2012: The year the Blues won their 17th Premiership
Roar Guru 
Nick Duigan and Chris Judd head to the rooms (Photo: Darrian Traynor/AFL Media)
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Now before you skip straight to the comments section to call me a looney for believing the Blues will win the premiership this year, that isn’t what I am saying.
What I am saying is that while the injuries may have cruelled this campaign, they have created the opportunitites that will be the corner stones of the Blues’ future success.
Every critic of the Blues has pointed to a lack of a key forward, a lack of inside mid-fielders and a shaky defence as reasons they can’t win a flag. This season they have found answers to all of those.
Levi Casboult has shown he will be a great target, he clunks contested marks and brings the ball to ground if he doesn’t.
He had had 14 shots on goal in the last three weeks and if he can increase his conversion rate he will be a force to be reckoned with, espcially when he has a full preseason under his belt.
In the midifeld, the Blues have found two willing workers. Brock McLean’s return from oblivion has been great reward for hard work and a positive attitude while Tom Bell has all the attributes to make a long and successful AFL career.
While a lot of the defensive deficiencies were corrected in 2011 with Henderson and Yarran going back and Lailder and Duigan being recruited, injuries have caused the Blues to look at Watson and McInnes.
While both have shown they have a future it has been McInnes who has realy taken his chance and looks likely to cause selection headaches once Henderson and Laidler return from injury in 2013.
These players have led to the likes of Bower, Thornton, Russell and Joseph being ovrelooked (which every Carlton supporter would attest is a good thing) and looking for a new home next year.
On top of this, Casboults ability to hold down the second ruck position must have the Blues considering the future of Warnock or Hampson.
With the likes of Port Adelaide desperate for a quality ruckman and the possibility of Hampson returning to the Gold Coast, this could provide the Blues a chance to grab another early draft pick (especially if Port get an extra early pick for losing Boak).
So while injuries may have prevented 2012 being a premiership year, it has still seen the Blues take a massive step towards their next premiership.
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August 23rd 2012 @ 9:36am
Vic said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:36am | Report comment
It is a possibility, fingers crossed. It would be justice for the way Carlton was screwed by the AFL and the rest of the clubs the past decade.
August 23rd 2012 @ 10:06am
Charlie said | August 23rd 2012 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Add in highly rated but as yet unseen Pat McCarthy (U18 all Australian 2010, pick # 34 2010 draft), Luke Mitchell (pick # 42 2010) and Dylan Buckley and the depth is really starting to develop.
August 23rd 2012 @ 10:40am
Macca said | August 23rd 2012 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Charlie – I am expecting big things from Mitchell, and with another preseason Buckley could start to puch next year. From what I have heard this year McCarthy doesn’t seem to have set the world on fire yet but he does have the body shape to be play on the big stage.
August 23rd 2012 @ 10:35am
andyincanberra said | August 23rd 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
It’s going to be a great September to be watching football. If Judd’s little holiday taught me anything, it’s that the Carlton midfield is not as 1 dimensional sans Judd as I first thought. Anyway, can Carlton win? This would be a worst case scenario for me, nothing would ruin my weekend more than seeing Judd and Ratten holding up the premiership cup. That being said, I think that there’s a rump of good teams in the 8 this year, and anyone could beat anyone. My prediction, the Hawks over the Swans in a close GF.
August 23rd 2012 @ 10:43am
Macca said | August 23rd 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Andy – Not sure the blues can win it this year but they could cause some waves – If West Coast beat Collingwood this week the blues could play the pies in week 1 which would have a few Collingwood supporters more than a little nervous.
As far as the blues without Judd, over the past few years they have won the majority of games he has missed. With Murphy’s development to elite it gives the opposition a nasty choice, tag Judd and let Murphy get 37 (as we saw on the weekend) or tag Murphy and let judd rack them up (as we saw in the first few games this year).
August 24th 2012 @ 1:01pm
checkside said | August 24th 2012 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
A Collingwood v Carlton final. I would like that whatever the result.
August 24th 2012 @ 1:11pm
Macca said | August 24th 2012 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
West Coast beat the Pies this weekend and you might get it week 1.
August 23rd 2012 @ 11:27am
Holbrook said | August 23rd 2012 @ 11:27am | Report comment
If the Dockers lose this weekend, the season could become very interesting after that shocking middle section.
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:16pm
Pollock said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Still think we lack a key defender. David Parkin said on The Blue Print that Lachie Henderson would better serve the team as a floating third tall forward, and I tend to agree with him. If they do play him that way, then you have key defenders consisting of an injury prone Michael Jamison, slow players such as Simon White and Matthew Watson, and undersizers in Jeremy Laidler and Andrew McInnes. You’re right though Macca, definantly have found some good youngsters.
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:42pm
Macca said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Pollock – Who am I to disagree with Parko but Henderson has played on the best CHF’s going around in the last year or so and I can’t remember too many that have got the better of him.
White hasn’t been too bad since he came back but if Henderson, Jamsion, Laidler and McInnes are all fit it is hard for him to find a spot.
Plus maybe charlie is right, McCarthy could push for a spot next year.
August 24th 2012 @ 2:43pm
Charlie said | August 24th 2012 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Interestingly, McCarthy is on the list of emergencies this weekend.
August 24th 2012 @ 2:54pm
Macca said | August 24th 2012 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
Good pick up Charlie, maybe he is closer than I thought. With Watson now out injured he might be the next cab off the rank, although it would be a big call to bring him in in the games remaining.
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:36pm
T said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Carlton are hitting their straps at the right time but it’s the depth of their squad which will cause issues if they cop injuries and/or suspensions. They seriously battled without Murphy and Carrazzo.
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:44pm
Macca said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
T – Saturday was the first game since round 3 that Murphy, Carrazzo, Judd & Simpson played in the same team, and the first 3 had only played in the North game in between, I think the results speak for themselves when all three are up and about.
August 23rd 2012 @ 7:08pm
Brewski said | August 23rd 2012 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
Ok Macca, i usually bag you (for good reason though LOL) but this is a good article, and i must admit that even as a Carlton hater i love watching silky smooth Yarran play.
Although it would be to soon if Carltoin ever won another flag.
Bell reminds of kKouta, big QLDer who has come out of nowhere really.
August 23rd 2012 @ 9:05pm
Floyd Calhoun said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
You’d need to be a die in the wool Blues supporter to get back on this repaired bandwagon, but hell, you just never know.
August 24th 2012 @ 1:48pm
Strummer Jones said | August 24th 2012 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Maybe, but to win a premiership. I think you need some brain power. McLean’s tweet about some blokes mum, Judd’s chicken wing antics (and eye gouging) and players wearing their shorts around their ankles is not a good start. I’m serious about the last point. This is a disciplinary thing and Betts should be told to pull his pants up until he produces three best on ground performances – in a row.
I was also surprised that you failed to mention anything about Ratten. Isn’t he being replaced by Malthouse next year, or is that all rubbish talk? If he isn’t being replaced, do you think that will hold them back or not?
August 24th 2012 @ 1:56pm
Macca said | August 24th 2012 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Strummer – Firstly I don’t think he will be replaced, to ahve had the injuries they have had and be looking like they will be just 1 loss worse than last year is a pretty good effort, if they play North or Collingwood in the first final at the MCG they are more than a chance.
I think you are being more than a bit harsh on Betts, his figures this year stack up pretty well, when the coleman medal leader has kicked 60 goals his 45 from starvation corner is pretty good.
And on brains, plenty of dumb blokes have a premiership medallion.
August 25th 2012 @ 11:00pm
Antonio said | August 25th 2012 @ 11:00pm | Report comment
Ha ha ha ha what a joke