TEAM REVIEWS 2006

Carlton - Finished 16^th, Digger said pre-season 16^th

Well at least the old Digger got one thing right in his preseason preview.  Digger tipped the Carlton side to finish last and the Blues did not disappoint.  In a nip and tuck race with Essendon for the wooden spoon the Blues looked a chance to avoid the spoon but in the end made all Carlton haters happy.

There was one highlight for Carlton in 2006 and that was the form of spear head Brendan Fevola who won the John Coleman Medal as the leagues leading goal scorer with 84 goals for the season.  A great effort for a team that finished last.  Which leads me to the question, how good is Lance Whitnall?  Whitnall beat Fevola in the club Best and Fairest.

Carlton almost imploded after the season with cloak and dagger moves to replace coach Denis Pagan.  Apparently former club legend Stephen Silvagni was to be appointed coach but when asked he knew nothing about it.  Former player Fraser Brown had offered to pay out Pagan's contract and the board apparently had ratified the move.  Super mumbler and board member Sticks Kernahan was also involved in the shenanigans and all looked done and dusted until Pagan appeared at a press conference with the board and announced that he would be coach in 2007.

Former top 10 draft pick Brett Thornton announce he wanted to be traded to Hawthorn but last week it was announced he had signed a new three year deal.

Digger will await to see how Carlton goes in the national draft that is coming up but cannot see real improvement for a few years.

Essendon - Finished 15^th, Digger predicted 14^th

Nearly got this one right as well.  Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy should be applauded for not going down the flooding track and encouraging his young charges to play attacking football.  Digger wonders though how long the Essendon Board and members will remain to have faith in the nutty professors methods.  They want wins.  Sheedy says he is half way into completing his rebuilding.  The rumors are that either of two former bomber greats, Neil Daniher or Mark Harvey have been earmarked to take over in 2008.

Former Colac lad Scott Lucas took out the Essendon Best and Fairest in a season where he had to stand up due to injuries to Matthew Lloyd and James Hird.  Sons of former greats, Jobe Watson (son of Tim) and Dustin Fletcher (son of Ken) finished second and third respectively.

In search of improvement in 2007, which will see the return to the field of skipper Lloyd, the Bombers have delisted Aaron Henneman, Joel Reynolds and Tristran Cartledge.  Expect some improvement from this team in 2007.