Nathan Carroll

[Bobby McKenzie 2,209]

Has he had his chances? He gets caned each week by bigger and faster forwards. He tries sure but he always seems to be just too late to spoil when an opponent is on the lead. eg Lloyd, Lynch etc. I do not think he is a full back. He is simply too small and slow. Should we be trying a youngster or someone else with more pace and height to see if we can tighten up in this vital area? No one ever seems to suggest that Carroll should be dropped even though he rarely appears on the best player lists. What do other people think on this one?

[pantaloons 2,019]

When Melbourne is playing poorly, generally Carroll is too. I think he's had two or three really good games this year, and a lot of very poor ones. It's been tougher for him this year with the volume and speed of delivery into the Melbourne backline, but he's had his dacks dropped royally on a number of occasions. He's our best option at full back though, and he's done his best to hold together a patchwork defence without its gun CHB and Whelan for most of the year.

[occo 2]

Has he had his chances? He gets caned each week by bigger and faster forwards. He tries sure but he always seems to be just too late to spoil when an opponent is on the lead. eg Lloyd, Lynch etc. I do not think he is a full back. He is simply too small and slow. Should we be trying a youngster or someone else with more pace and height to see if we can tighten up in this vital area? No one ever seems to suggest that Carroll should be dropped even though he rarely appears on the best player lists. What do other people think on this one?

Carroll is ordinary, thats the truth but we have noone who can fullfill that position. In the future I would like to see Frawley play FB and Carroll back pocket (similar to what Geelong are doing with Egan and Scarlett). Ferguson is our only other option and he himself is quite show and has no strength about him. Fact is that Carroll is all we have, due to massive blunders with our recruitment over the last 6 years. KPP have not been recruited properly and sure we have midfielders but not a sucsessful FB, FF or Ruckman.

[jacey 333]

Every FB needs help from up the field and Carroll is no different. He never will beat anyone when there is no pressure placed on the kicker and hitting the FF lace out.

however i still don't see Carroll being our FB in the ideal world. I see him as the second tall while Rivers takes the third.

Frawley's the obvious choice but it's his first year.

Holland's not getting younger.

Warnock deserves his crack. Has no strength to go with FF but if he's smart enough?????, should use his pace, height and reach to effect.

Garlands being named CHB at Sandy but i haven't being down there for weeks so some info would be nice.

Miller. Now 5th or 6th in line for KP foward. His only chance being in mfc best 22 is in defence. (Shudder)

Ferguson. No. gone.

White?. Take him out of the ruck n play him somewhere else.

[mick2007 0]

Carroll is ordinary, thats the truth but we have noone who can fullfill that position. In the future I would like to see Frawley play FB and Carroll back pocket (similar to what Geelong are doing with Egan and Scarlett). Ferguson is our only other option and he himself is quite show and has no strength about him. Fact is that Carroll is all we have, due to massive blunders with our recruitment over the last 6 years. KPP have not been recruited properly and sure we have midfielders but not a sucsessful FB, FF or Ruckman.

He will play better when the rest of the team does. Melbourne need to slow down the speed at which it is entering there defense. More pressure on opponents and more work from the mid field pushing back could help. I don't think it would matter who the opponent is the way the ball is getting delivered. I liked Melbournes game style when they moved quickly and kicked long, we seem to over possess causing turnovers or silly mistakes. We have the credentials to be a great side maybe our game plan needs looking at. Kicking goals has been a big problem, poor delivery into the forward line?

[Dees 64 8]

He will play better when the rest of the team does. Melbourne need to slow down the speed at which it is entering there defense. More pressure on opponents and more work from the mid field pushing back could help. I don't think it would matter who the opponent is the way the ball is getting delivered. I liked Melbournes game style when they moved quickly and kicked long, we seem to over possess causing turnovers or silly mistakes. We have the credentials to be a great side maybe our game plan needs looking at. Kicking goals has been a big problem, poor delivery into the forward line?

Carrol is not a FB , he is not very fast, his delivery and decision making is very poor ...more like a joker than a serious FB. We all had a laugh when Richo ran around and goaled while Carrol was still marking his mark.

Lets hope Frawley get the FB spot next year.

[Jaded No More 59,538]

Agreed with the sentiments regarding Carroll not being a FB.

He does his best each week, but people are completely underestimating the value of Rivers. He holds a fragile backline together, and without him we are lost down back. Belly has been good this year, but there is only so much he can do given his size.

This is precisely why I was mighty [censored] off that they dropped Frawley this week. Not only that, he isn't even playing this weekend because Sandy have a bye. Nothing has been gained here.

He must play on Sunday and until the end of the year. He must be given jobs, every game and told to stick tough and do his best.

We need to find a FB and soon. Miller might be worth a try, and there is Garland who is incredibly raw as a potential CHB.

A backline of Rivers, Bell, Carroll, Petterd, Bartram and Frawley looks the goods for the future.

[occo 2]

He will play better when the rest of the team does. Melbourne need to slow down the speed at which it is entering there defense. More pressure on opponents and more work from the mid field pushing back could help. I don't think it would matter who the opponent is the way the ball is getting delivered. I liked Melbournes game style when they moved quickly and kicked long, we seem to over possess causing turnovers or silly mistakes. We have the credentials to be a great side maybe our game plan needs looking at. Kicking goals has been a big problem, poor delivery into the forward line?

I agree with parts of what you say. Defence is hard to do when the ball come in all the time. But saying that he still looks too slow and bad spoiler for a premiership Fb. As i said, frawley would be ideal with carroll back pockett taking the 2nd best forward. I know heaps of people want frawley to play CHF but i think Rivers does a great job, with Pettard on Half back pocket and Bell other pocket.

HB: Pettard Rivers Bell

B: Whelan Frawley Carroll

[Deefeast 0]

Just a little footnote

Carrol leads our marking with White , 87 marks

so I guess that supports your theories he cant mark

Stop bagging every player my god even Brocky cant play now

We are truelly stuffed now

Neitzy has his own opinion on Danners .Gee sack the captain.

Brucey cant play but he leads most of our stats, man the whole team should go if there behind such a dud player

[biggestred 4,402]

Just a little footnote

Carrol leads our marking with White , 87 marks

Brucey cant play but he leads most of our stats, man the whole team should go if there behind such a dud player

its not the stats you get but what you do with them. bruce's disposal this year has been abysmal. his kicking action is too. look at the distance between release and contact, its huge!

carrol has lots of marks cos weve been playing kick it sideways for half the year.

carroll is a good FB, but he is never going to beat the likes of lloyd one out. he needs help, like all FB. even sos who everyone raves about needed help ffs.

calm down. everyone is low on confidence. doesnt mean they cant actually play.

[waynewussell 4,146]

Good work 4Dees, you make sense when others are spinning out of control. Keep this sharp analysis up and you may be on the coaching shortlist

[Pepe Dee Pew 0]

One or two ordinary ones and you get canned. Overall Carroll has had a good season.

Any FB will find it hard when the mids are being beaten.

[occo 2]

Good work 4Dees, you make sense when others are spinning out of control. Keep this sharp analysis up and you may be on the coaching shortlist

and u can do commentory work at channel 10

[Deefeast 0]

Jaded

I dont think Bell and Bartram should be in the backline in the future.

I see a bigger role for both these boys in the future. More so in the gutts.

Also with Davie further up the ground Pettard could be a good small forward

[Jaded No More 59,538]

Jaded

I dont think Bell and Bartram should be in the backline in the future.

Bell, as much as I've been obsessed with getting him into the midfield in the past, is very much needed in the backline.

Our need in defence is greater right now.

Bartram will play a tagging role, so he'll find himself all over I would suggest. At least for the next few years.

Am keen to look at Warnock for the rest of the season. The club obviously saw something in him to promote him, and he wasn't too bad earlier in the season but got dropped. He needs to play out the year.

[beelzebub 22,543]

Dare I say it...have been saying this for a while ( that Carroll may not be the man for the job ) ...but I take no kudos nor indeed any joy in it. Its such a key position full back. We all have been looking at the sharp end wondering when Juice, or other players will get a run etc. Wriggle with the dillema of who will be CHF that possibly we have forgotten how pivotal and so necesaary a really top flight full back is. Look how Fletch defines the Bombers, or Scartlett the Cats, the filth are much worse of without Clements and yet really we bumble along full backless every week. when we needed gorilla strngth we look to Holland not Carroll.

Again I say if a decent trade can be made using him either directly or indirectly possibly Nathans greatest value to us is the down deposit on a really good full back. Almost every goal stopped is worth nearly two scored.

Sort of Melbourne's problem for a long whie is we have had players...who 'nearly' fill the prerequisites of a particular position without nailing it

[Rivers Run Red 182]

Firstly, Bell should be in our backline in the future...

And secondly I would rather have Chop at full back than throw a yougster back there and have a "Zac Dawson" like moment and shatter the confidence of that youngster.

[beelzebub 22,543]

Many here like myself will remember the debut of a certain gangley youngster, recruited from Ess Grammar...he seemed to kick on and do ok :-))

They all have to grow into th eposition to some degree...the odd towelling will be in that experience mix.. It happens.

[Rogue 585]

Neitz and Robertson generally get out front on the lead versus their opponents, and Essendon's forward line was very open.

All things being even a forward should be able to get a break on his opponent, and once he does should always take the mark providing the delivery's good (ie. out in front rather than on top of his head).

Carroll's not a star full back but he's good enough for now - there are no viable alternatives IMHO.