TonyK
CibbuanoMaguire could become a Blue
November 16th 2009 03:13
DISCARDED St Kilda defender Matt Maguire's chances of re-igniting his stalled career at Carlton have been bolstered by the axing of utility Cameron Cloke last Friday.
Maguire, who was restricted to just 14 matches between 2007-2008 due to a serious leg injury and stress fractures in his foot, is doing pre-season training with the Blues in a bid to be picked up in December's pre-season draft.
The 25-year-old was left stranded on 99 AFL games after failing to break into the Saints side this season despite playing some good football with Sandringham in the VFL where he spent some time up forward.
Speaking ahead of Carlton's first skills session at Visy Park on Monday, Blues coach Brett Ratten believes Maguire still has something to offer at the elite level.
"His body seems not too bad. I've had a couple of chats with him and it's been pretty low key, but he seems a quality kid and he's still got that burning desire to make his name as an AFL player again and maybe our club might be a good fit," Ratten said.
"His versatility really is something that you look at to think, you know, that could really help us."
Ratten admitted the decision to delist Cloke wasn't an easy one but said it had to be done as Carlton needed another draft pick.
"It was a very hard decision but that's a view that we took with match committee and (it was) probably more list management," he said.
Meanwhile, Ratten ruled out the possibility of recruiting delisted Melbourne forward Russell Robertson.
Ratten said the goal kicking void left by spearhead Brendan Fevola who was traded to Brisbane would be filled by several players already on the club's list, including Jarrad Waite who is recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in May.
The Blues coach was optimistic that Waite would be available for selection come round one next year.
"With Jarrad, he started his pre-season about a month ago and he's put in some pretty big steps forward," Ratten said.
"He'll be really close, I think it's all about does he have any hurdles along the way."
"I think at the moment you probably would say yes, but we all know about rehabilitation and how it all goes."
"We've got a plan in place and hopefully all the boxes are ticked every month that it's all going well."
Maguire, who was restricted to just 14 matches between 2007-2008 due to a serious leg injury and stress fractures in his foot, is doing pre-season training with the Blues in a bid to be picked up in December's pre-season draft.
The 25-year-old was left stranded on 99 AFL games after failing to break into the Saints side this season despite playing some good football with Sandringham in the VFL where he spent some time up forward.
Speaking ahead of Carlton's first skills session at Visy Park on Monday, Blues coach Brett Ratten believes Maguire still has something to offer at the elite level.
"His body seems not too bad. I've had a couple of chats with him and it's been pretty low key, but he seems a quality kid and he's still got that burning desire to make his name as an AFL player again and maybe our club might be a good fit," Ratten said.
"His versatility really is something that you look at to think, you know, that could really help us."
Ratten admitted the decision to delist Cloke wasn't an easy one but said it had to be done as Carlton needed another draft pick.
"It was a very hard decision but that's a view that we took with match committee and (it was) probably more list management," he said.
Meanwhile, Ratten ruled out the possibility of recruiting delisted Melbourne forward Russell Robertson.
Ratten said the goal kicking void left by spearhead Brendan Fevola who was traded to Brisbane would be filled by several players already on the club's list, including Jarrad Waite who is recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in May.
The Blues coach was optimistic that Waite would be available for selection come round one next year.
"With Jarrad, he started his pre-season about a month ago and he's put in some pretty big steps forward," Ratten said.
"He'll be really close, I think it's all about does he have any hurdles along the way."
"I think at the moment you probably would say yes, but we all know about rehabilitation and how it all goes."
"We've got a plan in place and hopefully all the boxes are ticked every month that it's all going well."
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