Round 16, 2008

Carlton’s defence has traditionally played a major factor in the club’s successful eras, with names such as Doull, Southby, Dean and Lofts evoking images of past glories and premiership success. Blues supporters are now seeing the formation of a new defensive unit full of young and talented defenders, with Jamison, Bower and Austin joining established stars such as Waite and Thornton in a versatile back six. Mike and Dan caught up with Michael Jamison who won this week’s Play of the Week for his role in negating Michael O’Loughlin in Carlton’s narrow loss to the Swans.

Michael, you win this week’s Play of the Week for a number of good things in general. Our readers hate it when we do this but we felt you deserved a pat on the back for taking O’Loughlin out of the game…..

Yeah I started pretty well on him, I think he got injured at some stage and then missed a couple he should have kicked which helped. I was fairly happy with my job on him. Ratts gave me a job to do and O’Loughlin suits me well. I have had a few big jobs this year and I try to relish it, there is no better way to learn than by playing on the best. During the week we watch tapes and someone at the club knows about the player you will mark up on, and this time round I had a talk to Saddo who was at Sydney with him.

You've played on some different types this year, Medhurst, O'Loughlin and Lucas to name a few. Do you feel comfortable on one type of forward over another?

I have got strength out of the box and prefer guys who lead straight at the ball rather than gorilla types. I can leave those types to Thornton and Waitey!

Would it be fair to say you struggled on Richardson? Is that the sort of opponent best left to Waitey?

Yeah I think Waitey did a great job on Richardson, and he is better suited to a guy his size.

Was there relief when Barry Hall was dropped?

It helps when their best players not in the side, but Waitey would have done a good job on him anyway. We prepare to play each team at full strength, and it would have been a good match up in the backline if he had played.

There are the makings of a strong defensive unit with yourself, Thornton, Bower and Waite. Do you look at each other and think that this could be the core of Carlton's backline for the next 5-6 years?

Yeah particularly early in the year, you could see improvement week-to-week from us playing together. There were some injuries to T-Bird, Bowers and myself after that which didn’t help, but then that gives opportunities to guys like Mark Austin who can fit in comfortably to the team. It shows that we have good depth and options down back.

Waitey and I gel together, he is a bit more attacking than me and I am more suited to stopper role, and we have enjoyed playing with each other. Thornton gels well together too so we have a good team down back. Jason Saddington has been fantastic for me off the field, he has played countless games and plays down back like I do. I just ask him whenever I need some advice and he is always happy to give me tips.

It looks like our tall defenders are doing OK, but it’s the small streaky forwards that we are finding hard to stop. Who of the kids is next in line to take that spot?

Armfield will be a good player in that area, he was playing well on Davis and those types before he got injured. Andrew Carrazzo did well on Brown in the game against Richmond, and Steven Browne can play in back pocket as well so it gives us more choice down back.

On that point, who will take Aker this weekend?

I haven’t even thought about it this week, but Grigg did a good run-with role on Aker in the pre-season, and Armfield will be up for selection too.

You have got good size about you and are quick. Do you intend to bulk up any more, or will that impact on your ground speed?

I am pretty keen to put on some size and get up to about 94 or 95 kilos. A few years ago I was 83 and have put on about 8 kilos since then but haven’t lost any speed. Strength is the first thing that I need to work on but it is hard to put on bulk during the year as we don’t use the weights as much.

We have a new weights coach and a lot of the guys have put on some size during the off-season. He has got us eating lots of the right things plus doing 4 or 5 weights sessions per week.

You recently signed a 3 year contract with the club, which is a good indication of the potential it sees in you. How much confidence does that give you?

Yeah it is really good, the way that the club shows faith in you like that. To be honest it really hasn’t sunk in yet, I am still a rookie but this is a bit of a reward for some hard work over the past couple of years. It is now up to me to repay the faith that the club has shown in me.

You played under Gavin Crossisca at Nth Ballarat before joining the Blues (along with Gavin). How important was he in bringing you to Carlton?

Yeah it is fair to say that if Gav didn’t go to Carlton, I wouldn’t be here either. He pushed for me to go get a run, and Denis Pagan gave me the opportunity at the time. Gav really put my case forward and pumped up my tyres.

Gav is the defensive coach so I spend a lot of individual time with him during the week, talking about match ups and going through tapes. He has been a big influence on me and I owe him a lot

Around clubs nowadays there are a lot of blokes in the seniors who came off the rookie list. Does this pathway make you work harder than a kid who gets picked up at 18?

The Rookie List gives guys 50-60 more opportunities to get on to the Senior List than would otherwise be there. You still need to wait for an injury though, but for most clubs there is always someone on the long term injury list. From there it is a case of playing good footy and playing well enough until they elevate you.

One of our lasting memories is of your celebration at kicking a behind against Collingwood last year. Of course you thought it was a goal, but what sort of celebration will there be if you actually kick one?

• laughs* Let me clarify one thing, it WAS a goal and was just called a behind by the goal umpire. But I can tell you one thing, when I get a goal my celebration won’t be as stupid as the up and down potato that Gibbs and Grigg have been doing!

What’s the status with your shoulder? Are you definitely having surgery at season's end or is it a wait and see thing? How do you manage it on match days?

It’s feeling pretty good at the moment, I’m getting plenty of physio and our Doc, Benny Barresi keeps a close eye on it.

We will wait and see how it pans out and look at surgery if it’s the best thing to do. It felt fantastic on the weekend against the Swans, but you learn how to manage it, plenty of players play with niggly injuries, especially this time of the year.

Leigh Matthews complains that his players aren't that interested in footy - he doesn't think they watch it unless told to. Do you follow the footy outside of an obvious professional interest?

Yep, I don’t like watching any games before I play, but after I play I watch a few games. Obviously if we are playing a certain teams the next week I will watch their game, and some of the older boys like getting out and watching the games too.

By the same token Ratts is keen of the players doing things outside of footy, do you work or study away from the club?

I am studying at Melbourne Uni and had done a full year before drafted. Since I came to the club I have continued to do that part time. I am doing a Bachelor of Arts/Science and it is a good release to be honest, I head in there on our day off and get a few hours in and mix with few different people.

Are you going to keep the number 40? Do you know much about the history of the jumper

I know that no-one has played 100 games in the jumper, but I know that Ratts started there, Jimmy Plunkett had it a few years ago, and Bentick played with it before me. Scott Howell played in a premiership in the guernsey, and I am happy to stay in it.

Michael Jamison’s performances on some established AFL forwards have vindicated the club’s decision to give him senior game time off the Rookie List. Much is expected of the 22 year old defender, whose good form and obvious potential has been rewarded with a three year contract. All Blues supporters are hoping that the young defender will continue to develop and become part of a formidable Carlton backline in years to come.