The Curnow-McKay double act
Up forward,the Blues ’95 premiership was primarily built around skipper Stephen Kernahan (63 goals) floating between centre half-forward and full-forward,former Demon Earl Spalding (34),who eased the grind on Kernahan,and former Saint and dead-eye left-footer Brad Pearce (52),who was the surprise gunslinger of the season. Their efforts allowed half-forward Matt Clape (31) and champion midfielder Greg Williams (29),who spent more time forward,to flourish. The modern-day pillars are in place with Coleman medallists Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow who,like Kernahan and Spalding,can push up field,then retreat and beat their man one-on-one inside attacking 50,as they did against North Melbourne.
Curnow has taken his goalkicking to a new level,averaging a career-high four goals per game,while posting a shot-at-goal accuracy of 70 per cent,his best since his debut year.That McKay was cleared at the tribunal on Tuesday night for rough conduct was important,for he now has the chance to build on his four goals against an undermanned North. What the Blues need is a consistent third threat,so it’s over to either Tom De Koning,Jack Silvagni or a small forward such as Matt Owies.
Jacob Weitering and a strong defence
On average,the Blues are conceding one less goal per game compared to last season,and only St Kilda are harder to score against once entering the forward 50. Weitering may be the modern-day Stephen Silvagni,the man voted at full-back in the AFL’s team of the century. He has had an excellent start to the season and holds the defence together by taking the opposition’s best key tall. He is arguably the man the Blues can least afford to lose to injury.The loss of Sam Docherty (knee) for almost two months hurts,but running half-back Adam Saad is in career-best form,averaging a career-high 23.8 disposals,7.3 contested possessions and 9.3 intercept possessions,and has been the Blues’ No.1 ranked player. Fellow half-back Nic Newman has also been in excellent touch,while Lewis Young has emerged as Weitering’s sidekick. The Blues of ’95 had as hard-nosed a defence as you could find,with the dash of Andrew McKay and Ang Christou complementing Silvagni,Peter Dean and Michael Sexton.
Greater midfield depth