Karnezis burnt a number of SuperCoach’s in 2013, after an impressive
pre-season for the Lions and the promise of plenty of easy ball off the
half-back flank – a role that he had dominated at NEAFL level – he looked a
prime break out candidate.
How wrong we were, Karnezis was dropped from side after just two
matches and he would only manage one more for the season. Hence, we again see
him at a tempting price, the one difference, a change of clubs.
Karnezis’ move to Collingwood made him one of many Lions to exit the
club at the completion of last year. He will begin the year priced at $229,800,
a touch over $100,000 more than the basement price.
The positives for Karnezis are clear, he is a natural ball winner and a
superb athlete, however he finds himself at that awkward level where he tears it
up in the seconds, but cannot quite cement himself at AFL level.
At NEAFL level over the past two seasons Karnezis has averaged 28
disposals while regularly racking up tallies of 30 plus, a very promising
return. While standing at 190cm and 88kg, entering his fourth season at the
elite level, again shaping him as a break out possibility.
However, on the negative side, Karnezis has failed on every occasion to
announce himself on the big stage, having played just 20 matches in three
seasons. While Collingwood will look to blood plenty of new faces to their 2014
line-up, I can’t see Karnezis being a regular fixture with the likes of
Pendlebury, Swan, Beams, Sidebottom, Ball, Adams, Lumumba all ahead of him for a
midfield role and promising youngsters Paul Seedsman and Matthew Scharenberg look likely to fill roles off half-back.
Karnezis is at a bargain price, but I think his price tag is more than
reasonable, he has plenty of “potential” but we are yet to see anything
worthwhile at AFL level to convince us. If you are a fan of him, watch him
closely through the pre-season and if he manages to force his way into the best
22 he may prove a steal. But at this point, tread with caution given what he
promised yet failed to deliver last pre-season.