We hear about Patrick Cripps all the time.
We hear about Charlie Curnow all the time.
We hear about Harry McKay all the time.
But the Blues have an unsung hero who deserves some praise, said North Melbourne great David King on AFL 360.
Jordan Boyd is not well known,” King remarked.
“He understands exactly what’s needed and when.”
With just 19 AFL games under his belt, Boyd is ranked sixth in the competition by Champion Data. He is just one piece of the dangerous half-back combination that the Blues have with Adam Saad, Mitch McGovern, and Zac Williams.
King continued, “At 25, he has played a lot of footy and is aware of what is required.”
“This Carlton mix will be called ‘Season of the Sticks.'”
“I envisage the Premiership Cup being handed over by Stephen Kernahan during the final week of September.
“They’re loaded and prepared to go.”
King described the shift in Carlton’s game approach brought about by their plenty of alternatives in the back half of the court.
The former Roo stated, “The game now is about counter-punching and punching on the scoreboard.”
“I believe Carlton has the best supplies and stacks of everyone.
“The majority of teams have two capable half-backs; a few have three, and Carlton has four.
King emphasised that Carlton is now producing a lot of points through interceptions rather than relying as much on stoppage scoring.
He remarked, “With Carlton, what we’re used to has changed.”
“Now everything’s changed, they were a clearance team that bashed you at stoppage, got it in their forward half, and scored.”
The Blues are now scoring four more goals per game from interceptions than they did in 2023, but having dropped from top place in the tournament to 15th place in terms of score from clearance.
“It’s a system-based profile that’s healthier and better than just three or four brutes around the football,” King continued.
They are now second in terms of punishing ability, down from seventeenth.
“They’re triumphing in various ways.”
When the Blues play the Dockers in Gather Round on Saturday night, they hope to maintain their perfect start to 2024.
