Former North Melbourne coach David Noble says he would be “staggered” if Liam Stocker isn’t playing AFL next year.
Carlton delisted Stocker early in September to the surprise of many fans, with Andy Maher left “genuinely stunned” when the news broke.
Stocker was a first round pick who the Blues traded up in the 2018 draft to secure under former list manager Stephen Silvagni, but he wasn’t offered a new contract after an injury-riddled four-season, 28-game career.
However, the 22-year-old has found a big supporter in Noble, who described players of Stocker’s elk as vital.
“He’s just got football knowledge. He’s got the footy chip and I think those guys are invaluable,” Noble said of Stocker on AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade.
“They might take a little bit longer, sometimes those guys are a little bit more like your talls, they just take a little bit of time to find their feet, sometimes it’s about finding the right game style to suit you as well.
“I would be staggered (if he wasn’t playing next year), and he’s free, there’s that benefit.”
Stocker was drafted to be a hard-nosed midfielder in time and despite stints on the ball, he played the majority of his footy behind the ball.
In six AFL games in 2022 he averaged 11 disposals and two marks per appearance, but only had two games below 15 touches in 12 VFL appearances this year.
AFL Media’s Damian Barrett declared: “I’d be staggered if he wasn’t on a club list next year, for what it’s worth.”
SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund revealed shortly after Stocker’s delisting that the powers that be at Carlton believed Stocker’s aerobic capacity, speed and ball use simply weren’t good enough to earn a spot at AFL level.
Stocker said “I’ll be back” in an Instagram post shortly after being cut from the list and he’ll likely have to wait until after the trade period and potentially into next year to see if he’ll earn a spot on a list for 2023.