TonyK
CibbuanoRatten defends Fev
May 27th 2009 02:59
CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has defended the form of star forward Brendan Fevola.
Fevola, who earlier this season became only the third Blues' player to kick 500 career goals, has kicked just two goals in his past three matches.
But Ratten said there would be no issue with Fevola's form if he had kicked straight against Adelaide last weekend.
"At the end of the day (last week) he kicked 1.5 and one out on the full so he had seven shots at goal," Ratten said.
"So would we be talking about it (his recent lack of goals) if he kicked 5.1 or 4.2."
"But he didn't and as a full-forward he cops a bit of flak for that."
Ratten also said he was happy with the way the 29-year-old competed against the Crows and admitted his side let Fevola down with their use of the football.
"In the one-on-one battles with (Adelaide's champion full-back) Ben Rutten he beat him most of the time," he said.
"But we didn't kick the ball well to him and the delivery to him was pretty average."
Ratten denied Fevola was hampered by any injury.
"There's no physical (reason) … he's fine, he's fit," he said.
"I think the Gold Coast one (versus Fremantle) was just a bit of tightening in the glute which we thought might have been a back-related hamstring; he sort of felt a little bit of a twinge so we just got it checked out and it was right.
"The heel's pretty good now (too). He might get the odd little bit of soreness but all in all, I think if you look at most players in the competition they carry some sort of little niggle for a while."
Fevola, who earlier this season became only the third Blues' player to kick 500 career goals, has kicked just two goals in his past three matches.
But Ratten said there would be no issue with Fevola's form if he had kicked straight against Adelaide last weekend.
"At the end of the day (last week) he kicked 1.5 and one out on the full so he had seven shots at goal," Ratten said.
"So would we be talking about it (his recent lack of goals) if he kicked 5.1 or 4.2."
"But he didn't and as a full-forward he cops a bit of flak for that."
Ratten also said he was happy with the way the 29-year-old competed against the Crows and admitted his side let Fevola down with their use of the football.
"In the one-on-one battles with (Adelaide's champion full-back) Ben Rutten he beat him most of the time," he said.
"But we didn't kick the ball well to him and the delivery to him was pretty average."
Ratten denied Fevola was hampered by any injury.
"There's no physical (reason) … he's fine, he's fit," he said.
"I think the Gold Coast one (versus Fremantle) was just a bit of tightening in the glute which we thought might have been a back-related hamstring; he sort of felt a little bit of a twinge so we just got it checked out and it was right.
"The heel's pretty good now (too). He might get the odd little bit of soreness but all in all, I think if you look at most players in the competition they carry some sort of little niggle for a while."
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