2022 Player Preview | #5 Adam Cerra
Written by Ari Stamatakos
Throughout the 2021 Pre-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club. For what should be an exciting and intriguing 2022, let's take an in-depth look at all players on the Carlton list and preview their 2022 season. #5 Adam Cerra
2022 Preview
The Cherry on top of the Navy-Blue cake. Adam Cerra, despite dividing opinion about whether he was actually needed at the Blues, is here and the Carlton faithful can't get enough of him. He is probably the missing piece in the jigsaw, as now we finally have some quality midfield depth.
Acclimatising himself nicely as a Blue, the thought of starting round 1 next year with Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Cerra in the same midfield, is mouth-watering. He is exactly what Carlton has lacked in a midfielder for a long time. The combination of an inside and outside midfielder. He has the grunt and contested possession knowhow to win the ball on the inside, as well as the class and ball skills to distribute it on the outside. He is adept at playing on the wing, which is another fantastic quality.
He will have a period of gelling with the squad. However, a positive for Cerra is that there is a clean slate under Voss, every player is under notice. Cerra doesn’t need to impress the boss more than any other player. He has already played under 2 coaches in his career, so the drastic shift in expectations and training conditions won't be a shock to him.
The midfield continuity and system will be the most interesting thing when it comes to Cerra. How can Voss make Walsh, Cripps and Cerra work at the same centre bounce? None of them is defensively minded, nor do they have the veteran experience to play a role that they aren't naturally accustomed to.
Will Cerra need to mould his game into a different style? Maybe, it all depends on what system Voss wants to play. But what we do know is that we have brought in a young star who was making waves at Fremantle already. He adds much need quality and assets that we have lacked for years.
The Best Case Scenario
Recently, there have been many imports who have underperformed in their first year as a Blue. So, the best-case scenario for Adam Cerra is to establish himself as a premier midfield for the Blues. Someone who can break a hard opponent and can dominate a game if he is given too much respect.
He doesn’t need to set the world alight. He doesn’t have to win the Brownlow. He needs to have a good season and impact the Blues in a profound, positive way. Adam Cerra has the ability to take Carlton from a mediocre mid-table side to challenging for finals and that is what should happen. Off the back of Adam Cerra, Carlton’s overall level has to elevate. Cerra impact on the Blues will directly cause them to rise, due to the quality of player he is.
Status Heading Into 2022
Consistent 22.
