Hidden Gems | Round 15 v Fremantle
Written by Zac Assouni
It was a win for the ages from the Carlton Football Club against what is a tough Fremantle side. It’s a win that sees the Blues a game ahead of 6th position which boosts the confidence of all involved especially the fans. Nevertheless, here are three players who flew under the radar and had what I believe was an underrated performance.
BRODIE KEMP:
After mid-season draftee Sam Durdin’s unfortunate injury against Richmond left the blues to look towards what seems to be their last key defensive option in Brodie Kemp. Kemp has shared his time both up forward and down back in the VFL so far meaning that he hasn’t really settled into a position as of yet. He had the role up against the imposing Matt Taberner however it’s safe to say that Kemp played his role beautifully. He had 17 disposals as well as 1 tackle, 8 marks and 2 intercept marks which were equal to most among the Carlton players on the day. While stats aren’t the whole story considering how relatively new Brodie Kemp is, you could see a sense of desperation from the 21-year-old which was great to see. After what we’ve seen from the likes of Lewis Young and Brodie Kemp it’s safe to say that our defensive system has been the most improved area of the Carlton game plan under Michael Voss and with Jacob Weitering set to return within a fortnight the blues will certainly look all the better as season 2022 rolls on.
JACK NEWNES:
A position that seemed to not be as secure as others prior to the begging of season 2022 was the wing position. Guys like Jack Newnes, Matthew Cottrell and Lochie O’Brien have all occupied that role so far and it’s safe to say that they have played their roles brilliantly by providing 5 goals collectively against the Dockers. Newnes in particular had a day out in game number 200 with 20 disposals along with 1 goal, 8 marks, 3 tackles, 5 scoring involvements as well as 3 scoring involvements. The Blues won the game off the back of the running capacity of their wingmen, namely Newnes who just seems to always go unnoticed and play his role to perfection. Most Carlton fans understand that not everyone can be a superstar, however, it is performances like these that are ultimately what helps this club to succeed as it has been doing so far. Coming up against a speedy St Kilda side next week though will certainly prove a challenge but if there is one thing that’s for sure it’s that Michael Voss’ system can stand up against the best with the help of guys such as Newnes just like what transpired on Saturday afternoon.
TOM DE KONING:
The last time that the Blues took on Fremantle it’s safe to say that Tom De Koning looked a bit out of his depth against a dominant and much stronger opponent in Sean Darcy. Fast forward to round 15 however and it seemed as though De Koning has matured before our very eyes in such a small amount of time. De Koning had 13 disposals as well as 3 marks, 2 tackles and most importantly 22 hitouts while also showcasing his incredible high-flying athleticism. Over the last month or so it’s safe to say that the Carlton midfield has been second best against the likes of Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon however against the Dockers we saw a vast improvement, similar to what we saw earlier on in the season. With Marc Pittonet still a few weeks away it’s time for Tom De Koning to continue to step up even more than he has been already and continue to give the incredible midfield chances to get on top of the opponent such as the story was on Saturday afternoon. While De Koning’s size doesn't exactly replicate that of a key ruckman, our midfield will continue to benefit from De Koning using his vertical leap to beat his opponent as he did against the Dockers.
