We hear about Patrick Cripps all the time.
We hear about Charlie Curnow all the time.
We hear about Harry McKay all the time.
But the Blues have an unsung hero who deserves some praise, said North Melbourne great David King on AFL 360.
“Not many know Jordan Boyd,” King said.
“He has a great understanding of what’s required and when.”
Boyd, who has only played 19 AFL games, is rated as the seventh best kick in the competition by Champion Data and is just one element of a damaging half-back like at the Blues which includes Adam Saad, Mitch McGovern and Zac Williams.
“He’s 25 years of age, so he’s played a lot of footy and understands what is needed,” King added.
“This mix at Carlton, it’s going to be ‘Season of the Sticks’.
“I can see Stephen Kernahan handing over the premiership cup in the last week of September.
“They are loaded… they are ready to roll.”
King outlined how Carlton’s plethora of options coming out of the back half has seen a change in game style.
“The game now is about counter-punching and punching on the scoreboard,” the former Roo said.
“I think Carlton are as well stocked and stacked as anyone.
“Most teams have two quality half-backs who can use the ball, some have three, Carlton have four.”
King pointed out how Carlton has become less reliant on scoring from stoppages and instead is generating a lot of score from intercepts.
“What we’re used to with Carlton has changed,” he said.
“They were a clearance team who bashed you at stoppage, got it in their forward half and scored, now everything’s changed.”
The Blues have gone from first in the competition for score from clearance to 15th, while they are now scoring four extra goals per game from intercepts than they were in 2023.
“It’s a better profile, a healthier profile that’s system based and not just on three or four brutes around the football,” King added.
“Their ability to punish has gone from seventeenth to second.
“They’re winning in different ways.”
The Blues will look to continue their unbeaten start to 2024 when they take on the Dockers in Gather Round on Saturday night.
Leave a Reply