Carlton’s delisting of Liam Stocker came as a huge surprise to many, but SEN’s Sam Edmund has the details on why the call was made.
Stocker, 22, is now looking for a second AFL club after four years at the Blues netted 28 games.
He’s faced his injury battles, including an ankle injury earlier this year, but list manager Nick Austin had seen enough in a call that surprised Andy Maher and Josh Jenkins when the news broke.
He also missed the entire 2020 hub season for mental health reasons.
Being a first-round pick, Edmund believes the way Stocker was brought to Carlton has heavily influenced the footy world’s perception of the hard nut.
“Of course, the way that Liam Stocker was acquired really makes this a talkable topic,” he began on SEN’s Whateley.
“So he famously became a Carlton player because the Blues swapped their first-round picks with Adelaide during the 2018 draft, they got Pick 19 and they used it on Stocker.
“The list boss at the time, Stephen Silvagni, said that he rated Liam Stocker the sixth best player in the pool.
“Four years later, he’s managed only 28 AFL games and only six this year. So he’s suffered by virtue of how he was picked up, which isn’t his fault, of course, he’s had to carry that, if he was Pick 48 I don’t think there’d be an issue.”
Edmund also added that Stocker’s football abilities haven’t been up to scratch.
Stocker played 17 AFL games in 2021 and averaged 14.0 disposals, 3.4 marks and 3.5 inside 50s playing largely behind the ball.
In 13 VFL games this season he’s averaged 24.8 disposals, 5.5 marks and 2.0 tackles a game.
However, his speed and ball use at the top level has become a concern.
“The bottom line is he’s just not quite good enough. Athletically challenged, really, no tank… people that follow the game far closer than I tell you he just can’t run at an AFL capacity, so he just can’t play midfield, he hasn’t been able to cement a spot in there,” Edmund continued.
“So he’s had to play behind the ball, where it has to be said his speed is still an issue, but also his ball use where it’s said to be fine at VFL level where there’s a bit more time and space, but at the top tier he can get caught out disposal-wise and the game just consumes him at AFL level.
“Now Carlton needs to improve their running capacity and spread, and in that part of the ground, the back half of the ground, they’ve got (Adam) Saad, (Sam) Docherty, (Zac) Williams and (Jordan) Boyd, that’s the sort of running power they’re after.
“That’s the football side, there’s no doubt there are some layers to him as a kid off the field, but that’s the football side with Liam Stocker, who just, unfortunately, over the four years at AFL level, just hasn’t quite been good enough to make the grade.”
Stocker took to Instagram late on Monday to thank Blues fans for their support and state he'll "be back".