Hidden Gems | Round 3

Written by Zac Assouni

The Carlton football club are 3-0. Those are words that no blues fan thought would ever be said but here we are! It was a hard-fought win against Hawthorn which highlighted the brilliance of Michael Voss as well as the grit and determination of the playing group. Here are three players who flew under the radar and had an underrated game that propelled a massive victory.

Zac Williams

Season 2021 was one of disappointment for Zac Williams who came in as a free agent from the GWS Giants with the task of creating run and carry off half-back as well as helping to create better scoring opportunities. A sub-standard defensive game plan meant that we didn’t see anywhere near the best of what Zac Williams was seemingly going to bring to Carlton. For Williams and fellow recruit Adam Saad, the appointment of Michael Voss seemingly meant that they could show the best of themselves on the field and it seems to be working so far. Williams had the most metres gained out of any Carlton player on the field against Hawthorn with 623 and it was certainly showing especially in the first half where the forward 50 entries suited our talls. Williams had 27 disposals on the day which was the most on ground discounting the Carlton midfielders and of course the David Parkin medallist Sam Docherty. Williams took 6 marks as well as 1 intercept mark and 7 intercept possessions showing his defensive work and commitment which is something that blues fans were crying out to see the year prior. There's no doubt that the blues have had a great start to the season but we mustn't forget that Michael Voss has only been in the coaches' box for three rounds of football so we can only hope that as we grow as a team then it means that the players as individuals can grow further too.

Zac Fisher

Season 2021 proved quite a challenge for Zac Fisher who struggled to find his true position in the Carlton best 22. However, Fisher has reinvented himself in one of the areas of concern for Carlton prior to season 2022. Fisher registered 5 tackles for the game which was the third most out of any blue with midfield stalwarts George Hewitt and Patrick Cripps registering more. Fisher had 16 disposals going at 81% efficiency which is again a massive improvement meaning that he is getting more of the ball and using it better, especially in more dangerous positions. Fish also looked to spend more time in the midfield especially around the forward stoppage with 4 score involvements, 2 inside 50s and 1 clearance. While those numbers at first glance aren't what gets you the three votes it was still refreshing to see Zac Fisher being committed to not only himself but the team as well. As the season rolls on it is important that Fisher continues to improve seeing that when he’s playing well and with a lot of energy it seems to have a positive effect on other players not in the locker room but also out on the ground. All we ask is consistency though so let's hope that Fisher can continue with his positive output long into season 2022.

Nic Newman

The main part of what Michael Voss brings to Carlton is a player becoming a role player whose sole purpose is to play and execute a role for the team. It’s safe to say that Nic Newman fits in that category. His reliability at halfback on Sunday was superb as it seemed like he always found the right option, especially under pressure which was important especially in the second half when the Hawks started applying the pressure. Newman had 21 disposals going at 85% as well as 5 marks which were key especially when we needed an outlet to once again relieve pressure. Newman also managed 5 tackles which highlights the defensive system work that has been undertaken behind the scenes at the Carlton football club. On the point of improved defensive acts, Newman had 2 intercept marks as well as 7 intercept possessions and 13 pressure acts showing that he wasn’t just relieving pressure, he was applying the pressure too, especially in the first quarter where it was evident that the Hawks were rushing their kicks leading to the ball pretty much living in the blues’ forward half. Even in season 2021, it seemed like Newman was always a quiet achiever especially when the team as a whole wasn't performing anywhere near their best. All we can hope is that more players play similar to Nic Newman not exactly in stats but mostly in his reliability and effort as well as a willingness to do whatever is necessary to ensure success on the field for the blues.