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Blues dump five

Blues dump five

13/10/2008 6:28 PM

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Carlton has dumped five players from its list including untried Irishman Aisake O'hAilpin.

And with former Sydney defender Jason Saddington retiring that means the Blues have six vacancies on their list for the 2009 season - one of which has already been filled by promising defender Michael Jamison.

Jamison was promoted off the rookie list onto the senior list after a promising 2008 season in which he played 16 games.

The other players delisted were former Port Adelaide and St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland, Clinton Benjamin, Luke Blackwell and Ryan Jackson.

Saddington retires after having played 162 matches but just 20 with Carlton whom he joined at the end of the 2005 season.

Carlton football manager Steven Icke was quick to pay tribute to Saddington.

"Jason has been an outstanding leader at Carlton and a wonderful ambassador for the Carlton Football Club," Icke said.

"His contribution extends far beyond the 20 games he played for Carlton and he has certainly set the standard for our young players to aspire to in the manner in which he approached the game and the activities associated with AFL football."

Ackland played 21 games for Carlton for a total of 74 games (41 with Port Adelaide, 12 with St Kilda and 21 with the Blues) while Blackwell - a father/son selection in the 2004 national draft - played 23 games but none in 2008.

Jackson, the Blues' first round pick in the 2006 rookie draft, played nine games while neither Benjamin or the much-hyped O'hAilpin played a senior game.

O'hAilpin, the younger brother of Blues' defender Setanta, was taken as an international rookie in 2005 and was elevated to the Blues' senior list in 2007.

Standing 201cm and weighing 100kg, there were high hopes for the athletic 23-year-old but after a promising 2007 season in the VFL with the Northern Bullants, his expected improvement just did not eventuate in 2008.

The Blues also announced a change in their coaching panel on Monday with former player Matthew Lappin replacing ex Collingwood defender Gavin Crosica as an assistant to senior coach Brett Ratten.

 
Comments
Posted by Riki at
13/10/2008 09:41 PM
About time, Ackland should not have joined the club!!
Posted by Richard Tuffin at
14/10/2008 12:45 AM
All due credit to Saddington - I think he came to Carlton under fairly difficult circumstances so to have made it this far is of credit to him. And a shame that it didn't work out for Aisake, but I'm glad to see Setanta gets another year to really prove himself - and I think he will.
Posted by Chris F at
14/10/2008 01:46 PM
This may sound stupid but I think Carlton should sign Luke Jericho, hes a greta young footballer. And if signed by Carlton signs can be held saying "Carlton is Jericho"
Posted by sam at
14/10/2008 07:44 PM
just a question wondering why have delisted five players and saddington retiring and we have only have three or four picks in the draft arent we suppose to delist the same amount of picks that we get in the draft ???? or are making sure that when they get ryan okeef that they wont go over the cap can anyone help me with this one . and glad too see the last ackland what a joke he was
Posted by rhys timms at
14/10/2008 08:26 PM
they are all not very good !!
Posted by billy s at
14/10/2008 10:15 PM
big mistake blues jackson was a gun i may have to send a guide dog down there;somebody is blind,by the way cris egan,steven armstrong,riley dunn are worth a look.
Posted by Jawsh at
16/10/2008 04:21 AM
Yeh droppin Ryan Jackson was dumb, I say he coulda been something big..no brownlow medalist but someone who would get the job done with abit of class, Saddo was expected nothing special but his time was up great leadership and we needed his advice in the backline but his last 2 games were embarresing and Aisake its a shame...he had potential but injurys and alot of things blocked out his chances and he never showed much. Plus when I saw Luke Jericho got dropped i think hes someone Carlton should pick up aswell...not for the signs though lol Just for abit more talent.
Posted by Mat at
16/10/2008 07:53 AM
Ackland was Pagan's way of saying "screw you" to carlton before he left - he should never have been signed for as long as he was. Pretty funny that O'hAilpin came all this way never to play in the AFL.
Posted by sam at
16/10/2008 04:27 PM
hey can someone help me with my question or you can't i posted it at 14/10/08 cheers
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