Speaking to Tony Moclair and Michael Jamison on the latest episode of the Carlton Football Club’s official podcast this week, Harris conceded that the list of casualties had enabled members of the developmental squad to experience football at the elite end.
“Obviously we’ve been a victim of injuries, but those injuries have allowed some blokes to get a crack and we’re pretty happy with the way it’s going,” Harris said.
“Tommy Bell’s stepping up, we’ve been really happy with Andy McInnes’ form, then there’s Frazer Dale and Levi Casboult . . . so it’s exciting that those blokes are getting a crack at this time of the year and hopefully they can maintain it.”
Harris’ views of Bell make for interesting listening. He mentioned how impressed the coaching fraternity was with his physicality from the outset.
“He was just pretty raw, but once he worked out some of our positional stuff and also got himself to a level of fitness having missed the pre-season with a back injury, we were really excited with the power of him and the physical impact he was having on teams around him in the VFL.”
Carlton ruck coach Matthew Capuano also aired his views regarding the club’s diminished following division, expressing disappointment that Robert Warnock’s return had been put on hold through VFL suspension and Shaun Hampson was gone for the season with the ruptured posterior cruciate ligament in his knee, “which is really disappointing for Shaun who was on track for probably his best year at the club”.
But Capuano commended Casboult for earning his promotion and assisting Matthew Kreuzer with following duties.
To the vexed question of how many ruckmen ought be fielded in Carlton’s senior team, Capuano responded: “Obviously with the way the rotations are now, the main thing is that if Matty Kreuzer, Robbie Warnock and Levi all play they need to go forward and make an impact”.
“If they’re unable to do that it makes it difficult for us,” Capuano said.
To hear the Carlton Football club podcast, click here.
