Carlton
Coach: Michael Voss
2024–
Points For – 4th
Points Against – 14th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
1 – Patrick Cripps
2 – Nic Newman
3 – Sam Walsh
4 – Jacob Weitering
5 – George Hewett
2024 Rising Star Noms
Nil
Ins – Ben Camporeale, Lucas Camporeale, Harry Charleson, Nick Haynes, Harry O’Farrell, Jagga Smith
Outs – Domainic Akuei, Jack Caroll, Matt Caroll, David Cunningham, Sam Durdin, Matt Kennedy, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Alex Mirkov, Matt Owies
My Prediction
Honestly my main fear in the world is that Carlton get there crap together before we do and win a premiership. Thankfully it hasn’t happened yet and I could live off little more than the misery of their fan base. I would choose it over food, water and whatever else I need to sustain life. Their tears are all I need.
The backline was trash last year, they talk up Weitering but he isn’t enough. Picking up a declining Nick Haynes also isn’t the answer. Losing Nic Newman for the season (insert “that’s a shame” gif) certainly hurts. I think they will look at bringing Docherty back to half back in his place but he has squeezed almost everything possible out of himself already. Scattergun Saad on the other half back flank will give them run and … well actually that is what he brings. McGovern was alright last year which means he wont perform for another 2 – 3 years.
The midfield is very strong at the top. According to the maggots, Cripps had the greatest season ever played by a footballer in the history of the game. Sam Walsh started to find his feet and get back to his accumulating best although if he ever becomes damaging by foot then he could be anything. Cerra just got the long term contract and is class, after that it is Acres and Hewett. I think Jagga Smith will get a lot of time next year but they don’t bat real deep and need a run with injuries.
The forward line is going to be interesting. At a time when small forwards have become very fashionable and necessary, they don’t have a lot in that space. Letting Owies and Martin go leave them pretty much at Motlop or bust (bust is Zac Williams). The tall marking forwards are the best one-two punch in the competition with Curnow and McKay. Hollands and Fogarty are the medium sized plodders that every team needs. It is a very good forward line but there are certainly concerns.
De Koning is a good ruck who is still finding his feet but played some very good games last year. He also keeps Pittonet out of the team which can only be a good thing for the Blues. The coach will feel the pinch again if things don’t go well this year. They were coming for him before they got on a roll last year.
Injuries destroyed their momentum last year and it was glorious. Their fans were getting ahead of themselves and that made it even better. There is enough quality in their list for them to make a deep run but there is also a shortage of depth in their list that will be challenged if they have injuries. I don’t think they are in the first line of premiership favouritism but they should challenge for top four. I think 4-6 is their pass mark