With the Northern Blues having a bye over the weekend due to the state league game, senior coach Josh Fraser analyses the form of the Carlton-listed players who are yet to be seen at AFL level in 2016.

David Cuningham

Average stats: 13.3 disposals (6.8 contested), 2 clearances, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Best game: Round 1 vs. Footscray - 21 disposals (12 contested), 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

From the coach: He’s been in and out of the team through body management but he’s shown some encouraging signs as a midfielder: we think if he can get consistent playing time, he’ll improve form, elevate performance and become a really consistent VFL player this year.

Matthew Dick

Average stats: 20.6 disposals, 5.7 marks, 2 tackles

Best game: Round 4 vs. Collingwood - 23 disposals, 9 marks, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

From the coach: He’s had a really impressive start to the season, and has been one of our solid contributors in the back half. He accumulates plenty of the ball, has improved his defensive positioning and has provided a calming influence in the way of leadership both in our back six and around the ground.

Jayden Foster

Average stats: 13.6 disposals, 4 marks

Best game: Round 7 vs. Coburg - 19 disposals, 10 marks

From the coach: ‘Foz’ gets better and better - he had a slow start to the season but there’s been some real growth in his game. He’s probably come out of himself in recent weeks and has been a lot more vocal on the field, which is helping him engage in what he needs to do: it’s seen him elevate his performance in recent games.

Andrew Gallucci

Average stats: 12.3 disposals (5 contested), 2.3 tackles, 2.3 inside 50s, 1.5 clearances, 1 goal per game

Best game: Round 1 vs. Footscray - 15 disposals (8 contested), 2 goals, 4 inside 50s, 3 tackles

From the coach: Andrew is out for the year with a shoulder injury but before that, he provided us with some relentless pressure around the ground and a real presence inside 50. He’s a big loss to the team but he’s working really hard and diligently on his rehab.

Jesse Glass-McCasker

Average stats: 7.2 disposals, 2.6 marks, 1.4 tackles

Best game: Round 2 vs. Geelong - 10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles

From the coach: We’ve been really impressed with Jesse. In the games he’s played, he’s shown some great defensive signs, an ability to run and rebound while also being solid in the air. We’re excited by what he’s doing and what he can achieve, now it’s just about building that consistency in his game.

Billy Gowers

Average stats: 12.6 disposals (5.4 contested), 3.6 marks, 2 inside 50s, 1.8 tackles,

Best game: Round 7 vs. Coburg - 19 disposals, 7 marks, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

From the coach: He’s been used in a variety of roles, in early rounds through the midfield and now off half-back. Billy’s shown some solid improvement, he’s got some clear focus areas and to his credit he’s improving his performance, especially in recent weeks with his move down back.

Kristian Jaksch

Average stats: 15 disposals (5.4 contested), 4.3 marks, 1.9 inside 50s, 1.7 goals per game

Best game: Round 7 vs. Coburg - 18 disposals, 7 marks, 2 inside 50s, 4 goals

Watch Jaksch's four-goal haul against Coburg

From the coach: He’s provided a consistent target for us forward and worked early in tandem with Liam Jones. He’s been used as a defender on occasions as we try to round his game out in different positions, and he’s also shown an ability to mark in the air and provide pressure on the ground. He continues to make improvements in his game. 


Matthew Korcheck

Average stats: 3.9 disposals, 1 mark, 19 hitouts

Best game: Round 5 vs. Casey - 3 disposals, 42 hitouts

From the coach: Matty’s only played seven games of footy in his life and his ruck work is improving by the week. He’s showing signs of his ability to get around the ground recently and his ability to read the play. His first goal in the win against Coburg will do wonders for his confidence.

Ciaran Sheehan

Stats vs. Coburg: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 inside 50s

From the coach: It’s been a small sample size for ‘Gussy’ but it’s just great to have him back: some of his contests against Coburg in our last game were as good as we’ve seen from anyone in the VFL. He’ll just need to build fitness from now and his confidence will come from that, so we’re really looking forward to what he can offer.


Ciaran Sheehan played his first game for the Northern Blues in almost two years in the Round 7 win over Coburg. (Photo: Tim Murdoch)

Jack Silvagni

Average stats: 8.7 disposals (3.3 contested), 1.7 marks, 2 inside 50s, 1.7 goals per game

Best game: Round 3 vs. Port Melbourne - 12 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Watch Silvagni's three goals against Coburg

From the coach: He’s a really lively forward, he’s always on the move and can present up the ground and into dangerous space. He’s also applied relentless pressure, he has some real tricks and has also missed some footy, which I guess is quite exciting because we’re looking forward to what he can put together when he has an extended run at it. We haven’t been surprised by what he’s put together, but definitely excited by it.

Clem Smith

Average stats: 11.5 disposals, 2.7 marks, 3.3 tackles, 1.7 inside 50s

Best game: Round 7 vs. Coburg - 20 disposals (9 contested), 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s

From the coach: He’s been a bit inconsistent but starting to build into his best form, and his game against Coburg was really pleasing. His good has been really good but he hasn’t put it together for long enough quite just yet - if he can reproduce that more often, he’ll be a really dangerous player for us and his performance last game was his best yet.

Jason Tutt

Average stats: 27.8 disposals, 5.7 marks, 3.3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 0.7 goals per game

Best game: Round 7 vs. Coburg - 37 disposals, 10 marks, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 3 goals

From the coach: It’s been a really good month from ‘Tutty’. His run is a great strength but he has also improved on areas of his game that needed addressing, which is a real credit to him. His recent performances have seen him strike a good balance between inside and outside ball, he’s been a goalkicker for us and he’s putting together some really good form.

Dillon Viojo-Rainbow

Average stats: 16 disposals (7.3 contested), 3.7 marks, 1.9 clearances, 2 tackles

Best game: Round 1 vs. Footscray - 24 disposals (11 contested), 7 marks, 3 clearances, 1 goal

From the coach: He’s probably tailed off a touch but not to the point where his form has been poor: we need to find a spike out of him because we saw a snapshot of his form early and how dangerous he can be. Dillon provides some run and dash, and has showcased an ability to be brutal at times: we need a bigger sample size of that and we’re confident he’ll be a very handy player for us.

Cameron Wood

Average stats: 10 disposals (4.4 contested), 2.8 marks, 2.8 clearances, 19.2 hitouts

Best game: Round 4 vs. Collingwood - 18 disposals (8 contested), 6 marks, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 31 hitouts

From the coach: He had some injury hiccups on the way but his best is as good as there is in the competition. At his best, he can dominate the contest and make a difference around the ground: the best of ‘Woody’ is exactly what we need.