He kicked two goals in the preliminary final and seven for the finals’ series. It was a significant contribution and he and Joe Misiti were clearly the standout performers in the successful finals’ campaign. And Caracella would have been pinching himself in amazement – how could a year which started so poorly have finished with him playing in a premiership side.
“It is fair to say that a senior premiership was the last thing on my mind when I was dropped for our round four match last season. But I am the first to admit I was struggling a bit – in hindsight it might have been the best thing that ever happened to me,” Caracella said. “It wasn’t that I wasn’t working hard on the track – I just couldn’t find the football. It can then become a confidence thing – when you are not using the football a lot you can sometimes start to make the wrong decisions when you do get it.”
But things turned around in a hurry for Caracella and he made the most of his recall to the senior side. In only six of the remaining 20 games of the season did he fail to contribute on the scoreboard. More importantly he ran the lines hard and brought others into the game. Caracella’s outstanding efforts in 2000 were rewarded when he was a late call up for the All Australian tour of Ireland. His selection, albeit a late one, was a measure of his improvement and thoroughly deserved.
And the performance of Caracella, most importantly, didn’t go unnoticed by the match committee and senior coach Kevin Sheedy. Caracella finished third in the W.S. Crichton Medal – overshadowing some of his more fancied teammates. It was a thoroughly deserved finish and something that will give him great confidence.
“I suppose it means you are doing something right and to be selected (in the All Australian side) and finish high up in the best and fairest was nice. But it is the team achievements which every footballer cherishes,” Caracella said.
However Caracella says everything that has gone before will mean nothing when the side hits the MCG this evening for the round three clash with Carlton. “What happened last year is behind us now and every player knows that. We can’t afford to drop off because the other sides are all improving. Anyone who drops off will find themselves back in the seconds – I know that better than anybody,” Caracella said.
THE BLAKE CARACELLA FACT FILE
Age: 24
Height: 186cm
Weight: 85kg
Games: 83
Goals: 107
2000 Statistics
Games: 24
Goals: 35
Behinds: 17
Kicks: 270
Marks: 138
Handballs: 219
