be 100% match fit in the next week or two. Most likely a maturity thing, it might take a little time to get a four quarter performance. I’m positive we will get there and we are doing everything we can as a group to get there as quickly as possible.

What change has he experienced with Ratten’s coaching style compared to Pagan’s?

Possesssion is the big difference, Ratts is keen on possessing the ball, the longer we have it the longer the other team don’t. The more you have the ball the more you run; it is a positive game style. We have kept the hard aspects of the game that Denis had emphasised, Ratts had that in his game as well and it is what we are trying to follow.

The Bullants had a good come from behind win on the weekend. Did you see the match or have you heard of any good performances that may see a promotion this week?

I went out to have a look, about 10 or 15 guys from the senior game the night before were out there giving them support. Good to see Ackland out there, he seemed to get every tapout, hopefully he will be right in the next couple of weeks. Aaron Joseph had a good game and I expect Adam Bentick to not be too far away from senior selection either.
 
Deledio, Dal Santo, & Stanton are big jobs. Are you told principally to shut down or are the coaching staff instructing you to get possessions as well?

Little bit of both, mainly shutting down, but also concentrating on getting off my opponent where I can. But sometimes you have to sacrifice your own game for the team. It is a balance especially on such dangerous opponents.

This is your opportunity to dig some dirt on a team-mate, any bad habits we should know about?

We usually do our skills in the morning and weights in the afternoon. Andrew Carrazzo does not change his clothes all day!  Houla and I have commented to him that he needs to improve his hygiene and change out of his stinky clothes!

It makes you smile as a Carlton supporter knowing the club is being represented by top notch young guys such as Jordan Bannister. We hope he gets the opportunity to play at least another 50 games for the Blues, to get his name on the locker and more plays of the week. Some Carlton supporters might be wondering why we have overlooked the great debut game of Matthew Kruezer for play of the week. We here in the Mike and Dan offices did not want to burden a first game player with the pressure of receiving such a prestigious honour so early in his career.